Ld created all the non-soccer reasons himself. The reason LD didn't go to WC was because his fitness and form. Non-soccer might have been included in the reasoning, but it would have never happened if his play hadn't fallen off. A little theory of mine is that those nagging injuries were aggravated by his not having a pre-season in 2013 and then all out for MLS and GC to get back into the team. He overstretched that fragile little body without proper preparation and then ended battling injuries for the 9 months leading up to WC.
Changed my mind and decided going to just ignore this post that tons of little false brightside narratives that some dorks created over 20 years. They were wrong then and pool has changed so dramatically that it would apply today anyway.
1. Being the #10 behind 2 strikers requires less attacking talent than doing it behind a lone striker. 2. I’m not going to bullshit and pretend I remember how Clint was deployed in a specific friendly in April 2014, but I do remember that in the run up to the Cup, and versus Ghana, Dempsey was used as an attacking midfielder and not a second striker and that was the whole plan at the time.
The argument HHF is making is that Dempsey was a striker in a 2 striker tactic, not the main attacking mid in a 1 striker tactic. As I wrote above, that’s not my memory of events (for whatever my memory of things is worth.)
Can't have a discussion if you can't agree on the facts. Perhaps a couple of data points will refresh your memory: Starting with the April 14 friendly through the first world cup match, US played a 4-4-2 diamond with Jozy and Deuce up top. In the opener against Ghana, the U.S. played a modified 4-4-2 with Altidore and Clint Dempsey at forward, Jermaine Jones on the left side of the midfield, Michael Bradley and Kyle Beckerman in the center and Alejandro Bedoya on the right. https://sportswire.usatoday.com/201...neup-portugal-jozy-altidore-jurgen-klinsmann/ https://www.si.com/soccer/2014/05/3...n-klinsmann-usa-4-4-2-diamond-midfield-turkey https://www.ussoccer.com/usmnt-lineups/2014
“Fragile little body.” I’ll have to remember that one if current guys aren’t fit to report to national team camps and/or aren’t selected by Pochettino.
You guys already do it. Of course you go after the guys fighting everyday for spots in clubs and to achieve their potential while always gave (give because you want stop talking about something that wasn't that big of deal 10 years ago) a pass to the self-focused prima dona who could and would days off whenever he felt like it. Let's keep in mind while LD was telling everyone he wouldn't do Klinsmann's expected training because he claimed to know his body, but pushed himself too hard in 2013 with not enough base fitness that he wasnt in top shape for the pre-WC camp.
I think the lowered levels of competition played a role, I can't quantify just how much of a role. IMO, 10 years ago MLS was such an uneven rostered, top player heavy league that removing 1 or 2 players from key teams does make a significant difference on the competition. LD played RSL without Rimando and Beckerman, SJ without Wondo and Bernadez, Houston without Davis and Boniek Garcia, SKC without Besler and Zusi, Seattle without Yedlin and Deuce, ... Columbus, NYRB, NE, Toronto,
Now you call me an idiot. I have never called you any names. This yet again goes to my point about your emotional arguments.
I thought you wanted to do a test about what people would admit. I admitted everything you wrote which said I wouldn't do and you wouldn't do and also added a bunch more context because what you wrote was obnoxious and stupid.
Remember when they gaslit us that Berhakter was a tactical genius? How he knew the MLS pool? How the culture in the team was great? Yeah, they those were LD fans who supported the worst coach in USMNT history by far. They turned the national team into a marketing arm of MLS. ******** all of them!!!! Look at all the shitty MLS lifers and everybody's faces. Please recreate this photo. Thanks. https://t.co/unDZLOix4g pic.twitter.com/ryfp2kUYSe— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) October 7, 2024
it appears that you not understand what a 4-4-2 diamond formation is? If you don't there is no point in continuing this conversation.
You corrected yourself in the post after the on I highlighted. FTR, I usually see it as 4-D-2 or 4-4D-2 so it is clear it is not the traditional 4-4-2.
After Klinsmann tried to bring more professionalism to the the American players, arrogant Bruce Arena gutted the German-americans and gifted positions to players and shockingly a level a complacency never before seen in the usmnt was realized. Then Berhalter waited a year to start and then after trying to force MLS players on the team settled for a vibes culture with no accountability. Those of us who have spent our lives on sports couldn't believe this disaster was happening. MLS fans loved every minute of it as it reminded of a mid-season MLS game. I’ve waited so long for these exact words to be spoken. pic.twitter.com/En7lvrLt5F— USMNTrev (@Eyesandvibes) October 7, 2024
They weren't away for the entire season. Galaxy had 1 game against a team missing USMNT players, a 1-0 win at San Jose. His total haul during the WC break was zero goals and 1 assist.
I'm really trying to take you seriously but please read the links I provided if you don't understand the game. Brian Straus from SI did a great job in interviewing the team and providing context for the USMNT 4-4-2 diamond. Re MB90: Highly regarded for his impressive tactical acumen, Bradley said that formation talk “gets a little bit blown out of proportion” and that his starting spot in midfield “doesn’t change who I am as a player.” The 4-4-2 suggests Klinsmann has no desire to change that. In fact, if implemented in Brazil, the formation might make the most of who Bradley is as a player. He’ll have more freedom to make his own decisions about whether to attack, support or defend. He’ll know there’s likely a midfielder behind him in a holding role and he’ll know he has two forwards to work with. The 4-4-2 gives Bradley more leeway to dictate U.S. rhythm.
Same here. The front tip of the diamond is for attacking purposes. In 90s France did that with Zidane. I get the article of how it frees him up to play a certain way. I am not arguing that. I am saying in JKs formation, MB had the role of being the AM. The midfielder that sits in behind the forwards is the AM. He may have been asked to do non traditional things but he was the AM. Like why can't you agree on your own argument. You presented the lineup. You can say yes he was in the AM position but he played it differently. At the very least can we agree on that reality?
What is your issue, exactly? The US played a 4-4-2 diamond starting with the Mexico friendly, the same formation they subsequently played against AZB, Turkey, Nigeria, in the tune-ups and then Ghana at the WC. In all those matches MB played the CAM at the tip of the diamond behind 2 strikers. I provide examples earlier.