What to watch for in Klinsmann era
By Luke Cyphers and Doug McIntyre
ESPN Insider
PHILADELPHIA -- The Jurgen Klinsmann era is underway at a head-spinning pace, careening from hiring announcement to first result -- a 1-1 draw against Mexico on Wednesday night -- in less than two weeks. With his first friendly behind him, we figured now would be a good time for a deep breath and an examination of some U.S. national team issues that will crop up in the coming weeks by playing an old ESPN standard, What to Watch For.
Who gets the call?
While there was plenty of talk about long-term structural issues the last two weeks, and plenty of smiles and "positive energy" coming off Klinsmann's debut, the new coach sounded like he'll be all business and no patience for the next training camp, which opens Aug. 28 in Carson, Calif., ahead of a Sept. 2 friendly against Costa Rica and a Sept. 6 match versus Belgium in Brussels. Klinsmann said Wednesday he expects everybody he selects for the double fixture to attend the entire camp. That includes his European players, who will have to make a flight across a minimum of eight time zones -- and back -- for the camp and the two matches. "Certainly our goal is to have them always with us, no exceptions," Klinsmann said after Wednesday's match.
<OFFER>Given that the European club season is just starting, it was thought Klinsmann might use the camp and the Costa Rica match as a chance to evaluate primarily MLS players and use the couple of training days and match in Brussels to get a better look at his European-based contingent. That's not what he wants. After all, South American players toiling for European clubs often make similar trips. "We expect them to be in camp every time because they have to defend or fight for their spot," he said. "It's real important because it's not like we have that much time with the players, especially the European-based players."
That likely means a smaller sample of players over the course of the two matches and that his call-ups will be a prime indicator of players he believes fit with his program right now. The inclusion or omission of, say, an Oguchi Onyewu, a Sacha Kljestan or a Mixx Diskerud will be telling.
The second-chance guys
The most intriguing aspect of the Mexico match was Klinsmann's use of players Bob Bradley tried out but who never found a regular place on the squad. Kyle Beckerman, Edson Buddle, Edgar Castillo, Michael Orozco-Fiscal, Brek Shea and Jose Torres had cups of coffee with the U.S. varsity but lost spots after unimpressive -- and in some cases just plain bad -- performances over the past few years. Klinsmann started them all, except for Shea, who he used as a second-half super sub, and spoke effusively about all of them.
Though Shea's wing play and the 90 minutes given to the Mexican-American trio of Castillo, Orozco-Fiscal and Torres against El Tri generated huge fan buzz, the biggest beneficiary may be Beckerman, who didn't seem capable of covering enough ground to play midfield in Bradley's system. Klinsmann deployed him as a classic No. 6 defensive mid and parked him in front of the back line. He played well, but can he, and his reborn colleagues, keep a hold on roster spots?
Jozy in space
Klinsmann is a big Juan Agudelo fan, which means Jozy Altidore is going to have to fight for minutes. They could play together, of course, but the pair has lacked chemistry the few times it has shared the front line. Altidore frustrated the last regime at times by not anticipating where long balls would be played, leaving defenders and midfielders looking bad for dumping the ball into an empty corner -- space Altidore should have occupied because scouting told them that's where attacks could be set up.
The new staff may have other ideas offensively, but Altidore's attention to detail will still be worth watching, especially since Agudelo seems happy in his role, and Klinsmann seems happy with him. Much will depend on how Altidore, just 22, does in Holland this season. Scoring in his AZ debut was huge, but the most impressive thing about the goal was the run he made to get open. That's a good sign, but consistency will be required.
How does Dempsey fit in?
The best attacking player during Bradley's reign was Clint Dempsey, who lined up all over the field -- wide on both sides, tilted in on both sides and as both a withdrawn forward and a solo striker, sometimes in the course of a single match. Klinsmann hinted Wednesday he likes players who can roam around, depending on the situation, and players who can "express themselves." Dempsey is both, and where Klinsmann uses him and how he responds will be a key factor in energizing up a goal-starved American offense.
German reinforcements
The rejiggered back line held Mexico to a lone goal Wednesday but often looked jittery moving the ball forward. Worth watching on the back, uh, front? Whether Klinsmann finds roles for a pair of Bundesliga youngsters, Timmy Chandler and John Anthony Brooks. Chandler, who wowed with his speed and crossing on the right flank earlier this year, has committed to next month's matches. With wily and still-spry veteran Steve Cherundolo refusing to desert his right back post, this may end up being the best single battle for a position over the next cycle. Meanwhile, Brooks, a slick-passing, rangy central defender, can make a case for himself at one of the Yanks' thinnest positions if he begins to earn starts at his club, Hertha Berlin.
Players in club limbo
A number of U.S. players are in purgatory with their respective clubs. Michael Bradley is still unable to play for or leave Borussia Monchengladbach, and Brad Guzan and Erich Lichaj are not guaranteed any time with Aston Villa and probably need to go on loan, again, to get minutes. If they don't land better gigs before the European transfer window closes at the end of this month, it's going to be a long year for them on the international side.
Note
• U.S. Soccer is likely to be a big third-party beneficiary of the NBC deal with MLS. The U.S. U-23 team, should it qualify for next summer's London Olympics, will see a ton of advertising and in-game promotion across the numerous NBC Comcast platforms now that the network is jumping into soccer. MLSers and probable Olympians Shea and Agudelo, for example, seem almost certain to become NBC Olympics promo poster boys.
By Luke Cyphers and Doug McIntyre
ESPN Insider
PHILADELPHIA -- The Jurgen Klinsmann era is underway at a head-spinning pace, careening from hiring announcement to first result -- a 1-1 draw against Mexico on Wednesday night -- in less than two weeks. With his first friendly behind him, we figured now would be a good time for a deep breath and an examination of some U.S. national team issues that will crop up in the coming weeks by playing an old ESPN standard, What to Watch For.
Who gets the call?
While there was plenty of talk about long-term structural issues the last two weeks, and plenty of smiles and "positive energy" coming off Klinsmann's debut, the new coach sounded like he'll be all business and no patience for the next training camp, which opens Aug. 28 in Carson, Calif., ahead of a Sept. 2 friendly against Costa Rica and a Sept. 6 match versus Belgium in Brussels. Klinsmann said Wednesday he expects everybody he selects for the double fixture to attend the entire camp. That includes his European players, who will have to make a flight across a minimum of eight time zones -- and back -- for the camp and the two matches. "Certainly our goal is to have them always with us, no exceptions," Klinsmann said after Wednesday's match.
<OFFER>Given that the European club season is just starting, it was thought Klinsmann might use the camp and the Costa Rica match as a chance to evaluate primarily MLS players and use the couple of training days and match in Brussels to get a better look at his European-based contingent. That's not what he wants. After all, South American players toiling for European clubs often make similar trips. "We expect them to be in camp every time because they have to defend or fight for their spot," he said. "It's real important because it's not like we have that much time with the players, especially the European-based players."
That likely means a smaller sample of players over the course of the two matches and that his call-ups will be a prime indicator of players he believes fit with his program right now. The inclusion or omission of, say, an Oguchi Onyewu, a Sacha Kljestan or a Mixx Diskerud will be telling.
The second-chance guys
The most intriguing aspect of the Mexico match was Klinsmann's use of players Bob Bradley tried out but who never found a regular place on the squad. Kyle Beckerman, Edson Buddle, Edgar Castillo, Michael Orozco-Fiscal, Brek Shea and Jose Torres had cups of coffee with the U.S. varsity but lost spots after unimpressive -- and in some cases just plain bad -- performances over the past few years. Klinsmann started them all, except for Shea, who he used as a second-half super sub, and spoke effusively about all of them.
Though Shea's wing play and the 90 minutes given to the Mexican-American trio of Castillo, Orozco-Fiscal and Torres against El Tri generated huge fan buzz, the biggest beneficiary may be Beckerman, who didn't seem capable of covering enough ground to play midfield in Bradley's system. Klinsmann deployed him as a classic No. 6 defensive mid and parked him in front of the back line. He played well, but can he, and his reborn colleagues, keep a hold on roster spots?
Jozy in space
Klinsmann is a big Juan Agudelo fan, which means Jozy Altidore is going to have to fight for minutes. They could play together, of course, but the pair has lacked chemistry the few times it has shared the front line. Altidore frustrated the last regime at times by not anticipating where long balls would be played, leaving defenders and midfielders looking bad for dumping the ball into an empty corner -- space Altidore should have occupied because scouting told them that's where attacks could be set up.
The new staff may have other ideas offensively, but Altidore's attention to detail will still be worth watching, especially since Agudelo seems happy in his role, and Klinsmann seems happy with him. Much will depend on how Altidore, just 22, does in Holland this season. Scoring in his AZ debut was huge, but the most impressive thing about the goal was the run he made to get open. That's a good sign, but consistency will be required.
How does Dempsey fit in?
The best attacking player during Bradley's reign was Clint Dempsey, who lined up all over the field -- wide on both sides, tilted in on both sides and as both a withdrawn forward and a solo striker, sometimes in the course of a single match. Klinsmann hinted Wednesday he likes players who can roam around, depending on the situation, and players who can "express themselves." Dempsey is both, and where Klinsmann uses him and how he responds will be a key factor in energizing up a goal-starved American offense.
German reinforcements
The rejiggered back line held Mexico to a lone goal Wednesday but often looked jittery moving the ball forward. Worth watching on the back, uh, front? Whether Klinsmann finds roles for a pair of Bundesliga youngsters, Timmy Chandler and John Anthony Brooks. Chandler, who wowed with his speed and crossing on the right flank earlier this year, has committed to next month's matches. With wily and still-spry veteran Steve Cherundolo refusing to desert his right back post, this may end up being the best single battle for a position over the next cycle. Meanwhile, Brooks, a slick-passing, rangy central defender, can make a case for himself at one of the Yanks' thinnest positions if he begins to earn starts at his club, Hertha Berlin.
Players in club limbo
A number of U.S. players are in purgatory with their respective clubs. Michael Bradley is still unable to play for or leave Borussia Monchengladbach, and Brad Guzan and Erich Lichaj are not guaranteed any time with Aston Villa and probably need to go on loan, again, to get minutes. If they don't land better gigs before the European transfer window closes at the end of this month, it's going to be a long year for them on the international side.
Note
• U.S. Soccer is likely to be a big third-party beneficiary of the NBC deal with MLS. The U.S. U-23 team, should it qualify for next summer's London Olympics, will see a ton of advertising and in-game promotion across the numerous NBC Comcast platforms now that the network is jumping into soccer. MLSers and probable Olympians Shea and Agudelo, for example, seem almost certain to become NBC Olympics promo poster boys.
