I know it's the D team, but come on.

Guzan was completely flat footed on that DFK.

Don't really follow the umnt outside of major events. Caught this 2nd half by accident.

I did see that arena benched a bunch of guys for this game, this isn't close to our top roster, and Martinique isn't good.

My question is this... Is Arena good? I thought Klinsmann was pretty good and the decision to remove him was shirt sighted. I didn't think he was aggressive enough at times but I don't know enough about the inner workings of soccer or the politics of us national soccer.

Not looking for tons of substance, just if you guys who follow it closer think arena was a step up for the future of us men's soccer from Klinsmann.

I know they are being told to do this, but the AR waiting that long to raise the flag is going to get players hurt.

JK knows more about the technical side of soccer but Arena is way better tactically.

I didn't read earlier in the thread and also said I'm a major novice. I don't know what else there was to say.

Im not acting like I know what I'm talking about because I don't.

I have just felt since the change, the few times I've watched the team they don't look nearly as disciplined. No clue if that's good or bad. If it frees the team up to get more opportunities, and that nets a benefit from the old style then great. I just don't know.

Gotcha. So this is more of a 3 year stop gap versus a hope of a 10 year until with him?

PatAg said:

---

I know they are being told to do this, but the AR waiting that long to raise the flag is going to get players hurt.

---

There was a minor wording change in the Law last year that is really being seen and felt at higher levels. It's has to do with waiting until the offensive player actually touches the ball. Not all refs at this level are having their ARs adhere to it it the strictest of senses. And in the end the Center Ref is the one who tells his ARs how he wants them to call it.

Guzan sucks.

I think so. Unless he wins everything in sight

Bunk Moreland said:

---

I didn't read earlier in the thread and also said I'm a major novice. I don't know what else there was to say.

Im not acting like I know what I'm talking about because I don't.

I have just felt since the change, the few times I've watched the team they don't look nearly as disciplined. No clue if that's good or bad. If it frees the team up to get more opportunities, and that nets a benefit from the old style then great. I just don't know.

---

Without knowing what games you have watched, I would guess its just these 2 gold cup games.
During WCQ since Arena has taken over, we have generally looked like the whole team is on the same page and knows their role during the game..along with being played in positions that favor them.

Klinsmann, whatever his strengths, wasn't effective in coaching this team, and that's his main job. He'd also completely lost the locker room.

mathguy86 said:

---

PatAg said:

---

I know they are being told to do this, but the AR waiting that long to raise the flag is going to get players hurt.

---

There was a minor wording change in the Law last year that is really being seen and felt at higher levels. It's has to do with waiting until the offensive player actually touches the ball. Not all refs at this level are having their ARs adhere to it it the strictest of senses. And in the end the Center Ref is the one who tells his ARs how he wants them to call it.

---

This is a ridiculous change, imo.

Also, these games are not representative of our 1st team. This roster is full of fringe players trying to make the WC.

This tourney is purely to find the role players for next summer.

TheMasterplan said:

---

PatAg said:

---

Bunk Moreland said:

---

Don't really follow the umnt outside of major events.

I did see that arena benched a bunch of guys for this game and Martinique isn't good.

My question is this... Is Arena good? I thought Klinsmann was pretty good and the decision to remove him was shirt sighted. I didn't think he was aggressive enough at times but I don't know enough about the inner workings of soccer or the politics of us national soccer.

Not looking for tons of substance, just if you guys who follow it closer think arena was a step up for the future of us men's soccer from Klinsmann.

---

I already answered this earlier in the thread.

and if oyu think klinsmann was good and the decision was short sighted, than I dont know that there is a discussion to be had.

---

You come off like an absolute *****.

---

That was my intention.

Bunk Moreland said:

---

Gotcha. So this is more of a 3 year stop gap versus a hope of a 10 year until with him?

---

Most pundits expect him in charge less than three years, even. Barring an amazing World Cup performance, you'd expect another hire soon after so that the new coach can start getting acquainted with the team.

Bunk Moreland said:

---

Don't really follow the umnt outside of major events. Caught this 2nd half by accident.

I did see that arena benched a bunch of guys for this game, this isn't close to our top roster, and Martinique isn't good.

My question is this... Is Arena good? I thought Klinsmann was pretty good and the decision to remove him was shirt sighted. I didn't think he was aggressive enough at times but I don't know enough about the inner workings of soccer or the politics of us national soccer.

Not looking for tons of substance, just if you guys who follow it closer think arena was a step up for the future of us men's soccer from Klinsmann.

---

Klinsmann not taking any responsibility for results and playing guys out of position along with tinkering were his undoing.

Pareja next coach

This half and Panama from the spring maybe?

Either way I see what you're saying. Tonight they just look like they're 6 goals better than the opponent. That's the way it goes sometimes though.

Is there no backup to Howard better than Guzan?

Definitely didn't like his smugness. That was part of my question at the beginning. Was he not playing the politics?

Bunk Moreland said:

---

This half and Panama from the spring maybe?

Either way I see what you're saying. Tonight they just look like they're 6 goals better than the opponent. That's the way it goes sometimes though.

Is there no backup to Howard better than Guzan?

---

There are young guys in the pipeline. Im kind of surprised that we haven't given them one of these first two games.

PatAg said:

---

mathguy86 said:

---

PatAg said:

---

I know they are being told to do this, but the AR waiting that long to raise the flag is going to get players hurt.

---

There was a minor wording change in the Law last year that is really being seen and felt at higher levels. It's has to do with waiting until the offensive player actually touches the ball. Not all refs at this level are having their ARs adhere to it it the strictest of senses. And in the end the Center Ref is the one who tells his ARs how he wants them to call it.

---

This is a ridiculous change, imo.

---

Oh I agree. I threw a flag for offside about 50 yds from goal on a long ball over the top where a clearly offside attacker turned and went after the ball. The (much younger and overly full of himself) CR waited to blow it offside until the attacker actually touched it at the top edge of the area. It cost the defense 30 yds in field position. We had a lengthy discussion afterwards. I might or might not have called him an idiot for penalizing the defense like that. Big difference between the letter and the spirit of the Law.

Well that sucked balls, at least we got 3 pts. So much for piling on the goals though.

Bunk Moreland said:

---

Definitely didn't like his smugness. That was part of my question at the beginning. Was he not playing the politics?

---

My opinion of course, but you can get away with that if the performances follow. We had a horrible Gold Cup 2 years ago, and then opened WCQ with 2 losses, one of which we probably had the worst 1st team performance in a decade. Also just numerous games where we really didnt seem to have an overall game plan.

Now there were definitely a fair share of games where we played excellently, so I dont think Jurgen was a horrible coach either.

Klinsmann didn't do any favors with the mls and it's players.

Just listen to the players in the difference between JK and Arena

Does Martinique have the best flag in the world?

We played on home soil in a meaningful tournament, and had to hang on for dear life against Martinique.
Played a scoreless,first half, blew a two goal lead, had a howler, missed about 5 bunnies, and looked like the weaker team late despite all,of,our supposed advantages.

I just hope our A starters don't get hurt.

We are well above Martinique's level, but we're also not a world class team. When we voluntarily go with a C or even D squad, well, eventually we'll lower our strength to where they can compete. Still got the win, and looked better in general.

We're serving two masters right now, and we're actually pulling it off.