Landon Donovan cut from World Cup roster

I'd honestly feel better about our chances if our forwards were consistently putting up goals and not dependent on the midfield for the bulk of the scoring. That said, its much easier to have a little confidence in our defense knowing an early 0-1 deficit isn't fatal.
 
kicker22 said:
If that was directed toward my earlier post. I think you completely missed what I said. That said, I haven't seen anything out of Josie recently that would make me believe that he's proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he belongs on the roster.
Click to expand...

With regard to this statement, you have to be absolutely kidding me. He hasn't put the ball in the net, I'll give you that, but Jozy Altidore is the best pure striker this country has ever produced. Bar none. He's 24 and this statement is true without a shadow of a doubt. Jozy Altidore is capable of single handedly carrying this team.. Bradley might be the ignition, but Jozy is the gasoline. If we are lucky enough to advance to the Quarters, it will be because Jozy caught fire and no other reason. To suggest that he shouldn't have made the roster is one of the most monumentally stupid sports comments I've ever heard. This is not hyperbole.

As far as Donovan is concerned, it is important to keep in mind that this decision had nothing to do with soccer tactics. Klinsmann knows that Landon is good. But Jurgen doesn't trust Landon. He said as much after the Italy friendly. Both Taylor Twellman are on record as saying that Jurgen said during a tiny press conference (like, only Twellman, Lalas and Grant Wahl tiny) that he "extended a bridge to Landon, and Landon burned it." He literally said that a year and a half ago. Something transpired between the two of them that was serious enough that Jurgen felt that Landon's actions (or inactions) were tantamount to quitting. You can't fault a coach for this. If you have your choice of the best of the best, you can afford to leave off whoever isn't buying in. I get it. The whole situation stinks, but I get it.
 
MiniMoeHawk said:
Altidore barely made the roster as is....He is in a funk and hasn't scored a goal in a long time. It doesn't matter much anyways since they have the group of death and won't make it out of their group. Not with how the defense is playing.
Click to expand...

facepalm. No.

There were 7 guys who were sure things barring injury: Dempsey, Bradley, Howard, Guzan, Jones, Johnson...and Altidore.

Suggesting that Jozy a) shouldn't be or b) almost wasn't on the roster is just...how can I put this? Extremely naiive. C'mon guys, you're embarrassing yourselves.
 
wundergrape said:
With regard to this statement, you have to be absolutely kidding me. He hasn't put the ball in the net, I'll give you that, but Jozy Altidore is the best pure striker this country has ever produced. Bar none. He's 24 and this statement is true without a shadow of a doubt. Jozy Altidore is capable of single handedly carrying this team.. Bradley might be the ignition, but Jozy is the gasoline. If we are lucky enough to advance to the Quarters, it will be because Jozy caught fire and no other reason. To suggest that he shouldn't have made the roster is one of the most monumentally stupid sports comments I've ever heard. This is not hyperbole.

As far as Donovan is concerned, it is important to keep in mind that this decision had nothing to do with soccer tactics. Klinsmann knows that Landon is good. But Jurgen doesn't trust Landon. He said as much after the Italy friendly. Both Taylor Twellman are on record as saying that Jurgen said during a tiny press conference (like, only Twellman, Lalas and Grant Wahl tiny) that he "extended a bridge to Landon, and Landon burned it." He literally said that a year and a half ago. Something transpired between the two of them that was serious enough that Jurgen felt that Landon's actions (or inactions) were tantamount to quitting. You can't fault a coach for this. If you have your choice of the best of the best, you can afford to leave off whoever isn't buying in. I get it. The whole situation stinks, but I get it.
Click to expand...

I should retract my initial post and restate my post. When I stated that "I hadn't seen anything out of Josie recently that would make me believe that he's proven beyond a reasonable doubt that he belongs on the roster" I should have expanded on it. Josie is a phenomenal striker, but the fact that he hadn't scored a club or national team goal in almost 6 months before this weekend concerned me and based on Jurgen's philosophy that the past won't dictate the present I stand behind my initial statement that there was reasonable doubt he belongs on the roster. When Josie is clicking and confident he's a great asset and a game changer. That said it's only been recently that he's appeared to have his confidence back (in game situations when it truly matters). My concern is when Dempsey can be a nonfactor for large portions of a game before flipping a switch, we need a confident striker.

I believe Josie found that confidence recently, but I'll stick to my opinion that at the time of camp I didn't see him as an absolute based on Jurgen's unpredictability. That said I still saw him as a lock on the roster, but felt he wasn't playing at a level that made him untouchable.

And in regards to Jurgen not trusting Landon. I agree with you on that, but still feel it was a power play move by Jurgen to make a statement. If it truly wasn't about soccer, then IMHO there is zero reason why you bring him back to the program or even invite him to camp. I simply don't believe that it took camp for him to realize that he wasn't going to earn that trust back.

I also disagree with you about our success being based solely on Altidore catching fire. While I think that will play a major part, I think its all about the midfield. If they continue to create scoring opportunities like they have been then we have a chance. The fact is that lately they're creating scoring opportunities that anyone on the roster could finish. If the midfield is clicking offensively and finding the space to attack we're in good shape, if not I don't think Altidore's play really matters as I don't think he has enough opportunities to influence a game.
 
I'm not saying that Altidore is our key to success. I'm saying that he is the only player who can propel us farther than we would have gone otherwise by virtue of his performance alone. Let me put it this way: if Michael Bradley has the best month of his life, we still might not get out of the group.

If Jozy Altidore has the month of his life, we go to the semifinals. Jozy's that much of a dynamic player when he's on. Nobody else on our team has a ceiling like Jozy.
 
wundergrape said:
I'm not saying that Altidore is our key to success. I'm saying that he is the only player who can propel us farther than we would have gone otherwise by virtue of his performance alone. Let me put it this way: if Michael Bradley has the best month of his life, we still might not get out of the group.

If Jozy Altidore has the month of his life, we go to the semifinals. Jozy's that much of a dynamic player when he's on. Nobody else on our team has a ceiling like Jozy.
Click to expand...


I see here your coming from. I just think the productivity has to come from the midfield, Bradley included. Playing the lone striker that Jurgen likes scares me. That said I think our mids need to score to take the pressure off the striker (most likely Altidore the majority of the tournament). I love the way t defenders are attacking out of the back and the way they are finding space. That said, I think they continue to attack and counter attack I think we have a decent shot at a decent group stage.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Share this page

Top