Here we go again. You can’t go comparing Klinsmann to any of the U.S. coaches before him. The previous U.S. coaches all come from the old way of US Soccer (which is to say, the old, shitty way). Klinsmann has won as a player at the highest level of the sport and knows what it takes to play at that level. I’d rather…

We were the best team in CONCACAF for the past 8 years? Let’s back that off a moment here. In the three years before Klinsmann’s arrival under Bob Bradley we lost both of our Gold Cups and frequently lost to Mexico in Mexico. Klinsmann has kept the USA undefeated against Mexico for 5 years, which is pretty damn…

Bullshit. Bradley was fired for losing two Gold Cups in a row and terrible World Cup results. Klinsmann got positive World Cup results (albeit only slightly positive) and has won one of his Gold Cups so far. Klinsmann hasn’t even begun to approach Bradley’s level of failure yet.

Don’t think heart is their problem. Part of their problem is that their soccer culture thinks it is.

This, forever this. Seeing fans want JK out after losing to Mex for the first time in the last 6 is hilarious, all things considered.

The fans are the problem. Mainstream American fans have no experience not being the best at the international level. They have almost no experience with embarrassment at the international competitive level and their views about coaches are often informed by professional or college sports where a new coach can simply…

3rd place in a World Cup is basically nothing? I guess I have lower standards than you.

That was clearly hyperbole, but the idea that US should be at Mexico is absurd. Mexico is the more talented side therefore they should have won. The US and Mexico aren’t so close that the best coach in the world can be the difference.

What the fuck is wrong with people?

There is always a fight between national teams and club teams. Tugging on the player’s desire to win for their country is one of the main jobs for a national coach. The club team is always king.

Generally agree, but I think people always over-evaluate the talent USA players.

Well... no. If Andorra goes out and loses to Italy 3-2 in extra time, Andorra doesn’t fire their coach for not getting results. They probably extend him, or more likely, lose him to a slightly better team like Denmark or Sweden.

Do you really want to improve American soccer? Abolish the corrupt joke that is Concacaf. Merge it with Conmebol and have an all-Americas confederation.

We won’t have another coach of Klinsmann’s caliber for a very, very, long time. Good coaches do go to coach 2nd tier countries, but not when they’re getting the same insane media pressure they would be coaching England or Spain.

Except it won’t do any good to hold such lofty expectations when you’re talking about the US team. One of the big European teams having that kind of accountability is understandable, sure. I think because we stumbled into a few great WC wins that we think we’re some kind of soccer talent. We aren’t. We suck, more or…

I will readily admit to not being anything more than a novice when it comes to watching/following international soccer. But here is my question, and hopefully someone with more knowledge can provide some additional information:

I’ve lived in the Bay Area for almost 30 years—anyone who still reads that paper is either related to someone who works there or too old to understand what any of this means. Possibly/probably both. It has been terrible by any standard for at least a decade.

Nailed it. Just beautiful.