100 Words or Less
Here's What We Want to See from U.S. v. Czech Rep.
Here you go—eight quick takes on today's United States—Czech Republic friendly from a variety of ASN contributors past and present. See what they have to say and then share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Jeffrey Donovan, freelance soccer writer
Watching the team scrimmage for two days in Prague was eye opening. Now I want to see the USMNT 2.0: a midfield trio of Morales, Hyndman and Diskerud feeding a dynamic front three of Julian Green, Jozy Altidore and Jordan Morris. Oops. Did I say Jordan Morris? I guess I did. That’s because he killed it in training. While more experienced forwards frequently failed to find the net, the Stanford amateur put on a cold-blooded clinic of accuracy in the finishing drills. Add to that his explosive athleticism and razor-sharp mind, and you begin to glimpse what’s intrigued Klinsmann. Liviu Bird, SI.com contributor
It’s time to get the young players integrated and begin to see who can and who can’t hack it at the international level. It would be foolish to try to glean too much from any of the remaining friendlies in 2014; we rarely know anything about the World Cup roster before January or February of the year in which the tournament is played. Still, now is the beginning of the process with players who will be hitting their prime playing age in four years’ time. I’ll be watching Rubio Rubin, Emerson Hyndman and Jordan Morris the closest. Brooke Tunstall, ASN contributing editor
I want to see words backed up. Jurgen Klinsmann says the next year is about new, young players. Good, play the young players. He says he wants them to be more “proactive” with the ball. Just, to coin a phrase, do it. Put players on the field who can play proactively while giving the younger, newer players a chance to show they can play at this level. Let’s see if Mix Diskerud can be a midfield fulcrum, if Greg Garza is a fullback upgrade, if Julian Green is actually worth the hype, and if together they can actually be “proactive.” Noah Davis, ASN deputy editor
The new guys. Isn't that what this friendly is about? Jurgen Klinsmann is angry that he doesn't have his MLS stars—understandable, I suppose, although I don't fully buy his argument—so let's see if the young guys like Julian Green, Rubio Rubin, Emerson Hyndman, Jordan Morris, and the rest can make a case that the coach won't need to call the domestic-based players in the future. All eyes on 2018, right? John Godfrey, ASN editor in chief
Jurgen Klinsmann says he doesn't understand why his players backed off against Belgium and Germany at the 2014 World Cup. Well, I don't understand why the coach doesn't understand what his players are doing. That's the job, right—to pick the lineup and then guide the players’ actions on the field? Like Klinsmann, I was frustrated watching the U.S. acquiesce in Brazil. Unlike Klinsmann, I wasn’t empowered to do anything about it. Why didn’t the coach take decisive action? Whistle or something! Hold up a sign! Maybe this more positive, attacking approach he keeps talking about can go on display today in Prague. Josh Deaver, ASN contributor
With the looming prospect of having to develop multiple senior team rosters in the coming cycle, Klinsmann must hit the ground running against the Czechs on Wednesday. It’s time to see if the “kids” are alright. Two big questions: Who will emerge as the first choice left back, and how will the midfield evolve once Beckerman and Jones are put out to pasture? Chandler, Garza and even Tim Ream should see time auditioning for Beasley’s spot—which remains as wide open as ever. In the midfield, without Bradley as the psychic anchor it should be fascinating to see what Corona, Diskerud, and young Emerson Hyndman can do in prominent roles. Buckle up. John D. Halloran, ASN contributor
While many U.S. fans were excited by the sheer number of youth prospects named to the roster for this friendly against the Czech Republic, the lack of veterans also serves to underline the fact that there aren't many experienced American players currently making a mark abroad. Nevertheless, Klinsmann needs to use this match to see if newbies Bobby Wood, Joe Gyau, and Rubio Rubin are good enough to spark an American offense that was often effete in Brazil and give up-and-comers Mix Diskerud and Joe Corona the keys to the midfield to see if they can get the job done. Blake Thomsen, ASN contributor
More than personnel or formation or even result, I want to see the U.S. actually try to attack on the road against a European team as Jurgen Klinsmann continues to—publicly, at least—demand a more proactive approach against quality opposition. It’s time that the U.S. actually does that, no matter the result. Let’s go for it a little bit and see what happens! I want midfielders making runs behind the defense (a la Julian Green against Belgium), options in the box when our wingers are looking to cross, and legitimate high pressing. OK, that's what we want to see. What do you want from today's match? In 100 words or less, please.
Watching the team scrimmage for two days in Prague was eye opening. Now I want to see the USMNT 2.0: a midfield trio of Morales, Hyndman and Diskerud feeding a dynamic front three of Julian Green, Jozy Altidore and Jordan Morris. Oops. Did I say Jordan Morris? I guess I did. That’s because he killed it in training. While more experienced forwards frequently failed to find the net, the Stanford amateur put on a cold-blooded clinic of accuracy in the finishing drills. Add to that his explosive athleticism and razor-sharp mind, and you begin to glimpse what’s intrigued Klinsmann. Liviu Bird, SI.com contributor
It’s time to get the young players integrated and begin to see who can and who can’t hack it at the international level. It would be foolish to try to glean too much from any of the remaining friendlies in 2014; we rarely know anything about the World Cup roster before January or February of the year in which the tournament is played. Still, now is the beginning of the process with players who will be hitting their prime playing age in four years’ time. I’ll be watching Rubio Rubin, Emerson Hyndman and Jordan Morris the closest. Brooke Tunstall, ASN contributing editor
I want to see words backed up. Jurgen Klinsmann says the next year is about new, young players. Good, play the young players. He says he wants them to be more “proactive” with the ball. Just, to coin a phrase, do it. Put players on the field who can play proactively while giving the younger, newer players a chance to show they can play at this level. Let’s see if Mix Diskerud can be a midfield fulcrum, if Greg Garza is a fullback upgrade, if Julian Green is actually worth the hype, and if together they can actually be “proactive.” Noah Davis, ASN deputy editor
The new guys. Isn't that what this friendly is about? Jurgen Klinsmann is angry that he doesn't have his MLS stars—understandable, I suppose, although I don't fully buy his argument—so let's see if the young guys like Julian Green, Rubio Rubin, Emerson Hyndman, Jordan Morris, and the rest can make a case that the coach won't need to call the domestic-based players in the future. All eyes on 2018, right? John Godfrey, ASN editor in chief
Jurgen Klinsmann says he doesn't understand why his players backed off against Belgium and Germany at the 2014 World Cup. Well, I don't understand why the coach doesn't understand what his players are doing. That's the job, right—to pick the lineup and then guide the players’ actions on the field? Like Klinsmann, I was frustrated watching the U.S. acquiesce in Brazil. Unlike Klinsmann, I wasn’t empowered to do anything about it. Why didn’t the coach take decisive action? Whistle or something! Hold up a sign! Maybe this more positive, attacking approach he keeps talking about can go on display today in Prague. Josh Deaver, ASN contributor
With the looming prospect of having to develop multiple senior team rosters in the coming cycle, Klinsmann must hit the ground running against the Czechs on Wednesday. It’s time to see if the “kids” are alright. Two big questions: Who will emerge as the first choice left back, and how will the midfield evolve once Beckerman and Jones are put out to pasture? Chandler, Garza and even Tim Ream should see time auditioning for Beasley’s spot—which remains as wide open as ever. In the midfield, without Bradley as the psychic anchor it should be fascinating to see what Corona, Diskerud, and young Emerson Hyndman can do in prominent roles. Buckle up. John D. Halloran, ASN contributor
While many U.S. fans were excited by the sheer number of youth prospects named to the roster for this friendly against the Czech Republic, the lack of veterans also serves to underline the fact that there aren't many experienced American players currently making a mark abroad. Nevertheless, Klinsmann needs to use this match to see if newbies Bobby Wood, Joe Gyau, and Rubio Rubin are good enough to spark an American offense that was often effete in Brazil and give up-and-comers Mix Diskerud and Joe Corona the keys to the midfield to see if they can get the job done. Blake Thomsen, ASN contributor
More than personnel or formation or even result, I want to see the U.S. actually try to attack on the road against a European team as Jurgen Klinsmann continues to—publicly, at least—demand a more proactive approach against quality opposition. It’s time that the U.S. actually does that, no matter the result. Let’s go for it a little bit and see what happens! I want midfielders making runs behind the defense (a la Julian Green against Belgium), options in the box when our wingers are looking to cross, and legitimate high pressing. OK, that's what we want to see. What do you want from today's match? In 100 words or less, please.
