Morris left out of Copa America team -
washingtonismoney - 05-21-2016
For Chris Wondolowski, who literally has never done a thing for the US national team. Oh Klinsmann.
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
fullmetal - 05-21-2016
Some ESPN commentary on the situation:
http://www.espnfc.us/club/united-states/660/blog/post/2877468/klinsmanns-wondolowskiguzan-decisions-mark-united-states-copa-america-roster
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
dabigv13 - 05-21-2016
Dumb. True Morris is unpolished and less experienced, but he certainly has the potential to be a very good player on the national squad. Picking Wondo is accepting mediocrity.
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
Ronnietrader - 05-21-2016
Wondo has never proven to be anything but mediocre against good national sides. He missed an absolute sitter against Belgium in the dying moments of a World Cup match that would have sent the U.S. into the quarterfinals. May be better for Morris to play regularly at the Sounders during the tournament than sit on the bench for 95% of the Copa America run.
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
oman - 05-21-2016
Sorry guys, I like Morris' spunk, but its moneyball. Wondo is a more effective scorer in MLS than Morris, has more experience and JK is trying to play the odds.Â
That being said, I think we are wasting time with Altidore, so I've got tons of issues with JKs choices. Â
Ultimately, we need a coach like Oscar Pareja to lead the US team. I am not sure what that would mean for someone like Morris.
JK seems to find a way to get things done, and he likes Morris, so I think Morris just needs to bide his time.
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
winflop - 05-22-2016
(05-21-2016, 01:33 PM)washingtonismoney link Wrote:For Chris Wondolowski, who literally has never done a thing for the US national team. Oh Klinsmann.
You know, other than missing a potential game-winning goal into a wide-open net from 6 yards in the World Cup
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
czaja - 05-22-2016
I'm pretty sure that Morris isn't in the squad b/c JK wants to let him settle in with his club during his first year as a pro, and he feels that's more important right now than this tourney. Since MLS doesn't have a traditional soccer calendar, Morris would be missing games. You can agree or disagree with this reasoning, but either way I don't think the move indicates anything negative about JK's feelings toward Morris or Morris' future role with the Nats.
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
Mick - 05-22-2016
(05-21-2016, 05:58 PM)Ronnietrader link Wrote:Wondo has never proven to be anything but mediocre against good national sides. He missed an absolute sitter against Belgium in the dying moments of a World Cup match that would have sent the U.S. into the quarterfinals. May be better for Morris to play regularly at the Sounders during the tournament than sit on the bench for 95% of the Copa America run.
literally the only play of that world cup that I recall. it was awful.
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
winflop - 05-22-2016
(05-21-2016, 05:58 PM)Ronnietrader link Wrote:May be better for Morris to play regularly at the Sounders during the tournament than sit on the bench for 95% of the Copa America run.
Unless Klinsmann comes out and says he had that exact conversation with Morris he doesn't get the benefit of the doubt.
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
oman - 05-23-2016
He gets the benefit of the doubt in picking a forward who is more productive per minute in the MLS than Morris.Â
I like youth too, and I would have played Morris more earlier, but now, this isn't a decision to get too worked up about.
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
winflop - 05-23-2016
(05-23-2016, 12:59 PM)oman link Wrote:He gets the benefit of the doubt
We will have to agree to disagree here. I don't think Klinsmann gets any benefit of the doubt any more.
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
teejers1 - 05-24-2016
I'm no soccer expert, but a colleague of mine thinks that Klinsmann left Morris off the team because he opted to play in MLS and not in Europe. Indeed, an article on selecting teams for the Italian side was explicit in this "If you choose MLS, you must pay the consequences."
Now before all of you point out that Wondo is in MLS, please recall that Klinsmann never urged the long-in-the-tooth Wondo to improve his skills in Europe. But he advocated just that for Morris. A cynic might think that Klinsmann was penalizing Morris for his choice while also showing him the bird (and "covering" his real motives) by selecting another MLS player.
I am a cynic.
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
washingtonismoney - 05-24-2016
(05-24-2016, 03:28 PM)teejers1 link Wrote:I'm no soccer expert, but a colleague of mine thinks that Klinsmann left Morris off the team because he opted to play in MLS and not in Europe. Indeed, an article on selecting teams for the Italian side was explicit in this "If you choose MLS, you must pay the consequences."
Now before all of you point out that Wondo is in MLS, please recall that Klinsmann never urged the long-in-the-tooth Wondo to improve his skills in Europe. But he advocated just that for Morris. A cynic might think that Klinsmann was penalizing Morris for his choice while also showing him the bird (and "covering" his real motives) by selecting another MLS player.
I am a cynic.
It's possible, but I'd go for the "never ascribe to malice what could just as easily be ascribed to idiocy" theorem regarding Klinsmann.
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
DC 86 - 05-24-2016
Teejers1's theory has been cited by both Sports Illustrated and Fox Sports, presumably based on speculation by USSF insiders, so it shouldn't be discounted. Klinsmann (and his right hand man Herzog) pushed to set up Morris at Werder Bremen so it's reasonable to think they may have been disappointed that Morris turned down the opportunity.
That said, it's clear that Klinsmann likes Morris a lot and has done a lot to push him forward. It's virtually unprecedented for a college player to be called into the senior national team (Morris was the first this century), and Klinsmann has always spoken highly of him. Klinsmann fancies himself a master psychologist, so he may simply be trying to motivate Morris. I am a brobdingnagian Morris fan and feel that the team would be well served by an infusion of youth, but he was fighting for the last spot on the 23-man squad, and lost out to a player who objectively has performed better this year, so this is not akin to Donovan being left out of the world cup team, which I always assumed to be payback for Donovan having taken a sabbatical during world cup qualifiers.
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
winflop - 05-25-2016
(05-24-2016, 03:28 PM)teejers1 link Wrote:Klinsmann never urged the long-in-the-tooth Wondo to improve his skills in Europe
Maybe because Wondo would rarely see the field in top division Europe? All the more reason to put Morris on the squad...
#FireJurgen
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
fullmetal - 06-03-2016
Quote:It's clear that the upcoming crop of talent isn't loaded with successful professionals, but there are some who have broken through and are starting consistently like Jordan Morris. Instead of rewarding Morris for his goal scoring form with a Copa America roster spot, he chose to leave him at home.
It just seems like Klinsmann has no idea what he wants and players can't win no matter what they do. Go to Europe and fight for a spot? You're not playing enough minutes. Come to MLS and score goals as a 22-year-old? You should've gone to Europe!
http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2016/6/3/11852674/klinsmann-expresses-displeasure-with-usmnt-youth-players
Here's the interview published by the WSJ that the above post references:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-q-a-with-jurgen-klinsmann-ahead-of-the-copa-america-1464907320
Quote:WSJ: What does Seattles Jordan Morris need to do?
Klinsmann: Jordan knows he has to become a two-way player, has to learn [to deal with] high pressure, how to defend and how to make decisions, when to pass and when to cross. He has to improve his left foot, his aerial game. There are many areas where he knows, Ive got to work on it. Then you can only see that process over the next couple of years. Hes on that path where he is learning to make his own decisions. Hes learning to take things into his own hands.
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
washingtonismoney - 06-03-2016
Because this isn't a soccer forum, I'll spare everyone my thoughts -- but, suffice it so say, the interview didn't exactly disabuse me of the idea that Klinsmann is a very dim man. Or a very deceptive one. One of the two. Fortunately for him, he is -- whatever he and others would like you to believe -- in possession of the deepest pool of talent in U.S. history. (Partially, to be fair, as a result of his efforts.) And, fortunately for him, the team is playing at home. Those two facts might elevate the team, whatever Klinsmann's dire lack of talent as a coach, and make him look good.
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
winflop - 06-03-2016
I see him as the Johnny Dawkins of men's soccer
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
BostonCard - 06-03-2016
(06-03-2016, 09:57 PM)winflop link Wrote:I see him as the Johnny Dawkins of men's soccer
I disagree. Johny Dawkins was a classy guy.
BC
Re: Morris left out of Copa America team -
yvonne - 06-04-2016
(06-03-2016, 05:38 PM)washingtonismoney link Wrote:Because this isn't a soccer forum, I'll spare everyone my thoughts --
This is a sports forum. Soccer is a sport. Therefore.