Comments on: USSF + MLS = Coaching Fiasco http://onthepitch.org/2006/12/08/ussf-mls-coaching-fiasco/ Thoughts on Youth Soccer from a Soccer Dad, Fan, Coach and Administrator Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:47:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Soccer Dad http://onthepitch.org/2006/12/08/ussf-mls-coaching-fiasco/comment-page-1/#comment-10640 Soccer Dad Fri, 08 Dec 2006 15:17:36 +0000 http://onthepitch.org/2006/12/08/ussf-mls-coaching-fiasco/#comment-10640 I think there is more too. I don't expect ANY coach would expect to have EVERY player available for EVERY tournament. But given the additional tournaments the USMNT are slated to play in soon, I can see him wanted assurances from MLS that the stars would be available, especially during the season and I expect the MLS said no. Would it be a rock solid guarantee? Of course not. But I expect Klinsmann wanted to field a power team for the Copa America and the MLS teams said 'sorry not during the season' I realize the teams have their clubs to consider and it IS risky, but professionals playing in national tournaments is part of soccer - international clubs do it, albeit grudgingly, but still. The MLS <i>has</i> to realize the USMNT is a key to their marketing, like it or not. I think there is more too. I don’t expect ANY coach would expect to have EVERY player available for EVERY tournament. But given the additional tournaments the USMNT are slated to play in soon, I can see him wanted assurances from MLS that the stars would be available, especially during the season and I expect the MLS said no. Would it be a rock solid guarantee? Of course not. But I expect Klinsmann wanted to field a power team for the Copa America and the MLS teams said ’sorry not during the season’ I realize the teams have their clubs to consider and it IS risky, but professionals playing in national tournaments is part of soccer – international clubs do it, albeit grudgingly, but still.

The MLS has to realize the USMNT is a key to their marketing, like it or not.

]]> By: Joe http://onthepitch.org/2006/12/08/ussf-mls-coaching-fiasco/comment-page-1/#comment-10639 Joe Fri, 08 Dec 2006 15:12:17 +0000 http://onthepitch.org/2006/12/08/ussf-mls-coaching-fiasco/#comment-10639 I'm not sure it's such a reasonable demand. Maybe for USSF, what do they care? But for MLS... The league's clubs want to be able to behave like any other league's clubs. And every now and then, rarely, a club feels the need to refuse to release a player for national team duty. If Klinsmann really wanted veto power over that refusal, he was asking an awful lot of the league. Especially considering MLS clubs have a pretty good track record of giving up their players when called up. Somehow I think there's more to the story. I’m not sure it’s such a reasonable demand. Maybe for USSF, what do they care? But for MLS… The league’s clubs want to be able to behave like any other league’s clubs. And every now and then, rarely, a club feels the need to refuse to release a player for national team duty. If Klinsmann really wanted veto power over that refusal, he was asking an awful lot of the league. Especially considering MLS clubs have a pretty good track record of giving up their players when called up.

Somehow I think there’s more to the story.

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