Posted on Wednesday 12 July 2006
The month long football orgy is over–unless you live in Italy. Like all orgies, it was fabulous while it lasted, but it’s time to get back to the day to day.
While players drift off for a couple last weeks in the sun, teams are already gearing up for the long seasons that are about to begin. Many players will be drifting back to different clubs. Particularly once the fall-out from the Italian scandal is sorted. The huge stars at Juve, AC etc may be looking to move on soon–or will be forced to.
Coaches have left, been replaced–including seemingly every international one. Even Lippi has left after winning the World Cup. Everyone else is leaving, presumably, because they did not. Klinsmann has quit Germany. If I’m the US Federation, I’m on the blower with him yesterday trying to convince him to take over for Arena. That move would be huge for the US team. Anything short of something like that, is going to seem like a step backward.
Tons of transfers I’ve barely had a chance to glance at. Chelsea’s usual horde, of course, but some other surprises as well. Probably many more coming soon, since the notable distraction has come to an end. Didi Hamman bolts Liverpool for Bolton, then immediately bolts again for Man City.
It’s all very confusing. I’m still working my way through the World Cup hangover. It’s going to take a couple days to start to be able to make sense of everything.
I love the idea of Klinsmann taking over the US squad.
Klinsmann would be the best thing that ever happened to American football. A dream come true if we lure the key to be our coach.
Klinsmann’s brand of football is the wave of the future. Tactically Germany played much like Italia, a defensive brand of football with first priority on maintaining numerical superiority in defense but with the flanks in midfield and defense already observant and ready to sprint up the pitch with laser fast ball movement when there is a real opportunity to exploit the defense. Couple this with innovative coaching techniques designed to fully prep players for the physical and mental challenges and you have the new model of football in the future.
Let’s hope Klinsmann is our guy. I could see the US challenging in 2010 in South Africa under his leadership and by 2014 we could have a major contender. (after 2014 of course, Klinsmann would be obligated to run for Governer of California, what with Arnold becoming President of the United States.)