Fire Jurgen Klinsmann?

           Jurgen Klinsmann has been wrongfully receiving  abundant negative criticism for results as the U.S. men's soccer coach. By wrongfully I mean that Klinsmann should be criticized, but is being scorched by the media for the wrong reasons. As a head coach on any high level competitive soccer team criticism is expected and Klinsmann is no exception. After the 2-0 lost in Guatemala I read articles from the media on a few of Klinsman's faults as a coach. One of them was that he plays players out of position and isn't consistent with his line up. I read that in the last 82 games Klinsmann has put out 80 different line-ups. The issue I have with this particular criticism is that it reveals how low our soccer IQ is as a nation. Now I agree that Klinsmann is a terrible coach tactically, which is nothing new from his quick stint as Bayern Munich's coach. The captain Philipp Lahm publicly criticized his fellow countrymen for not emphasizing soccer tactics enough. The great Pep Gurdiola who is held as one of the best coaches in the world right now is no stranger to switching players from their comfortable positions. In the champions league final as FC Barcelona's coach versus  Manchester United he played Carles Puyol, the captain, a dominant center back played as a right back the whole game. On a more permanent bases Pep Guardiola moved an Argentine center defensive midfielder into the center back position. In Bayern Guardiola moved Philipp Lahm, a right back, into the deep center midfield position. The same player and club Klinsmann coached years before. This idea is nothing new nor specific to Guardiloa. Arsene Wenger acquired Thierry Henry from Juventus to Arsenal in 1999. At the time Henry was a winger for Juventus, but at Arsenal Wenger used him as a striker. Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid's solid center back started his career as a right back for Spanish club Sevilla. In Europe, and the rest of the world players change position or play multiple of positions. It is not uncommon act from coaches to do so. Yet, for Jurgen Klinsmann to be criticized for something common is ridiculous. Now it is not to say players should always be moved or that a soccer player had to change his position throughout their career. Some players have always been a winger or defender and dominate because they excel at that position. I agree that the U.S. men's soccer team lacks consistency and it is true Klinsmann isn't a great coach. As I see he reads the game very poorly. Great choice as the director of USSF, but the coaching position may not suit him well. But as I mentioned before in a previous blog, the lack of individual talent is what hurts the U.S. the most. The way the U.S. soccer plays with extreme emphasis as a team unit players need more time to gel together. For example, at the moment the U.S. is not sure which two center backs solidify the defense the best. Most  national teams play the best two center backs they have or the best two available. At the moment some would say it is frightening that the there is no solidity in the back. Maybe it's a good thing for the men's team that it's still up for grabs. It allows for a good decent coach to play multiple players in those positions to see who can compete. Only if that terrible Klinsmann could do that....oh wait.