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Message: [QUOTE="DarthGrumpy, post: 3179803, member: 2141"] ------------------------------ Klinsmann was susceptible to some of his own biases, including anti-MLS as much as Arena was a MLS flag-waver and Berhalter looks to be USSF's lapdog. None of those strategies work. I known I am in the minority; but, I believe excluding Donovan from the 2014 WC Roster in part due to his way too personal family feud with Donovan was a huge mistake that cost the USMNT the opportunity to advance further than they did (in addition to not having a serviceable holding striker to fill-in for injury-prone [SIZE=4]Altidore on the roster). In 2014, a 75% fit Donovan was a better option as a set-piece specialist over Brad Davis and as an offensive super-sub over Chris Wondolowski[B] [/B](and if he took both roles, that leaves a slot for an Altidore replacement). For all of his faults, on a 1v1 breakaway in a World Cup elimination game, who do you want to take the shot, Donovan or Wondo? [MEDIA=youtube]1zUr0I-QuUQ[/MEDIA][/SIZE] Overall, I honestly don't care if a USMNT player is from MLS, Europe, Mexico, etc. as long as it's the best player for a given role on a given team. The objective of the USMNT is to develop national team players (U16 > seniors) and then to put the best team on the field that gives the US the best opportunity to advance in the World Cup, Gold Cup, etc. Instead, we have USSF leadership focused on using the USMNT to market MLS players. The reason that the U-18 and U-20 team does better is that MLS is not interested in the 'kids' yet. So they get to develop and are able to put together a TEAM that can be exicting and has the opportunity to advance without intrusion from MLS. Until the USMNT Senior team is allowed to do the same, they're screwed. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach