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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Arena’s first stint record was better than Klinsmann, by the numbers and specifically 2002 WC performance.   You can not credibly argue Klinsmann’s results were better than Arena in his first stint, they’re just not.

There are many more, public references of players who had bad things to say about Klinsmann. So what that someone said he wouldn’t have lost WC qualifying this time around. The team was a mess and the losses that came at the end of his run weren’t inspiring in bolstering that idea, to say the least.

The fact remains that he did nothing in the five years he had to make the case that a foreign manager is better than an American, even if I concede that Arena’s 98-06 results are equivalent to Jurgen’s (they’re not, Arena’s were better). His recognition that our top players should play in Europe does not count as a single point in the case that he’s the better manager of the team.

One view posed above is the conspiratorial notion that the selection of a Berkhalter is rigged.  Another, simpler explanation is that they are gun shy to target another foreign head coach after the mess that was left by the last one. [/quote]

Klinsmann first stint was with Germany and he took them to semifinals, which is something Arena will never achieve.  Klinsmann's second stint was with USMNT and he advanced from the group of death, whereas Arena has failed to qualify for the WC.  I find it ridiculous that some blame Klinsmann for failing to qualify, when he only coached 2 games in Hexagonal against two strongest teams in our region, Mexico and Costa Rica.  The USSF was waiting for the first excuse to fire him and put their man in.   Arena coached 8 Hex games, including the loss to Trinidad and Tobago.    [/quote]

With all due respect, you can’t compare anything other than the performance of the men with the USMNT.  That’s the only apples to apples comparison.  What I find ridiculous is that this is the hill you choose to die upon. [/quote]

Nobody needs to die.  We can agree to disagree.  Germany had more talent than USMNT, I will give you that, but taking that young team to the WC semifinal was not a small achievement.  Arena had a lot more talent on his team in 2002 (the most talented US squad ever) and even in 2006, than Klinsmann had during his stint with the USMNT.  In 2014, Klinsmann's best players were Clint Dempsey, who was over 30, and Tim Howard.  And they still advanced from the group of death sending Ghana and Ronaldo's Portugal home early and if Wondo did not miss a sitter against Belgium they would have been in the quarterfinals.  It was not a particularly talented team, but they overachieved.  You cannot say ignore his results with Germany because Germany is more talented, and then start comparing the 2002 team with 2014 team that was not nearly as talented.  In my mind, neither Arena nor Klinsmann is a world class coach, but Klinsmann was the first national team coach who challenged the status quo in our system.  [/quote]

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