My money is that he stays coaching the Pali Blue. He's had much more success coaching several women's teams. Umm, wondering if they are looking to get involved with the new women's league starting next year. If they go that route, which is pure speculation on my part, I have doubts on how much longer they will keep the Blues. The organization has success winning titles in the wome's games. However, regardless of it's the LA Blues or Palie Blues, as an organization, they have to figure out how to sell soccer the business, ie tickets and sponsorship. They do a great job putting a competivie or winning team on the field. Still a work in progress off the field.
Does anyone know who's coaching the team this fall/ winter for the games they are playing like the Mexico U20 team.
I heard Warren Barton this morning on Sirius 94 say that he has been hired as GM for the Blues. I hope that is not just a figure-head position and signals commitment to growing the club. Curious to know what anyone else thinks.
It's an interesting signing, but really sure it's what they need. Granted, I don't know enough of his non soccer background in the US. But he seems more like more of a soccer related higher, ie work more about on the field stuff. Where I think they need someone with more off the field fan building experience. I think this will help them to put a good team on the field, but need to work on the fans in the stands. Last year they did bring in some full time folks to work on that, but they need to build on it. Maybe Warren has more connections for that type of thing.
That is why they hired Steve Donner last year. And after a first game bump, they went right back to drawing a few hundred a game. Back to the drawing board. Hiring Warren Barton as GM isn't going to change any of that. They actually put decent players(for the level) on the field, but no one cares. At this point the team will only exist as long as ownership is willing to take the loses. Which according to them were over 800k in 2011. Who knows what they were in 2012? The owners said they they are only committed for three years and would reevaluate the fate of the team at the end of their third year. This will be their third year.
I hope they hang in there. While I hate almost everything in or about el-lay, it would be good for the league, and soccer in the USA, if the Blues survive. Sports "fans" in el-lay are notoriously fickle and uninterested, so it's a tough market, in spite of the large numbers of people there. Hope they figure it out. - Mark