After 10 Games... [R]

[SoccerEsq]

After 10 games we...

+ are undefeated at home
+ have only lost 3 games
+ are allowing just under a goal a game
+ have shut out the other team in almost half our games
+ are only a single game under .500
+ are riding a 3 game unbeaten streak

- are winless on the road
- have only won 2 games
- are scoring just over a goal a game
- have been shut out by the other team in almost half our games
- are in last place in our conference
- are out of the playoffs

[dsheon]

That's an excellent analysis. The cup she is half empty AND half full.

Here's to keeping the big mo'.

[jonny]

It all balances out

[TCompton]

Originally posted by SoccerEsq
After 10 games we...


+ are allowing just under a goal a game

- are scoring just over a goal a game


If this keeps up, we should be alright

[TEConnor]

As I recall, several esteemed posters had set the ten game mark as the watershed point for whether or not Hudson deserved to be retained. I'd be interested to see what they have to write on the subject (in brief format...no diabtribes this early in the am).

As someone who recommended several weeks ago to let Hudson, Trask, and Kasper go I'd say that the past three games has earned them three more.

Tim

[CHICO13]

At this point I'd say keep Ray if only for the fact that the players haven't quit on him. They seem to respond to his style and motivation and they seem to be playing like it's us against the world. Not too many people seem to believe in them, but they seem to believe in themselves. And that's a good sign.

[Jose L. Couso]

Originally posted by CHICO13
At this point I'd say keep Ray if only for the fact that the players haven't quit on him. They seem to respond to his style and motivation and they seem to be playing like it's us against the world. Not too many people seem to believe in them, but they seem to believe in themselves. And that's a good sign.

Word!

[shawn12011]

As one of those who said i would make my first assement of Ray and the staff after 10 games here it is.

- There has been modest improvement over the last 4 games (starting with the 2nd half in Dallas). This improvement has given me reason enough to not call for the staff's removal now. Though at the end of the next 10 game segment they must improve upon this 10 game segment. The same results through the next segment (11 points in 10 games) will not be good enough for me. Yes the players have to share their fair share of the blame and credit for this first 10 games. However, as in many other threads there has been proof of the staffs shortcomings as well.

[Sachin]

I agree with my fellow Norteno. There has been some improvement over the past few games, and hopefully that will continue.

But we must get at least 20 points from the next 10 games to really be in playoff contention.

Sachin

[joshdcu]

Originally posted by shawn12011

- There has been modest improvement over the last 4 games (starting with the 2nd half in Dallas). This improvement has given me reason enough to not call for the staff's removal now. Though at the end of the next 10 game segment they must improve upon this 10 game segment. The same results through the next segment (11 points in 10 games) will not be good enough for me. Yes the players have to share their fair share of the blame and credit for this first 10 games. However, as in many other threads there has been proof of the staffs shortcomings as well.

While I'm encouraged by Saturday's result, I fully agree with what Shawn said.

[DCU]

I agree that the last few games have been a little better. And I also agree that since the players still believe in the coaches, they shouldn't be fired. But I think Hudson/Trask face a major test when the Confed Cup guys get back. It's one thing to find a successful formula that involves Hristo and Marco when playing against a dreadfully depleted Crew side. It's another thing entirely to go against a full strength Crew side. Hudson/Trask have to find a way to mold a FAR better side than the one we've seen recently. Whether they can maintain the chemistry while incorporating Bobby, Nellie, and Earnie, will be the big test for me. Because if we stay this bad or get worse, the rest of MLS will eat us up.

[Lanky134]

We've had a good string of results but we've had such a situation every year.

2002: The last few games.
2001: May
2000: June

Of course, you can say that the last few games for us were deserved because of all the games we've tied where maybe we should've won. We're six points out of first place, but still in last, with plenty more games left to play.

I still remain unconvinced that the current staff are the men to bring us back to our former glory, but I still think we have loads of talent on this team, and that we could still see the best of them yet.

[Cuchulain]

I'm leaning toward the overall sentiment. as someone who supported deporting sugar ray, it would be foolish to can him given the past three games. however, I'm not changing my initial assessment either: I don't think hudson/trask are up to par with the other east coaches tactically, and I think it's counterproductive to whine openly about the type of players you're missing after you've assembled the roster yourself, which is something ray's been doing all season.

I think he's handling the marco situation fairly well right now, but I still haven't seen proof that he'll bench marco if necessary. I've seen decent adjustments from game-to-game, but not half-to-half, and I'm concerned about the lack of aggression at times. I still question some of the personnel moves (playing dema all over the field, olsen as a defender, chino playing at all) and substitutions (especially never bleeding in stokes or carroll or barclay). and who knows what will happen when earnie returns.

that said... if the players haven't given up on him, I suppose I shouldn't either, at least not quite yet. but I'd still leave the motor running and the car parked outside.

[greatscott]

Originally posted by Sachin


But we must get at least 20 points from the next 10 games to really be in playoff contention.

Sachin
you wish. :(

[doctorjim]

To evaluate Ray properly, one has to establish the expectations -- what was Ray hired to do -- this season and in future seasons. For this season, improving on last year's record and making the playoffs are reasonable expectations. More important, the expectations for the future are building a team that is capable of winning the MLS Cup and competing with professional clubs in North America and, perhaps elsewhere in the world.

For this season, Ray's performance so far is marginal. DC may well win more games than last year and may make the playoffs, but it will be a struggle. Nevertheless, if the issue is just this year's performance, I doubt whether any reasonable management would fire Ray at this point. Doing better than last year was always going to be difficult -- too many changes in the team, too many holes to fill, and so on. A reasonable general manager would, looking at this year's performance so far, give Ray some additional time.

For the longer term, Ray's performance is less than marginal. Presumably in a search for wins this year, he has given playing time to players who are not capable of playing championship level soccer -- Stoichov and Alegria, in particular. And he has done very little to develop the younger players on the roster, particularly this year's draft picks. Unless these players improve and make significant contributions to the team, the MLS cup will remain out of reach indefinitely. Ray has not make wise acquisitions beyond the draft. Ivanov appears to be an average MLS player at best. Stewart seems over the hill or, perhaps, ill-suited to DC's style or situation. Quintinilla does not look like championship material either. At the same time, Ray has disposed of several players -- Mapp in particular -- who may well have championship potential.

Finally, the team, under Ray's direction, has been slow to develop a well-defined approach to the game -- tactics, strategy, the whole nine yards.

Thoughtful management would not retain Ray based on the team's progress toward longer term goals. The only question would be the best time to make a change. A change during the season may not accomplish much, unless morale on the team has deteriorated significantly. Then it would be a matter of damage control.

Of course, it would be prudent to limit Ray's ability to make further personnel moves in the meantime. A short term replacement for Stoichov might be worth doing. Anything longer term would be a risk. And dumping Ray before the next draft would be essential.

DC might want to look to experienced professional coaches for a replacement -- perhaps in the A-league. For example, Bob Lilley, the Montreal Impact coach, has been successful at several locations and is reported to be a forward thinker -- using computers to break down game films, for example. Something to consider.

[MikeLastort2]

Originally posted by TEConnor
As I recall, several esteemed posters had set the ten game mark as the watershed point for whether or not Hudson deserved to be retained. I'd be interested to see what they have to write on the subject (in brief format...no diabtribes this early in the am).

As someone who recommended several weeks ago to let Hudson, Trask, and Kasper go I'd say that the past three games has earned them three more.

Tim

I agree. We nearly made the watershed (we have 2 wins instead of 3 out of 10 games), but I do think we've improved a wee bit since our 7th game.

I'm willing to see how we look in the standings at the halfway mark, so another 5 to get us into 3rd or 4th place (playoff contention) in the East. If we're still in the cellar after 15 games, I'm going to fly the damned plane myself. :)

[dcuni_ted]

we stil got a long way to go before we can worry bout that