United's Soehn Indicates Emilio Will Be Benched

[smakawhat]

I don't see a thread on this so feel free to discuss.. Headline in the Post

D.C. United Coach Tom Soehn offered strong indications yesterday that he plans to bench Brazilian striker Luciano Emilio, the reigning MLS most valuable player who has been stuck in a prolonged slump.

"We are just in a situation where we have not been getting enough out of that position and it is time to give someone else a shot," Soehn said before departing for Southern California, where United (2-5) will play Chivas USA (1-4-2) tomorrow night at Home Depot Center in Carson.

click to read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/15/AR2008051503487.html?hpid=sec-sports


Personally... putting Niell in to replace would.. um... not be good.. it would be (seriously why would you even consider it)...

[Pan-T Clause]

I don't see a thread on this so feel free to discuss.. Headline in the Post

D.C. United Coach Tom Soehn offered strong indications yesterday that he plans to bench Brazilian striker Luciano Emilio, the reigning MLS most valuable player who has been stuck in a prolonged slump.

"We are just in a situation where we have not been getting enough out of that position and it is time to give someone else a shot," Soehn said before departing for Southern California, where United (2-5) will play Chivas USA (1-4-2) tomorrow night at Home Depot Center in Carson.

click to read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/15/AR2008051503487.html?hpid=sec-sports


Personally... putting Niell in to replace would.. um... not be good.. it would be (seriously why would you even consider it)...

Could not agree more. Put Kirk in on the right and let Tino start up top. Just my two Cents.

[JeremyEritrea]

I wish Tommy would STFU with regard to discussing his players' shortcomings in the media.

[Malice]

I wish Tommy would STFU with regard to discussing his players' shortcomings in the media.

I'm with you on this. Everyone know's Emilio is in a slump, bench him and be quiet about it, geez.

I have no idea who is gonna be up top if Luciano is benched, Moreno and Doe/Quaranta. I don't know if I think either is a great option.

Malice

[Pan-T Clause]

I wish Tommy would STFU with regard to discussing his players' shortcomings in the media.

I will also agree with that. One of the first things you learn about disciplining workers is to do it behind closed doors. Now he does need to be benched I mean it worked last year right?

[Grasscutter]

I wish Tommy would STFU with regard to discussing his players' shortcomings in the media.

Agreed.

And while I'm in the minority here, I'd actually prefer Sohn keep playing Emilio another couple of games until he gets hot like last year--I know there's a point where you have to hedge your bet, but I don't think that time has come.

If there's one forward on this club who is most likely to score a bucket of goals this year that will lead us to glory, I still think it's Emilio.

Most of us are starting to see harbingers of/from previous suck seasons, and to me, this looks like Ray Hudson sending Abdul Conteh packing early in '02 after he scored 15 goals in 2001. Four months later, we were playing Eddie Pope as a forward and looking at Henry Zambrano and Roy Lassiter (Mach III) to be our goal-scoring heroes.

[Bootsy Collins]

I wish Tommy would STFU with regard to discussing his players' shortcomings in the media.

EXACTLY. It's the first thing I thought of when I saw the story. Whatever he thinks of their play, and whatever he thinks he needs to do, say it to them, do what's needed when necessary, but STOP USING THE NEWSPAPER TO DRESS PLAYERS DOWN. It does not help; it only makes things worse.

EDIT: This is the kinda stuff that makes me think Tommy needs to go, even more than the results do.

[MattMathai]

EXACTLY. It's the first thing I thought of when I saw the story. Whatever he thinks of their play, and whatever he thinks he needs to do, say it to them, do what's needed when necessary, but STOP USING THE NEWSPAPER TO DRESS PLAYERS DOWN. It does not help; it only makes things worse.

EDIT: This is the kinda stuff that makes me think Tommy needs to go, even more than the results do.

I tend to agree with this, but I think some of it might simply be Tommy being Tommy. He seems like a very forthright guy, and is answering questions directly without bobbing and weaving. He's explaining why he's made the decisions he's made.

Now you can question the wisdom of doing that in the press, but I don't really think he's trying to evade responsibility or anything. It might just be inexperience with the whole press interrogation game.

Better this than to model himself after Avram Grant's infamous interview after Chelsea played Everton.


A deserved win Avram?
Grant said: 'Yes.'

What particularly pleased you about the performance?
'I'm pleased.'

What in particular pleased you?
After an eight second delay: 'I don't know.'

Is it a relief to win here?
'Yes.'

You seem lost for words by the performance. Are you more satisfied with the performance or the victory?
'Both.'

You seem distracted. Do you have a problem?
'No problem.'

Is there an issue?
'No. I'm ok. I have nothing to say.'

Do you have a message for the Chelsea fans?
'You represent the Chelsea fans?'

They must believe you are still in the title race, do you have a message for them?
'No message.'

Does this result mean you are back in it now?
'I don't know.'

How many steps have you climbed to undertake this press conference?
'I don't know.'

You seem less voluble than usual. Is it because of Sky TV moving the game to a Thursday?
'Maybe it's because of you. I don't know. I am ok.'

You are saying that you don't know if you are still in the title race?
'No.' Is it easier to say nothing Avram?
'I don't what to answer. It is a good question. I don't know what to answer.'

Is this because of Sky?
'No. Sky is ok. I enjoy watching them.'

Is it a protest against newspapers?
'No. Why?'

Why else would you come in and refuse to answer our questions?
'I answer every question.'

You are two points behind Manchester United and you don't know if you are still in the title race?
'No.'

Have you told the players that you don't know if you are back in the title race?
'What I tell the players is something else. You want me to tell you what I say to the players?'

We just want you to answer the question really. Are you in the title race?
'I don't know.'

Would you not like to gain some positive publicity for the result rather than this bizarre silence?
'I'm sorry. You can write whatever you want and I can answer what I want.'

Do you feel under pressure to deliver a trophy. Is that the reason for the monosyllabic answers?
'No.'

Are you upset? Do you feel you have been misrepresented?
'Maybe I have said because it is a bad season.'

Did Michael Essien faint?
'He had some problems, but he is ok.'

Michael Ballack?
'Injured.'

What's his problem?
'Ask the doctor.'

He's not here Avram.
'Well call him then.'

Have you ever played the yes/no game Avram?

[song219]

I wish Tommy would STFU with regard to discussing his players' shortcomings in the media.

Also, While it irratated me at first I now prefer Nowak's not releasing line-ups before games. As a matter of fact I prefer Nowaks relations with media as a whole. Of course if I gambled on games I wouldn't like it & it makes the DCU Prediction thread more challenging.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=667143

[Kempa]

By now everyone on MLS know how to put two guys on Emilio and neutralize him. What if Tommy says "Emilio is not playing", then the opponents put one guy on Niell, Doe or whomever, and Emilio plays?

[ECU_SIMMS]

if he benches him, it will be the nail in the coffin for this coach for me....

[MattMathai]

if he benches him, it will be the nail in the coffin for this coach for me....

Why? Do you believe Emilio's lack of effectiveness this year is because of bad coaching?

[smakawhat]

This really is a no-win situation right now for Soehn. I am curious about him being this upfront with Emilo in the media and if there is some sort of rift going on. I am not one to say that Emilo is in a slump cause he's not getting the breaks, or he's just not trying and pissed off at T. I have a hard time believing right now he's a coach killer but when I see an article like this it makes me wonder what else is going on here...

We all know things are bad.

It's also easier to fire one person than 11. This just sucks all around... I think we need more drastic change in just about everything.

[writered21]

I wish Tommy would STFU with regard to discussing his players' shortcomings in the media.

I kind of wish Tommy would just go away.

But, until he does, he coaches my favorite team. So more power to him.

[writered21]

By now everyone on MLS know how to put two guys on Emilio and neutralize him. What if Tommy says "Emilio is not playing", then the opponents put one guy on Niell, Doe or whomever, and Emilio plays?

Then within the first minute, Chivas will adjust, putting two guys on Emilio and putting one guy in Niell's zip code, which is more than enough to ensure that Niell will fall over, thus eliminating his chances to score.

[writered21]

I tend to agree with this, but I think some of it might simply be Tommy being Tommy. He seems like a very forthright guy, and is answering questions directly without bobbing and weaving. He's explaining why he's made the decisions he's made.

Now you can question the wisdom of doing that in the press, but I don't really think he's trying to evade responsibility or anything. It might just be inexperience with the whole press interrogation game.

Better this than to model himself after Avram Grant's infamous interview after Chelsea played Everton.

Tommy can answer every question using randomly-picked phone numbers from the Escondido phone book at this point. I just want the team to win.

[ECU_SIMMS]

Why? Do you believe Emilio's lack of effectiveness this year is because of bad coaching?

no, i believe its a lack of service, emilio needs service, the next guy they throw in there will as well... he will do the same and probalbly worse then emillio, so why take him out?

[DangerMouse37]

This seems like an awfully strange thing to do one week after announcing LE as our second DP.

Realistically, Emilio needs to score or this team will miss the playoffs. I don't care what Tommy needs to do to get the team on the same page, but now is the time. Calling Emilio out in the Post makes Tommy look foolish IMHO and I doubt it will work.

But if it does, caipirinhas on me at the next tailgate.:D

[MattMathai]

no, i believe its a lack of service, emilio needs service, the next guy they throw in there will as well... he will do the same and probalbly worse then emillio, so why take him out?

I may not be especially observant, but I have noticed a dropoff in the quality of Emilio's play. He doesn't receive the ball as well, he doesn't make his runs as well, and he isn't shooting at all, let alone effectively. I agree the quality and/or nature of the service he's received has diminished, but he has wasted many, many opportunities.

If he's coasting on the glow of last year's accomplishments, he needs to snap out of it. I don't think the occasional stint on the bench does anyone any harm.

You can question a great many of Soehn's decisions, but I don't think benching Emilio is one of them.

[smakawhat]

But if it does, caipirinhas on me at the next tailgate.:D

those are good!