I'm just going to point a couple of things out... 1. nothing ever gets accomplished on BS 2. the last protest took 3 weeks to plan, you are too late for tomorrows game everyone seems to talk about what should happen but no one seems to want to take the initiative.
We need to heed the words of the great Castigator! Let's revert to normal, sans profanities, as he says the F.O. IS working with him!
Not buying it. This is an enterprise level change event we are talking about -- which is not a trivial activity. Further, there appear to be no individuals within the organization qualified to envision, and to drive to implementation, such a culture change. I do not look favorably on the likelihood of a true "favorable response". Give them only 16 minutes a game to "respond favorably" going forward, until their responses transcend words spoken into the air, and instead become measurable actions. Also - Any coincidence that the first/only DP signing ever by the team took place only after the support group walkout? I suspect there is significant stress being felt within the organization to rethink old plans and approaches. Continued firm pressure from the most visible and vocal fan segments will continue to bear fruit. Ease up on the pressure, and recidivism will reign in the FO. Of concern would be how long it will take the FO to move from acting out of stress (some would use the word "panic") to instead acting from a reasonably considered plan/approach. Maybe measure 2x or 3x, instead of the .5x times (i.e., "half baked") it appears the measuring is being done now. IMHO, do not let then get up off the floor. `
Well, I turned on the game at 56, and it was awful quiet. I was thinking that either there was some kind of silent protest going on that I hadn't heard about, or they don't mike the fort any more (heavens to Betsy, who knows what those people will say!)
Na, there was just a lull around that time. We started the game out real strong. And YSA was replaced by "Sa port tha fort". Some people, I'm assuming non supporter group members still did YSA but they got drowned out a bit.... maybe that will be the beginning of the end of YSA.... which I have no problem with.... Always that is was too childish.
Decent analysis. The slow, measured and methodical approach no longer works as well in MLS 2.0 so I think the Krafts realize change needs to happen at the enterprise level. However, while the change may have started in terms of 'panic', it can't be sustained with the current management team in place because they're not naturally inclined to have a sense of urgency (they can but would hate it because it's not them). For example, the current organizational ethos is to measure, measure, measure before making a decision. This is reflected in the personalities whom the Krafts hire to run the Revs, from Bilello on down. I'm guessing here but based on track record I'd suggest these people are very collaborative decision makers, detail oriented, slow to warm up to people (how often does the FO do press activities?), process-oriented, and detail-oriented. If it's a change activity, then the organization will need new management that may be less naturally methodical and have stronger sense of urgency (reflecting the tendencies of most fans). This change is a major shift in organizational philosophy and is unlikely given the Krafts themselves are ultra methodical and crave stability, which makes sense considering they view the Revs' organization from 40,000 feet. I'd venture to guess they value employees that have a similar profile as them to run their businesses. Introducing a new GM/coach etc that would be polar opposite to the current group in terms of personality and decision making would be a major organizational shift. I hope it happens but don't expect it to.
I think the balance lies somewhere between measuring 0.5x (the current, panic based, half-baked, (half-a$$ed?) model) and 9x (too ponderous, no sense of urgency) used in recent years. IMHO 2x or 3x is about right. (If you has written the word "measure" nine times, it would have described the current ethos dead on. Interesting coincidence that you wrote it 3x. ) 2x or 3x still respects your first instinct, but still allows you to look at things once, or at most twice, more in the cold light of day. Then it is the time for action. Any more than 2x or 3x, the light of day is dimming; you're heading toward twlight's last gleaming -- which is about the time the man on the horse rides into the sunset, over the horizon, and is gone. And then it is very dark. `
Did anybody else hear the rumor that the Revs were offering tickets in The Fort to the Boston area Arsenal supporters group for the game against Red Bull? Can anybody confirm whether this is true or not? A bunch of Arsenal fans cheering for Henry in our own supporter's section would be ridiculous.
So I just found out that this is indeed true. I really hope they're smart enough not to give those guys supporter's section tickets... hope ...
Actually, the Twelfth Man at Texas A&M could be likened to a supporters group. They stand for the whole game to symbolize how they "stand ready" to enter the game if need be, after a famous game in which a student...an Aggie basketball player, iirc...was pulled out of the stands and put into the game (kickoff coverage as I recall). They are also known for their yell leaders, organized "yells" and songs, which they traditionally gather for the Midnight Yell practice on Friday nights before a Saturday home game, and Thursdays before away games. Said practice traditionally concludes with the guys kissing their dates when the lights go out. If you don't have a date, one "flicks their BIC" so that two dateless aggies can find someone to kiss.
It needs to be determined where exactly they'll have seats. As Monty said, across the field from The Fort is fine, but in The Fort would be monumentally stupid.
What is monumentally stupid is that the confidence level in the FO is so low that even something as obvious as this is being debated. We all would hope that they wouldn't be so clueless, but history has proven otherwise. Even if by reading this, they get the idea that hmmm, maybe we shouldn't put them in the fort after all, then it's a good thing. We'll pretend that this was the plan all along.