Told you we would need this thread. This year has been an absolute clown show. Berhalter appears to be not only a terrible manager, but a terrible human being as well. Only an idiot would say that the real problem is that "a player spoke to the media." This is corporatism at its absolute worst, and displays Berhalter's complete inability to handle the underlying situation. Precourt gets plenty of criticism for his fire sale of tradition, terrible kits, complete contempt for the fanbase, and affinity for underlings who spout the correct line of BS. No, I don't care that he has a twitter account. Calling out the fans and saying "we still got this" on the day his coach publicly displays he can't lead this team is the most amazing display of denial in this franchise in a very long time. The warning signs were there. The problem isn't getting better. Fire Berhalter. Hope Precourt takes a long look in the mirror.
Shuffling through radio stations.... 'Every Rose has its Thorn'..."Bittersweet Symphony'. Yeah, that is pretty much where I am at.— Anthony Precourt (@APrecourt) May 12, 2016 In order to protect his job, maybe Gregg should suspend the owner for speaking honestly and emotionally on social media this morning. Keep all dysfunction in house!
Love that Precourt's driving around looking for answers to life on Dad-rock radio stations instead of getting the house in order. Could there be a better indication of the dysfunction of this club.
Gregg runs the whole soccer side shop. Unless you expect precourt to fire him, then what do expect him to be doing?
Precourt's 5 stages of denial 1. Everything will be okay!!!! 2. Get drunk at craft beer fest at Mapfre 3. Call out supporters after team blows 3 goal lead. 4. Drive around fairgrounds aimlessly listening to power ballads 5. Book Emo Music festival Mope on the Range at Mapfre Stadium to offset falling ticket and concessions revenue as team circles the drain.
You're laughably delusional. Players are routinely disciplined for speaking out to the media about a teammate. It rarely happens because few players are stupid enough to do so. Speaking honestly to the media is fine. As is being disciplined when the things you say shouldn't be said because they create a toxic atmosphere. There are also regularly transfer rumors and transfers when a player defies his coach. Precourt has made a significant investment into Berhalter, Berhalter's philosophy, and Berhalter's vision for the club's future. Gregg rightfully disciplined Kei. Kei publicly said the suspension wasn't warranted and that he's going to continue his jackassery. The minute a player thinks he is bigger than the manager, he has to go.
For the record, I called out Berhalter's hiring from the beginning. But through what would Berhalter have earned any benefit of the doubt? His weaknesses are very well documented here. His tactical inflexibility recalls some of Andrulis's greatest hits. His acquisitions have been questionable. His personnel management is poor. His handling of crisis is completely inept. And he lead us to being only the second team to fail to win MLS Cup on home soil with an amazingly inept performance. He hasn't won the Shield. He hasn't won the US Open Cup. And we're now getting the most amazing replay of the Ante Razov situation. So I really see no reason to give him any kind of benefit of the doubt.
This is the problem, isn't it? Other than that, your post completely glosses over the fact that Berhalter's management has played a big role in getting us to this point.
I've made it clear that's exactly what I expect him to do. I think we both know Precourt's too weak to do it.
What point? The playoffs his first year? MLS Cup the following year? Raising the league perception about Columbus and transforming the club into a top destination for MLS free agents? Ugh. The horror.
We're definitely going back to MLS Cup this year. Definitely. 2 wins in 9 games plus a roster coming apart at the seams is a definite recipe for MLS Cup victory. But this is MLS! Crazy shit happens! What was the last team in complete disarray to win the cup? Samspon's crew 11 years ago? Except they were in 1st place when Sigi was fired. Who am I missing?
This trade is the final nail in the coffin. What an awful trade. I'm so excited with our GAM, TAM, and draft picks. Coming off one spat which Gregg failed to manage we traded a player coming off a top 5 season in club history. However, if we are lucky we may use Gregg's vast scouting network for the next Amro Tarek, Kirsten Steindhorssen, Emmanual Pogatetz, or Emil Larssen. Coming off 2015 we have punted 2016 because Gregg couldn't handle one voice in the locker room. Dude is a coward.
So you have been against him from the beginning. So you are just looking for things to confirm your bias. That helps frame your thoughts. I was going to make more points but just got a text that Kei has been traded. Holding judgement.
That's right, I forgot about that. IIRC, Porter was on a pretty hot seat. So why shouldn't Berhalter be here? I also recall Portland missing some players to start. I don't recall the same level of locker room dysfunction. Looking at their schedule from last year, they had one bad loss, to Orlando at home. That doesn't cloud the fact that we have dropped points we never should have dropped on a regular basis to start this year. At *best* Portland is the exception that proves the rule. At worst, and what I think to be reality, we have nothing in common with that team. Feel free to make the case otherwise.