MLS Coaching and Front Office - News & Discussion Thread 2019

BTW, in Robin Fraser's introductory press conference (happening now), Rapids Team President/GM Padraig Smith said they offered both the top assistant role and the head coaching job of their affiliate USL team the Colorado Springs Switchbacks to Conor Casey, but Casey has decided to leave the organization to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

 

The recall sounds like it might be Fraser's decision. The last games in the season are ideal to evaluate players and our new coach has a whole lot of decisions to make..

 

Isn't Wolde Harris coaching the Switchbacks?

 

He's the interim coach. They fired Steve Trittsuch earlier this year.

 

Hopefully the likes of Nelson Rodriquez will NEVER be hired.

 

More negative press on the Dynamo's absurdly bad FO:

https://theathletic.com/1171290/201...rejected-by-houston-dynamos-plans-for-change/

"Four members of the group had previously been named the Dynamo’s fan of the year — the diehard of the diehards — and yet, they’d gathered here to air their grievances. To talk about their beef with the organization, rather the match ahead. All of them were either not renewing or drastically lowering their financial commitment for 2020.

To reiterate, and crystalize in one sentence the current state of the Houston Dynamo: four people they once honored as the most committed of all of their fans now say they’re either bailing out entirely or seriously considering doing so.

“What we see is not only the erosion of the overall fanbase,” said Donald Lee, a season-ticket holder since the team’s inaugural MLS season of 2006, “but now of the most loyal fans.” "

 

Same situation has been going on for years with the Fire. It is a shame. Best of luck to you all in Houston. Unless the FO changes, don't expect it to get better.

 

It may just be me, but I think that is some serious self-overevaluation on Casey's part. A USL head coaching gig is a good next step, unless he doesn't want to be a head coach again in MLS.

 

Its not just you.

 

Fair offer from the Rapids FO, too. (I don't know the salary offered, just the position(s) discussed.)

 

It only makes sense if he is just thoroughly finished with the Rapids organization as a whole. Saying no to a USL head coach position, or MLS assistant coach is just odd in his position.

 

I don't know, that's a bit of a leap. Perhaps someone reached out to him and suggested an opportunity available elsewhere, could be back in Germany, maybe with Klopp. Pure speculation, of course, but I could understand furthering your education as an alternative choice.

Sure would be nice to have Rapids beat reporter to call Casey up and ask these questions.

 

That sounds like more of a leap to me than what you're suggesting. This is BigSoccer, after all.

 

Robin Fraser has already earned more points in 2019 than Anthony Hudson did.

 

Too competent for our tastes. Who has been relegated in epic fashion lately? That's the kind of international flavor and coaching at the highest level we desire here.


Fml....

 

I wonder if the Phoenix MLS bid has him as their primary coaching target. 20+ years coaching in either Tuscon or Phoenix also makes me wonder if he'd leave Arizona at this point.

 

I can't imagine anyone being ahead of Curtin or Almeyda. We know Bradley can coach and LAFC has put together a great roster. SJ looked dead in the water the first month of the season and Curtin has gone from DOA to probable winner of coach of the year.

 

I can't believe that Pauno and NRod are STILL employed.........

 

I think people aren't giving Bradley his due here. His main starting XI for this year has 9 players that were starting for LAFC in that same position last year. Blessing was 9th in minutes last year but as a winger, while this year he is a CM. The only player that is starting this year that wasn't on the team last year? Eddie Segura at CB. With 6 games left in the season LAFC has 5 more points than all of last year (will likely end at 15 or more), 6 more goals for (the are up .64 GPG right now), and 22 goals against (down around .47 GAA). Yes, Vela has helped, but Bradley has done a lot with a roster that outside of Vela any MLS team could easily have.

Now, has he done as much as Almeyda has with basically the same team? Hell no. But if LAFC sets the record for points, goals scored, and goal differential? Yeah, there is no way that anyone but Bradley can get it. I mean, LAFC's GD is almost equal to San Jose's goals scored (48 vs 44) and is higher than 12 teams and tied with 2 teams.

As for Curtin? He done good. He has shown tactical flexibility and has actually done good at changing things up mid-game. Still isn't enough to dethrone Bradley unless LAFC has a mini-collapse and the Union almost run the table. However, Sporting Executive of the Year has to go to Ernst Tanner. Curtin has done what he has on the game day side because someone finally gave him the tools to do so. Kacper, Monteiro, Wagner, and Fabian are all Tanner signings. Add in Aaronson (he was signed from the academy by Tanner) and you are looking at 5 starters he found this year.