I don't know why Reis would have anything against the Revs organization or the location. I know he wanted to get back to Cali, but IIRC, at the time that was mostly about family issues (his in-laws). A number of years later, the situation might be much different. Not that I'm advocating for him though (he does seem an interesting prospect); I really want someone with success as a head coach in Europe or Latin America. I was hoping someone would pick up on my suggestion of Zenga a while back ...
With some shock results in the wrap-up in CONMEBOL, a couple of coaches may become available soon. Francisco Arce is one - who managed a decidedly mixed result with pretty limited talent this cycle. There is definitely a trend with more Guaranis coming to MLS ...
Reis is a Cali guy, I don't think he's got anything against the revs, he probably just wants to be back home. As for Zenga, do you remember 1999? No thanks!!!
In fairness to Zenga, that was his first managerial job, and given that he's had success elsewhere, he obviously learned a few things in his time here, like what not to do. I wold imagine that if Jay Heaps were to stay in coaching and landed a gig somewhere else, he might do better, especially if he has more/better resources. But I don't see that happening, He'll probably go back into some "real" job and sit at a desk for the next 25 years... Another reason I'd like to see the Revs hire a guy who actually has managed a team or two, and would have learned a few things that rookie managers don't know.
Lets be fair to Arena. He is a great MLS Coach. I do not think the problem with the USMNT was Arena, or even for that matter, Klinsmann. The entire system needs to be flushed from top to bottom. That will be done. Arena could be a fantastic coach in New England. It is worth taking a stab at him. Please.... He'd bring Noonan and Reis with him. Let him fire Burns as well. Would be a great fit for New England. Players would actually want to play here... and play for him.
Arena wouldn't be able to get rid of Burns, barring some radical changes in FO thinking. Burns is the hirer, not the hiree. Anyway, while I do think Arena might improve things in NE, he's such an egotistical, pompous git that I'm not sure it's worth it. Plus, my impression of Arena lately is that he builds teams that work fairly well while he's present but crumble quickly when he's not. The US debacle and LA's quick implosion upon his departure don't fill me with much hope that he'd be a solution to what ails the Revs. He'd change the atmosphere, for sure. But would it be a better atmosphere? I am unconvinced.
Arena's mere presence would likely draw some increased media scrutiny, especially at national level, and that alone might serve to pressure Krafts and FO into behavior changes. They might actually decide to take personnel actions that would leverage and support having a top coach here - i.e. maximize the investment in Arena by augmenting him with other key quality resources.. Who know, maybe... Even if it doesn't work out in the end, it wouldn't be much worse for Revs while he is on board than it has been recently under Jay. The very few times we've even seen Krafts pay any obvious attention to this franchise is under external pressure/duress. Arena may draw some of that with him. For that reason alone it would be worth it to see the Arena Experiment actually happen here.
Hypothetically speaking, if the Krafts actually decided to invest the money needed into the Revs (very hypothetically!) wouldn't that be an enormous slap in the face to Heaps?
I do, but he's coached in some of the highest-pressure locations (Belgrade, anyone?) in the world since then. A few nutty antics when he was still figuring out the coaching thing don't mean much to me at this point. He's got a lot of coaching experience now and ticks a lot of checkboxes IMO. I have no way of knowing how much he's followed MLS, but he should have a good sense of the differences the US and Europe. One of the big problems I see with the Revs (I actually think they have some pretty good talent) is that they really lack precision in the basic things they do. That's what made Jones such a critical component - he demanded they do the simple things right. I think a Euro coach who has been around precision football would expect/demand as much. Watching the last game vs. Atlanta, they were so much more precise in every pass, whereas the Revs are very sloppy - rarely delivering the ball precisely where it should be, rarely delivering it quickly and rarely leading teammates out of trouble or into attacking advantages.
Arena's comments after the T&T debacle say everything about who he is and what he would(not) bring to the revs. Given the US team developed the attitude of their manager, his negative, pompous outlook would probably be even worse than Heaps.
Another reason I don't think he's a fit for the revs is he didn't have a GM in LA (I believe). While the Krafts have Belichick the keys for the pats, they've never done that for the revs.
Dear Bob, Slap away!! Really, wouldn't it be great for the ownership to slap the outgoing coach, rather than the fans?
I assume the most Bruce Arena says on the phone to Mike Burns is "If you're really serious have Bob Kraft give me a call."
I could believe that. But then Burns hangs up and never calls back. What does Bob know about Bruce? The old man was just quoted about buying into the premiership but making sure he wouldn’t be at a competitive disadvantage, seemingly oblivious to how badly he’s disadvantaged now in MLS. He’s not going to be making any serious soccer decisions, about Bruce or otherwise.
Bruce Arena just took some guys who play in the Bundesliga, EPL, Liga MX, and top MLS teams, and lost to some guys who can't make USL teams. He was successful when he had some of the best players in MLS history (Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane). He would be a total failure here. He is also very publicly anti-analysis (one of the few good things going for the Revs is their use of analysis). No thanks.
First of all, I think it's Jon, not Bob, who is the face of ownership for the Revs. And, I think it's pretty silly to think they don't know who/what Arena is all about. After 20+ years in MLS? C'mon.
Well Bruce is available now. I don't think his arrogant personality would fit with the Revs. He would quickly figure out Burns is an idiot and things would not be pretty
Well, that may be true, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if Arena would only want to talk to Bob, not his silver spoon son. Even if Jon is really the one running the Revs and would be heavily involved in the decision-making process. That's just how he rolls. And yes, the Krafts, despite their hands-offidness, know exactly what Arena is, and that he wouldn't even consider this if he wasn't given a Bellichick-level of control. And be given the resources (scouts to find players, and money to sign them with) to do it his way. Him and Frank Sinatra! We all know that ain't gonna happen! That is precisely why a part of me would like this to happen! Pass the popcorn! Arena would say the things that literally everyone who pays attention to this league already knows. It would be entertaining as hell for a while, but ultimately, everything would have to be blown up and we'd be right back wehre we are right now.
I'm actually astonished that anyone on this board would consider Bruce Arena as a viable option to lead this team. I think we all agree that Burns has to go. Bilello should probably go as well. For God's sake let's forget about Bruce Arena, or any other second rate hack, as a possible hire. There must be an ownership commitment to excellence. This has always been the fundamental flaw in the Rev's alleged organization. Someone on the top floor has to realize that soccer is a serious, professional, blood-sport, and make a decision to succeed at that, or to sell the shop to someone who's willing to go that route. No manager, (and let's right now start calling that position correctly), with any sort of positive resume' is going to accept the challenge of making the Rev's a real, honest-to-God soccer team without a guarantee of a pretty free hand. Kraft seems to have a problem with that. (See the Bill Parcells situation) Nothing good will come of this opportunity, I'm afraid. I hope I'm wrong.
I dont really like Arena much but if he was in NE, and he had the authority to get players he wanted, he could turn things around here. On the other hand, his biggest accomplishments were many years ago. He made DC a powerhouse in the early days but his last stint with LA was not so great once Robbie K and Landon left. Maybe he's just too old now to do what he once did? A mixed bag for me. It doesnt matter though, the Revs are never going to pay a guy like Arena to coach here and Burns would not want it either since he'd probably be gone.
Good post but I think you made the wrong comparison regarding Parcells. He was an accomplished, no BS "call it like I see it" guy from NJ. Arena is the same from LI. I don't think that non-kiss ass personality would go over well with the Krafts, which is why Arena would be a miserable failure.
While I agree Bob probably knows next to nothing about soccer, I'm relatively sure one thing he does know is Bruce Arena. Burns would be irrelevant to the proceedings if Kraft wanted to go in that direction.