They finished a point ahead of the Crew in the standings last year, scored 8 more goals than the Crew, and Paunovic guided the team to the playoffs for the first time in like 5 or 6 years. Would have been an odd time to fire the guy.
He had the personnel where the Fire should have been challenging for the very top of the league. The Fire spent $13.09 mil on player salary last year twice what the Crew spent for 1 more point. And then got bombed in the playoffs by the Red Bulls with a 7.29 mil salary. Their salaries put them in the Toronto, NYCFC, Sounders area. And it still does not change the fact that Paunovic never sets his team for maximum ineffective boring soccer. His best players are positioned all over the field game after game. Schweiny is a CAM, then a CM, then a CB. 3-4-3. 4-4-2. 4-2-3-1, 5-4-1 every game is different. He so all over the place but the still gives you that lovely air of dull. Life is too short for dull soccer.
Not counting CCL, which I haven't added to my chart, Gigi has now tied Bobby for most games managed. Perhaps I should add international competitions to the list; I think that'll add 16 matches to Bobby's ledger, four to Greg #1, and two for Fitz.
The amount spent on salaries does not necessarily correspond the amount of talent on display. (This was literally shouted at me for years when I asked why Precourt isn't spending more). If money to talent was a 1-1 equation we'd be seeing a lot more production out of Pedro Santos. Chicago paid big money to Schweinsteiger and Nicolic in an order to have some/any relevance in the city of Chicago as much as they did it to improve their team. The reason you see Bastian moving all over the field is because they have zero competent options in defense. He plays center back because he's a professional. The bummer there for Paunovic is that now his most dynamic and creative player is set up 50 yards from goal. Thing is they have no better options. They've given up the second most goals in the league even with Bastian somewhat solidifying ythe defense. As for the dull soccer, Chicago games have average 3.3 goals per game this season. Crew games have averaged 2.5 goals per game. Chicago has scored 4 more goals than Columbus to this point in the season. But if you fancy possession for possession's sake, I guess Berhalter's system is the opposite of dull soccer.
So who are our best coaches in what order? RW inheriting a good team makes him look better but I will talk GB over RW anyday. The Fitzgerald guy is before my time but coached in a era without draws correct ?
Updated to include international competitions: As always, I'm a drunk so the numbers could be ********ed. Please feel free to check my work.
The Philadelphia Union, THE PHILADELPHIA UNION, sit only 4 points behind us with a game in hand. Extend Gregg.....
Serious question. Why are you a fan of the Crew? How long did you live in Columbus before you left? I'm trying to understand what you get out of being a fan of a team you despise, advocate for them to move (on a different thread) and hate the players. Are you just a masochist? Troll? Asshole? I don't think I have ever seen you post anything remotely positive about this team unless it was dripping with sarcasm. I just don't get it.
You are gonna give yourself a complex, James. I don’t want the Crew to move. I’ve been a fan for 20 years. A season ticket holder for 7 of those years. I’ve travelled from Los Angeles to Chicago to New York and places in between to watch the team play. I’ve rooted for them to win every game I’ve ever seen them play. I don’t know what else to tell you. That you are unable to differentiate sarcasm for positivity says more about you than me. I love you man, but I seriously worry about you sometimes.
"Hang" the realiest. No rose colored glasses,no air freshener,no perfume! He tells it like he sees it. We are all fans and support our team but sometimes we have different views of what's happening on and off the field. Sometimes you got to say what the hell are they doing out there?
SOMETIMES. There’s a difference between being a realist and taking the gloomiest, most depressing, worst-case scenario opinion every single time you post.
True it is not 1 to 1 but the ambition to be a top team is shown by their willingness to pay big money for names. It is this ambition that does not gel with it being okay to get shelled in the first game of the playoffs. When Paunovic players Bastian out of position because he does not have a good defender (which I disagree with because Dean could play the other CB). it is a sign of a good coach but when the Crew are without their two regular CAM's and they play two 8's, it is bad. Personally I think I would have opted for a 4-4-2 with Mullins but I understand because the only why Chicago wins is to win the center of the midfield. I am not surprised Chicago has more goals than the Crew. They have at least 4 good attackers who can score. I think if Nikolic was on a good team he would be in the golden boot running. While the Crew desperately needed an attacking threat from the wing. Maybe Meram will get back there but without that the Crew are not going very far this season. My guess the inability to get that deal done was more based on our Owner than our coach.