I wouldn't have a serious problem with Ben being involved in the future of DCU but it seems odd (even in the insular world of pro sports and world soccer) for a coach to merely change offices within the same club after departing. Honestly is there any precedent for this? Plenty of coaches get re-hired by their previous club in some capacity and Ben is a respected and well-liked legend in the District. I wouldn't mind seeing him again...just not immediately after the team is ripped from his hands. IF it really is in his contract or management choose to keep him I only care about one thing: improving the team and returning us to top-tier organization that is committed to success. I'm not sure Olsen is capable of re-directing our club at such a pivotal time in our history.
I recall reading it in a previous post or Goff article. It was a season or two ago. back when we'd only been talking about firing Olsen for a few years...
Now that I think about it, it's like he's the owner's son who gets to run the show after pops kicks off. But in the old man's will, it stipulates the factory gets sold to highest bidder on the condition the kid gets to keep running the joint. Except there ain't no old man in this story.
Sorry, I would like to see Ben's worth before I give him a paycheck just for being part of the furniture for so many years. What would he do? Youth coach? I haven't seen much evidence that he develops young players. Front office soccer operations? I haven't seen much evidence that Ben is a good scout or a good squad builder. Media? He's not a very good talker in front of the camera. Anything else would be demeaning for an x coach. He's better off moving on to a club like Harrisburg. 8 years of MLS experience should make him serviceable in the lower leagues. But he's being left behind more and more each year as MLS grows. I'm all for loyalty, but at the end of the day, everyone in an organization has a job to do beyond just emotional symbolism.
The only job Ben is especially good at is "DCU's Ambassador to Area Soccer Fans." He's a DC booster, approachable, and friendly. Great with the fans and probably good at turning non-fans into fans.
My once/year post . . .. (love my BS bitches from way back when!) If you want "wins" and cups . . . Piotr (Peter) Nowalk In February 2014, he was hired as a Technical and Personal Advisor to the President of the Caribbean Football Union, which contains 31 countries as a part of CONCACAF. In September 2014, his duties were further grown to include positions as Technical Director and Head Coach of Antigua and Barbuda Football Association, overseeing all National Team Programs including FIFA Grass Roots and Female Programs. Under his direction, Antigua and Barbuda have jumped to 70th place in FIFA World Ranking for the first time in history and is smallest country per capita to be under 100 in FIFA World Ranking. If you want to "own" Washington, DC (and piss off Steve Goof) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Hudson
In the midst of this euphoria somebody has pointed out that Lucho feeding off Rooney + the exposure Wayne is bring to the club *might* lead to Acosta getting scouted and signed elsewhere sooner than would happen otherwise I hope we don't waste Hamid, Acosta, Canouse and the gang while we have em all together. Still hoping these are Olsen last games in charge of the club.