Injuries, national team callups, and not being used (USOC/CCL games for example). 130 of those were regular season matches he missed. 3 were playoffs (all 3 games in 2011). I only have rosters for 2 of the CCL games but he wasn't in either. I only have rosters for 8 USOC games but he didn't play in any of the USOC games in '04, '05, '12, or '13.
Yep, in 2012 he only played in 2 league games and I'm assuming neither USOC match (I only have the roster for one of them). In 2013 he only played in 7 of the 16 competitive matches before he was traded. Other than that his lowest year was 17 of 36 in 2005 (World Cup qualifying I assume). His highest was 30-35 of 44 in 2011 (missing the USOC roster and most CCL rosters from that year).
Pablo's met his match: https://giphy.com/gifs/3o72FhWF7pW2TIv0U8/html5 They must have been separated at birth .
Still waiting until the end of the playoffs before making a final decision, but if the end is next Sunday I'm likely not going to look favorably on extending Pablo's contract.
On the plus side for Pablo, at least his team has a decent chance in the 2nd leg. Unlike the guys who are probably the other two main coach of the year candidates, Pareja and Viera.
Agreed. While being down 1-0 isn't great, its certainly better than getting BTFO in the first leg and bring forced to score +3 goals to have any chance of advancing.
I think he deserves another year, based on the completely unexpected success this year. In that year, I want to see an improved attack. A year ago Pablo hadn't demonstrated that he could coach anything. Now he's proven he can coach D. Another year to see if he can improve more is in order.
I keep going back to the lineup. JJ has been the real deal, when he has been healthy and not on call-ups. Hairston and Badji have shown improvement. Gashi is inconsistent, but has contributed to some very important results. Howard is Howard. Beyond that, the roster isn't exactly strong, but is bloated with overpaid and underperforming players (Pappa and Doyle and Powers, to offer some names). In short, this team is better than the 2014 and 2015 teams, but not 20+ points better. If Pablo gets the blame for 2014 and 2015, he deserves at least some of the credit for the 58 points this season. That said, I am still frustrated by the inflexible formation, lineups and reluctance to use subs when it is obvious that something needs to wake up the team. Regardless of Sunday's result, I would be comfortable with giving Pablo another season. I say that cautiously, since I was in the #PabloOut camp most of last season and the long offseason.* *Hinchey and Bravo, however, are another story.
For the #2 team overall in the league that was a winnable or at least draw-able match in L.A. Now we have to work harder in the second leg. And knock out competitions turn into 'wars of attrition' w/ fatigue, cards, injuries, etc.
Finally got a chance to read it, Executive Summary: Blind squirrel with a nut claims to have a PhD in Forestry. Let this one soak in next time you're wondering about a WTF moment: ""I had never coached a day in my life prior to [2014]," he said via telephone."
Sunday is a coaching challenge for Pablo - any playoff match would be, but this one is because of being 0-1 down with a low-scoring team. Should he change the lineup to make it more attacking-oriented, knowing that if we concede 1 we're in big trouble and if we concede 2 we're dead? Or should he make the starting lineup defensive to keep it from getting worse and then sub attackers at 45 or 60 minutes to go for it? Either way, I don't see a good outcome unless JJ can both play a lot of minutes AND be effective. I'd like to see either Badji or Doyle up front, depending on who would be more effective against LA's back 4 (probably Badji - speed kills). Hoping that the mids are JJ (for 90), Hairston, and Gashi. Back 6 + Timmy as usual.
I feel like the team's performance probably ensures Pablo at least two more years.....like it or not, he put the right players on the field to get the result. Hell, he might even get a raise!
Final 2016 update: Season-by-season; Asterisks indicate years we missed the playoffs: 1. 2016 - Mastroeni - 1.7059 2. 1999 - Mooch - 1.59375 3. 2010 - Smith - 1.5333 4. 2002 - Hankinson - 1.5 4. 2013 - Pareja - 1.5 6. 2011 - Smith - 1.4412 7. 1998 - Mooch - 1.4375 8. 2005 - Clavijo - 1.40625 9. 2004 - Hankinson - 1.367 10. 2009 - Smith - 1.3333* 11. 1997 - Mooch - 1.28125 11. 2006 - Clavijo - 1.28125 13. 2003 - Hankinson - 1.267 13. 2008 - Clavijo/Smith - 1.267* 15. 2000 - Mooch - 1.1875 16. 2007 - Clavijo - 1.167* 17. 2012 - Pareja - 1.08823* 17. 2015 - Mastroeni - 1.08823* 19. 1996 - Houghton/Wegerle - 1.03125* 20. 2014 - Mastroeni - 0.941* 21. 2001 - Hankinson - 0.923* All-Time Overall: 1. Smith - 104 Games - 1.43 2. Mooch - 128 Games - 1.41 3. Hankinson - 114 Games - 1.29 3. Pareja - 68 Games - 1.29 5. Mastroeni - 102 Games - 1.24 6. Clavijo - 114 Games - 1.18 7. Houghton - 31 Games - 1.06 8. Wegerle - 1 Game - 0.00 Playoff series records: 1. Smith 4-1 - .800 - Won MLS Cup 2. Clavijo - 2-2 - .500 3. Mastroeni - 1-1 - .500 4. Mooch 2-4 - .333 - MLS Cup appearance 5. Hankinson - 1-3 - .250 6. Pareja - 0-1 - .000 7. Houghton - Never qualified - N/A 7. Wegerle - Never qualified - N/A
I just can't seem this team moving forward and improving more than it already did with PM at the helm in 2017. RFO will have a tough choice to make...best season ever but didn't come away with anything. (CCL spot wasn't even won, it was awarded due to others already making it)
I don't think you are giving enough credit for earning the CCL spot. In a given year, getting second in the Supporters Shield Standings gives you an extremely good chance of getting a CCL spot because you will get a spot if one of seven different teams wins the MLS Cup. Now there are years where some of those seven teams won't qualify for the playoffs (like Vancouver this year or the year D.C. won the US Open Cup but finished last place), but getting second still puts you in a good position. In the four years since the qualification changed, a supporters shield runner up has received a spot twice (well, RSL got a spot for finishing fourth). It's a small sample size, but 50% is a pretty good rate.
I'll just leave this here: Pablo Mastroeni wins Goal USA's 2016 Coach of the Year award http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110...-coach-of-the-year-award?ICID=HP_HN_HP_RI_1_3
I am on the fence about whether or not Pablo should be extended. The results on the pitch this season would say "yes," but I also wonder if they could hire someone who could do a bit better managing the attacking part of the game? Having garnered as many points as they did this season, not losing at home until yesterday. Going out and getting Time Howard. Having set the attendance record in Dick's. Would this give them a shot at bigger pool of coaches? Really, I have no idea. But part of me is curious.