Letoux 3 goals in 11 games for Vancouver. Pajoy 3 goals in 10 games. Gomez 4 goals in 10 games. I get it, Pajoy can never replace your dear sweetheart Letoux. Letoux didn't score from the run of play until game 25 last year. Its not the strikers as much as it is the service. To those of you think that we were only one striker away. LOL, did you just start watching soccer?
This has nothing to do with Le Toux or Califf. They were traded. Did we get good value for them? Who knows. Maybe? I don't know. What I do know is what I see on the field, and that is a poorly coached team with players who are constantly being played out of position. This has nothing to do with last year. With the current crop of players we have now, there is NO reason why this team should be as poor as it is. That comes down to coaching. Nowak was the coach of this team last year when it had its good start. He was also the coach of the team when they won only 4 of their last 17 matches. If all the team did was play long balls from the back to Le Toux against a high line, and everyone caught onto that, and that subsequently led to our 4-4-7 record to finish the season, then wouldn't it behoove the coach to, I don't know, change the game plan from that? Oddly enough, I've been watching the same scheme for three years under Nowak: launch ball up the field, pray a forward gets it, launch ball into box, pray for a header or loose ball. No creativity. Everyone hold your positions. 3 years, and the same results. We haven't improved in three years. We made the playoffs last year on a very, very stingy defense. That defense didn't come back. What has really been grown here? What has been developed that has blossomed into something? What are we really watching here? If we're a work in progress, then we've been one for three years. The players change, but the tactics and scheme never do. I don't care which players are brought in, so long as the coach is the same, the tactics, ideals, and scheme are the same, and they haven't won us shit in 3 years. We need a change NOW.
Just like to point out that the name LeToux has been used more in your posts than anyone else's. In fact, I haven't mentioned him at all. That aside, I'd still like you to answer my question from a previous post: So, at what point would you feel comfortable saying that, perhaps, all of these moves have been detrimental to the team? A loss to TFC? Missing out on the playoffs? Or are you willing to just continue to ignore the fact that, yes, the sky is indeed falling, or, at the very least, the door to a followup trip to the post season is fast closing.
Sounds like you really disagree strongly with Nowak on the playoff performance last year. That must be tough for you. "Houston didn't overcome us with something we didn't know...I think in both games we played better." http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/11/04/nowak-philly-played-better-houston-both-games
Quite simply, we need to win the next two games (TFC and Rochester/Brooklyn) in convincing fashion. If we lose either or both, then the sky will have fallen. Interesting question: Will Nowak have the team practice PKs before the game on Tuesday? If so, it says a lot about how low the team has sunk.
This is a relevant question for those posters who see no reason to question Nowak. It's hard to get a response that doesn't mention how much you love Le Toux or Califf. I also really can't see how the argument that the Union got lucky last year and were actually a mediocre team reflects well on Peter (who built that team himself). Here's the most recent update for the Union's performance over Nowak's first 76 games in charge: 21-31-24 (W-L-T) - 87 points 88 goals scored/101 goals conceded (1.16 gpg/1.39 gpg) 1.14 ppg, averaging just under 39 points over a typical 34-game season. If we continue at that pace for the rest of this year, we'd finish with 35 points (or about the same as Chivas USA last year...they were 10 points out of a playoff spot). We need wins, and lots of them. Nothing else should save Nowak's job.
Peter Nowak needs to go. Seriously. He's brought in a lot of great talent, sure, don't get me wrong, but he makes a lot of questionable moves.
I see what your point is but you would have to be an idiot not to practice penalties going into match that could potentially lead to these. These cup matches can be unpredictable and a lot of the times the smaller club has more to fight for.
Honestly, I don't make this shit up. It's out there to be seen. All that one needs to do is uncover their eyes in order to see it. Not to mention the fact that in the history of MLS (or any league/sport for that matter) no roster of players has been fired for less than acceptable results. Its always the Manager because it IS his fault. In this case, Nowak's fingerprints are all over this team. Therefore, if they lose then he should lose his job. Besides, where did I infer that I'm mad about the moves? Look at my history here and you'll find that if anyone should be happy about their slide it should be me. But I don't feel one way or another about it, I merely observe and comment. The only "fact" that I ignore is your "assessment" of my post. One fact that is evident is Union got bounced from MLS Cup contention by Houston with a lot of help from Nowak. No matter how rosy one tries to make it seem for him, the guy just hasn't given the team a chance to mesh and flourish. Even if he did, I'm hesitant to think that he'd know how to utilize the players. It's because of knee-jerkers like yourself that this site is brought down a notch or two with your "making-up-of-shit", your juvenile reactions, and inability to tolerate opinions other than your own. But I understand. My comments aren't exactly palatable for Stepford fans or less observant creatures.
We only lost 4 games so the only other option is that is was all Nowaks fault? I am not a huge fan of Nowaks, but the blind hatred is as bad as the blind love.
All of these responses, and you need to pick and choose individual bits and pieces. I never said it was all Nowak's fault. In fact, I even said they were missing a few pieces last season, which should be expected for a 2nd year club. Not Nowak's fault at all. I will place blame on him, however, for using an untested formation in the team's first playoff game. Bunkering at home was a disgrace. Ever heard of the cliche, "Dance with the one that brought you?" The Union completely chose to ignore that when playoff time rolled around, and that falls squarely on Nowak's shoulders. I don't hate the guy. He's a great Coach who has a very good Pedigree when it comes to coaching. However he does do a lot of things that are questionable, and I see no problem with people calling him out on it. Just never understood why some people get so riled up when people want to point out things they believe should be improved upon? We're all fans here and want the best for this team. Now, for the 3rd time, since you seem to be either ignoring the question on purpose, or not reading everyone's responses, I'll pose my question to you again: So, at what point would you feel comfortable saying that, perhaps, all of these moves have been detrimental to the team? A loss to TFC? Missing out on the playoffs? Or are you willing to just continue to ignore the fact that, yes, the sky is indeed falling, or, at the very least, the door to a followup trip to the post season is fast closing.
After some research I think Nowak is trying to turn the Union into the American version of Arsenal. Signing teenagers and putting them in the 1st team. Problem is he is missing a "Van Persie" or "Song" to guide these youngsters
lol it's true though, it's the only reason I can come up with for why Nowak has the whole team under the age of 23 ( basically)
I have noticed a lot of similarities with Arsenal. I think Nowak and Wenger both admit tot he same number of mistakes.
If there was relegation in MLS, would Nowak still have a job? And do you think there would be bigger shout for him to be fired if he already wasn't? You bet your ass!!! If he doesn't make brilliant moves in the window then its almost like he feckin this team up on purpose..........just my opinion.
The threat of relegation could also lead to a bunch of poorly thought out and short term panic moves that make things worse now and down the road. There's no way, for instance, a team could ride young players under that threat. I see a lot of grizzled veteran-laden teams go down. At least, and I hate the moves Nowak has made, the coach is committed to a plan. He seems to want to grow a young team into something. I think his lineup choices often contradict this, but it's going to be tough for him to do anything other than ride younger players now.
I would agree with you if he would show any signs of being consistent......to me this is schitzophrentic in charge ..........I couldn't even tell you what the Unions style of play is and I have followed them since day one! How do young players get better if they don't have some basic guidance......Under Nowak we are all over place.............thats the only thing consistent!!!
Year 1 - throw everything at the wall. Year 2 - defense and get lucky Year 3 - 4-4-1-1 that molds into a 3-5-1-1 or 3-5-2 of some sort during play... I could tell what he was going for earlier this season... it's the pieces that don't work well in transition (midfield transition ballplay to forward; personnell mishaps; throwing punches at other players). One thing is for sure, and we could kind of tell with hearing of that scuffle in Panama... Nowak doesn't really have control of this team. The control was on the field with team leadership - mondragon, likely le toux, i would have put califf in there but i don't think he's as much as a level headed presence on the field as the others. Add so much youth and a little frustration you get a powder keg of a team with no safety. So I agree with you that the guidance isn't there... but Nowak does have some sort of idea that he wants to implement... it's just lacking. And i'm not saying the powder keg is our own players blowing up at the other team, it's that there's no real self control which then results in all out brawls (the chivas game was mostly chivas over reacting...and not getting reprimanded for it)