"Six Spots Open"

Discussion in 'Philadelphia Union' started by Boyertown2003, Sep 15, 2013.

  1. Boyertown2003

    Boyertown2003 Member

    Jul 21, 2009
    Philadelphia
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    RE: Hack's press conference last Wednesday

    I'm not sure why I keep hearing this idea that there were "six spots open" for last night's game. I've seen it on Twitter, Facebook, and message boards, and it's incorrect.

    Hackworth told reporters at his presser that he was considering making some changes - that's true.

    There was a follow-up question from Dave Zeitlin, who was trying to pry a little bit of information out of him on specific roles or areas of the field where there might be changes. Hack's response is a joke. it's a canned response that basically says "I can't reveal that information". So, yes, he did say "there are six open spots", but he was being facetious in response to a question that he's never going to answer in the first place.

    Just clearing up the misinformation.

    -Kevin K
    philadelphiaunion.com
     
  2. SoccerPrime

    SoccerPrime Moderator
    Staff Member

    All of them
    Apr 14, 2003
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    6 spots left to be roster compliant or 6 starter positions? I think the latter although I was thinking more like 10 or 11 spots. Plus a head coach.
     
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  3. celt1997

    celt1997 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jan 31, 2006
    Philly Burbs
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    "You spin me right round, baby, right round."

    [​IMG]

    Glad to know the organization thinks we're all dumb. But, then again, I keep paying them money...so maybe I am?
     
  4. Handsome Pete

    Handsome Pete Member+

    May 16, 2011
    Minneapolis
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Damage control. If it was a joke I'm curious why the team didn't feel the need to comment on the oft-repeated comment at any point during the week. Only after a steady stream of negative comments on social media and blogs since the line up was announced last night.

    But I like Kevin K. I can't fault him for doing his job.
     
  5. celt1997

    celt1997 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jan 31, 2006
    Philly Burbs
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The joke thing kind of caught me by surprise. I thought the easiest spin would have been to say, "Yes, there were 6 spots up for grabs, but the normal starters were able to secure those spots by the end of the week."

    Can I get a job running spin?
     
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  6. jess370

    jess370 Member+

    Feb 14, 2008
    collingswood
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Even better then that is his insistence that Keon is a starter and not a holding mid. Our midfield is so bad we really can't have a holding mid and a midfielder that looks to pass backward every time he is forced to make a decision with the ball.
     
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  7. Boyertown2003

    Boyertown2003 Member

    Jul 21, 2009
    Philadelphia
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This doesn't have anything to do with damage control, or "spin", or any front-office related stuff here. I wasn't even at the game on Saturday night and I didn't write a post game story.

    I was at the press conference, I heard the quote in person, and I wanted to explain to people the context of it.

    Anyway, if you guys think I'm a spin artist, you haven't really been paying attention. I'm a freelancer and I contribute content to the team website. Yes, I work under obvious guidelines, but I'm not employed by Keystone Sports and Entertainment and I'm not a "front office" member.

    -kk
     
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  8. Tyr

    Tyr Member+

    Nov 7, 2009
    Lawrenceville
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah, us falling out of a playoff spot with the same old starters sure was a real knee slapper.

    We are tired of seeing Hack pick his starting 11 out of personal loyalty rather than anything that in any way resembles tactics. Y'all can write your propaganda how ever you want, but the product on the field is unacceptable. Whether you think it's a joke or not, the consistent starting 11 is getting it done, and we need real competition in these spots, not just talking points. No amount of clarification will hide the fact that we are getting consistently out-coached. The real joke will be when we are sitting at home in the playoffs because Hack is still sticking by Daniel and Cruz. We'll see how you spin that one.

    #SackHack.
     
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  9. jess370

    jess370 Member+

    Feb 14, 2008
    collingswood
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nothing is going to Change until keystone sells the team. If you get rid of sack you still have hack, if you get rid of both of them you still have owners that are starting to show they are unwilling to take risks and put th money into the starting 11.
     
  10. Tyr

    Tyr Member+

    Nov 7, 2009
    Lawrenceville
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't know. I think you can work with bad ownership if you have a good coach. Simple decisions like playing Kleb/Torres, switching Daniel/Farfan out wide, and using Cruz as a sub would make a large difference on this team. We lack creativity on the field, but we have players who have shown quality. Unfortunately, our coach of the year thinks hustle and size is more important than skill. A starting 11 that made sense would go a long, long way.
     
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  11. Boyertown2003

    Boyertown2003 Member

    Jul 21, 2009
    Philadelphia
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #11 Boyertown2003, Sep 15, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 16, 2013
    I don't disagree with you on those issues.

    The point of the post, however, was just to explain the context of the quote.

    I'm not trying to downplay a brutal loss.

    If anything, the context I'm providing should explain to you that not many changes were coming to the starting lineup. People began to go overboard because they made an incorrect assumption that the XI was going to look completely different last night.
     
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  12. drewuke

    drewuke Member+

    Jul 19, 2012
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    #12 drewuke, Sep 15, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 16, 2013
    I think he's trying to say a bad ownership won't find a good coach.

    I don't care if people assumed there would be a difference, I think the problem is that there wasn't a difference.

    I don't mean to sound rude, but it doesn't really matter what the fans think, the only thing that matters is how the team is set up and plays. When they don't play well in a bad line-up, it doesn't matter if the fans assumed there would be a change, or what they thought of the changes or lack there of.

    1-0 loss to SJ***

    "Okay there should be a change."

    1-0 loss to Houston***

    "Okay, there should have been a change."

    Instead, 10 of the 11 guys play again and the result is the same.

    Same bad play style, same lack of attacking creativity, same bad coaching, same lack of form, same result.
     
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  13. aztec21bas

    aztec21bas BigSoccer Supporter

    Jun 24, 2009
    Mullica Hill, NJ
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's just getting old...... real old!
     
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  14. miked9

    miked9 Member+

    May 4, 2000
    Philadelphia
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah, I think the fan frustration with the "six spots" idea, whether it was a joke or not, comes from yet another "context" -- namely, a floundering team with dubious talent that has been extremely poor at managing its roster, that continually finds way to deflect responsibility or blame for its subpar play, and has in its short history been pretty lousy at being forthright and honest with what is a pretty loyal and dedicated fanbase.

    I mean, based on that context, can we blame anyone for thinking that there *SHOULD* have been six spots open in the lineup? To put it another way-- can we honestly say that after the last stretch of games, that more than five Union starters should have felt totally comfortable that they were starting the next match?

    Seriously, can anyone name six Union starters that *should* be 100% locks to start for the next match, based on current form?​
     
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  15. SoccerPrime

    SoccerPrime Moderator
    Staff Member

    All of them
    Apr 14, 2003
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I have liked what I have seen, from time to time, from Le Toux and Williams. Its not like the whole team needs to be dumped. But come on, you have a Brazil vet on the bench. A veteran goalie, to push MacMath but isn't doing it. You have Torres and even Marfan sitting on the bench or in the stands. Use them!
     
  16. Amscray

    Amscray Member+

    Philadelphia Union
    United States
    Aug 24, 2007
    Arlington, VA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    On current form? Maybe not, but I would take these fellas in a heartbeat:
    FW: Casey, Jack Mac (after he hopefully sees a sports psychologist midweek)
    MID: n/a
    DEF: Okugo, Parke, Williams
    GK: MacMath (very pleased with his improvement this season)

    We've been saying it all season long, our crappy patched together midfield is the problem. Cruz would be a perfect substitute to break down a tired defense, but Hack inexplicably continues to start him. Daniel could be a sub to help protect a lead but Hack also continues to start him. I'm not sure what Hoppenot brings at this point other than happy memories but can he still be called a "super-sub?" Ugh. We're just boring all over. Mediocrity on the field is clearly the business of this organization, and cousin, business is a boomin'.

    To paraphrase Rick Pitino: Joe Corona is not walking through that door, Mix Diskerud is not walking through that door, Kyle Beckerman is not walking through that door. We have no true alternatives save Torres and Kleb but our coach flat out refuses to play them. It is what it is. Get ready for more of the same, Union fans.
     
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  17. Dills

    Dills Moderator
    Staff Member

    Philadelphia Union
    United States
    Jun 6, 2006
    Southampton|PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Six spots?

    That's laughable.
     
  18. breslinp

    breslinp Member+

    Jan 20, 2010
    Malvern, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So Hack can make jokes about as well as put out a winning side? If you were going to answer the question facetiously, you would say there were 11 open spots. Thus, everyone would know you were kidding around. 6 open spots? How is that funny? Alternatively, he could have said Kleberson and Torres would be in the starting line-up. And then when he sent out the same old Hack 11 that night, we could have a good chuckle. Oh that Hackworth! He really got us on that one!
     
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  19. BuddhaWake

    BuddhaWake Member+

    Aug 13, 2010
    Philadelphia
    that's where the lies and the excuses of a joke makes no sense. 11 makes sence as a joke or seriously. 4-5-6-7-8 etc. doesn't.
     
  20. UnionDues

    UnionDues Member+

    Aug 16, 2011
    Philadelphia
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    How can you tell Hack is lying? His lips are moving.
     
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  21. Phillyspur

    Phillyspur Member+

    Tottenham Hotspur
    England
    Mar 18, 2007
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Seems like Hack needs to use one of our draft picks on a sense of humor.
     
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  22. BuddhaWake

    BuddhaWake Member+

    Aug 13, 2010
    Philadelphia
    or some of that Allocation money to buy one.
     
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  23. TonyClarkDOOP

    TonyClarkDOOP Member+

    Jun 18, 2010
    Oxford, United Kingdom
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    IMO, Casey and Jack are dried up due to service into the box.

    *Looks at Le Toux and Cruz*

    Other than Le Toux played up top yesterday. I dont think he has been affective like he was earlier this season. I dont think anyone has called his a** out though.
     
  24. Handsome Pete

    Handsome Pete Member+

    May 16, 2011
    Minneapolis
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Smash's time to shine. But he's gone soft on Le Toux.
     
  25. LuckyStriker

    LuckyStriker Member+

    Favorite club? a German one..........
    Apr 14, 2010
    in exile-Statute of Limitations yet to expire
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    somebody should assist him then, and thanks for setting the pins up...........
     

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