Townhall Notes

Discussion in 'Philadelphia Union' started by Ruud11, Aug 9, 2017.

  1. Ruud11

    Ruud11 Member

    Dec 2, 2009
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    We were told not to take notes or record anything. Seems some recorded the last one and they were not too happy about it. Lots were keeping watch so this is all per memory.

    Circa 40 of us were there with most of the discussion centered around the Youth Academy since this is instrumental in the 5yr plan that was also discussed at length.

    Earnie stressed he did not sign a 3yr contract but a 5yr one. After 18 months he is on track and wants this team after 5 years to be a consistent playoff team with making occasional deep playoff runs. He is very happy with the home record and thinks we can turn the away record around since every one has been close (contrary to last year when we were blown away 3 or 4 times). He also stressed that Atlanta is only 3 points above us after spending millions more (I did not remind him about Chicago..). He also mentioned that he realizes that the most successful teams stay together for more than 4 years so he puts a lot of effort in keeping the core of the team as is.

    One thing he stressed is that when an Academy player makes the first team and starts, then that gives him extra $'s to use on improving another position. But the Academy is still a mess: they lost a good goalkeeper to Benfica and received zero Dollars. Currently they seem to have an amazing 13yr old and Earnie told us to go to YSC on Saturdays to see the Academy teams play. YSC seems also to receive another name soon ....

    A lot of new things are being done at the Academy. They also now seems to have a scouting system in place at the Academy although their best scout recently left for ManU. If this Academy experiment fails then Earnie & Team will be a failure. If it works then he has another highlight to put onto his CV.

    One interesting thing about the scouting of young kids: they are not looking for the big and fast kids. They want kids who continuously think and look for opportunities by playing with their head up and have good skills.

    Circa 87% of the season ticket holders seem to have renewed last year. This was an uptick after years of a reducing trend.

    Did not sound like they will sign any new player before midnight but it sounded 1 or 2 may leave to make room for 'the future'. When we asked what 'the future' meant he said beginning 2018.

    They said that they would look into a phone-in radio show for after the games.
     
  2. lopezzzz

    lopezzzz Member

    Jun 28, 2011
    Philadelphia
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Bruh... more than half the teams make the playoffs.
     
  3. thomas19064

    thomas19064 Member+

    Apr 29, 2008
    Delco
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    god forbid their brilliant plan be made public.


    THIS IS ********ING PATHETIC. After 5 painful years we'll finally be rewarded by regularly squeaking into the playoffs and maybe, just maybe if we are lucky we will go, hear this guys.....
    DEEP into them... Woah nelly! COLOR ME IMPRESSED.

    See guys? Who needs money when you have a rag tag group of aw shucks guys who are good in the locker room? Comparing us to being pretty close to EXPANSION team Atlanta who has played a vast majority of their game on the road and has a game in hand... WE MIGHT CATCH THE MILLIONAIRES GUYS!... Give me a ********ing break.


    I mean honestly, all of the youth and Academy stuff is fine with me, but they are putting way too many eggs in this basket.

    Last year.... this year.... not so sure that number keeps trending up.

    meh, we'll see.






    Thanks a ton for writing all of this down! What was the general tone of the room and questions?
     
  4. aequitas

    aequitas Member

    Philadelphia Union
    Aug 7, 2011
    NJ
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If he really said Atlanta is only 3 ahead...he needs to check the standings.
    They have a game in hand also.
    Screenshot_20170809-230856.png
     
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  5. thomas19064

    thomas19064 Member+

    Apr 29, 2008
    Delco
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    he probably hasn't looked at the standings since Saturday. ATL played Sunday and making the playoffs obviously doesn't matter for another 3 years.
     
  6. Whosaidwhat11

    Whosaidwhat11 Member

    Aug 9, 2014
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Another god damn 5-year plan. I really liked the idea of Earnie when he was hired, but his quotes from these town hall meetings are really pissing me off.
     
  7. Dills

    Dills Moderator
    Staff Member

    Philadelphia Union
    United States
    Jun 6, 2006
    Southampton|PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Putting the wraps on a town hall seems to defeat the purpose of what a town hall is.
     
  8. drewuke

    drewuke Member+

    Jul 19, 2012
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    How good is MLS going to be when the academy players are actually old enough to play?

    Because this is a load of shit.
     
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  9. gettysburg11

    gettysburg11 Member

    Feb 2, 2015
    Lehigh Valley/Gettysburg
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sounds to me like same old same old excuses for having an owner unwilling to splash cash. We all know we'll be bottom feeding until the blessed day when Jay Sugarman decides to cash in on his investment, which I think we should all be hoping happens very very soon.
     
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  10. celt1997

    celt1997 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jan 31, 2006
    Philly Burbs
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Wish I had his exact quote on this as I would send it verbatim to my rep (who is a great guy working in a bad situation) when I tell him why I'm not renewing.

    Sorry, but I put aside a lot of money (for me), and I don't do it to see a .500 team who occasionally MAY win more than 1 game in the post-season - oh and that may, or may not, happen within the next 3 years.

    How is that even remotely considered running a successful sports organization?

    Count me off the Earnie train. He's been condescending to a fan base that has been nothing but gracious about giving him a chance.

    Time for the FO to wipe the slate clean, or for the fans to wipe the seats clean of attendance.
     
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  11. buzzkiller23

    buzzkiller23 Member+

    Jan 30, 2009
    Glenolden, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well. Stewart has lost me with this. A midseason town hall to secretly discuss the academy? He might be more tone deaf than Sakiewicz.
     
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  12. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It was all fan questions. The questions asked by those who attended were mainly (90%) about the academy and youth development. Seriously....talk about taking things out of context.

    It's not a five year plan. Earnie made a remark about him signing a 5 year deal instead of the three year deal he was originally offered to come to our sad sack excuse for a club at that time. When Earnie and Tim came on board our club didn't have defined roles and responsibilities for it's employees, only had three customer service reps, no scouting department, no training facility, and a nascent academy. These things don't get built overnight. They said, without specifically saying it that they inherited a mess.

    Earnie was quite modest, and didn't want to come out and say it, but the impression i took was that they feel this team is going to be positioned to make a leap in 2018. Earnie acknowledged the woeful road form, and that is something they are actively working to correct. He pointed out that this year the team has been in every game and hasn't been played off of the park like they were in several games last season.

    I found the information on the academy and what they look for in players to be very interesting & informative. They did say that it is frustrating that MLS limits the number of roster spots at the far end of the roster. This hampers their ability to develop players some what. They specifically mentioned the goalkeeper who left and signed with Benfica. They wanted to sign this player so that he could train everyday under Oka's tutelage and alongside Blake and McCarthy but couldn't due to roster restrictions. They are working with MLS to help change the roster rules to allow those teams who value player development to sign more academy players to the first team.

    The tone of the event was quite good. The fans in attendance had excellent questions. The panel was the complete opposite of tone deaf as well.
     
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  13. buzzkiller23

    buzzkiller23 Member+

    Jan 30, 2009
    Glenolden, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sorry. I wasn't there so I'm only going by comments on here. I'm not sure if I have proper context without having been there.
     
  14. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Out of context, completely. They understand that folks might not be able to make it to a midweek Season Ticket Holder Town Hall. They also want to make their Season Ticket Holders, and those who could and did make it out for a Town Hall to value these meetings. That's the main reason they didn't want it recorded, and the fact that members of the media took things out of context from the last Town hall.

    For those who could not attend I would ask/tell your ticket rep that you'd like to attend these town hall's but can't due to other commitments. Ask/suggest that they hold them prior to a home game so that it would be easier for STH's to attend.

    Hey, I totally get that not everyone can afford Season Tickets, and are still huge fans of the team. Totally understand that they will be upset about not being able to attend a town hall meeting. At the same time, the Team has to show it's STH's value for their investment, outside of just attending games and receiving a Scarf as a gift. Offering "insider" information is one way that they do this.

    Trust me, I attended most of the Town Hall's hosted by Nick Sak......you want tone deaf and condescending??? That's exactly what those were. I've been to three of these that Earnie has hosted, and they are night and day, head and shoulders above the ones held by the previous "leadership."
     
  15. Dills

    Dills Moderator
    Staff Member

    Philadelphia Union
    United States
    Jun 6, 2006
    Southampton|PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    When the context I have to go on is "We were told not to take notes or record anything. Seems some recorded the last one and they were not too happy about it. Lots were keeping watch ..." then what, exactly, am I to take from it?
     
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  16. celt1997

    celt1997 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jan 31, 2006
    Philly Burbs
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The problem is that we "value player development" only because we can't compete financially. Why would MLS bend over backwards to accommodate that when they want high priced names for their product?

    So, basically the Union want the league to change rules so they can continue to be cheap?

    ETA: And this is why I think the eggs-in-the-Academy basket is a pipe dream. The future of this sport is in big contracts. What kid coming through the Academy is going to choose to stay in Chester if someone is willing to give them extra money to go somewhere else? If we are continuously out-spent then we will keep no one of any significance from the Academy.
     
  17. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The Union aren't the only team that values Player Development (SKC, RSL, VWFC, RBNY). The organization has invested heavily in their academy and BSFC, and they want to be able to reap the rewards from what they are sewing.
     
  18. Dills

    Dills Moderator
    Staff Member

    Philadelphia Union
    United States
    Jun 6, 2006
    Southampton|PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And this team is clearly relying on the large influx of TAM/GAM next season and beyond to improve the squad.

    News flash, Mr. Sugarman ... every other team is given the same base amount. That, good sir, is called parity. The lack of extra investment outside what the league provides is called parody.
     
  19. Handsome Pete

    Handsome Pete Member+

    May 16, 2011
    Minneapolis
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ******** this team.

    Although I can totally understand why they'd want to keep their recipe for success under wraps. We can't have other teams trying to emulate their model.
     
  20. wantmlsphilly

    wantmlsphilly Member+

    Aug 2, 2006
    Philadelphia, Pa.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We want to build through the academy but the fan base has no patients. Which do you want? Singing players will only block players in the future much like Jim Thome kept Ryan Howard in the minors to long. Ernie thinks academy players are about to contribute and is showing patients but what will come first, a team that competes our a fan base that gives up? I rather wait myself. At least he has a plan. Let's hope it works.
     
  21. Boyertown2003

    Boyertown2003 Member

    Jul 21, 2009
    Philadelphia
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    First off, season ticket holders are paying customers. As far as I'm concerned, it's their choice if they want to make the information available to the media for dissemination to the rest of the fan base.

    The customer is always right.

    This isn't about the "value" of these meetings, it's about the Union trying to control the flow of information, and it looks bad when they are policing their own event, an event that was created to promote goodwill in the first place.

    Second, what exactly was taken "out of context" from the last town hall meeting? I had the entire audio of the session, from start to finish. No, I couldn't see facial expressions or gauge body language or anything in an optical sense, but I think it was a pretty fair portrayal that actually made them LOOK BETTER in the end.

    If I didn't publish all of that stuff, Earnie's impassioned, 20 minute response about youth development wouldn't have seen the light of day, nor would the other quotes that came off as positive. They also FILMED the last meeting, so they're hypocrites on top of being tone deaf.

    Plus, it's not like the rest of the fan base doesn't pay money for tickets, hot dogs, and $9 beers. They should be bending over to kiss the ass of anyone who has put up with seven years of losing.
     
  22. Ruud11

    Ruud11 Member

    Dec 2, 2009
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    One thing I forgot to mention is that Earnie did say that there is a chance that we'll make it deep into the play-offs this year. Sure, if the team keeps on playing like they did on Saturday then they will. The question is whether they can. But that is the beauty of soccer: it is unpredictable; who would have thought that they would trash Dallas as they did!

    One other observation. I have been to most of these town hall meetings since the beginning and have recorded most on this forum. I liked that they let us ask the questions after 2 that were picked out from the ones that were sent in. I would have liked to have more of an open discussion after their answers, since many of the answers were debatable. In the past we did have such town meetings that resulted in a good deal of discussion.

    The panel last night was very optimistic and good humored but it comes down to this: you either believe in Earnie or you don't. He has made me a believer and I am willing to give him another 3 years.
     
  23. lopezzzz

    lopezzzz Member

    Jun 28, 2011
    Philadelphia
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    They are not mutually exclusive concepts.

    Quality MLS veterans + academy players + 3 DPs = winning
     
  24. Ruud11

    Ruud11 Member

    Dec 2, 2009
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    A player was discussed during the last meeting and what was written down about him caused issues during the training sessions. Not sure who that player was.
     
  25. wantmlsphilly

    wantmlsphilly Member+

    Aug 2, 2006
    Philadelphia, Pa.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I agree but i think you build with MLS veterans + academy players first, not DP's. Other wise you get the dream team the eagles assembled a few years ago. If you bring in an expensive DP, they are usually in or just past their prime, so it makes no sense to have them until you have the foundation.
     
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