How else can you judge coaches but on the team's performance? At the time, Bruce was going through a torrid (bad) stretch over many years. First of all, how can you compare straight up Bruce's current performance with Galaxy vs. Hyndman. You can't. If Bruce had had SH's players and vice-versa, would Bruce looks as good. Likely not. So you have to have some sort of discounting mechanism. You can't just go off the table. Galaxy spend a ton of money on their roster.
Its obviously not looking good for Red Bulls at moment, but it is entirely possible that (1) Marquez wakes up and starts playing closer to his real level (2) Henry and Agudelo start clicking better going forward (3) Midfield with McCarty, Bellouchy start playing better, since they have been putrid. These things are possible, and although they might not make them a front runner, it likely would be good enough to get Red Bulls into playoffs and maybe get them a first-round win. That would be a disappointment of a season, but perhaps not a disaster.
But if I thought I was wrong about a certain belief, then I wouldn't hold that belief. I don't think it's possible to believe something AND believe you're wrong about it. Maybe you're right about that, and maybe I'm right.
My purposes in starting this thread were 1. To tweak supercooper. 2. To point out that Backe is, in fact, ********ing up. 3. Call out the people who have been touting Backe as a great coach over the last 2 years, and even mentioning him as a candidate for the Nats.
Of course that line about Arena being better than the new guys in Colorado and Dallas takes a hit when you look at the coaches in last year's MLS Cup.
I know they are struggling and maybe Backe gets the ax. But the Red Bulls have only LOST what? 5...6 games? It's why I've been screaming for all coaches to be more aggressive on the road. You have to get 3 points out of games in MLS. It's too competitive of a league to be hoping for draws. Now, back to NYRB. The single biggest reason for their struggles are summed up in two words. Tim Ream.
From your lips to Nick Sakiewicz's ears ... or, more specifically, from your fingers to the screen to Nick's eyes.
1. I think you need to wait for that. If Bruce can't win the Cup this year, it won't be pretty 2. Its funny that you would draw a conclusion on a new coach to the league and over 1 1/2 year's performance, when I was considering 3 different Bruce coaching assignments over 3 years, 2 of which were coaching in MLS. I think I had better data, and a better argument for sure. 3. I think Backe looked pretty great until the last 2 months. As dawgpound pointed out, they still only have 6 losses. In fact, before Arena turned the corner middle of 2009, Galaxy had a TON of ties....at which time Bruce and players figured out how to turn into wins. I think the Bulls have had a bad stretch and they will improve from here until end of season. I think they are dicey pick in playoffs still however. There is work to do. The McCarty trade was simply bizarre logic, but that is more a GM type decision (even if Backe was involved) vs. criticizing a coach, per se.
What won't be pretty???? I judge coaches by the decisions they make. If LA doesn't win the cup because of something the players do, it'd be stupid to blame Bruce. IMO, a coach's job isn't to win trophies. It's to put his team in a position to win. The players have to execute.
How anyone could make any judgment on Winter is abusrd to highest order. Has Toronto played well this year? NO. But Winter was given a MONTH in pre season to fix a team that was badly broken. And from the games I have seen since the transfer window opened they do look better. They are just missing a few pieces. Given the full off season and pre season I think they will look much better. So why are you blaming Backe now? Everyone seems to forget that before the gold cup they were running over everyone. Then they loose Rodgers to injury. Then the gold cup rolls around, in which they loose Richards, DeRo, Ream, Rafa, Agudelo, And at times Henry, Tanio, and Solli where hurt. Plus you add in the fantastic display of keeping skills by Stone Hands Condoul and Dudley Do-Right in the net... When half or more of your first choice players are hurt or unable to play what do you want the coach to do exactly. And even with those issues they still have not lost that many games. I am hard pressed to fault Backe for what has gone on. Though he does need them to get a groove back. Which I think is coming...
Red Bulls problems this season are collectively as a team not defending well. They dont pressure the ball in the midfield well and the backline is not fast. Solli is by trade a midfielder and Miller probably should be also. Ream and Marquez have been downright poor since they returned from the Gold Cup and their backups Keel and Mendes were miserable while filling in for them during the Gold Cup. The blunders at the goalkeeping position have cost the team points all year. Not sure if long term Rost could have helped here but he's now out for the next month so who knows if he even plays the rest of the year. Backe has made some bad decisions(Ballouchy, lack of subs) but alot of it has to do with players on the defensive side of the ball underachiving.
It's a good thing they're still (as of this second) in playoff position. That way they can still silence everyone by winning MLS Cup. After all, their coach made it perfectly clear what the major trophy was before the season started -- oh wait, damn.
Bump. NYRB are on the outside looking in at the playoffs right now. It'd be...INTERESTING...if DC makes the playoffs on the strength of DeRo's play while NYRB falls short.
Yep. I'll say this though, as a neutral the Red Bulls are a good watch. Cringe worthy defensively, yes, but only two teams have more goals this year (KC and Seattle have 43, RBNY 42) -- and RBNY has a game in hand on them. They pass the ball as slick as any MLS team, but they leak too many goals for a top MLS team. Whatever happens, I hope they give Backe one more year.
1) The concern is Marquez is now past it. 2) This one is quite possible 3) Ballouchy and McCarty have been spare parts by their last 2 teams. Doesn't exactly bode well for their chances to turn it around.
The vast majority of those goals were scored before DeRo departed, and post DeRo era is greatly skewed by the 5-0 shelacking of Toronto.
NY is one spot below playoff right now. That's absurd given the talent level on the team. They should be competing for supporter's shield at this point. Of course you blame Backe. Being a scapegoat is part of being a head coach. Any head coach should know what they sign up for.
I don't know if Backe is the worst coach in the league or NYRB have the most overrated players in the league. Either way, we have stiff competition between NYRB and TFC as to which team will be the Chicago Cubs of MLS.
Why? What's absurd is believing that a name, overpaid "stars" are what make a soccer team work together well and good. People really do have to get over their love affair with the "stars".
I believe "buying teams" with stars and underachieving is a New York "thing". Just look at the Mets, Rangers (briefly), Knicks, and Yankees (except their good) maybe the Jets.