With a resume like this I would have promoted Mike Burns, too: Scouting Innovator Implemented cost-effective “YouTube” scouting strategy Doubled scouting capabilities by leading a team of interns on the quest for a second DVD player Financial Wizard Oversaw plan to sign just enough players to satisfy MLS rules while saving club hundreds of thousands of dollars in unused salary cap money each season Spearheaded efforts to encourage the sales of more Cat I tickets and lucrative hot dogs and sodas by creating a more “Get Your Kicks” atmosphere via the continued alienation of the cheap-seat hooligans behind the end zone Lead a strategy to reduce operating costs by helping to assemble a roster so bad that it will never have a shot of hosting mid-week playoff games A Fan's Dream Authored the plan to meet the supporters’ demands for a Designated Player by signing a player for less than the cost of a cotton candy vendor Offered Patriot Place gift cards to a variety of talented foreign players so that he can legitimately claim that the Revs tried to sign “that guy from Turkey,” among others Special Abilities Always addresses Robert and Jonathan Kraft as “Sir” Handles the media in the most “Belichick”-ian manner possible
You're kidding yourself if you truly believe that there's any difference between options "2" and "3". Aside from Bilello surrendering his other leadership roles within the Kraft Sports Group and now overseeing all aspects of the Revolution, both on and off the pitch, the Krafts' MLS franchise is still - STILL - being managed by a pair of in-over-their-heads incompetents. I mean, if you were to compare the old job descriptions for Bilello and Burns with their new bios, there is precious little difference. Great! Bilello no longer has to worry about facing the merchandise in the Pro Shop and making sure that the Co2 cartridges for the concession-stand soda fountains are charged. So what? As Revs COO, he gave us no reason to believe that he could capably oversee all aspects of the Revolution's business operations (sales, communications, marketing, broadcasting, special events and operations), let alone implement the franchise's strategic vision and long-term growth plan. Now we're supposed to believe that he can capably handle all of those responsibilities AND ultimately oversee the franchise's on-field soccer operations, as well? Sorry, but I'm not buying it. As for Burns, he couldn't close the deal on contract negotiations with significant players when that was supposedly the primary focus of his job responsibilities as the VP of Player Personnel. Now he's going to be calling the shots on everything from the hiring and oversight of the coaching staff to scouting to player acquisitions, while also maintaining oversight of the youth development program AND the team's operations and management? Again, I'm far from convinced that Burns is up to the challenge. This has "trainwreck" written all over it. It amounts to nothing more than a classic "rearranging of the deckchairs". But, what's another year of incompetence, right?
But the Kraft's DO care. Jonathan even went to a "Wizard's" game this season to prove it. I now await the hiring of Jay Heaps to make it all complete.
I'm not endorsing what the Revs have done. I'm saying "technically, it could be worse" EDIT: I'm looking for a silver lining. A 3 gram gold nugget in a 5 ton mountain of shit. It's not worth fighting over. There's a 99% chance that the "3 gram gold nugget" won't change a thing.
NERevolution on Twitter - #Revs President Brian Bilello (@RevsPrez) spoke to the media via conference call this afternoon; transcript here: http://ow.ly/7op97
A) Nobody's actually surprised by this, are they? This was all but made official when Nicol got let go and Burns/Biello started the coach search. B) As vastly unimpressive as Burns is (and I still haven't forgotten the pointless lie he told when Perovic was released), there was some speculation that he pushed to take Feilhaber when Nicol was leaning toward passing. If that's true, then maybe there's a soccer brain lurking beneath that corporate tool exterior. C) Burns really needs a personable assistant GM to handle the media. D) Call it a restructure when the Revs build a real scouting department and vastly expand the academy system. E) Can't wait to see what kind of coach these guys hire. F) Kyle McCarthy is a garbage reporter. Rarely breaks news (for instance, all he did here was tweet something that was about to come out as an official press release) and never provides insight. And don't get me started on his writing.
There was at least one person saying that Burns really wasn't being kept and wasn't really going to be part of the coaching search, etc...
"I don't want this organization out-worked or out-smarted by anyone out there." Yet, it has been - and I'm talking both on and off the pitch - for the past several years. And amongst the Revolution management personnel who were "out-worked" and "out-smarted" the past several years were Brian Bilello and Mike Burns. Frankly, I openly question whether Messrs. Bilello and Burns have it in them to work any harder or smarter.
Quote: The head coach will be reporting in to Mike, and every other aspect of our soccer operations there will be reporting in to Mike.In the past, Michael did not have that authority over all those groups, so now he will. He is then ultimately accountable to me on all decisions related to that. The head coach will obviously have a lot of autonomy over the operation, but we’re going to set up the right system of accountability [and] decision-making to insure that as an organization, we have a philosophy (for) Michael and I and the Krafts, as to how we want our business run, what we believe in and what we want to do. We can make sure we have systems, checks and balances in place, that we’re doing that. End Selective quote: For me the above if the critical takeaway in understanding what the reorganization is intended to do. A few weeks ago John-boy Ktaft said they realized that their organizational structure and philosophy wasn't working and they were going to make changes. Posters here have felt these changes MUST include getting rid of R&B. IMO, the restructuring suggested by the above is more important than the who is being asked to execute the new structure. I've been very vocal for a long time that it's been "Execution" of identifying and signing players thats been the major problem for this franchise. I know a lot of posters will point out the dropping fans base as a another major problem as well but I firmly believe there is little to be accomplished in fixing that till we get our own SSS (see KC after rebranding into a new stadium). No for me the makor problem has been execution of getting quality players into Rev Uniforms. In a management system "Execution" problems can result from faulty system design, poor personnel performance or a combo of both. It seems that this point the Krafts are going with the idea that a better system design will improve execution. If this is true or not remains to be seen but I'm willing to wait and see how their restructuring plays out before I say they has only rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Exactly....They've been talkin' the talk for years....I find it hard to believe that they can now flick a switch and be able to walk the walk. The Krafts failed to recognize that a true reorg was necessary. I predict the "Second verse, same as the first!".
Yes, but to be fair, Wallace Hartley could be leading Messrs. Brailey, Bricoux, Clarke, Hume, Krins, Taylor and Woodward in "Nearer, My God, To Thee" and "Song d"Automne", and you'd still be questioning whether the Titanic was taking-on water.
So which one of our executive team is responsible for pissing off supporters? I'm just sayin.... New Revs Organization: Same clowns, different circus.
I think this points to Heaps. Does he even have an "A" license? Who else--even Ralston--would come in to such a straightjacketed situation where Mike Burns makes every decision for you? I literally cannot wait until the coaching announcement. The press conference will be a butt-kissing tour de force. It will have to be a 100% Kraft yes-man. Feldman: "It gives me great pleasure to introduce...my long-time partner in the booth...and your new New England Revolution head coach....JAY HEAPS!"
Was it the 8:00am class in business school that taught about how in the corporate world, the only way to promotion is via failure? Because I always fell asleep in the 8am class, so I think I missed it
I am a little tired of waiting: To see if the latest old player they signedis going to be able give us one more productive season To see if Twellman will heal from his concussion To see if clearly flawed players will get a visit from the Skill Fairy To see if they will "gel" You get the idea... Even with the best designed structure and philosophy, I don't think Mike Burns and Brian Biello would be on most peoples short list to hold a key position
I feel that Bilello and Burns will need help to be successful. Just hope they recognize this and consider bringing in someone to assist putting the pieces in place along with a decent/respected coach. The Krafts also need to recognize that $$$ will need to be spent on players, marketing and atmosphere improvements or both Burns and Bilello are lame ducks.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hz4chjlQ58"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hz4chjlQ58[/ame] I am walking out with them. Can we finally call this rock bottom. Can it get any worse? I expect Damon Amendolara to be named coach with Slyde and the Rev girls as his assistants.
This reminds me of the quote from former Tampa bay Bucs coach John McKay, when asked about the execution of his team. He said "The way these guys played today, I'm all for it." Normally I'm not a capital punishment kind of guy, but I think I'd be willing to make the exception here. I don't think I'd trust either of them to hold a beer can while I bent to tie my shoe... Remember, Doc wanted to wait 10 games into next season before giving Nicol the boot. But he wanted to axe Burns in a New York minute. This kind of "restructuring" to get the "organizational structure" in place is like saying all we need to do is play a 3-5-2 (or a 4-4-2 or whatever formation) and our problems will be solved. It matters not what the formation is, but who the players are in that formation. We ain't gonna play Jogo Bonito with Pat Phelan running the midfield, I'll tell you that right now.... Howdy and Doody aren't going to magically become competent at something just because they have new titles in a different organizational "structure."
Though the maddening thing is they gave no details about an actual restructuring. For instance, no one said they plan to build a robust scouting department. No one talked about substantive changes in their developmental philosophy (e.g. a cohesive style of play at all levels, including MLS). No one even hinted changes in player acquisition policies. So they have a team president whose day job actually will be Revs team president and a GM who technically will be in charge of the roster. Yet we don't know whether they've been given resources to change the organization or whether they have the any real idea as to what needs to change.
I think it's about Nicol being given the trust and responsibility that Belichek has. Nicol has screwed it up, and the Kraft's have thrown their hands in the air. They know nothing about the sport, but they want it fixed pronto, and these guys are the ones they know. I think they have been given executive authority now, the incoming coach will just coach, and Kraft wants to stop being a laughing stock without bleeding money. Kraft really does not have other soccer guys he knows/ trusts.