Sadly, he lacks the honor to resign and neither Bob Bradley nor Sunil Gulati have the stones to can him.
Nah, it has gotten bigger than that. It's basically to the point now that the results don't matter. It's like the old USSR - whatever nonsense was going on in the country, the ruling few kept their power. This is how Gulati - or the master behind their chief puppet - is running it. The USSFR.
You are right its not about the results. It is about Hackwoths inability to raise the level of players once they enter the residency program. More often than not, players leave the program as a shell of the player they were before they arrived. Hackworth is incapable of making players better and tactically OMG. His nickname suits him- "HACK". The younger players that just arrived in August should get out as fast as they can.
I'm speaking for many (I'm sure) when I say that we would appreciate concrete information from an insider's perspective. ********** For those who haven't glanced at the Woitella article, which tries to take a fresh look at Bradenton in the context of recent developments (WC failure, new academy system, MLS initiatives), it's full of Hackworth quotes that suggest that he (at least) doesn't think his head is on the chopping block.
Not targeting anyone, but in general any information from these kind of sources needs to be taken with a grain of salt. When children are involved things get cloudy.
Agreed. But I have seen and witnessed enough conflicting first-hand accounts to know that this information cannot be automatically considered accurate or applicable to the general experience. Parents have a vested interest in the well-being of their child and will always have biases that interfere with analytical analysis. I think everyone here can think of more than a few examples related to a coaching environment.
Hiring of Wade Phillips, Rob Chudzinski and Cam Cameron away from the Chargers staff. And Turner's availability. And AJ Smith's wanting to go with the same system as before. Which doesn't make either Norv's or Ted Cotttrell's hiring a good decision.
I assume Hackworth is hanging out with Bradley, here ... http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_2850816.html The U.S. Soccer Development Academy is hosting the first Academy Fall Showcase this weekend from October 6-8 at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Thirty-six teams from 18 elite clubs will join two U.S. Youth National Teams to play 38 matches during the three-day event. In addition to U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley and other U.S. National Team coaches, the event will draw scores of college coaches from around the country. ....
Although, if you happen to have seen a certain coach up close, and you know he can run a practice, and you know he's good at managing players personalities, (not that this necessarily applies to Hackworth) every coach at that point probably deserves two or three chances. Sports is a zero sum game, and also one where there are very thin margins between winners and losers, and it's often something (say the FO, or talented players that lose their grip on reality, or something else) the coach couldn't have reasonably controlled, but it's one where the coach typically gets fired anyway, if only for the symbolism in suggesting you're doing something about the losing that at all times somebody must be enduring.
Yes! I read somewhere that with all the million$ the US spent on the u-17s, they weren't smart enough to send a scout to see some of their groups opponents play their recent games. That means they weren't close to being world cup ready. The coach was just trying to hack it. That's downright incompetence. Disgusting! Can't they find a local guy to scout for them, if no American can find their opponent's country on the map?
I think this thread deserves an update.... http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2007/10/u17_changes.html "Word is beginning to get around soccer circles that John Hackworth is out after three years in charge of the U.S. under-17 boys' program in Bradenton."
... According to two sources, Hackworth will be offered a job elsewhere in the USSF, possibly an administrative role in the new academy system. ... ********** Should we laugh or cry? Maybe we should celebrate a small victory - drinks on me.*
I really hope this is the case. At any rate all these guys, if anything, are FANTASTIC administrators. I have no problem with Hackworth moving into an administrative role. Just hoping we can find a good U17 manager to replace him.
I really hope they get a European/ Latin Academy Coach who has developed top players. It's not that they are from Europe or South America, it's simply the fact they develop players there. Here we coach teams, there they develop players. A Subtle yet significant difference.
I would think that as these national coaching decisions are to made (Ryan also comes to mind) that Gulati should get off of his ass and hire that technical director that he has been rumored to be interviewing for. You'd think that such a hire should be in on the decision process, not handed a bunch of newly appointed coaches selected by the current USSF crew. Then again, maybe that's what's going on here. Fill positions with the good old boys before the new sheriff comes to town.
I have no problem with them hiring a US coach. However, it would be nice if they hired somebody with a proven track record of developing quality professionals. And right now, that seems to be a position for a foreign coach.