Below is a link to remarks by Andy Mead: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=1925652#post1925652 In his post, he says that every coach except Sarachan had people calling for his head this season. I don't recall that being the case for SN. Even in our mid-season slide, I don't recall there being anything more than a few disgruntled souls blaming Nicol. So, to prove me right or wrong, give SN a letter grade for this year's performance as head coach.
I see SN as being as good a coach as there is in MLS and worthy of a solid A. I will up that to A+ when we win the Triple next season. Seriously, what more can one ask of a coach? He has done a great job finding and developing talent. He has introduced a style of play that couples solid defense and flowing attack. He has put together a team that is ready for prime time in 2004 and that is before he has used his two high draft picks and in hand Allocation. Steve is a quiet but strong leader that has the respect of his players. What more can we expect of a coach? The fact that he wasn't considered in the final three for Coach of the Year was pure BULL. BTW, I'm willing to bet we won't see a mid season slump in 2004. George
I'll give Nicol an A+ without the Treble. As SoccerDoc says, "What more can we expect of a coach." He has made solid personnel decisions. He has brought stability to the squad. He has built a style of play that is both effective and attractive. And let's face it, we aren't brimming with superstars, so I really see a coach who is able to get the most out of his players. This has seen our system of play 'evolving' to best utilize the talent we have.
A+ for the place we finished without the players we needed in order to finish in the position we did. Enough said there.
I agree he's done great. Aside from the results on the field the personel moves that I remember are good ones. i.e. drafting Twellman despite having an abundance of offense (Serna, Chacon, Diallo et. al.) due to the dispersal draft. I also liked the steady evolution at midfield with Hernandez given a shot and then getting Vazquez, all the while persuing Cancela who he eventually landed. Even having Reis as a second GK is quality. For me it all speaks to a steady advancement towards excellence, never counting on the one "big" signing that will cure all that ails us. Next step is to watch the same evolution of our back line, I hope....
It was Clavijo who drafted Twellman, and Serna wasn't with the team yet at the time of the SuperDraft, but Nicol deserves enough some credit just for bringing in Cancela, drafting Noonan, and geting Joseph to finally join the squad.
"A". It's hard to imagine anyone getting more out of this group than back-to-back finals/semi-finals seasons.
A solid "A". Without going back, I can recall a game or two that I was unhappy with his substitutions, but keeping the team focused and confident during the long winless streak has more to do with the way we finished the season than anything else.
Agree... solid A. Another season like the last two and I can see offers coming from clubs that might be willing to pay him a bit more. Anyone know what Steve's contract status is?
Nicol's Grade The bottom line with Nicol in '03 is that no coach in MLS did as much WITH WHAT HE HAD as SN. I know Sarachan did a great job overall, but having half a dozen National Teamers skews the curve. Throw in major injuries to TT and JMM and the Rev's season could've been bad... real bad. Job well done Steve.
Nicol has to get extra kudos for riding out the midseason storm without alienating his players and/or changing his system. What we don't know is how much stock he was putting in waiting for Cancela to sign and show up. If, as I suspect, he had Pepe in mind all along, based on what he had seen in Costa Rica, I have to give him full marks for keeping quiet, biding his time and waiting for the package to arrive. JIM DOW
I'll give you three to two in 2003. Beasley (who has never played for the Fire like he does for the nats); Bocanegra (no comment, he always puts on his best); and, Armas (perennial favorite). CJ Brown was called up once in 2003 for a game in his hometown. No one expected him to be called up and no one expects he will be called up again. versus Ralston; and, Twellman. If you go digging down into the rosters for each team, you'll find a lot of guys who've had one or two caps since 2000. And I don't think I have to ask if you'd trade Andy Williams for Cancela straight up. The remaining SIs on both rosters were more benchwarmers than role players this year. Injuries were probably the deciding factor this year. Dave was lucky enough to not have any season ending injuries to Razov or Ralph. A few games out here and there, but nothing terribly disastrous. That and Armas actually recovered from his injuries and returned to form. At the start of the season, that was a huge unknown for Chicago. Not to mention the massive salary problems Chicago had to deal with this year. In all probability the Fire had available salary budget monies that totalled far less than what was available to New England this year due to past years' deferred compensation. I think they both did a great job, personally.
What did Sarachin do besides sail the ship that Bradley built? All his impact players were healthy and the only player that developed under his tutelage was Ralph. Nicol deserves credit for getting great rookie seasons from Noonan and Joseph, for integrating Cancela so quickly, for getting utility out of guys like Fabbro and C. Brown, and for playing great socer down the stretch without JMM and Twellman. The only coach who did more was Yallop, who won the west in a landslide with a brand new starting 11 featuring Ching, Mullan, Dunivant, Onstad, Waibul and Walker, none of whom had ever been MLS regulars. Throw in half-seasons missed for Ekelund, De Rosario, Ching, Dayak and Robinson and the offseason loss of starters Cannon, Barrett, Graziani, and Conrad.
Had to give him an A. The only way he could get an A+ is if he won the championship. I dont really think I have to explain why he gets an A. He is great.
I hate to do this, because I kind of promised myself I wouldn't talk about the Fire as much anymore (just gets me in trouble) But, the ship that Bradley built underwent the following renovations from 2002 to 2003: Appeared in 2003, did not appear in 2002: Andy Williams Curtis Spiteri Damani Ralph Jonathan Bolanos Justin Mapp Logan Pause Nate Jaqua Rodrigo Faria Ryan Futagaki Appeared in 2002, did not appear in 2003: Aleksey Korol Amos Magee Billy Sleeth Billy Walksh David Vaudreuil Dema Kovalenko Hristo Stoitchkov Jason Moore John Wolyniec Johnny Torres Josh Wolff Mike "cat scratch fever" Nugent Peter Nowak Sergi Daniv Appeared in insignificant minutes in 2002, appeared on 2003 roster: Chris Armas (347 minutes 2002) Craig Capano (92 minutes 2002) Dipsy Selowane (1 minute 2002) Evan Whitfield (138 minutes 2002) Henry Ring (90 minutes 2002, allowed 4 goals) Orlando Perez (808 minutes, mid season walk on) Want me to run the comparison of what changes were made from Clavijo to Nicol from 2001 to 2003? Don't talk out of your ass is my suggestion. Nicol had a great year, but Sarachan hardly just sailed the ship that Bradley built.
The key players that got them as far as they did are from the Bradley Era (Armas, Marsch, Boca, Beasley, Razov, Thornton). Thats 6 guys who have played under a "great" coach (i use that term loosely). The players they loss in the offseason was mearly fat on the meat. I wouldnt say Sarachan built this team from nothing or took a team struck with blows from the salary cap and turned them into a winning team because neither is true. Sarachan took a team and fine tuned it. His true coaching styles will show next year if Boca, Beasley, and Armas get their passports stamped and play overseas. Now Nicol took a team and started from scratch.
"My ass is smarter than your face" is my suggestion. Yes, who would dare discout "the Bolanos factor" in winning the division. You're a homer with no case. JMMUSA8: You left out Curtin, Whitfield and Perez. To clarify, the entire freaking starting 11 minus Ralph and Williams were Bradley's. Plus Kelly Gray. And Williams developed elsewhere. Regardless of their promise, the (non-Ralph) 2003 youth crop did not become impact players, ie starters, as they did in SJ and even NE. If Sarachin isn't american, he doesn't win the award.