how important are coaches?

The Coach

to get all artsey...I would compare the coach to the conductor of an orchestra...he's the one who gets everyone on the same page, to buy into a certain viewpoint on how the music should be played, and when and where certain instruments come in and out...

Now if you have crappy musicians your never going to create good music, no matter how good the conductor...but musicians being equal, a great conductor knows how to bring out all the nuances that is the difference between good and great music.

 

So what you're saying is that we have assembled an orchestra of some highly experienced older musicians and some younger virtuosi. The conductor, having hired specialist to work with the percussion and brass, just tells the strings to go out and play something beautiful as he pulls the music off their stands?

 

Let's hope "not very" is the correct answer.

 

The Coach

So what you're saying is that we have assembled an orchestra of some highly experienced older musicians and some younger virtuosi. The conductor, having hired specialist to work with the percussion and brass, just tells the strings to go out and play something beautiful as he pulls the music off their stands?

I think that is a very apt way of putting it!

 

Orchestra?

I think we're a jam band that has too many lead guitarists... no one can play rhythm and and our drummer (Ray) is trying to play a triangle, a snare, and a bongo.

 

I think a better way to look at it is that the drums and bass are laying down a solid rhythm track, but the guitars and horn section are busy masturbating. But maybe I'm mixing my metaphors.

 

There's nothing worse than a "jam" band.



We need to get Buddy Rich in to a practice session so he can straighten things out.




I would have said Charlie Mingus, but I wouldn't want anyone to get shot.

 

Well, we only need to look at the impact Arena had with the USMNT and his man management and tactical decisions with the WC to see how decisive coaching is.

And that said....I've praised Bob Bradley as possibly the best coach in MLS now that Arena is out, think he is superb at growing American talent and implementing his system and yet....if the league playoff schedule doesn't stick it to DCU or the offside calls are made correctly than Bob Bradley would have never won an MLS championship. Good coaches are critical. But coaches don't win games--players do. And that is ultimately what it always comes down too (that and maybe some breaks if the sides are really incredibly close).

 

Is it significant that in the USA we call them "coaches" while in most of the rest of the world they are called "managers?" A player who has reached the professional level presumably knows how to dribble, trap, pass and shoot, and the job of the "coach" is to "manage" the individual efforts of the eleven players on the field to blend together effectively. I think the most effective coaches are those who can best manage the disparate personalities who make up a team. The ability to motivate and cheerlead, which Ray has in abundance, is certainly part of the portfolio, but so is player selection, positioning, and selecting an attacking and defending system that works for the personnel. It is in these last elements that I think Hudson hasn't yet established his credentials.

 

Coaches are a HUGE thing. My High School team(Mater Dei HS of Middletown,NJ), had the talent to make the state tournament last season, as well as the 2002 season. Our coach killed us in preseason practices,was very negative, and provided very little guidance. That combined with a killer out of conference schedule left us 0-8 going into our conference games. Needless to say, we did not make the state tournament, we did not even win a game this season(0-17). In 2001 we had 9 seniors,8 of which started, and we went 5-11-1. He resigned at the end of this past season. Rumors are that we are getting a former D-1 college player to be our coach, but it remains to be seen if the guy will be a good coach. Coaching is probably 40% of the team.

 

So with a better coach you would've gone about 5-12 this year?

 

As my brother-in-law is always telling me, the coach is half the team. I used to scoffat this, but I'm coming around to believing him completely.

 

If I remember correctly, Richie Williams is from Middletown! Maybe you can have him come out and coach your school. He would singlehandedly guarantee that your school will not have a losing record. He probably would even suit up if needed!

Even Jeff Bradley doesn't live to far away, this may be his chance to start his dynasty. I have heard that he is a good coach stuck in the wrong age group!

 

I very strongly agree with this.

Let's not forget the fine job Sarachan is doing in Chicago so far.

 

This is perhaps the best descriptive post on coaching.

I would like to comment on the last 2 sentences.

While I would not underestimate the other components.

Player selection, which includes not only obtaining players from elsewhere but also selecting where the players will play to their strengths.

Bruce Arena has shown this to be one of his strongest points. Tony Sanneh in right back is probably one of the most incredible moves he has made. To a lesser a certain degree playing Convey at left back (for the USA) has incredibly picked-up Bobby's defensive game.