I've read a few posts over the last 2 weeks talking about Nick S. as a team builder. How he built a good team for the Metros and that OZ wasted that talent. But a lot of what I've read in this forum doesn't seem consistent with what I've read in newspaper articles, internet articles, and such. I was hoping we could come to some kind of consensus here as to what role Nick S. played as a team builder. Octavio Zambrano - I've seen more than a few people give Nick credit for hiring OZ, but he was, in fact, hired by Charlie Stillitano. League Gifts - Mathis, Akwari, and Countess were all given to us by the league during Nick's tenure but he had nothing to do with acquiring these players. Can't really give him credit here. Zambrano's "Boys" - Jolley and Hernandez were 2 of OZ's boys and were actively acquired by OZ. Ross Paule belongs in this group as well. OZ was pursuing Ross even when OZ was back in LA. No credit for Nick. Players that were already here - You know them. Petke, Howard, Ramos. Even players that contributed to our success in 2000 and 2001 (like Chung). Again, no credit for Nick. Draft picks - Based on everything I've read, this has really been Zambrano's domain. That means OZ gets credit for the good ones (Davis, Faria, Perez, Moore) but must also take the blame for the bad ones (Shak, Ndiaye). Nick's Involvement That leaves us with player aquisitions that I've read that Nick had something to with: Gilmar - A definite Nick pickup. Didn't contribute much in 2001. Overall, a waste of space. Pedro Alvarez - Nick was involved in sending Ammann to DC for the allocation. "Socks" was an over-hyped underachiever. Another dud. Diego Serna (trading Chung) - Another Nick trade. Comparing Chung's numbers in Colorado with Serna's numbers while he was here shows that it wasn't even close. Colorado wins, Nick loses. Marcelo Balboa - $270K of Cap Space taken up for an injured player because Nick didn't get a physical first. Colorado goes 2 and 0 vs. Nick. Diallo - Nick's one definite player that contributed to the Metros. Diallo scored some nice goals but couldn't help us down the last stretch when we really needed him (Diallo didn't score any goals in August or September). Also, it looks like Diallo is leaving soon, so yet another short term player instead of building for the long term. I'll give Nick credit for this one and say it was more positive than negative overall. Other Players Williams and Chronopolous - I never got a clear indication from any article I read over who was really pushing for these players: OZ or Nick. Chrono did not perform well so I don't think either gets credit for that. But Williams performed very well, above my expectations. Was this part of Nick's plan or did OZ push Nick to take Williams and Nick just rubber-stamped it? So overall, I don't see Nick as some great team builder or incredible talent scout. I don't see how he handed OZ some great talented team and then OZ blew it. OZ was more responsible than Nick for building the talent on this team. OZ does have to take responsibility for not leading this team into the playoffs. But I don't see how Nick gets any kind of accolades. Thoughts?
It looks like, other than the few draft picks that panned out, the only thing Nick is given credit for is the Diallo & etc. for Serna & etc. trade. While what may end up being Williams for Hernandez still looks good for us, how can we be sure this was "orchestrated" by Nick? Yes, he wanted to dump an AWOL Serna, but he claims that NE was more or less forced into trading. Did he initiate the trades talks or did New England or even the MLS front office. Remember, MLS pretty much "gifted" NE the bulk of the "contraction team" players. They may have been the force behind the whole trade and Nick just claimed credit (not that I could image him doing something like that).
Off the field he doesn't fare much better. He seems to have assembled a decent proposal for a stadium, but due in part to external circumstances the likelihood of it getting passed in the near future appear to be slim to none. I'm not sure anyone else could have done much better, so I won't fault him for the lack of success (although the constant b.s. is another issue). Where I do fault him is for not having some back up plan. Metros need a plan B that involves getting out of Giant's stadium, and they don't have one. Something should have been worked out on this front, even if it involves a modular stadium in a corner of the meadowlands parking lot.
At the time of the trade, the party line from the Revs was that the deal was originally a swap of the 2 head case strikers, then was expanded to include Williams and Hernandez, but Metro "insisted" on including Chrono in the deal. It wasn't clear whether it was Nick or OZ who wanted Chrono, but the word is that someone sure did. I bet both will say it was the other guy. Tom
Re: Re: Nick S. as a Team Builder No dummy, don't you remember, it was Clint that insisted on Chrono. That's why he cost us the playoffs.
Nick has done little except spew out stupid comments that make him look like an ass. His "great player pickups" are all ex-TB players. Gilmar? Give me a break, Nick. Until BOTH Nick and Zambrano are gone from this orginization this team is going nowhere. 2003 will probably be like 1999 all over again.
This, of course, would accomplish next to nothing. So we'd be in a smaller stadium. So what? We'd still be under the thumb of the white collar criminals in the NJSEA, bleeding money left and right, and stuck inside a gigantic exurban disaster. I bet the modular Houlihan's would even screw up the pizza skins.
If we're going to be abused, I at least want to be abused on a proper pitch. I just can't believe how bad the playing surface was this year. Watching the Rev's play at Gillette stadium today highlighted the difference. There seems to be no middle ground between the Harrison dream and the Giants Stadium nightmare, and I think there should be.
Nick S couldn't build with an Erector Set. Hey, Nick, tough talker -- big man -- what have you done lately?
I just hope that Williams doesn't have a bad 2nd season with Metro. Everyone remember "El Tren" Valencia, or Hurtado when they had decent 1st seasons with Metro then fizzled the next (Hurtado more so than Valencia).