From MLS confidential... 1. L.A. AFTERMATH: The Galaxy's stunning collapse in San Jose may or may not trigger the departure of Coach Sigi Schmid. AEG had already declined to pick up Schmid's option for next season and his contract expires at the end of November, according to Anschutz Entertainment Group sources. President Tim Leiweke met with Schmid this week but has reportedly taken no action. More may be known next week. Also on the hot seat is general manager Doug Hamilton, whose team led the league in attendance but fell short of revenue projections. Yet that shortfall may be a function of greed -- high concession prices and an average ticket price (approximately $26) that is nearly double what was charged at the Rose Bowl -- rather than any ineptitude on Hamilton's part. Concession prices at HDC are similar to what AEG charges at the Staples Center. MLS crowds aren't willing nor capable of buying as many $8 beers and $6 hot dogs as are Lakers and Kings fans, and some fans are balking at the team's refusal to permit tailgating in the parking lots. A suitable compromise might be to allow tailgating before games but clear the lots of cars and fans as soon as possible following the final whistle, along with a dollar or two cut on food and beverages. 2. THE CAROUSEL SPINS: If Schmid departs Los Angeles, he would be a candidate for the vacant job in Dallas, which has already interviewed Mo Johnston. One source says Burn general manager Greg Elliott has Schmid on his short list but has yet to contact him. The job in Dallas looks a bit better with the team's decision to leave Dragon Stadium in Southlake and play in the Cotton Bowl next season. Sources say outgoing General Manager Andy Swift and fired Coach Mike Jeffries had advised against the move to Southlake when it was first proposed but were overruled. Johnston is reportedly interested in the D.C. United job, should it open up. Coach Ray Hudson and Technical Director Dave Kasper have met with AEG senior vice president Kevin Payne, who is also managing director of AEG Soccer, to discuss the future. D.C. United will probably receive an allocation from MLS if Marco Etcheverry and Hristo Stoitchkov leave the league even if no transfer money is involved. This roster and salary-cap space would give D.C. United some liberties to re-tool the squad. Quakes assistant coach Dominic Kinnear is first in line to replace Frank Yallop, who seems destined for Canada. Yet if Club America/Televisa buys the Quakes -- a longshot but not entirely impossible -- Kinnear's status could be compromised. Elliott also had Kinnear on his list. In Colorado, Kroenke Sports Group is apparently willing to let general manager Dan Counce stay on for at least a year. The fate of Tim Hankinson, whom Counce hired three years ago after dismissing Glenn Myernick, isn't known. Rumblings on the grapevine are that keeper Scott Garlick isn't the only player unimpressed with the coach and that after a week or so in camp last spring French midfielder Gilles Grimandi came to the same conclusion. The Crew announced Thursday Greg Andrulis will be back for the 2004 season.
The vibe I am getting out of BUrn staff is that the coach will be announced during next week, before (yes viking, before) the MLS cup weekend. Which might make a Sigi hiring problomatic in a time sense. All chatter I hear says it's Mo. But I still think the Sigi thing would change things if LA really dumps him.
I t/w Elliot a month ago and my feeling is he would want someone in the vein of Yallop. Someone young and hungry with big ideas who can immediately make over a team. I think Mo more closely resembles that than Sigi.
I would still like to know where Colin Clarke stands in all of this. Is he no longer considered, will he leave the Burn if not chosen as the head coach, or will he accept the fact he was "just" a temp and return as an asst. coahc?
Assuming MLS Confidential is correct and that the Galaxy have declined to pick up Sigi's option for next year, wouldn't the team normally give Schmidt permission to interview with other teams now rather than make him wait until his contract expires at the end of November?
From the looks of things, Dallas is going to have to build a 24 hour Luby's next to the Frisco stadium.
I have no info on how realistic the Sigi rumor is. But for those that just think he's about playing boring soccer, a few points to make: --his work as a US youth team coach got outstanding results; --he certainly had outstanding college teams that produced a lot of good talent; --he is regarded by a lot of observers (and Bruce Arena--no slouch in this area--is one of them) that Sigi has an outstanding record at developing young American talent into pros. If I were a Dallas decision-maker (and given the amount of young depth you've got on your squad), that alone might get him hired if he was available. --the consensus from a lot of folks I talked to was after he replaced OZ in LA, the team became much more organized, made fewer errors, roles were clearer. I don't know enough about him directly to say if he's a great coach (or even the best choice for Dallas). But from what I do know, he'd immediately make you better and would cure a lot of the ills the team had last year (giving up soft goals, allowing teams to comeback, team confusion on the field, plus how a lot of the young talent did grow like it could have this year).
I heard last week that selection was down to Colin, Mo, and Bliss. With a mystery possible fourth, that I believe is Sigi. I too hear he is out in LA. People I talk to claim Colin was a legit candidate and was running close to Mo is the word I was getting. Sigi coming in late changes things. Colin told me he is interested in staying at MLS level and is willing to be an assistant, even with the Burn. He would be dissapointed to lose out as he feels he is very qualified and I happen to agree. BUu would do it to gain more expereince in MLS. I would be dissapointed to see Mo over Colin. Sigi over Colin I can live with.
Playing three tournaments in other countries and playing three months on the road probably explains this year's performance. MLS tore a huge hole in Sigi's team to put Hernandez on his team and I don't think Sigi even wanted him. Galaxy's owner did.
I'm not trying to come off as a Sigi apologist but 1. The "comebacks thing"--its easy to look at the SJ-LA match and forget just how tough LA is. What did the Peter Hirdt article say--Hartmann hasn't given up more than 2 goals in a match all season and LA was one of the best teams in MLS in the last 30 minutes at not conceeding goals? 2. LA saw their attacking mid options disappear this year. Cobi (who was serviceable there in 2002 but we all know that man is no A-mid) had a bad year for him. Cienfuegos is showing his age and lost his legs. Memo is still a couple of years away from taking the reins. Elliott was injured and had lots of national team duty. Hong didn't perform like he was expected to at D-mid and a settling force. So their central midfield was a mess all season. And then no-one (including Serna) got it done as a scorer next to Ruiz. So they played defense and looked for El Pescadito to grab goals--not a strategy that will win you a lot of games. If you get Sigi, you just got significantly better. You'll be organized, tighter on defense, your young talent will get better and play more self-assured. And I think your international recruiting will show more dividends.
Maybe he could get Alexi Lalas to come over. He could take the place that Morrow had and help organize the back four.
If Mo and bliss are fading could or does it mean that Colin and Sigi are the top two choices now with the exception of an unnamed canidate?
I can't find anyone with a more direct Burn connection who knows anything about Sigi. The only Sigi stuff I am getting is that he is out in LA for Klinsman to come in. And MLS confidential said he would be a Dallas candidate. And I still say they are crazy if he is not. But like I posted in other thread. I just heard something wierd today and am trying to track it down.
And that was what I heard... that Scheulls was still in. When I heard last week he was out. So it makes it down to Clarke and Scheulles... with teh enigma that is Sigi possibly thrown in.
No idea why the reversal. It may only be a reversal in rumor and story and not on his part. But remember the DMN article where Sigi said "The timing is bad"? Maybe it is not bad anymore. Keep in mind I have not persoanlly varified this. It's just what I heard from a single good source, then it was in the KC paper. Which is fairly solid but is not 100% confirmation. I still am trying to track down a Burn source to give me Sigi, so far I have only gotten his name from outsiders. But I think you can be sure it's at most Clarke, Sigi, and Schellus left.... and maybe much less than that.