Read this article Rapids fans...http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=265113&cc=5901 It'll make you a little concearned about the off field Rapids. I never want to see a bunch of second guessing the coach and system, especially after one match. Is Chris being smart here or should he hold is tounge?
I like Chris Carrieri a lot more now...although, I'm not a Rapids fan. Mr. Hanki, the Christmas Poo looks like he might be the first coach to go this year.
I hate to say this but this is a breath of fresh air. You have had players who were prima donnas and could never pull off the full routine because they: a. didn't care about the club, just themselves. b. didn't back it up on the field. Of course, 90% of these guys were somehow named Luis Hernandez. If he can back up his words with performance, I say be the cockiest cockasinchicken of the walk. MLS really needs somebody (anybody) with personality. It has bothered me for 8 years that the league has had no personality other than statements made with hair (Valderrama, C. Jones, Mathis) MLS is Kevin Costner's speech to Tim Robbins in Bull Durham. Just say the inane stuff that reporters can put on the air. Finally. A little positive controversy.
Hard to disagree with a lot of the stuff he says. I really hope Connolly asked him something about Grimandi that appears in part 2 tomorrow......
That's about as strong of a statement as I have heard from a player regarding how he is being dealt with by the team. Certainly a concerning statement when you look at the other off-field problems the Rapids are having. A change is needed, at least from Carrieri's perspective. He did seem to show a lot of respect for his teammates though, giving Spencer his due by acknowledging that he should always be a starter when he's healthy. I don't really know how to respond to much of what this interview says. Carrieri is very direct, and I wonder how much of this is just the bad start the Rapids had, combined with the confusing Grimandi situation. From his perspective, it seems like nothing is going right inside the club, from the management down to the coaching staff, but maybe I'm just reading too much into the direct nature of his comments....
Sheesh. He's not bitter...not at all. Connolly could have asked him about the situation in the Middle East and Chris would have turned it into how the best players don't seem to get on the field in MLS. And he took some pretty good shots at Tim. This one especially: <<That's not the way it's going. And when I talk with coach, he has no answers. I can't get anything across to this guy. I talk to him annually about why I'm not a regular starter. I'm twenty-two years old and I have a long career ahead of me, so if I'm succeeding for my club right now, why sit me aside? Why wait on it? I could talk until I'm blue in the face about this.>> Based on this interview it sounds like there's a good amount of dissention in the locker-room, and only after one game!
I agree that it is fun to see some big statements from an MLS player in the media. I think team in-fighting is actually a separate sport in the big euro leagues. But is this too much too soon? I don't think Mr. Hanki should be getting this much when he has three strong forwards to work with and one surprise rookie. I think Carrieri should keep his mouth closed for now and prove himself like Jeff C. in C-bus, then start bitching. Last season was last season, like a sunk cost in business, you don't consider it.
guy sounds like a real team player... christ what an *********************. keep your mouth shut, act like a professional and don't do anything disruptive towards your team.
Isn't it somewhat ironic that he speaks of his gross displeasure with having to play out left but then at the end of the interview he then speaking of how teams should field their best 11 regardless, even change formations if they have to. Maybe that's what Mr Hanki was doing by having you on the field at left or am I way off target on this one? I haven't seen enough of the Rapids to know the chemistry and form yet.
haha that's a good point, Vanilla Ice always contradicted himself in interviews as well..I guess they do have more in common then just looks.
Some of you crack me up--you want honesty from a person, then you call him bitter or whatever. Connally asked him questions about himself, the team and soccer, not the political activities of the UN, and he answered them with direct honesty, maybe some of us can't handle people who speak their minds. Would you rather he just lied and said he was happy to sit the bench afetr being one of the top 10 scoreres in the league and 3rd in game winnig goals. Do you think Chung or Henderson would be happy, so why should he accept the role of a bench player when no-one in his position throughout the league has to. I said it before--give him the starting position to lose--He won the spot after last years performance--and Hankison may not be coaching if Carrieri doesn't win a few games for him. There's a thin line between cocky and confidence and I think all athletes need to be on that edge. I think it is a a breath of fresh air that someone speaks from the heart. And I don't think any of us can complain about the 100% effort he gives for the Rapids, on and off the field.... You know, Pablo made a statement about players being out of their regular positions after last weeks game, and I dont see any of you jumping on him about "team unhappiness" or bitterness, or how he feels about the coach, etc, etc. ...
The quote was: "If you have to change your formation for a player to play, then that's what needs to be done." Changing a formation, is different than putting a guy in a position he played for about 1 hour in preseason. If you understood soccer, you would have understood the statement as well. A formation is a 4-4-2 or 3-4-2-1, which is different than a defender being moved to striker or vice-versa....
Served up on a Silver Platter Just two cents from an outside observer but the games I watched last year with Colorado we're full of occassions where Chris just totally screwed up a wonderful pass or opportunity from Carlos. Yes he scored some goals with pressure and speed but he's not strong in the air and waste too many other chances. I think he does have a bit of a point about Casey starting the first game but it's only the first game so hold your tongue and see what happens. He sounds like the last guy I'd want on my squad. As a UNC grad I always found it interesting they won the national championship with pretty much the same players...the year after he left. I don't know what that means to you but to me it means he's not much of a team player. RGR
Sure, he's a good player and maybe he deserves to start. But do you REALLY think that Tim is going to read this and have some sort of epiphany? Do you REALLY think that Tim is going to read that interview and say to himself," God, Chris is right! What an idiot I've been. I need to start Chris now before he gets more angry!" With this interview I think Carrieri grabbed a shovel and started digging himself a hole. The only reason that someone would air dirty laundry out in public like this is either because he can't control his emotions or wants out. Which is another subject altogether, as he'd be the 2nd high profile player this season that wants to leave the club. I think Chris only did himself harm with this interview, as far as getting more playing time is concerned. I'm assuming that Chris and Tim don't really get along that well, and he's burning more bridges with this interview.
MockaDooDoo, I was speaking in generality of his statements in the interview overall. Trust me I do understand soccer very well thank you. You seemed to also miss my disclaimer that I haven't seen enough of the Rapids yet to know their "chemistry and form yet". However, if you would like to argue the semantics of the interview then I will direct you to the quoted sentence just before the one you did where Carrieri says "Why aren't coaches in this league taking their best eleven and putting them on the field regardless of where they're being played?" Now am I understanding (soccer) that declaration wrong when I suggest that maybe that's what Mr. Hanki was attempting to do? Move on...
It might be that he's set himself up as lightning rod for a player mutiny. Pablo doesn't seem all that happy with the Nativity Turd either...
The bizarre first game could be an open sore with the players and only Pablo, because he is accomplished and respected, and Chris, because he is an absolute madman, came forward to the press with this. Yoda changed formations and lineups with frequency last year and the team may have flailed around a lot more than necessary for it. Maybe this first game brought out a balistic response because the players thought "oh, crap, here we go again." This seems more likely because the stable, successful preseason went to hell with the first game and its untested, experimental lineup. This kind of outburst can go either way, depending on how the team reacts and how the coach handles it. If this helps clear the air, then maybe the team goes forward stronger. If not, it could lead to either a slow beginning of a festering season and/or Carrieri going to another team. Carrieri is clearly pissed but he seems to be always on edge. I know when he left San Jose, there was bad blood there. I can't wait to see how everyone with the team reacts officially. The next game, besides indicating Carrieri's role, should also show a lot regarding the psychological state of the team. Otherwise, I find this kind of stuff generally entertaining.
Great lets get it all out in the open. Nobody better question this kids confidence, competence maybe, but not confidence. He's either going to be a top scorer in, or a top head case. I still can't figure out which, maybe both. I can't disagree with what he's saying in general terms since the majority of the people on these boards agree with him. (Except maybe in the degree to which he should be starting.) Err, thanks for the link Ingmar. I think. I did ask.
Hmmm.....maybe you're on to something. When he was drafted by the Quakes, he guaranteed a championship. Well, the Quakes were champions all right, but not until they traded him away first! Maybe the Rapids will win it all if they dump Carrieri?
Ok after reading all your post and replies this is the article you would have rather seen: Connally: Chris how do you like your new role on the team: Chris: I am just happy to be on the team Connally: But you were a starter last year and score a bunch of goals and had a group of assists that helped get the team to the MLS semi-finals. Chris: I am just happy to be on the team Connally: What do you think of playing in a position last game, that you only been practicing at for about 45-60 miutes. Chris: I am just happy to be on the team. Connally: What do you think willbe your role this weekend against DCU. Chris: I am just happy to be on the team. Connally: Thanks for the interview, do you have any last comments you would like to share. Chris: I am just happy to be on the team.
Frankly I couldn't care less what he says in an interview. I'm just saying that he didn't do himself any favors.