Also, I read an article recently that said Wondo doesn’t want to work in MLS when he retires. Sounds like he prefers to become an Ultra and work for the Mustangs. Sort of like what Joe Cannon and Jeff Baicher are doing now. He would rather be involved in the amateur side of soccer. I imagine the Quakes might talk him into some kind of ambassador type of role, or maybe TV commentary, but he’s not going to be doing day to day stuff.
I think the reserve league is going to be the assistant coaches taking over that role, but everyone here jumped up my ass and said "Ian Russell" "Covelho" "UpChuckGaloo". I still think the assistants will handle it. Why would Ian Russell sign a contract and be paid by Reno if he was employed by the Earthquakes? He was the coach of the affiliate team, its no different then the other teams affiliate programs to the MLS programs. We put too much on FIsher for hiring and firing people.. thats why we have a Team President, then a GM, then a TD, then a Coach. Chain of command. I assume Fioranelli is the man who fires and hires the coaches, Owner and President would fire the GM. I just think getting the hopes up for something that probably won't happen is what's happening. I think the Ian Russell to San Jose is unlikely but if he wants an assistant role if Galindo is out of the picture for good could happen. We will see though.
You could be right about the chain of command, but I’m not sure it works like that. There are plenty of soccer clubs around the world that have people that answer to the board directly instead of under the general manager. I have no idea who is in Fisher’s board, but it wouldn’t surprise me if one of the members is Kaval. Ian Russell may not be under Jesse. I’m wondering the same about Leitch. Both of these guys have been employed for a long time with the Quakes. They’ve seen managers, GMs and Presidents come and go. They’ve served in a wide variety of roles. Does Jesse answer to Jared Shawlee? I rather doubt it. I’m not sure there is a traditional org structure.
Earthquakes Executive Staff and Board. John Fisher. Managing Partner, Board Member. Jesse Fioranelli. General Manager. Jared Shawlee. Chief Operating Officer. Katie Hall. Board Member. Sandy Dean. Board Member. Michael Crowley. Board Member. Keith Wolff. Board Member.
He was under contract and paid by the Earthquakes. The affiliation agreement had the Earthquakes controlling the soccer operations, including providing the coaches.
At some point, Leitch as GM and Ian as head coach. That's what I would do. Leitch was acting GM for a while I believe, and during that time we identified some decent players (Urena, Flo, Hyka, Hoesen). Can't say for sure those all happened under Leitch but they were all signed around January of 2017 which is when Jesse started. And IIRC some of those names were already in the rumor mill before Jesse started. None except for Flo were what I'd call great signings, but they were all at least decent. No stinkers. Since then we've had a lot of stinkers. And during Doyle's time also, a lot of stinkers.
We've had quite a bit of stinkers and below average performers for us, Qwiberg, Ockford, Dawkins 2.0, Imperiale, Sarkodie, Cummings, and Affolter were pretty bad.
I think he is actually similar to Fierro. Kind of light / small, pretty good crosser. I think Fierro is faster and probably defends better, but Hyka is much better attacking with the ball at his feet.
Yeah, though I don't think any of those were signed during Leitch's short tenure as GM. Maybe Cummings, or was that Doyle? I don't think Cummings was that bad but it sucked that he missed a whole year. Dawkins 2.0 was Doyle, Qwiberg and Affolter Jesse all the way.
Oh well we all assume Fisher hires and fires all the players here as many assume, so now its Leitch, Doyle and Fioranelli's job for the roster? People here need to make up their minds who does what around here. (Not saying you). I'd rather have Rios then Urena, who was very exposed for being trash next to Vela and Rossi. Also under Leitch we had the absolute dog shit of Goitam.
Interesting comments about their roster (as it was). It's kind of like a tryout - they were looking for the diamond in the rough in a way - guys that will be able to make the jump to MLS because they really stand out. And yet despite that turnover they won a lot of games every year. Unleash The EE!
Yeah... I'm ready for Ian to take this team. Young hungry coaches, who have an understanding that players need to be held accountable, he won't accept the faults of players like Vega, but he will also make players like Thompson better I imagine. Someone like Ian gives me hope and excitement, but what happens if we lose him to fcuking LA?
I want Ian to stay with the Quakes, preferably as head coach, but that would almost certainly require that Leitch become GM, which isn’t going to happen. I fully expect Ian to leave us for some other MLS club, where he will be head coach, and kick our sorry asses regularly. Yuck. Go Quakesfans!! - Mark
Also, how many guys that have played in San Jose since the rebirth have moved on to higher leagues? Maybe Baca in Liga MX? Dawkins went to the Championship in England but I think he came from there anyway. Russell pushed players up in their careers. I think a couple of his Jamaican players got overseas contracts.
It’s funny you should bring up Thompson’s name. I remember seeing a video interview during the 2017 Reno season where Ian was asked what player he most hoped would be loaned to Reno and he immediately said “Tommy”. TT had some nice goals in Reno and a few assists as well I think. His off the ball movement was what Russell most appreciated. If Ian somehow comes to SJ as head coach, don’t be surprised if you see a better version of Thompson than you have seen before.
I have no doubt TT would be a better player under Ian. I personally think Thompson is one of the worst players under Almeyda, maybe because TT doesn't play with true confidence, he doesn't take control the run of play. I know he can be capable of it, and Ian would simplify Thompson's role and focus on controlling the tempo of the midfield. I've seen Russell turn out some average players, and then coach them up to MLS quality and beyond. He knows what he's doing, for Musovski to go to LAFC and earn his way into the lineup with Rossi, Rodriguez and Vela speaks to the talent. Same for the Minnesota 3. Ian brings a lot of hype and genuine hope to the team.
Yeah, IMO TT's best year easily was 2017 - 2nd half, under Leitch. People were saying last year, stuff like, "Who would have guessed Tommy would finally have a breakout year at right back!". Well, he did a pretty good job at right back, especially last year, but he was much better in midfield in 2017. I guess you could call it a "breakout half-year", but Stahre put a hammer to any momentum he had coming into 2018. If Ian was coach, he might coach TT a bit like Leitch, but competition is tougher now. TT's not going to start at RM, for example, as long as Espinoza's around. But my guess is that Ian would not play TT at outside back. He'd play him in midfield.
Thompson started to suck when he was moved to the back, it took him out of what his skill set allows for. He can play the position, but ideally day-in-day-out he isn't equipped to play the position. He needs a position (CM) where speed isn't a priority and he can focus on distribution rather then having to focus on man marking. He doesn't have the speed, but in a system like Ian's where its fluid through the middle and utilizes the wings he would likely excel more and probably save his career again. I am a high TT critique BUT only in the system Almeyda is trying to run which isn't even really a system its just some fancy bull shit with words attached to sound like its advanced but its not. Its why we get iced the first 15 minutes of the 2nd half every time, easy to figure out. But I never doubt the fact with a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1 he would perform much better. I also believe Almeyda has him playing conservative after reviewing a bunch of footage this year. To be fair he was starting to get a little more time under Kinnear, but Starhe almost wrecked a bunch of careers. Out of the midfield, he's quite adequate but it requires the proper players around him, and he can't come from the back. If he doesn't have to man-mark he's a lot better. Man-Marking exploits his weaknesses. This is something as I said, I think Ian would allow him to do, be a creative player rather then a defensive minded player. I would even take a gamble and have him play a false 9 rather then a 10 even. He's got the ability to beat the man on the dribble, but he must stay further up the field. He's absolutely trash when he's a defensive player first it doesn't utilize his skill set he possesses. Ian wasn't as technical and had way more speed then TT, but their footwork was similar, go at a defender and cut in, get the shot off.