Okay, this was a move that had to happen. I would think he still gets a very nice statue in front of CMP. But what comes next? KZ will manage the club for a bit. I don't know if that means any change in approach at all, but he will certainly get some time. How much time should he get? We certainly don't need to rush things. But if a Jim Curtain or a Zidane of a Martino feel the need of a new challenge? Do, in the short term, we think about Benny instead of KZ? Are there canidates we should be pursuing?Ideas?
A good piece by Doyle on the Vermes Legacy. To steal a bit: Vermes built it and left it in much better shape than when he found it. He’s carved his name into the record books in so many ways that it’s almost impossible to do it justice in one column. How do you adequately fete a guy who not only saved a club but modernized the tactical approach of an entire league? I don’t quite have the words, so I guess that’s where we’ll leave it. Sporting fans, this weekend, understandably called for Vermes’ ouster. It’s a results-based business, and the results weren’t coming (they hadn’t for a while). I don’t blame them for wanting a new era to arrive ASAP. But take a minute to appreciate the old one. Vermes put together something incredibly special in KC, and the entire league’s better off because of it.
Did not watch Kerry play, highlights are good, if he asserts his own voice and wins games give him some time. Inquiring about the Currents coach is 'not cool' as kids in my day would say. Shows some lack of imagination too. Just jazzed that something new is coming!
I actually, for a short while, hung out with kerry. Had pizza at his house a couple times. He's a very nice guy, and I was a fan of him as a d-mid. There was a time when he seemed to be one of the next big things in MLS managing. but that time seems to have ended in about 2017. I hope he does well.
FWIW, back after FCKC left, Vlatko specifically said he wanted to try coaching men's teams if the opportunity came along.
Just because it's worth looking at: The best of who is available globally; There are a lot of really, really good managers on that list. No idea if any of them would come to MLS, or SKC. but I think quite a few would be intrigued. If we're looking at domestic only, it's not a long list of those with top level experience. Curtain and Hackworth. So, after that it's younger managers who show promise, which is the list that has Benny on it.
Press conference today was interesting. Mike Illig (i) pushes back against PV’s comments that ownership didn’t invest enough in players, (ii) 2 separate search firms will lead the process in finding a coach and a director of football operations, with the jobs being held by different persons, (iii) KZ will be considered for permanent coach but my read on that is it will be a long shot, (iv) no timetable on hiring process, and (v) PV was let go because results didn’t meet expectations, last Saturday was almost a must win game for him to keep his job.
So this implies he had been meeting expectations until this weekend? They have weird expectations, Interesting in that I'd think you first go after a DoF, who then gets to hire their own head coach. Is Burns a candidate for that? A new DoF might want his people in at all the top positions. In any case, I would think this means either A) KZ gets a long run during which to prove ready or not, or B) we bring in a rest of 2025 temp, someone like Benny or Preki. My guess is A. Or, Hell, maybe Tata's personal issues have been sorted and he's thinking after all these sunny clubs, he'd like one with bbq
What come next....now that we know KZ is the interim, what happens next to try and save this season? I hope he adjsuts tactics. Get away from pushing the outside backs up so high and playing a 2-3-5 when we are in attack then conceeding easy opportunities on the counter. Defensively, sit deeper and don't always look to counter press. I can see KZ playing a 4-2-3-1, but in a mid block to provide more defensive cover to the CBs. This squad could play a little like LAFC and strike on the counter our of that shape. They are not as good as LAFC, but could be succesful replicating that style. There's a couple of players I think he can utilize differntly than PV did. Specifically, bring back Afrifa to give us some speed on the wings could help on the counter. Move on from Radoja as he is not mobile enough for a 3 man midfield. Use Thommy off the bench. Stop playing Jake as a RB. Figure out a way for Salloi to play close to (and withdrawn from) Jovelic to facilitate interplay between them and Manu. With some small adjustments, this team can make the playoffs in 2025 while also building towards a better future by playing the young guys.
I think that comes soon, but first let's rebuild some fan confidence. I want to see us win some games, and I want to see us sign players who are significantly talented within the MLS landscape. That said, I've liked what I've seen from Miller and Bartlett in broad strokes! I'm hopeful I can continue to watch them develop into excellent pros with this team.
Have not looked into Preki's history as a coach. If he can get the team to play entertaining futbol I will find it hard to say no. Play the kids, it takes exp. to gain exp., plus at moments like these people often step up a level or perfect a practiced skill. Dare I say 'magic' happens, the ephemeral chemistry, the je ne sais quoi.
The question there is has he moved on from the rigid style that caused so many issues with Chivas USA and Toronto when he was in both places. Does Schmetzer in Seattle mask that and in charge he'd revert back to the same?
Or he may have learned from Schmetzer and thus be able to combine the best of both. Open question that I am not entirely opposed to witnessing.
That's part of my question, maybe he has learned from him. I'm just not in love with the idea of Preki being our head coach.
I'm not in love with Preki being named head coach, but I do think it's close to a dead cert he's already made the call. If we're going to wait until a new DoF is embedded and picks his own head coach, I'm not overly comfortable with KZ being in charge the whole time, as the man he's learned from is the one who could no longer get results. But there are a lot of much more interesting choices around.
I'm more than okay with the kids to be played being new U-22 signings. In this sense, Logan and Voloder are both kids. Right now, Miller might develop into a legit top 75 percent MLS level CB, but he is not close to being one right now. As the success of Vermes' tactics absolutely rely on the 6, Barlett hasn't looked close to being up for it. But maybe there's a tactical shift that allows him to simply play and not run the show.
But why waste more time/money finding a "caretaker" manager? Thing is, Ndenbe isn't a kid, he's 25, even if he's brought back he's aged out of the U22 system. I mean where's the cut off for "kids"? Voloder turns 24 this year, Afrifa is 24 now. Are these "kids" or are these guys that at this point should be key contributors and if not it's time to look elsewhere?
I agree, Logan and Voloder should be starting right now, or gone, but they are, aren't they? Afrifa is an intresting player, and noted earlier, I hope he gets a chance with KZ, but not sure that's likely. As for whose a kid, I was kind of saying I'm okay not playing the kids, because I don't think we've got too many really high upside kids. I think when one comes around, a Busio, EBP, a Davis, play them like their back ain't got no bone. But I'm not convinced (hope I'm wrong) Miller or Bartlett are on the edge of stardom and being sold off for ONE MILLIONS DOLLARS to Belgium.
I will say that I'm generally not interested in finding a coach from among our former players. We don't need a club legend to take the reins... We need a good coach. That should be the priority. Ideally, we would have him in place before the summer transfer window. Coach shopping after May should be simpler too.