Whose idea was it?

It's gotta be Bob

I believe it was mostly Bob.

Don't get me wrong... It's not like MLS, AEG, Nick S. weren't salivating, and doing everything they could to streamline the process.

In the end though, this doesn't happen if BB isn't a NJ boy through and through. Who else in there right mind would want to coach Metro? Who else would leave such a wonderful organization as the Fire? Who else could remotely explain or get us to believe he wanted this?

It most certainly wasn't PW. I'm sure if he could he'd have loved to had had BB under contract for life.

 

The Stonecutters, of course.

Seriously, though, the kind of guy who would go try to sort out the mess in NJ is a guy who has been told to do so by his employer who likely sweetened the deal with some extra $$$. And the fact that the guy happens to be from the area didn't hurt.

 

It was Nick's idea, and it was probably the best idea he's ever had. He called Bob and asked if he was interested...Bob said NO.

Bob then talked to his family and friends about it, who were overwhelmingly in favor of the move.

Bob reconsidered. There are several articles stating this, and Bob's interview on MLSNET.COM confirms it.

 

Changing the title of the thread before Keith would be all over it.

 

Re: It's gotta be Bob

Who in their right mind would've left DC when they had won 2 championships and looked good for a third to try to go and run an expansion team in it's first year?

 

Manfred Schellscheidt

http://www.newsday.com/sports/soccer/ny-stars232975508oct23,0,4450668.story?coll=ny-soccer-headlines

 

You mean they didn't call you too, Preston? I had to delist my phone number, those bastards. Don't they know that "No" means "No"?

 

I should probably know this, but who is nick??

 

I'm thinking the higher ups posed the idea and Bob jumped at it. Mabye more Anschutz than Garber. Arena's blurb about the importance of the New York market isnt' just noise. The Fire has a fan base and an MLS Cup already. Phil makes money (or minimizes losses, anyway) here, so he was looking for a way to boost his bottom line with the leagues worst team. The New and Improved Metrostars will be the NE Revolution of 2003. And now we have a new rival.

Now that I'm less angry, Arena's comments do make a little sense. New Jersey clearly needs a soccer stadium. That's easier to get after winning something. The Metrostars had the talent to that this year, but they needed a coach. Now they have one. If Clint stays, this will be good for him. That means it will be good for the National Team. A stadium in NY/NJ will be a huge boost for the league, so that's good for US soccer. And since the Fire needs to rebuild anyway, why not hire a new builder?

Anyway, when looked at in terms of what's good for US soccer and MLS, I think the bosses wanted this trade to happen.

My take on Fire rivals, in order of how much they should be hated:

LA, NY, Dal, CLB, NE, KC, DC, SJ, COL

 

Metro is hardly a new rival, they've always been there, hovering just behind LA. This boosts them to par with LA.

Dallas is far and away the leader, in many's estimation.

 

I'm there with you Hattrix.

 

Burn and Crew fans aren't gonna be too happy you've demoted them to 3 and 4 after all these years.

 

But they are just so BLAH. Without The Little Mermaid they just don't elicit the same Fire in my belly.

 

Dallas were hated mainly because of Dir and the tripping hippy, they are both gone but Dallas is Dallas is Dallas. I only really hate LA, bunch of lalas. Now back to the thread. Bob left because Mrs Bradley is fed up of Jesse being at every family holiday gathering !!!

 

"After all these years" the Crew still doesn't even register on the radar.

Good luck thrashing LA tonight.