3-5-2

clarette · 06-07-2005, 09:56 AM

I'm bored so I'll play devil's advocate even though I'm too tired to really care about much right now, heh...

Do you have any reason to doubt that he doesn't have the skills to turn him around? Like insider info, or are you just basing your opinion off of what's happened so far this season?

Newman · 06-07-2005, 10:05 AM

Don't we think it's a little early to start circling the wagons? After all, we are ahead of Columbus, Colorado and Chivas in points and close behind DC United and San Jose. Which by the way, all except Chivas have been together for several years. Give the boys a little time.

Old Ska · 06-07-2005, 10:33 AM

I just think the issue is worth putting on the table. Like I said, I'm not advocating chanting "Dead Man Walking" at him or anything. It seems to pretty much be a given that if we lost Ellinger we would probably lose Mathis, who said he came to RSL only because of Ellinger, and that wouldn't be good. He does have lots of coaching experience, but with young players who desperately want to make it to the next level. He has one year of pro experience as an assistant coach with the Crew 10 years ago. No pro playing experience either. Pro atheletes, even in soccer, can be moody and fickle and motivated by things that Ellinger is not familiar with addressing. I don't doubt that he has a great technical knowledge of the game, and that he was great at helping to develop young players, but coaching a pro team requires not only that but the ability to negotiate players' personalities. You don't deal with a 15 year-old Adu the same way you deal with an Andy Williams for example. When I watch this team play I can't help but think that they don't really fire on all cylinders together much of the time. I would have more faith if he had a little more pro experience, even if it was as an assistant coach more recently.

I say bring in Harry Redknapp. 🙂

I kid.

I don't want to see Ellinger go by any means. But I think it is fair to ask questions to try and figure out what is up with the team. To me a big thing will be to see if we can pull out a win on the road in June (we face Galaxy, San Jose, and Chicago on the road in June if I am not mistaken). That will tell us a lot about what we can hope for for the rest of the season. Maybe events in June will give us every reason to believe he is going to do a great job the rest of the year. I think one win out of the 3 June road games and at least a draw at home should be the minimum expectation.

Old Ska · 06-07-2005, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

The Revs only scored 9 points before the summer ended and in some dramatic change of fate ended up in the Eastern Championship, almost beating eventual Cup winners, DC.
Thoughts to ponder. 🙂

Sorry, I thought when I first read that you were talking about last season. What season are you refering to above?

clarette · 06-07-2005, 10:56 AM

I would think that RSL management was aware of some of those potential issues when they hired him.

If they're willing to give him the time to bed in as a coach of professionals, I'm certainly willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. I don't think it's a coincidence that so many veteran MLS players were brought in, rather than looking elsewhere for talent.

I'm frustrated with our play and our results as of late, but I also think that at some point down the line, that experience has got to kick in.

SoccerPrime · 06-07-2005, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Ska

Sorry, I thought when I first read that you were talking about last season. What season are you refering to above?

2004. Last season. The Revs were so bad that we didn't know which loser team would make it in the West or East until the last game of regular season.
Then all of asudden, the Revs became AC Milan (I kid).

You think very highly of Nicols I guess. He is a good drafter, thats for sure.

But I agree with Old Ska, we have to at least have this conversation.

Old Ska · 06-07-2005, 11:24 AM

Traded for Kreis, and Dipsy, got Williams, Countess, Kamler, Brown, Akwari, Pierce in the draft. The only veteran that was really brought in because of Ellinger was Mathis. What do we have then in the starting line up, like an average of 3-4 years of professional experience among the players?

Coaches Mellor and Johnson have pro experience too, and maybe we can look at the current situation as grooming Mellor to be the next coach.

Again, just bringing up the issue here. I don't feel like we have to lose Coach Ellinger by any means, but I think we need to figure out what is going on with the squad.

clarette · 06-07-2005, 11:26 AM

You forgot about Pope Eddie the 23rd!!!

Blasphemous! 😉

SoccerPrime · 06-07-2005, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Ska

Traded for Kreis, and Dipsy, got Williams, Countess, Kamler, Brown, Akwari, Pierce in the draft. The only veteran that was really brought in because of Ellinger was Mathis. What do we have then in the starting line up, like an average of 3-4 years of professional experience among the players?

Coaches Mellor and Johnson have pro experience too, and maybe we can look at the current situation as grooming Mellor to be the next coach.

Again, just bringing up the issue here. I don't feel like we have to lose Coach Ellinger by any means, but I think we need to figure out what is going on with the squad.

You do realize that Mellor is like 90, right?

beaveman · 06-07-2005, 11:40 AM

I was listening to the coach's interview from last Tuesday on my way to the game Saturday (rebroadcast on 1280). I really agree with what he said about the players on the roster. Players such as Andy Williams were left available for the expansion draft for a reason. Chicago was not impressed with his performance (and maybe his attitude?). Other players also had similar problems, or maybe just didn't have the talent. This is an expansion team and, with the exception of a few players, is built on the expansion draft. It will take time for the team to be able to draft the players they need and discover others (such as Tiger) that will fit into their system.

I don't think we should put this all on the coach's shoulders. The preseason expectations might have been a little high for this team. Give it more time (maybe even a few seasons?) and see what happens.