Keep Ellinger

Aerick · 05-01-2006, 04:03 PM

I think there may be a "happy" medium here. Obviously, making this team successful in a new market is paramount, but coaching changes every few games is not the best way to accomplish that.

I'm a big Ellinger proponent, but I also don't believe he has 2 years on a "ho-hum" record here. He has to produce and he has to do it this season. Especially with the stadium controversy going on that is crucial to the team's viability. If we had a winning product on the field right now, perhaps public sentiment would turn more in our favor on this important topic. Everyone loves a winner and can get caught up in the furor that a winning team brings.

Therefore, I believe the month of May is critical for his career. If he can come away with 2 home wins and an away win, I believe he's a keeper because he can sustain the amount of success the team needs right now for it's fans and financial future. If he can win 3 home games out of the next 4, I think he also stays. However, if he only pulls off 2 wins the rest of this month, his job is in jeopardy, and I'm not sure I'd be against a coaching change, although I'd like him to remain in some capacity as a reserve player development coach because I agree that his skills in this area are extremely valuable.

We need to have a successful season for this team to succeed and remain here in the future, and if Coach E can't show that he's the guy to get this done (and I'm not talking about a championship team, but I am talking about a playoff team) this season, we need to stop the bleeding. You have to bleed a little for a surgery to be successful, but you also can't lose too much blood or you'll die. We haven't lost too much blood yet, and the surgery still has a chance of success...

Aerick · 05-01-2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Pope

"We are now five games in, and I think our coaching staff is doing a good job and we as players have to do our jobs," Pope said. "They can't really do any more. The training sessions are good, they are nice and tough. Now, it is time for us, as players, to pull together and figure out how to get it done on the field, because the coaches can't really do any more."

I, for one, believe him.

(Taken from http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20060501&content_id=57842&vkey=news_rsl&fext=.jsp&team=rsl)

AreliusIV · 05-01-2006, 04:41 PM

If the coaches can't do anymore, then maybe its time to get some coaches that can...

Rover · 05-01-2006, 05:04 PM

I think we can agree on some basics.

--We're not getting results. Empirical evidence supports this.

--We have a revamped team, but are getting similiar results, if not performances, as last year. Again, the table is there for all to see.

--Fans are getting restless, are sick of losing, and are looking for the best (and most expedient) way to turn things around. This forum would back all that up.

--Although not directly tied to team perfomance, the stadium situation turns up the intensity on the situation since we don't have the luxury of a losing team. This may be true, but so far there doesn't seem to be a direct correlation.

OK, that's about all we agree on (and maybe not even that). Trying to make sense of the gap between Ellinger supporters and Ellinger, well, nonsupporters, I see a few camps.

1. Some of us believe that 40 league games are enough to evaluate a coach's ability to prepare and then match-manage his team. This isn't so much about results, although if you do those things right (pregame prep, game management), the results will come.

2. Others look at the results and that's enough. If a coach can't win, he's got to go.

3. Others see an expansion team that had a steep learning curve last year and largely new lineup this year, with a strong group of young talent in development as reserves. To this group, we're about the turn the corner and firing the coach is premature.

4. Others see all the focus on the coach as shortsighted. The players have to perform on the field and there's aonly so much a coach can do if the players don't play. The natural conclusion of this argument is that it's either the fault of the players, or the player personnel decisions made by the FO (and that includes the coaches).

I'm sure there are more camps but that's what I've seen so far.

The key here is that we really do see this situation in very different ways. I know I'm about done with this topic. It's up to the FO and ownership to make the call, and so far I see nothing from them.

knowwonnose · 05-01-2006, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerick

I, for one, believe him.

(Taken from http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20060501&content_id=57842&vkey=news_rsl&fext=.jsp&team=rsl)

My guess is he knows more about what's going on than most people.

Czar Jake · 05-01-2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knowwonnose

My guess is he knows more about what's going on than most people.

knowwonnose is Eddie Pope!!!! :jawdrop:

ha. that was a.. uh.. a joke.

soccerman · 05-01-2006, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knowwonnose

My guess is he knows more about what's going on than most people.

Probably. He also couldn't say anything but what he said regardless of what he really thought. You can't seriously take a vote of confidence from a player as a sign that a coach is doing a good job. That's stupid.

knowwonnose · 05-01-2006, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Czar Jake

knowwonnose is Eddie Pope!!!! :jawdrop:

ha. that was a.. uh.. a joke.

That's the fun thing about the internet know won nose who I am. 🕺

knowwonnose · 05-01-2006, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soccerman

Probably. He also couldn't say anything but what he said regardless of what he really thought. You can't seriously take a vote of confidence from a player as a sign that a coach is doing a good job. That's stupid.

Thanks for setting me straight. I thought for a moment that the players like to loose and the that's why they were so supportive of the coach.

Come on guys! There's no signs of player dissatisfaction with the coach and you'd see them if there were truly a coaching deficiency.

No one likes loosing. I'm sure Ellinger isn't all happy with his own performance, but the people who are, and have been, calling for his head for 8 months now don't see the full picture. I can only hope that things turn around quickly so we can see it all come together.

knowwonnose · 05-01-2006, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AreliusIV

If the coaches can't do anymore, then maybe its time to get some coaches that can...

They can and are doing what they came here to do. Right, wins aren't happening now, but the FO and anyone with an ounce of patience will ride out this difficult period. The proof will be in the pudding, if there isn't an artificial pressure to get Ellinger out of there.