Joined: May 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 12,461 Location: The Sound of Soccer
Re: Happy Birthday, Sounders FC « Reply #1 on Nov 11, 2008, 6:46am »
I think one area where the club gets downgraded a bit is in the head coach hiring. I know Hanauer defends (see P-I article link in another thread) the way they are going about it, but answer me this:
What if the coach they hire decides to NOT start a player the current FO have signed and targeted as an important piece of the puzzle? What if that player is the *only one* the club penciled in at that particular starting spot? What if the FO was so 'sure' that the player was starting caliber that they put their efforts and money into other areas on the pitch?
Are they going to *insist* that the coach play the guy against his own wishes?
I think Hanauer is a bit naive about how this could blow up in his face. It might not, but to suggest that it isn't a risk would be foolish.
Re: Happy Birthday, Sounders FC « Reply #2 on Nov 11, 2008, 6:47am »
I gave a B+ as I am still quite skeptical as to whether signing Kasey Keller was a good move for the money (of course, we don't know what money we're talking about here, so I am presuming the max). If they can manage to build a competitive squad despite this signing, I'll be quite happy to be proved wrong.
Joined: Dec 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 1,968 Location: Renton
Re: Happy Birthday, Sounders FC « Reply #3 on Nov 11, 2008, 7:15am »
I think that Hanauer has a point about coaches not normally picking their talent. Basically they are treating this team as a non-expansion team in the coach hiring process.
It is unconventional, but at the same time, conventional expansion teams don't win in their first few seasons in any sport.
I also gave a B+. I don't know how to give any level of A to a team that has yet to play a game.
Joined: Aug 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 1,170 Location: Currently exiled to SF
Re: Happy Birthday, Sounders FC « Reply #5 on Nov 11, 2008, 12:09pm »
I gave them an "A" because while they didn't do everything perfectly, I figure they got about 95% of it right, which is good for a top grade in my book. What has impressed me the most is the level of ambition shown by Roth and Hanauer. They're not approaching this timidly at all, and I think that's helped build and maintain the excitement. It says a lot that a club that barely exists as far as players go is at the top of the list for season ticket sales.
Of course they could downgrade themselves significantly if they screw up signing the coach and players. But so far, I think it's been and "A" level performance.
I think one area where the club gets downgraded a bit is in the head coach hiring. I know Hanauer defends (see P-I article link in another thread) the way they are going about it, but answer me this:
What if the coach they hire decides to NOT start a player the current FO have signed and targeted as an important piece of the puzzle? What if that player is the *only one* the club penciled in at that particular starting spot? What if the FO was so 'sure' that the player was starting caliber that they put their efforts and money into other areas on the pitch?
Are they going to *insist* that the coach play the guy against his own wishes?
I think Hanauer is a bit naive about how this could blow up in his face. It might not, but to suggest that it isn't a risk would be foolish.
The Sounders will hire a coach that fits within the system the they want to run. Chris Henderson and others are eht architects of building this system.
Personally, If they have a chance to sign a coach at the level of a Sigi Schmidt, I am glad they are waiting.
In most professional sports, coach signings take place after the completion of the season. There is a lot of time to get the coach on board especially when a strong foundaton from the FO down is already built.
I think that Hanauer has a point about coaches not normally picking their talent.
Agreed bedir, and I think I made this point on KJR. Every other coach who arrives at a club works with what he inherits. The idea that we should hire the second best guy so that he can get behind the desk four days before a draft rather than two is ludicrous to me.
I think they have done almost everything better than we had the right to expect. If I were a pedantic nitpicker, I'd have set a different path for retaining Chris Eylander's services (if it happens) and - well you know how I feel about cowbells.
But they reached the right conclusion, and I may soon argue in the right way, over the name of the club. The commonality of purpose with the Hawks has been beyond superb. The value of the Kong5 deal may not yet have been fully realised by us. They have harnessed well the enthusiasm of the hardcore fanbase rather than alienating it as seems traditional in US sport.
So overall, I think a very very good grade is in order.
"I’m very proud of the high road that we’ve taken in everything we’ve done and every decision we’ve made for the foundation of this franchise. From the corporate partners we’ve chosen, to the broadcast partner to our broadcaster, to the people we’ve hired into the organization, to the facilities we will inhabit. I’m proud of the organization, people on the business and team side. This is the beginning of a rock-solid organization that the whole city can be proud of."
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