Comments on: Wait a minute, let’s review Joey Saputo’s checklist of MLS coaching requirements one more time

By: mvktr2

mvktr2 — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:13:30 +0000

Time after time after time after time (you get the idea) MLS experience or rather a lack there of has proven to be the death nail in the coffin of foreign coaches. It’s important, VERY, and there is a ton of evidence in that direction.

However count me in the camp that a foreign coach can work all the way to a championship level in MLS. The formula just hasn’t been figured out… yet. The most important thing is a willingness from a foreign coach to learn, immerse, and dismiss his own suppositions. The next most important element I would guess to be having a MLS savvy right hand man and MLS savvy FO.

By: marekzyskowski

marekzyskowski — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 01:19:58 +0000

This could be a very good move. The coach will not be entirely alone so I don’t think MLS experience is really that important.
He will probably bring something new to the team. He speaks French and that will be a big plus when working with the media in Montreal. The first season was great and the team can build on that with the new coach.

By: drewvt6

drewvt6 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 23:00:20 +0000

Playing above the “recreational” attitude that surrounds football on all continents and in all leagues outside of the Big4 requires skills usually only found inside the Big4 leagues with the exception of Brazil and Argentina. Paying for that skill set for an entire 25-30 man roster requires money beyond what is sustainable on this continent at this time.

By: solador78

solador78 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 21:31:15 +0000

Physical defenders like Rivas, Ferrari and Camarra might be the perfect counter force against savage MLS teams like San Jose, assuming they can stay healthy and off suspension. It’s up front where the Impact are looking to be more clever. The biggest problem with the team last year was not any one thing, but rather their inability to have everything working together at the same time. By taking a more European approach, they’re hoping to overcome the “recreational” attitude that surrounds soccer on this continent.

By: Steve Davis

Steve Davis — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 21:05:06 +0000

Hee-hee. Good one

By: Steve Davis

Steve Davis — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 21:04:31 +0000

And that’s fair enough. I don’t really disagree with that assessment of MLS. But what if a team is sitting with two or three wins midway through the season? How will they feel about the laudable desire to play refined soccer then? At some point, MLS is what it is … and they have to find a way to function within it (hopefully while trying to guide it a better direction).

By: charliej11

charliej11 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 21:02:21 +0000

Not already playing for an English team ? Check.

By: solador78

solador78 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:27:27 +0000

The Impact believe that the MLS game is unrefined and involves too much running around, which is why they decided to make this change in the first place.

If they valued MLS coaching experience over tactical ability, Marsch would still be in charge.