During the offseason, we heard Jason Kreis and Garth Lagerway pontificate that the team was trying to build a "culture of accountability". In fact part of the justification for bringing in Borchers and Kovalenko was that they were veteran players who would get in the face of the younger players and force them to be accountable. Well where is this accountability?
Who is being held accountable for the personnel?: Matias Cordoba was touted as our most important offseason acquisition. We were promised that Kenny Deuchar was going to score goals. Ian Joy was supposed to be a solid left back who would contribute on the offensive side as well. Our midfield was touted as very deep.
Who is being held accountable for the tactical decisions?: In my book tactical decisions have led to at least 2 and possibly 3 of our road losses. First, the debacle in Toronto which Kreis did own up to. Second, some questionable tactics and personnel against Colorado. Would we have still lost this one? Maybe. Finally the decision tonight to take out a very effective Olave and bring in Mantilla who has shown that he poorly marks opponents in the box, and does not have proper positioning. Meanwhile he does not make a change in the midfield where we have 3 exhausted players: Williams, Morales, and Beckerman. This led us to go from a 1 goal advantage with about 15 minutes left to a 2-1 loss. There is also the acknowledged tactical problem against Dallas at home which was not corrected until late in the first half. Fortunately that did not cost us. Where is the accountability?
How are the players being held accountable?: Dr. Goals: a supposed proven scorer who has not proven that he can score for us. Yet we trot him out there week after week. Is that holding him accountable? Ian Joy has been completely dreadful this season and his red card nearly cost us early on in this one tonight. Yet he gets opportunity after opportunity. Is that accountability? Mantilla was out of position on both goals scored tonight, marking absolutely nobody. Yet he keeps getting an opportunity. Where is the accountability?
When criticism was fired at the club for not demanding the playoffs, I was quick to their defense. When calls were made to fire Kreis last season and then again in the offseason, I was quick to the defense. When criticism was made that for all of the changes to the roster, we still weren't much better than in the past, I was in favor of letting these players prove themselves. When Garth Lagerway was counseling that we need to be patient in the first part of the season as the team needs "time to gel", I was willing to be patient. In fact, if you ask anyone who knows me they will tell you my greatest strength is patience. But patience needs to be balanced with courage. And now is the time to have courage. Now is the time to show that "the culture of accountability" wasn't just lip service. This applies to Checketts, Manning, Lagerway, Kreis and every player.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Accountability
Friday, April 25, 2008
Updates: Friday April 25, 2008
RSL: Kreis points to team effort for defensive improvement -> The Salt Lake Tribune/Michael C. Lewis
"Coach Jason Kreis insists that Real Salt Lake's defensive improvement this season is "not about the two center backs, or the back four, or the back four plus one. It's about the effort that the entire team puts forth."
New Real Salt Lake chief optimistic - > Deseret News/Jasen Lee
"I am excited by the opportunity in Utah, and in many ways it is a return to my roots, which is the sport of soccer," he said.
Real Salt Lake: Kreis shoulders blame -> Deseret News/James Edward
"Kreis says he doesn't really like the cautious mentality and believes you should go into every match to win. For whatever reason though, there's a prevailing attitude that you play for the win at home and a tie on the road."
DC United vs Real Salt Lake Preview -> Fan's Scorecard
Real Salt Lake-United Preview - > The Ledger/Laura Medina
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
PRACTICE AT XANGO FIELD: MARCH 18, 2008
Practice today was a little more fun. Tuesday was mostly fitness. Today was just a full field scrimmage for 90 minutes. Here are a couple of noteworthies:
Same crew as Tuesday with the addition of Dema, and a keeper named Brandon who I believe is from BYU.
They worked more on offense, and spent some time practicing set pieces. For one team it was Andy and Cordoba taking the kicks. For the other team it was Morales and Alex Nimo. During the scrimmage, Horst had a sweet header for a goal.
I was impressed with: Beltran, Reiman, Nunez and Yura. (partly because they were on my side of the field)
Other news: it's up-in-the-air questionable if Deuchar's work permit will come through in time to get him here for opening day.
Also, Manning hiring came as a result of SCP using a professional executive search firm. This does not appear to be a case of cronyism.
A few pics below (more at http://s245.photobucket.com/albums/gg45/realslfan/RSL_practice_0318/)
Monday, March 17, 2008
New President: BILL MANNING
REAL SALT LAKE NAMES PHILADELPHIA EAGLES EXECUTIVE
BILL MANNING PRESIDENT OF CLUB
SALT LAKE CITY, UT (Monday, March 17, 2008) – Real Salt Lake Owner David W. Checketts today announced that Philadelphia Eagles executive Bill Manning has been named President of the Major League Soccer franchise effective Tuesday, April 15. Interim President Alan Pace, who led the executive search effort, will continue to be a partner in the club’s parent company, SCP Worldwide overseeing new soccer related business ventures for the company.
“When I asked Alan to grab the reigns of this franchise as interim President I gave him the arduous task of resetting its course,” said Checketts. “In five months he has done just that by reestablishing our place in the community while giving the staff the needed tools and direction that has put this franchise in a position for long-term success. I am truly grateful and would like to thank him for all of his hard work.”
“Bill Manning comes to us with a tremendous background in sports management,” continued Checketts. “His experience in the National Football League and professional soccer is a wonderful combination that I feel will carry Real Salt Lake to new heights. It has always been my goal to have the best franchise in MLS. I know Bill is the right person to lead us there as we enter our fourth season in Major League Soccer and prepare to move into our world-class stadium.”
“I am excited by the opportunity in Utah, and in many ways it is a return to my roots, which is the sport of soccer,” said Mr. Manning. “Working in the NFL has been a great experience, especially with a marquee franchise like the Eagles, but the opportunity to work for Dave Checketts and join Real with their new stadium was too good to pass up.”
Mr. Manning, who has had a distinguished 15 year career in sports, joins RSL following four seasons as Vice President, Sales and Service with the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. While at the Eagles he was responsible for the team’s corporate sponsorship and premium seating. During his tenure he led the corporate sales department to double-digit revenue growth and introduced new premium seating options at Lincoln Financial Field, in addition to managing the servicing of suite clients and Club Seat accounts.
Prior to his NFL experience he joined the Houston Rockets for the successful opening of the state-of-the art Toyota Center holding the title of Director, Corporate Development. Mr. Manning’s sports management career also includes a vast array of experience in the soccer industry where he has held positions in Major League Soccer, the United Soccer Leagues (USL) and the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL). While in MLS he was the President and General Manager of the Tampa Bay Mutiny for two seasons (2000 – 2001) and was named MLS Executive of the Year by the Washington Post in 2000. In the USL, he worked for the Minnesota Thunder as President and General Manager leading the team to a championship in 1999 and earning A-League Executive of the Year, the Long Island Rough Riders as Vice President and General Manager and the New York Fever as Director, Marketing and Operations. He started his sports career as Director, Marketing for the CISL.
On the field, Mr. Manning earned collegiate All-America honors at the University of Bridgeport and was recently inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame (class of 2006). After college he went on to win a U.S. Open Cup in 1991, participate in 1994 World Cup qualifying with the Puerto Rico National Team and play four seasons in the USL.
Mr. Manning earned his undergraduate degree in 1987 and his MBA at the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1989.
