Even a day late this animated gif (courtesy of @LikkitP) just doesn’t get old.

Kreis gave his stink eye during the early stages of the 3-3 draw Monday evening with the New England Revolution. Kreis was definitely not happy about the early red card to defender Nat Borchers. His team ended up getting even late with the Revs but you have to love a coach that wears his emotions on his sleeve like this.

I think this about sums up how the officiating has gone so far this season in MLS too.

Schellas Hyndman has a shot at the Coach of the Year award. (Getty Images)

Its that time of the year again. The final month of the season is here so it means we’ll have to dip into the end of year awards around here. I felt like starting off today with the coach of the year away, one that could be the toughest to gage in recent years.

Typically the coach of the year race usually goes down to a coach that has take his team from a worst-to-first kind of situation. A lot of times the guy who leads his team to a successful season gets over looked in that case. That’s what we’ll have here this year as you could make an argument for at least four or five different coaches.

I’ll break down each coach before giving you my thoughts on who I think is leading the race at this point at the end.

Worst-to-First Guys

Hans Backe (New York Red Bulls) – It goes without saying this category is centered around what Backe has done in New York this season. Going from literally one of the worst teams in league history to one of the top contenders this season shows that New York finally got it right with their coaching selection. I think a special nod also needs to go to Eric Solar for helping put together this team but a lot of the credit will still go to Backe at the end of the day.

Its hard to think that this New York team was that bad last year. This year’s version is completely different as Backe is finally getting the most out of some guys like Dane Richards while proving he, Solar and Richie Williams were geniuses in the SuperDraft by getting Tim Ream in the second round and getting a future star in Toni Tchani.

Oh yeah it doesn’t hurt to have three Designated Players on his roster either. But at the end of the day Backe has been the perfect motivator for this club by getting them to step up in games in places they’ve never done well at.

Schellas Hyndman (FC Dallas) – On the other end of the spectrum in this category is Hyndman. Its been a long road for him in Dallas over the last couple years to get his team where it is today. He made some unpopular moves at the time to bring in some old SMU guys of his like Ugo Ihemelu or Daniel Hernandez but what he’s finally been able to do is get a roster of guys that play his system and play it to perfection.

Dallas has gone from a so-so defensive team to one of the top defensive teams in the league. Getting Kevin Hartman in goal had something to do with that but it also took Hyndman placing the right mix of guys in the back too. Seeing George John go from just another draft pick for depth to a starter shows Hyndman knew was he was doing all along.

Speaking of the draft too, Hyndman like Backe had one of the better drafts this past season with the likes of Zach Loyd, Eric Alexander and Edson Edward on the team. They all weren’t big name rookies but they’ve all picked up things from the veteran squad and looked well beyond their years.

Frank Yallop (San Jose Earthquakes) – Boy was I ever wrong about Yallop and the Quakes this season. Hell I believe everyone was. No one saw their midseason transformation happening at the start of the season when the Quakes were hammered at home by RSL. We all expected more of the last two years out of these Quakes and Yallop but somehow and some way the Quakes responded to Yallop and started winning.

Yallop may be a hard sell for this award but going from last place in the west to one of the contenders this season shows he’s made some solid moves this year to get his club where they need to be. Not only did he finally get the best out of Bobby Convey but he found a star in Chris Wondolowski this season. Again, who saw that coming?

Successful all season long

Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake) – Kreis and RSL have been near the top of the standings since April. Kreis continues to get more out of lesser known stars than anyone else in this league. Not only has he made the best moves for guys like Alvaro Saborio but he’s been able to get his young rookies like Luis Gil and David Hurst loan deals to get them solid playing time in the lower division here in America.

In all honesty it would be a shame for Kreis to not win this year due to his club’s success in league play and in the CONCACAF Champions League. I think if you ask most fans around the league they feel confident enough in RSL to do well in the CCL knockout rounds next year.

Then there is the home field advantage thing that his club has going for them right now. Even before they moved in to Rio Tinto they were a tough home team but now more than ever its damn near impossible to get three points on Kreis’ club at Rio Tinto.

Bruce Arena (LA Galaxy) – This one may be the hardest sell considering LA hasn’t been nearly as dominate as they were from March-July. Still with four games left the Galaxy have a real shot at winning the regular season crown and a lot has to do with how Arena managed this club this season.

To think they started off so hot with Edson Buddle and Landon Donovan leading the way before the World Cup and then to remain hot once they were in South Africa shows Arena knows how to develop young talent like Tristan Bowen or Michael Stephens. I still find LA a dangerous side as long as they remain healthy.

In other years he would have already wrapped this award up and I think he could get back in the mix if his club goes off and wins four straight before the start of the playoffs. I just think when his club went cold so did his chances for this award.

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Enjoy!




Real Salt Lake took home their first hardware. (Getty Images)

I decided not to write a recap last night after the game finished up. Mainly I was exhausted from watching the game that went into penalties. MLS Cup 2009 wasn’t the very best game of the year but it definitely provided plenty of drama. From key injuries to key goals the game was compelling and exciting.

The PKs were kind of expected of this game after things were tied up going into overtime. Both teams were totally gassed on the field and just looked like they’d rather get it to the penalties rather than make something happen in the extra frames.

Injuries played a huge part in this game. Javier Morales’s knee injury really hurt RSL’s momentum in the first half, which the Galaxy did an excellent job of taking advantage of. The Galaxy found great space with Landon Donovan and David Beckham which lead to Mike Magee’s goal late in the half. The first half really was controlled by Bruce Arena’s squad.

But some halftime switches by Jason Kreis really turned things in RSL’s favor. Either it was the right halftime speech or the move to get the sick Will Johnson out that paid off but whatever was said or done by Kreis fueled his club. RSL came out with more energy than before and really caught the Galaxy off guard with Yura Movsisyan and Robbie Findley. Once the attack got going for RSL it was only a matter of time before Findley put away a goal.

The game from there was a bit back and forth. The Galaxy controlled the ball late while RSL took things into their own hands to start the first extra frame. The second overtime was a bit back and forth as well but both teams were clearly exhausted.

The PKs were what we expected, loads of drama. Key guys like Kyle Beckerman and Donovan missed their chances. MLS Cup MVP Nick Rimando continued to be the king of PKs as he stopped a couple big shots.

RSL is now the champions of Major League Soccer. Some called it in the pre-season but not many really expected this outside of Utah. Congrats to RSL and Jason Kreis on a job well done.

Extra Notes:

- With the win RSL becomes the first American sports team in 60 years to win a title with a losing regular season record. No doubt many will put them down as the worst team to win a MLS title ever here. Least deserving based on their record yes but based on the late run they certainly deserved the hardware with the big wins on the road.

- Saying that I still do wish the league would reconsider their playoff format here for the higher seeds. Either do away with the first round being a home-and-away series and make it a single game knockout like the rest of the playoffs. Or give us a 1 v. 8, 2 v. 7, etc. format instead of this east and west thing. Keep the conferences for league play but not the playoffs.

- Back up keeper Josh Saunders came on late for the Galaxy when Donovan Ricketts injured his hand. Saunders proved to be a solid backup and had the Galaxy won you gotta bet there would be a couple clubs around the league calling his name for a starting gig next year. Judging on the brief play last night I wouldn’t be shocked if some teams offer the Galaxy a trade for the young keeper.

- Fun thought on RSL too. Think back to that trade that brought Kyle Beckerman there from Colorado. The two clubs have pretty much gone in opposite directions since that trade.

- Donovan pulled a Roberto Baggio in his PK. Should we be shocked? Yes because he typically hammers these home. Hopefully this won’t affect him too long because we need him to be clutch next summer if a game comes down to PKs in the World Cup.

Qwest Field was an excellent host for MLS Cup. (Getty Images)

- 46k+ saw the game last night at Qwest Field. Great venue but apparently it won’t host the big game for a few years according to the league. Apparently many clubs want to host it now and from the sound of things other cities really have their work cut out for them now after the way Seattle hosted this thing.

- The Field turf really did a number out there last night on the players. No doubt it will be a topic of conversation going into next year.

Will David Beckham and Landon Donovan be celebrating on Sunday? (Getty Images)

This is a game I’ve gone back and forth with all week. Two western conference squads meeting in the league final is going to be interesting. Not many had picked both the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake to make it this far back at the start of the season. I know some had RSL going far in the playoffs but not the Galaxy. Then again I knew some who had an idea that LA could be good this year as well.

But a RSL-LA matchup was not expected yet I do think the league is welcoming it a bit. It’s not quite a David vs. Goliath type of match but its close to some degree. But these two squads weren’t separated by much in the points column this season. Just eight points was the difference between the top seed in the west from the bottom seed in the east (or eighth seed in this year’s case).

I do see this game going either way though here. In one regard LA looks like they should easily win it but you can’t count out Jason Kreis’ club right now with the way they’ve been playing lately. Both are hot going into this game which should yield a good match.

I have a few points in my preview to go over then I will give you all my score prediction for the final time this season. Hard to believe that this season has blown by so quickly here.

Ignore All Previous Matches: Just ignore the two results between these squads from earlier. I know ESPN will probably shove it down our throats to start the broadcast on Sunday night but let’s say a lot has changed since they last met in June when RSL beat LA 2-0 at the Home Depot Center. And things are certainly different since that 2-2 draw back in May at Rio Tinto Stadium.

How to beat LA: The few clubs that have seen success against the Galaxy this year either got lucky that Landon Donovan was not on the roster due to an international callup or because they had the speed to get by LA’s defense. Believe me Robbie Findley, Yura Movsisyan and Fabian Espindola present a big challenge to Gregg Berhalter and Omar Gonzalez. I’d say they will do their best to keep Findley in check as he presents the most problems but don’t sleep on the big man Movsisyan to sneak in and score a goal if they let up on him. Remember when Conor Casey torched the Galaxy for a hat trick earlier in the year, it was because they somehow overlooked him and his speed. Movsisyan could do the same damage if given the right space and time.

Sean Franklin and the Galaxy defense will need to slow down Robbie Findley. (Getty Images)

How to beat RSL: For getting by RSL’s defense a lot of it has to do with going directly at Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers. Both find themselves in foul trouble more than they should and we saw against Columbus that when you really go at Olave you can force him into some bad turnovers that could cost. No doubt Landon Donovan will need to go after Olave around the Galaxy’s offensive third of the field.

Things LA need to do: They obviously need to funnel things through David Beckham and Donovan. Getting both of them involved early and as often as possible will really help go a long way in winning this one. Also getting the pressure up early and out of the gate will certainly help. If they can catch RSL off guard early in the match it could get RSL in an early hole.

Things RSL need to do: Use the entire field and pressure the hell out of the Galaxy defense. Going after Beckham wouldn’t be a bad idea either as he has a hurt right foot. RSL cannot afford to come out slow either though as the Galaxy are an excellent counter attacking team. Using the width of the field and smart passes through the midfield with Kyle Beckerman and Javier Morales to control the game will be key.

RSL will look for the first MLS Cup title. (Getty Images)

Why RSL could win: They have the underdog effect on them and most in Seattle will probably be riding along with them I would imagine. You gotta like Findley and the way he attacks the goal with his speed plus on set pieces I may take Olave and Borchers over the Galaxy defense. Then you have Nick Rimando in goal if things do come down to penalties. He has a big advantage not just on experience but on momentum as well going into this game.

Why LA could win: Its hard to count out a team with the league MVP. Donovan is looking for yet another title to go along with the few he has already won in his career. Throw in the Beckham factor and his desire to get a MLS title while he is here could help as well. Bruce Arena knows how to coach in these big games while we are still figuring out is Kreis can do the same.

RSL X-Factor: Will Johnson. He needs a big game along with Beckerman to slow down Beckham for the Galaxy. If Johnson can get space on the wings like he is known to do it could go a long way for RSL.

LA X-Factor: Edson Buddle. Not many are talking of Buddle in this game but while RSL will be gunning to slow down Beckham and Donovan they may forget about another guy that is known to score a goal or two in Buddle.

Final thought: This one will be tight throughout but I think it will go the Galaxy’s way in the end. Some thing it will go to extra time, some thing RSL will win it in regular time or in PKs but I just see the Galaxy thanks to Donovan and company getting the job done. No doubt RSL will make this a solid match and they could very well shock the Galaxy. I just think experience pays off more in these kinds of games and the Galaxy just have more of it in key places.

WVH Prediction: LA 2, RSL 1

Eric Brunner and Columbus try to slow down Yura Movsisyan and RSL tonight. (Getty Images)

Tonight the second leg of the first round playoff matches kickoff in Columbus as the Crew host Real Salt Lake. RSL holds a slight 1-0 lead in the goals department in this two-legged series thanks to the late goal from Robbie Findley last weekend.

Now is really where the fun begins for each side. Columbus went defensive in the first game by sitting Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Alejandro Moreno. Each should see plenty of time in this game as the Crew will be gunning for goals to take the advantage back. Most figure RSL will go defensive in this game and bunker down as much as possible.

To come away with a victory on the road won’t be easy as the Crew were one of the best home teams in the league this year while on the flip side RSL was one of the worst road teams. RSL’s lone game at Crew Stadium this year was a 3-1 loss back in July. Going defensive means they will have to rely more on the play of guys like Jamison Olave and Chris Wingert. I’d also imagine we’ll see a little more Clint Mathis in this game as well from Jason Kreis.

RSL has to continue to hope that the Crew stays cold. Its been a few games since the Crew have scored a goal and one has to figure that streak will end at home. The pressure is on the Crew to score but it is also on a very much on the RSL defense to do well in this one. During the regular season RSL gave up 24 goals on the road while the Crew scored a mean 25 goals at home.

I think having a rested Schelotto goes far for the Crew in this one. It was a big gamble sitting him in game one but he sees the field like no one else out there. RSL will rely a lot on the speed of Robbie Findley and Yura Movsisyan up top but with Chad Marshall a little more fit going into this game I just like the Crew at home. Its still very hard to pick RSL on the road anyways. Columbus escapes this series but only by a slim margin.

WVH Prediction: Columbus 2, RSL 0

First up, the coaching hot seat update.

Basically nothing has changed in my mind since my last update. I do think that Chris Cummins stands the best chance to keep his job if his club reaches the playoffs. Without a playoff trip he will easily join Tom Soehn and Jason Kreis in the pink slip line.

My big question is however if Tom Soehn does get fired by DC United this off season, how long will it take them to get former United star Richie Williams as their new coach? Believe me that would be a great hire for them and for Williams. I know he is currently the interim manager at New York right now but we all know they are looking for a bigger name to help open that new stadium next year.

I really do believe the likely candidates for firing are Soehn and Kreis here. Both had clubs with very high expectations this year and each have under delivered on those expectations. Soehn did have a rough schedule with a load of extra games but that won’t be good enough in DC. As for Kreis I think it comes down to management seeing if he has taken this club as far as he can, which the answer is yes. I just don’t see RSL going any further than a below average club each year under Kreis.

Also, don’t sleep on someone like Denis Hamlett getting canned at the end of this year as well. His Fire have massively under produced this year based on the very high expectations placed on them. I know they are close to clinching but they haven’t exactly lit the league up this year like most thought.

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MVP Update:

With Landon Donovan winning the player of the week award (again) this past week I had to wonder how that will affect his MVP status this year. To be honest it did help it but there are still a couple more candidates out there that are far better than what Donovan has been this year. And don’t get me wrong, Donovan has been great in 2009.

Right now if I had to vote today my three votes would go to (in no particular order):

1. Shalrie Joseph (New England)
2. Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus)
3. Jeff Cunningham (Dallas)

I won’t give away who I’d be placing as the top choice yet because I still don’t even know that one yet. Joseph has pretty much put a New England side that is ravaged with injuries on his back. He leads the club in scoring and continues to help them push towards a playoff spot. For the Revs to not have Taylor Twellman, Steve Ralston, Chris Albright and now Jay Heaps healthy this season you’d think they would have had no shot at the playoffs. But with Joseph leading the way it is possible.

Now I really shouldn’t have to explain GBS here. His stats don’t lie and even though he totally missed a PK this past weekend against Seattle I would still vote for him.

As for Cunningham, I go back and forth on him. Since the trade of Kenny Cooper he has scored a lotta goals. He’s scored 15 goals in 12 games. Yes 15 goals in 12 games. Even though Dallas really has no shot at the playoffs they do have a go-to scorer in Cunningham. People may not like him as a MVP selection but if he continues on his current pace he could end up with 18 or 19 goals on the year and be the Golden Boot winner.

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Garber Sees MLS Model As More Stable Than Euro Leagues

Link

Its a bold statement anytime Don Garber opens his mouth out the league in European territory. Why do I say that? Because he usually comes up with statements like the league is more stable based on the salary cap than the current situations in most European leagues. Yes very bold but also yes to being pretty true. While I think we are ages and I mean ages away from seeing top leagues in Europe adopting the MLS structure for player contracts and a salary cap I do think it could happen. If enough owners in Europe are tired of big clubs spending away then it could happen.

With so many clubs in debt over seas can you blame Garber for being so happy to say his league’s model is working? No. I’m willing to bet in the next few years that most MLS clubs will at least be on good terms each year when it comes to balancing the books, if not happily in the green each year.

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Beckham Rising?

Link

Go down to number 8 on Steve Davis’ weekly MLS wrap and read the part about David Beckham. Boy does Davis speak truth to ever bit of what Beckham is doing these days in the league. While the hype is down on him the play is definitely up. He truly has found his own here in the league. With him in the lineup the Galaxy have gone 5-2-2 with 1.44 goals a game. Without him they’ve been slightly worse going 6-4-9 and only 1.11 goals a game. You do the math, the Galaxy are better with him.

I’ve gone back and forth on a couple coaches, which is why they may appear on the fringe of this list. But for the most part the top guys on this list are there for a reason and have a lot of work to do to get out of the hot seat.

Two clubs will are searching for a coach as we speak right now. Both New York and Kansas City have interim coaches and are probably keeping a very close eye on what’s going on around the league right now.

With that said here is what should be the final WVH Coaching Hot Seat of the year. The order is really just a list, I think each are just as much under fire as the next here.

Chris Cummins (Toronto FC): The only thing that may save this guy is a trip to the playoffs. With a workable schedule it is possible but any stumbles on the way only put more fuel on this man’s fire. This club has the talent but under Cummins they really haven’t progressed any more than they did under John Carver.

Tom Soehn (DC United): Again playoffs will save this guy but I still kind of wonder if that will even be enough at times. It could be safe to say that he will need to guide his team to the conference finals to really be safe from a pink slip here. This club has so much talent yet lacks any consistency to get solid results game after game.

Frank Yallop (San Jose Earthquakes): Yallop nearly fell in the fringe category for me but at the end of the day I just don’t know if this is working out in San Jose. It could also have something to do with the partnership with John Doyle in picking out talent that isn’t working out there. I don’t see a change coming this winter unless this club really bottoms out to finish the season. Look for his butt to remain hot going into next year. Year three is going to decide a lot in San Jose.

Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake): Another guy that needs a playoff run to save his job. I still wish he would have become FC Dallas’ coach instead of RSL’s a couple years ago but it is what it is down here in Dallas. But back to Kreis and his job. Playoffs will certainly be enough to keep him around for another year but anything less and I have to believe he will be out of the door by the end of the calendar year.

The Fringe Category:

Schellas Hyndman (FC Dallas): There’s no way Hyndman will get canned in Dallas even though the team is pretty much a train wreck. Hyndman is building his club the way he wants it though and its just going to be a thing that Dallas fans have to wait out and see if it works. I’m on the fence to believe that it will work out for him in Dallas. Honestly you can’t keep signing former SMU players for this club, it just won’t work out well that way.

Denis Hamlett (Chicago Fire): With expectations so high this season surrounding this club, Hamlett really needs a deep run, if not actually making it to MLS Cup 2009 in Seattle to save his butt. I really believe that after this season the Fire are going to lose a lot of key guys and if they don’t finish well it could be Hamlett that sees a pink slip because of it. He’s on the fringe now due to where his club is at here this season but with how things have gone on in the locker room this year you have to wonder if he is the right fit for this club.

Preki (Chivas USA): Okay this one really isn’t about a pink slip. For some odd reason I have a feeling that no matter how Chivas finishes this season Preki will move on from Chivas USA to go to Kansas City. Just a gut feeling. He won’t get fired but he will some how resign as Chivas’s coach after the season. Call me crazy but I see that going down with him.

Somehow this man still has a job. (Getty Images)

In light of Kansas City dismissing manager Curt Onalfo yesterday evening, I figured it was high time I updated my coaching hot seat look once again. Funny thing was yesterday I was already set to work on this and got caught up in something else, by the time I went back into it last night the news came down about Onalfo.

And yes, if you are wondering he was going to be on the list.

But looking at the rest of the sack race here I figure it is easier to break things up into a couple different groups. See we all figure coaches with clubs near the bottom of the table need sacked but in the case of a couple teams, that just won’t happen, at least not this season. In other cases there are a couple coaches that should feel some heat based on how their clubs are doing and based on pre-season expectations placed on them. Lastly, there is a group that just needs to go and saying that it really could be just a matter of time.

As always if you think I am missing on any coach below or think I need to add another to a certain group, feel free to post below.

The Heat Is On But They Don’t Mind

In this group we have two coaches that very well have every right to be fired (except based on this past weekend’s results for each). Of course I am speaking of FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman and San Jose Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop. Each have lead their club to a fairly unsuccessful campaign so far and up until the thrashings they put up this past week each side had little to be gitty over this season.

Neither seem to be under any sort of pressure from their ownership. Hyndman for one pretty much has the job security that anyone would want these days. Most around Dallas view that the job is his for however long he wants to keep it. In San Jose it may be a little different for Yallop but I don’t see GM John Doyle parting ways with Yallop anytime soon. We’ll talk this time next season if things haven’t changed out there and the club is still near the bottom of the pecking order.

Feeling Some Heat

This category is a bit different, its for those that aren’t expected to get a pink slip today but could down the line if things don’t turn out like expected. Based on high pre-season expectations and some owners that like to stay active with their clubs I see two coaches that could feel some heat if things don’t go as planned. Now this category will get me some heat and I know that but if you strip emotion out of things for a second and think about it, these two guys do have rights to be on this watch list.

Tom Soehn (DC United): I put Soehn on here yet again for a number of reasons. While DC has enjoyed a decent campaign so far this year, a lot still hasn’t gone very well. With a 6-4-10 record, one could say that United are just slightly above average. Being one of the worst clubs in the league when it comes to keeping a lead and coming up lame at home in the CCL play-in round last week could get Soehn in some hot water if his club doesn’t turn things around. A lot will depend on if his club can get into the group stage of the CCL and how far DC goes in the MLS Playoffs this year in regards to his job status this winter. I think he is safe for now but there is definitely some heat there in DC.

Denis Hamlett (Chicago): One guy that not a lot of folks will want to see on here is Hamlett. I put him here because his club continues to confuse me. Very good on the road but very below average at home. I know he has had to deal with injuries to key guys, along with loads of international call-ups this season but who hasn’t here? Chicago has all the talent to win MLS Cup this year but with home play against strong clubs the way it is one has to worry about their chances. Don’t worry Fire fans, the heat is low but if you base things on expectations and things don’t pan out, then you should be worried.

Pink Slip Coming Soon

Last and certainly not least is the category that is pretty self explainitory. Most of you know who will be in this category but some of you will not like one of the coaches mention here. For months I got a lot of negative comments over placing KC’s Onalfo on the coaching hot seat based on not getting his club to progress the way people thought they should, well the same story is going on elsewhere in the league.

Jason Kreis (RSL): I put Kreis on here for a reason, like Onalfo his club really hasn’t progressed at all during his time. Sure he got them to the playoffs a season ago but their record wasn’t a thing at all to brag about (10-10-10). The same old story has been here this season, good for the most part at home, yet terrible on the road. I think Kreis can be a good coach in this league since he grew up in the system and knows how it works. I just don’t see him progressing any further in Salt Lake at this point. I don’t see him getting the boot during this season unless they start dropping games like flies. If they fail to reach the playoffs I think the ownership will have to take hard look at where this club is going with Kreis.

Juan Carlos Osorio (New York): Yeah this one really does go without saying. A lot of people wonder why he hasn’t been canned yet. Well it is simple, the ownership at the Energy Drink is waiting to see how the club does in the CCL play-in round. I think a lot depends on if they progress forward in that competition before they let Osorio go. If they do progress I don’t see him getting fired until after the MLS season is over. With little to play for it doesn’t make sense on spending money to get another head coach in there now. More than likely he will finish out the rest of the season with the club and be let go after that.

In 2009, there has been pieces written on certain web sites and podcasts hosts on shows have said the American player is hurting because coaches within MLS are not up to standard. The big evidence is not one has gone overseas and been successful.

This analogy is completely wrong and I will speak out in Defense of American Coaches.

It took a long time for an American player to play in a top league in Europe and eventually Paul Caligiuri became the first to earn a contract in the Bundesliga in the 1980’s with Hamburg firstly, then Meppen and later Hansa Rostock and finally Freiburg before leaving to help kick start MLS in 1996. It was a milestone for American soccer and so were that generation of players. Now to compare that with American managers it is a completely different kettle of fish in that there are much more player opportunities then head coaching ones. The one similarity is that it’s a major stepping stone once the first coach can do it.

The next big argument that’s been vented against this subject is with the National Team in that some folks think that the USSF should hire a foreign coach instead of an American one. Why? They won’t know the system unless they’ve been in this country a number of years. Steve Nicol would be a perfect example of a foreign coach to take the National Team job because he’s been in the country since 1999 and clearly by looking back at his draft pick choices down the years he understands the American player. However, looking at current American coaches that could take the job there is plenty out there and once Bob Bradley’s reign comes to an end for one reason or another when it does, the top two choices are simple: Dominic Kinnear and Sigi Schmid.

Kinnear has demonstrated why he is arguably the top American coach around at the moment. His club is challenging for honors on a consistent basis, he has a system that is tried and trusted and has created a winning culture at the Houston Dynamo. Part of me wonders if Kinnear was the brains behind the San Jose Earthquakes two titles in 2001 and 2003 when he was the assistant to Frank Yallop? The Dynamo never seems to lack depth and for a club that competes on multiple fronts as they have done the last three or four years you need good depth where players know their roles. Kinnear also knows what type of player he wants in his team. Unlike some clubs in MLS who think signing a Designated Player will push them over the top, Kinnear just needs to add a piece to the puzzle and has publicly stated they don’t want to just sign a DP for the hell of it, only if he can help the Dynamo win.

As for Sigi Schmid, I think it’s fair to say the Galaxy haven’t been the same since he left although Steve Sampson did win the MLS Cup in 2005, but with Schmid’s team. Schmid getting fired when his club was top of the Western Conference is another topic for a another day. Schmid has been a winner wherever he’s been whether it’s at the college level with the UCLA Bruins or at the professional level at the Galaxy, Columbus Crew and now Seattle Sounders. He has also coached the U-20’s in between his stints at the Galaxy and Crew.

Both coaches know the system here in this country from the very depth’s of youth football to the very top level.

Other top American managers? Bob Bradley I will defend all day and all night and am happy the critics have gone into hiding for now. Bruce Arena is another one I am happy to defend because he’s accomplished so much and very quietly, at least until recently, has steadied the Galaxy ship by building from the back and adding steal to the spine of the team. All of a sudden, it seems Bruce hasn’t “lost it” since 2006 as critics have suggested.

Preki has seemed to make the transition from player to assistant to manager very well and has a good eye for players has he has proven this year with the additions of Mariano Trujillo, Bojan Stepanovic and Eduardo Lillingston. Curt Onalfo also seems a very good young up and coming manager who has done well in Kansas City. Lets also not forget Jason Kreis who is learning the ropes of club management in Salt Lake City pretty well and has Real Salt Lake competing every game which the same couldn’t be said under John Ellinger.

I also haven’t mentioned any managers in the USL which is a great exam for all young managers to learn the trade. If MLS has shown us anything as a league, it’s shown us what separate’s the good managers from the one’s who are less talented. It’s always easier as a manager when you have a massive load of money to spend, but with a salary cap involved, it takes a more creative mind to put your team over the top. This just shows a lot of American managers are better then a good number of their European counterparts. The scouting system needs to improve without a doubt and it is with some of the Latin players that have been signed in the last few years.

Eventually an American manager will manage in a top European division. It might be somewhere like the SPL first, and that’s fine. My money right now is on Kinnear.