Comments on: Corporate Hoods and Futbol Minds

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:21:47 +0000

Don’t worry about Cobi. He’s not yet one year removed from playing, and really, he’s just not ready to be the head coach or GM. I think that Leiweke respects him a lot, and probably made sure that he wasn’t going anywhere. Now, he gets to learn from to guys who’ve got some good experience. Remember, Cobi knew already what was going down when Alan Hopkins interviewed him Thursday night. He didn’t seem too worried. I would venture that Leiweke and Cobi talked about Bruce and the possibilities the day after. Heck, it might have been Cobi that suggested the Il Bruce possibility.

Someday, the keys to the kingdom will be given to Cobi. I hope that by then he’ll have all the requisite skills to be a very successful and long-tenured coach/GM for LAG. This might be a good stepping stone to that end.

By: Diane

Diane — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:54:19 +0000

Unless Cobi declined to take a step back again, or be Bruce’s assistant, replacing him is the first inane move by the new cabal. Just knowing Cobi is out there soothes my nerves . It’s the VERY least of what he had to offer this team in transition.

I agree with Cobi’s own assessment of whether Arena would make a good coach for the Galaxy, “not as good as me.”

By: DAVE

DAVE — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:11:43 +0000

What’s up with the Eddie Lewis transfer? Where’s Domiguez?

By: Laurie

Laurie — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:34:39 +0000

If I were Cobi, I’d be heaving a sigh of relief. If Arena’s head rolls before the end of next season… Well, it’s not Cobi, and Arena’s used to it.

By: Lee

Lee — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:27:26 +0000

I wonder what that’s going to mean for Cobi? He doesn’t
deserve to be ejected.

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:47:06 +0000

Soccer by Ives is reporting that it’s a done deal, Bruce Arena is new head coach, with Dave Sarachan also coming on board as Bruce’s assistant.

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:05:41 +0000

BTW, Davis kind of alludes to a theory that’s floating around, in his column, regarding Beckham’s “camp” hiring Gullit — one more star attraction.

I would agree with Davis that 19 Entertainment should be banned from all things soccer…outside of their box seats. But whoever else Beckham signs with to manage what else at any given time, Terry Byrne remains the only person he trusts to handle his football matters. And Byrne’s background is all football and no entertainment.

There was no secret made, when Gullit was first mentioned, that Byrne had recommended him but that’s a bit different than making the hire. And we can be fairly certain that if anyone involved is solely concerned with Beckham’s (and therefore the Galaxy’s) success on the pitch it would be Byrne.

However Gullit fared — count me as one that thinks he did a deal of good even if he didn’t work in the end — and whoever found him, I think the implication that he was more show than substance is unfair. (From the locker room anyway it sounds like he may have been a little too heavy on the substance).

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:25:04 +0000

Yes, perfect comment re Lalas and the quote is even better.

Steve Davis is a soccer reporter for the Dallas Morning News (I think morning) and he also writes for espnsoccernet.com, if not other outlets I haven’t noticed as well. He can be tough but knows the sport well and I like his lists of things to note about whichever week — although I can’t remember where they show up!!

By: JustJack

JustJack — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:49:38 +0000

Yeah, Shaka made some interesting observations. But my favorite line was in the comments, particularly the Steve Davis quote (I dunno who that guy is but it was a great statement):

SuperTrooper August 15, 2008 3:48 PM
Hana/usa

You’re probably not alone in your Lalas sympathy, Shaka. I’m sure Greg has a nice thing or two to say about his brother. As Big Red ran each of his three MLS clubs into the ground, though, you could probably hold your gatherings in a phone booth.

Oh, and did you read the Superclasico article you linked? The Gals and Goats drew 2-2.

Steve Davis best described the Galaxy’s bloodletting: “No matter the sport, no matter the country, whenever a GM, owner or someone in a $2,000 suit addresses the locker room, spewing spittle and threats, you can be sure some real, honest-to-goodness, knee-slapping nincompoopery is not far away.”

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:55:28 +0000

A few interesting points from Shaka’s perspective. Not as sympathetic with Lalas after last season’s particular form of oversell, still…
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/08/15/galaxy_departures_leave_flagsh.html