Day After Thoughts On Galaxy Changes

By: NathanHJ | August 12th, 2008

Now that it is The Day After, I have a few thoughts on what just happened.

Alexi Lalas‘ firing was at least a year too late and was a laughably inept hire in the first place. Lalas was good at many things, like being a salesman extraordinaire, doing color commentary, creating funny ESPN Sportscenter promotional spots, even defending for the US MNT. But his history of running teams in MLS was about as lustrous as the attempts to market the Ford Edsel to Americans or the Chevy Nova to Mexicans (Nova = no va = it doesn’t go).

Perhaps AEG thought he didn’t have enough time in San Jose because it became Houston or in NYC during the run-up to the Red Bull acquisition to be accurately evaluated in terms of his GM-quality. However, I would say that the sacking of Bob Bradley was a flare-lit tip-off that Lalas’ personnel acumen was as sharp as a soup spoon made of soap. About the only good thing Lalas accomplished was firing Steve Sampson.

Now, in fairness, a GM, unless s/he’s a brilliant soccer mind, should probably not be dicking around in personnel matters. That’s what a Direct of Soccer/Futbol is for. And I suspect that Lalas was fairly adept at actually selling tickets, elevating the Galaxy brand, and managing sponsor relationships. If only he didn’t have to have left a trail of smoking landscapes and twisted wreckage to get to that point.

And at this point we find ourselves. As Tim Leiweke said in the Daily Breeze,

“I think because of the Ruud situation, it was an opportunity to once and for all look for a fresh start,” Leiweke said. “Alexi’s been with us a long time. I’m very appreciative of everything he’s done for the Galaxy. That one is painful. We haven’t made the playoffs for two years running, and we’re headed for a third year. You can’t blame Alexi entirely. I do think we need a fresh start.”

Fresh start indeed.

Which brings me to AEG. Who, exactly, was responsible for bringing Lalas to San Jose, New York, and Los Angeles? Who, exactly, dealt with the crew that brought Ruud Gullit on board? (And who, exactly, has final responsibility for the skating abmomination masquerading as an NHL team called the Los Angeles Kings?) In short, when, exactly, does Leiweke get the ax as well? If you can’t blame Alexi entirely, can you also blame Mr. Leiweke?

Anyway, if the idea from AEG’s point of view is to have a global brand and therefore global brand-type revenues from the Los Angeles Galaxy, maybe they should concentrate on putting a product on the field that people will actually want to watch. Having David Beckham and Landon Donovan on the same team is great! Having them play on a team that plays enough eye-bleeders to require me to have a standing appointment at the optometrist after Galaxy games is a sure way to become a global laughing stock.

So maybe what they do is get away from this star-struck notion that a global brand deserves a global coach and understand what works in MLS. The foreign coaches who win in MLS are intimately familiar with the American game and with MLS itself. They know how to operate within its constrictures, they understand the personnel, they understand how to build a stable team. Gullit, with an impressive player pedigree, but a decidedly mixed history as a coach, was simply not the right guy for this job.

On the other hand, I think Cobi Jones will make an excellent head coach in MLS. I even think he’s ready enough to be able to have an impact over the next 11 games. If he does, I bet he stays for next season. But if, for whatever reasons that isn’t in the cards, then there are other guys who are good options. Paul Mariner at New England. John Spencer at Houston. I hear Bruce Arena’s free. (Joking. Sort of.)

What do you guys think? Who should be the next head coach? What makes a good MLS coach? Is Cobi ready? Will this have a salutary effect on the team heading into the last 11 games? Let it rip in the comment!