There Will Be Trades, And Rumors of Trades
By: jen | August 3rd, 2008
And that is why we are 0-3-3 in the last six games.
That’s my theory, and I’m sticking to it.
In teaching theory, “Stephen Krashen offers three ‘affective variables’ that have been identified as being related to language-acquisition : these are ‘motivation’, ‘self-confidence’ and ‘anxiety’.” When the first two are in poor supply, and the anxiety level of the student is high, the student cannot perform.
That sounds exactly like what is going on with the Galaxy. There has been a departing Xavier’s criticism of Gullit’s coaching:
“[Gullit] doesn’t respect the players, he doesn’t communicate with the players. He never wants to listen to the players. It’s a bad environment. He doesn’t like players with personality. The players are afraid to speak out because, for most of them, their jobs are not guaranteed. They are afraid of losing their jobs. Look at Carlos Ruiz: One week Ruud Gullit wants to trade him and the next week he wants to be his best friend. … With all the friction between the coach and the players, how can you have a healthy environment?”
Okay, maybe Xavier isn’t exactly an impartial, or credible, source. I took all of this with a grain of salt until I read this quote from Chris Klein. To me, Chris Klein is a more reliable source:
“In general, the security of our players is not there.”
When the trade window is looming, the players play with less confidence and more anxiety. The play of the team as a whole suffers. Games are lost. Team attitude slumps.
With the trade window open and active, no one is guaranteed a spot, well, with the exception of Beckham, who happens to be playing with the most grit and determination of anyone on the team. (Chris Klein gets a nod for the same grit and determination.) Coincidence?
So here we go again. Traditionally the Galaxy take a downward dive during the trade window. Many blame it on personnel coming and going and new players getting used to the team. No doubt that’s true. But I blame it on Krashen’s affective filter theory, as applied to soccer. Few can play their best soccer when their necks are on the chopping block.
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Comments
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Laurie,
Thanks for teh link to the article in SB Sun. Here’s my view on the subject of power/authority and where it should lie on a soccer organization. To me, the ultimate highest authority should be the board of the organization and its eexecutive partners – where each get an equal weighted percentage (CEO, President, and Vice-President/Asst. Manager). However, the individuals that brings in, scouts, picks out players to a team… those resposnsibilities should solely lie with the Head Coach & Director of Soccer.
The issue for our team is: Ruud has to deal with the inconsistencies, the on & off personalities, and the work-rate of many of the players left-over from the “old-regime”… namely, Alexi’s and Paul’s regime. Players like Pete Vagenas, Abel Xavier, Carlos Ruiz, Landon Donovan, David Beckham – these are experienced, “around-many-different-blocks” type of players… not to mention elder players. Like with any of us, the older we get, the entitled we feel to our personalities, our opinions, and our choices. Same goes for these players.
Head Coach Ruud comes from the European system of soccer and coaching – in that system, the coach always has more say, more influence, more command over his players. In some ways, to us, Americans – it would seem fascist. But, if you want more expediency, less time wasted with consulting/arguing/arbitrating – then, the European mode of coaching works very well in that aspect.
There are a hanful of players on our LA Galaxy team that definitely should not feel secure and entitled. Why? Because they are marginal, moody, “do-more-with-their-mouths” type of players. Sorry, Laurie – I am not feeling very sympathetic to the “cry babies”!Posted from
United States
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Oh snap – wait it’s Jen that put up this post… Ooohhh, suddenly I’m shirnking in my chair. Sorry Jen, for mistaking you for Laurie
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United States -
Charles, if you want to thank me for things I didn’t do, feel free. As long as they’re good things like this.
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United States -
It’s simple from my perspective. Be you an employee at a Fortune 100 or slinging fries as a student, the terms of your employment can always be changed by you. Your attitude can change, your work ethic can change, or if you feel abused, you find another place to make money. Soccer is global, there is a league somewhere that will give even marginal over-the-hill talent opportunity at some level of play. Hit the door if you don’t like your coach and refuse to adapt.
I do have empathy when coaching is bad or tyrannical but if you want to move on do your current job as best you can NOW and look for better later.
Our latest signing for defensive help is riding pine today. Who picked this guy out? The defense needs to get better, not deeper with mediocre talent.
Then again, I could be wrong.
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Charles and Scott, I absolutely agree. My post is an observation of a possible cause, not an excuse for behavior. Every player needs to submit to their coach and play their best. Period. And I’m sure there are quite a few doing it. But in even the best teams the sourness of a few can start to leak and spread and taint the others. Add to that the threat of a pink slip and it’s a tough position to be in.
But yeah, they are professionals and they need to rise above it and get on with it. And I’m sure a little less attitude and a little more humility would help. As a player with an ego one has to remember, do I want to be right? Or do I want to win?
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All of the terrible blog crap about Kyle Martino is just that. he is a quality person and player. I won’t dignify any of you with further comment. You could not shine his boots.
Posted from
United States
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