Monday Morning Centre Back: Is Kinnear or the Front Office's Unrealistic Expectations The Problem?

is where DK can take part of the blame; I do understand a coach has a vision of how they want a team to play and the best way to do so (ie, formations) but at the same time it does require a degree of flexibility in thinking that is sometimes called in to question. I know I give DK plenty of latitude there but the rest of this season and next (assuming the FO doesn’t $hit themselves into a panic move like firing DK) will be a real test of that

I’m also hispanic (born here but parents are from El Salvador) but at this point I just want a winning team out there. I remember when I went to the Bolton game and the only player that stood out to me was Chung-Yong Lee. Man would I kill to have a player of his technicality, ball control and he also had some very good crosses. My point is that I don’t care where the player is from as long as he’s good as hell.

I’ll say that as a Hispanic as well I don’t give a toss where the guy is from, as long as he can play. To me nationality should be dead last on the checklist; in fact I’ve been throwing out names from Africa & Europe. As you and Ace said, just win!

The signings are always going to be hit-or-miss, but part of that goes back to the issue of scouting for the Dynamo (and honestly, for MLS in general). It’s the old spend-money-to-make-money conundrum, but in this case we’re seeing that you really do have to make the investment in scouting to raise your chances of making better signings.

As for the players being sent off, part of that is frustration with play, part is positional uncertainty/responsibility, part is the quality of MLS refs and then lastly, part is just plain stupidity.

however as we’ve seen, its a bit more complicated than reducing it to simply a “Fire Kinnear: Yes or No”…that’s why while many still support Kinnear (or at least feel sacking him either isn’t the answer or a bad idea or both), I think several of us have voiced how he isn’t exactly faultless in this.

IMHO, here’s why DK and the FO should stay, but only through next season:

Turover. As you rightly point out, we’ve flipped most of the squad, so we have a collection of rookies, nephews and a few vets (some still with some miles to go, others not so much). Now, I don’t know if we intended to make the changes we made but I would hope that is the case because it would imply we in fact have a plan. Now, I might be projecting here but when you have this much turnover you try to retain a sense of stability, which is why you would want to keep the same coach, staff, formation, etc. However, you’re still trying to feel everyone out and what their strengths and weaknesses are. I’ll give you two minor examples:

I play on a few rec leagues (and I’m sure plenty of you do too), and every season while we may have a core group of players that return, there are always new people and for some of us our state may have changed. Some of us may be nursing injuries, some of us unfit, some of us in great shape and have even improved. So it takes us a few games to really get a feel for each other and what we can do best now, not based on what we previously did. I feel the same thing has happened with the Dynamo, with of course the exception that they can go out and find people to address any issues that cannot be addressed with the current roster.

Also, in my professional life I help lead various types of projects: while the projects may differ, the methodology of implementation rarely changes but the people often do. So there is always a period of adjustment where I have new resources that, while they may be capable, are having to adjust to new roles and responsibilities. This takes time and can impact project delivery times and milestones.

I guess the point I’m trying to illustrate here (rather poorly & verbosely) is that I tend to take a longer-term, high-level view of things. If I see a trend that can potentially impact events long term I’ll point that out while understanding that in the short term there will be some fluctuations…but as long as I see that there will not be a negative impact long-term I’m ok with that. I view our current situation in the same way: assuming this is part of a long-term plan then our state is bearable, because it implies that we KNOW what the issues are and are working on them, regardless of whether we (the fans) know that or not. Projects and plans in general take a time to see through to fruition: even some of the quickest projects take a few weeks to complete. In the case of overhauling a team for the future, it may take a couple of years. As long as I see the trend moving toward that (which for the most part I do) then I can live with that. That being said, its why I caution that this and the latter part of the season are what concern me because this is where we have to make a correction (CAM, Winger/Forward) in order to achieve the long-term plan. As long as we see positive movement in that direction, and as long as it intensifies then I won’t panic as much. Its when we keep seeing these scrub trialists brought in as a potential solution that I really start to get concerned.

So bottom line: I give them the rest of the year to show improvements toward a long-term goal. If that doesn’t happen then the sack race for both should begin next season in earnest

(and I have no idea whether I answered you sufficiently or not)

As I was attempting to do earlier (and failing miserably to do so) was to point out that when management gives you a clear directive, its much easier to implement regardless of whoever the resources are doing the actual work. If Canelli is responsible for the team’s direction and he simply delegates day-to-day implementation of that vision to DK then Canelli holds the cards and is ultimately responsible. If its more a 55/45 split then DK is almost equally culpable…I get the sneaking suspicion that its more a 70/30 relationship (or maybe 65/35). But of course this is pure conjecture

…for putting the right players on the field? And isn’t that person responsible if the players on the field don;t respond or improve over time?

Each situation is unique. The results haven’t been there, but plenty of great coaches have bad stretches in their career. Don’t fire a proven one because the teams having a bad stretch. Even the best run teams are going to have some lows.

Personally, I couldn’t give a rat’s nether parts about whether or not Dynamo sign a designated player. As you’ve pointed out before, how much better is it to instead use that money on several players that fit into a larger whole? If they can get Sanchez, Boniek Garcia or players of that ilk who are competitive and strong in MLS without spending a DP slot, then more power to them.

I’m a little interested in this part:

Midfielders Miler Castillo of Ecuador and Bjorn Lindemann of Germany were sent back home Thursday. Diminutive Costa Rican forward Alvaro Sanchez might return for another trial period, but large blisters on both his heels robbed him of a chance to play against Bolton.

“We have decided to not offer contracts to Castillo and Lindemann,” Canetti said. “We may take a closer look at Sanchez once he is healthy.”

OK, so Lindemann and Castillo did not work out. Maybe Sanchez will once those mysterious blisters heal. (Still wondering about that.)

But the other point you make is indeed a cogent one. Where was this urgency a year and half ago?

I don’t know exactly when that came down, but I believe it was sometime in the past offseason around when the stadium deal was locked in.

I would honestly rather the team do nothing than get desperate and pay someone DP money who doesn’t deserve it. The “we have to do something mentality” causes more problems than it fixes.

"AEG closed the money purse tighter than a frightened sphincter, so we can’t afford to pursue a legitimate designated player"

This team is making me go all black cloud lately.