Truth & Rumors > Soccer

We should start calling him "Rafa" Warzycha - the most bizarre managerial decision I've seen in a very long time.

Check out the BBC World Football Fone-In from last night: the English are very interested in our version of football and suddenly Donovan appears linked with Liverpool? Go figure! I swear I'm not making this up, take a listen.

http://tinyurl.com/ycvdnoc

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 11:13 AM ET  11.07 by dynamo

Check out the BBC World Football Fone-In from last night: the English are very interested in our version of football and suddenly Donovan appears linked with Liverpool? Go figure! I swear I'm not making this up, take a listen.http://tinyurl.com/ycvdnoc

I would welcome that move. I honestly would. Donovan would be a great option for us because we have no depth or consistency. He wouldn't start every week, but I think that he would see some good time. I really wish that this would happen. If this doesn't happen, I'm going to find you and hurt you for getting my hopes up.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 11:37 AM ET  11.07 by Keeper: We want King Kenny!

I would welcome that move. I honestly would. Donovan would be a great option for us because we have no depth or consistency. He wouldn't start every week, but I think that he would see some good time. I really wish that this would happen. If this doesn't happen, I'm going to find you and hurt you for getting my hopes up.

LOL ... I didn't say he's going there! "Linked" in the English Press can mean any one of these things:

1>. We've heard of that player
2>. We're interested because someone else is
3>. He could help our squad, but where do we play him?
4>. We'd love to get him but he's too expensive
5>. We'd go for him but he's cup tied
6>. We could use him but the chairman says no more transfers
7>. {your own thoughts}

Getting people's hopes up are a terrible business - I know!

The Schelotto and Rogers decisions seem strange but I didn't watch the games to be able to say if it was Warzycha or the Crew themselves that lost the series. To me, it's a team that's been better on the field than it looks on paper. Perhaps a tribute to Schmid more than a big critique of Warzycha, who managed a Supporters' Shield. That being said, there are plenty of coaches out of work in various sports, including Schoen, who never quite accomplished anything with squads they inherited from better coaches.

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 11:51 AM ET  11.07 by dynamo

LOL ... I didn't say he's going there! "Linked" in the English Press can mean any one of these things:1>. We've heard of that player2>. We're interested because someone else is3>. He could help our squad, but where do we play him?4>. We'd love to get him but he's too expensive5>. We'd go for him but he's cup tied6>. We could use him but the chairman says no more transfers7>. {your own thoughts}Getting people's hopes up are a terrible business - I know!

If Keane couldn't settle into Liverpool, honestly do you think Donovan would? It would be a great move. Historical move in fact! But I would rather see Donovan go to a Portsmouth or a Bolton who need some serious pick me up because he would have a way better chance of getting pt.

@Dynamo, tomorrow should be a sweet day of Serie A!

Haha, Rafa Warzycha! I love it!

This is probably what Warzycha was thinking right before the first game against RSL - "You know what would be a brilliant tactial move, if didn't play Schelotto, my best attacking player and really the mastermind of every attacking move we have made in the last two years. Yeah, that is especially a good idea since we are playing on the road. And there is no danger because upsets never happen in the MLS playoffs. Man I am a genius."

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 12:15 PM ET  11.07 by SoccerUnderground

If Keane couldn't settle into Liverpool, honestly do you think Donovan would? It would be a great move. Historical move in fact! But I would rather see Donovan go to a Portsmouth or a Bolton who need some serious pick me up because he would have a way better chance of getting pt.

Last I looked Liverpool needed a serious pick-me-up too; and let's not forget (as if Liverpool supporters, of whom I am VEHEMENTLY not one, ever could) that Liverpool has Yank owners, which could facilitate this move for LD. Personally I would like to see LD there, despite it being Liverpool.

Keane came with a whole different set of expectations than LD would, so I don't know if I would use that as a determining factor. I'm not necessarily sure I like this move. I've been trying to get my arms around it and I just can't decide on how I think he'd fit in, both in terms of his skill set and the league in general. The one knock on LD that he has yet to dispel is that defenders still muscle him off the ball far too easily.

On the other hand, his speed may translate better in the EPL than say a La Liga. EPL you get much tighter marking, so he would have the chance to exploit it and get around people. La Liga tends to see more defenders absorbing pressure and playing off, and that could actually work against LD.

Seems a bit rash to can him so soon. I say give him enough rope to hang himself.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 01:25 PM ET  11.07 by Raven1971

Last I looked Liverpool needed a serious pick-me-up too; and let's not forget (as if Liverpool supporters, of whom I am VEHEMENTLY not one, ever could) that Liverpool has Yank owners, which could facilitate this move for LD. Personally I would like to see LD there, despite it being Liverpool.

Those Yank owners might make it easier for LD to go to Liverpool, but they're also why Rafa might decide not to play him (similar to what many think happened regarding Keane).

While I've come around on Landon and beleive he could do fine in the EPL, I don't see that happening at one of the really big clubs--and we haven't fallen out of that...yet.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 03:14 PM ET  11.07 by TLVG

Seems a bit rash to can him so soon. I say give him enough rope to hang himself.

I agree. And while I think he clearly made a big mistake, I can see what he was thinking. Not that I would have done it, mind you.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 12:27 PM ET  11.07 by SoccerUnderground

@Dynamo, tomorrow should be a sweet day of Serie A!

Serie A is always a sweet day to me! A couple of years ago things were very bleak about the league, but I can honestly say it's been as entertaining as it's ever been this year. This is the Serie A I can recall as a kid. It's got a bit more to go before it's at the top again - leagues rise and fall and then are forced to reinvent themselves over time - but I like it's trajectory right now. I'm watching a game from a cold and rainy Bergamo right now (Atalanta, a bottom dweller) and the stands are packed - you just didn't see that two years ago. It also tells me the World Cup is arriving ... and that's Xmas for a month to me!

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 12:56 PM ET  11.07 by crosscountrycpjon

Haha, Rafa Warzycha! I love it! This is probably what Warzycha was thinking right before the first game against RSL - "You know what would be a brilliant tactial move, if didn't play Schelotto, my best attacking player and really the mastermind of every attacking move we have made in the last two years. Yeah, that is especially a good idea since we are playing on the road. And there is no danger because upsets never happen in the MLS playoffs. Man I am a genius."

Check out the Grant Wahl interview here: http://tinyurl.com/ybbwu6p

There's a caller who refers to a Bill Simmons column, saying that all owners should appoint a minister of common sense and applying this idea to Warzycha. Very funny stuff.

Bill Simmons freaks like me can find the actual interviews with ESPN Page 2 Dude here:
http://www.worldfootballbook.com/search/?q=bill+simmons

ATM vs Real Madrid is on ESPN Deportes Live right now .. a very underrated derby in my opinion when the season is on the line this early.

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 03:58 PM ET  11.07 by dynamo

Check out the Grant Wahl interview here: http://tinyurl.com/ybbwu6pThere's a caller who refers to a Bill Simmons column, saying that all owners should appoint a minister of common sense and applying this idea to Warzycha. Very funny stuff.Bill Simmons freaks like me can find the actual interviews with ESPN Page 2 Dude here:http://www.worldfootballbook.com/search/?q=bill+simmons

A VP of Common Sense? EVERY club needs one. I'll gladly take the position for Sounders.

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 04:45 PM ET  11.07 by TLVG

A VP of Common Sense? EVERY club needs one. I'll gladly take the position for Sounders.

They've seemed to address that situation internally -- when can you recall a brand new club in any sport getting it so much together as that ownership group?

PS: you see Juventus today? They scored 5 goals today, even after 3 goals were called back. Diego, Melo, Giovinco and Camoranesi are a scary bunch of midfielders.

I brought up Juventus and forgot to add the point - go figure. Been busy with the Bet365 peeps all morning. Dunga is going to have to call up Diego pretty soon. He is so in-sync (no boy band refs, please) with Melo right now and Diego was just awesome today.

Diego was a force of nature today. He looked like he was playing a different game today. He keeps up like this and Dunga won't have a choice. We could be looking at the 21st century Socrates.