New Coach Prediction Thread

[The Ref]

quote:Originally posted by Grizzly

What does a loss in an U-20 friendly have to do with Beenhakker? Poland is doing quite well under Beenhakker and currently lead their fairly tough Euro group having beaten Portugal and Belgium among others so far in qualifying.

I don't know if it has anything to do with Mr. Beenhakker. I thought it was an interesting piece of news involving these two countries. So just forget it.

[georg]

I wonder if they made any attempt to contact Lavolpe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Mexico years

Lavolpe has been a coach in Mexican First Division for several years, coaching teams such as Puebla, Atlante, Guadalajara, Queretaro FC, América, Atlas and Toluca. He has, however, had mixed results. Lavolpe has a reputation for offensive soccer and for bringing young players forth. As a coach, he led Atlante to the 1992-1993 season First Division Championship.

[edit] World Cup 2006

His situation with the Mexican national team was quite good previous to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, as the team easily qualified to it and the team had a good performance at the 2005 Confederations Cup. However, constant clashes with the press, club owners, Hugo Sánchez, and, more recently, Cuauhtémoc Blanco have taken its toll on his popularity, pushing Lavolpe to threaten several times to leave the team. During the 2006 World Cup he told journalists: "Get out of my face! You know nothing. Don't break my balls, you greating idiots." [1] The feud with Blanco saw the star striker allege that Lavolpe "does not have the trousers" to add him into the squad. At Mexico's German training camp, Lavolpe reportedly spent much of his time eating doughnuts under a roped-off parasol. [2]

During Mexico's first game in the finals against Iran, Lavolpe was seen chain-smoking in the dugout, leading to an official warning from FIFA that he was not allowed to smoke during a match. Lavolpe responded by telling FIFA's executives that he would "rather give up football than smoking" although he later consented.

After Mexico were eliminated from the round of 16 following a 2-1 loss to Argentina, Lavolpe's contract with the team was not renewed. This is despite winning plaudits in the international media for his handling of the Mexican team: former Celtic coach, Martin O'Neill, praised his "tactical flexibility", while The Observer named him "Coach of the Tournament" [3].

[edit] Boca Juniors

After leaving the Mexican national team, he met with Boca Juniors officials on Monday July 24 2006. After several weeks of negotiation, on August 22 it was agreed that Lavolpe would take over Boca on September 15, replacing Alfio Basile who has been selected to manage Argentina national football team.

Lavolpe had a bumpy start with Boca Juniors side, including a 3-1 loss against archi-rivals River Plate on October 8. Lavolpe did not do very good on the Copa Sudamericana, Boca Juniors lost 3-1 to Nacional from Uruguay on penalty kicks and was out of the competition on October 12. Lavolpe did not fare well in the Apertura Championship, failing three times to claim the crown in the final weeks of the season, and ultimately losing a playoff against Estudiantes. In keeping with his word, he resigned from the team after that match. La Volpe as of December 21 of 2006 has become the new manager for Velez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires Argentina

[Guest Dave]

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/196707

At bottom of page:

"CSA president Colin Linford says the national team won't have a full-time coach for at least three more weeks. Linford said the CSA can't hire a coach until the board of directors meets and approves the move, and the CSA's board won't meet again until April 21."

I wonder if this delay means there is dissension in the ranks; this may indicate the need for a compromise candidate. The "Dutch fellow" may end up getting it, if indeed he is a candidate.

[The Ref]

quote:Originally posted by Dave

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/196707

At bottom of page:

"CSA president Colin Linford says the national team won't have a full-time coach for at least three more weeks. Linford said the CSA can't hire a coach until the board of directors meets and approves the move, and the CSA's board won't meet again until April 21."

I wonder if this delay means there is dissension in the ranks; this may indicate the need for a compromise candidate. The "Dutch fellow" may end up getting it, if indeed he is a candidate.

I think that for a matter of such importance as ratifying the committee's recommendation that Linford can call a special meeting now instead of waiting another 4 weeks. What happens if the Board veto his decision. Are we then going to wait another month until May. Who is running the CSA after all.

[loyola]

It's getting frustrating but in the end I don't think it will matter that much on our MNT. With no FIFA dates and games schedules before June 2 this should'nt be a big deal if the board agree.

[Guest Can. in UK]

I find it amazing that they couldn't gather ahead of their next board meeting to make a decision.

Either:

a) There isn't a unanimous decision - and they still need to weigh/debate their options.

They feel it isn't that important.

I hope it's a).

[Canuck Oranje]

I feel that if Linford and the hiring committee have come to an agreement on who they want (regardless of who it might be), the Board would need a very strong and credible reason to overrule the recommendation. I say this because it is the committee that went through the hiring process and Linford apparently has already agreed (not sure if he was also part of the committee). As well, I am not sure if Linford could remain (politically) in his position if he was overruled.

I don't know if we want to see the Board politics and possible disfunction exposed this close to a major FIFA event, the U-20 WC. In my opinion, that would be the worst thing that could happen to Canadian soccer at this time, just when everything seems to be moving in the right direction. I hope any renegade factions on the Board keep that in mind. Any choice the hiring committee has made is better than public conflict in this case.

I am confident that it will simply be some discussion and an approval vote. Ideally unanimous.

[Grizzly]

Since we were previously told that it would be rubber stamped with a conference call at the end of the week, this could indeed signal dissension and the need for a full meeting and vote. Let's at least hope whoever the first choice is that it is not the "old boys: holding things up and that the delay does not cause the top candidate to withdraw his candidacy. If by the Dutch guy you mean Beenhakker, he would be a good choice but I have a hard time seeing how we would pry him away from Poland especially in the middle of an up to now very successful EURO qualifying campaign.

[Guest Dave]

quote:Originally posted by Grizzly

Since we were previously told that it would be rubber stamped with a conference call at the end of the week, this could indeed signal dissension and the need for a full meeting and vote. Let's at least hope whoever the first choice is that it is not the "old boys: holding things up and that the delay does not cause the top candidate to withdraw his candidacy. If by the Dutch guy you mean Beenhakker, he would be a good choice but I have a hard time seeing how we would pry him away from Poland especially in the middle of an up to now very successful EURO qualifying campaign.

This is my thinking exactly on the subject. At the risk of sounding immodest, I think I've seen the inner workings of enough committees to recognize these sort of signals. BTW, I was indeed referring to Beenhakker in my earlier post... I used the phrase "Dutch fellow" as a jab at the "inside source" who was quoted by an earlier poster as saying that some "German fellow" would be the likely choice. For what it's worth, I'd much prefer Beenhakker over Simoes, as I think that he is a better coach and tactician, and also doesn't carry the sort of risk that Simoes does. It's unfortunate that Linford publically tipped his hand regarding his preference for Simoes in that interview on the Score. The guy has obviously never been in politics or the senior levels of the Civil Service, to not recognize a typical interviewer's trick and thus reveal info he should not have. He thus may have painted himself into a corner, and may not last too long in his position if (as I hope) Beenhakker is the choice. On the other hand, the obscurity of Cdn soccer in terms of lack of media coverage may spare him, since it's not like this would be trumpetted (or even noticed) by the mainstream media. I like Linford and hope he stays. He has the right ideas, even if he may be a bit naive. (the opposite of Pipe, who seemed to have given up on doing the right thing in favour of expediency and political survival.)

[Grizzly]

I don't see why all the talk about Beenhakker because I seriously doubt he is a candidate. If he is and gets the job I would be all for it but does anyone really think we can offer him more money and be more attractive in a soccer sense than Poland?

[Canuck Oranje]

Some further thoughts. The Hiring Committee I assume is one that consists of primarily Board Members (and maybe a couple of others agreed to) who were appointed by the Board at an earlier meeting. I suspect that the Board has been receiving updates at their regular Board meetings. I also assume that the Board may have approved the process or the framework of the process.

As well, it seems to me that the Hiring Committee and Linford are in agreement on who they would like to be the Coach. We also cannot discount the fact that Linford is the President of the Board and not the CEO staff person. That means he was more than likely elected by the Board to be their leader (if the CSA's board is organized as I would expect). Linford, I think, has been on the Board for some time so I don't think we can assume that he is totally naive to CSA politics. I also think someone with good political skills will be looking for unanimous approval and will be working to acheive that. The CSA Board or Hiring Committee has been leaking so much information of late that I am beginning to feel that some of it is deliberate.

Finally, we don't know if Beenhakker has applied (I doubt it myself) so this is purely hypothetical. Beenhakker has risks associated with him too in that he has more short term coaching assignments on his CV than Simoes. I am not convinced that he is lower risk. And being of a Dutch heritage myself, I still find it hard to see him as a good Coach when he failed miserably in the World Cup Tournament with the 1990 Dutch team that was the Euro Champ at the time.

[bettermirror]

For the record, I take no offence at the Dutch/German fellow jabs - my bad. Apologies. Sorry for saying "an inside source" but naming names is good. I was just trying to let you guys know of another possibility.

But for the record, I would agree it probably is the Middendorp guy from Kaizer Chiefs, not Beenhakker - the Dutch fellow!!!

[Mighty_TorontoFC]

Could it be that the CSA is just looking for the CHEAPEST buy they can get? If they really wanted the Brazilian then they could have got him months ago, but they seem to be dragging this out for no purpose, the

Nats need someone in charge ASAP before the Gold CUP.

[Canuck Oranje]

I was thinking that if there was something about the offer they were wanting to make to the successful Candidate was outside of the mandate of the committee (ie combined Technical Director position or a salary above a stated maximum), I suspect they would probably want to do that at a formal Board Meeting. We also have to realize that these are volunteers Board Members and sometimes it is difficult to get them together at times in short notice.

Even CEO's of multinational companies sometimes have to wait for Board approvals before announcements can be made.

I still think Linford and the Hiring Committee will get its way. I doubt very much that they would go to a Board meeting without the needed votes in their back pockets for the reasons given in my earlier posts here.

[nolando]

"M.I.C" "K.E.Y." "M O U S E"

The antics continue...this sure is good drama though

[The Ref]

Linford kept using the phrase "if we want to be taken seriously", which means to me that he is thinking of a coach from abroad. On the other hand it also means to be that he may regard another Canadian coach as not being serious enough in the eyes of the world.

[sstackho]

GlobeSportsSoccer,GlobeSports

Simoes likely to be Canada soccer coach

Peter Mallett

558 words

28 March 2007

The Globe and Mail (Breaking News)

English

2007 CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.

After weeks of speculation the appointment of Brazilian coach Rene Simoes as the next man to lead Canada's struggling senior men's soccer program appears to be just days away.

After a conference call between Canadian Soccer Association president Colin Linford and his executive committee this weekend, the Globe and Mail has learned that the former Jamaican World Cup coach will likely be appointed as coach of Canada's No.103-ranked World Cup team and CSA technical director.

A source from within the CSA offices said an official announcement naming Simoes is expected to come at some point next week in Toronto and that Simoes is now the front-runner for the job.

Since March 13, when the Globe and Mail first learned of closed-door meetings between the CSA and Simoes in Toronto, Linford has repeated claims that the CSA has yet to reach a final decision about its next coach.

At a recent media conference for Canada's U-20 program last week, Linford hinted that the CSA has already made up their mind on who Canada's next coach will be, but stopped short of tipping the balance in favour of Simoes.

"We know who we want," Linford said. "We are basically looking for someone who has some knowledge of CONCACAF, because that's where we compete."

Simoes led Jamaica's Reggae Boyz to their first and only appearance at a World Cup in 1998. He has also has had coaching spells with Trinidad's Soca Warriors, Iran's Olympic team and Brazil's women's Olympic team.

While Simoes made an annual salary of just $220,000 (U.S.) when he led Jamaica to France '98, his value on the international market has inflated since then and the charismatic coach known for his flamboyant sideline antics and trademark moustache and sunglasses could expect to earn close to $500,000 per year in Canada.

Indications are that financial concerns could be the key stumbling block for the CSA in finalizing the contract of Simoes and that this weekend's conference call may hinge on freeing up extra cash for Simoes in the national program's operating budget.

Speculation over Simoes's pending appointment have increased in the last few days as two senior members of Canada's World Cup squad requesting anonymity told the Globe and Mail that they were asked to pick their choices for coach in a list that included three candidates: Simoes, interim Canada coach Stephen Hart and U-20 coach Dale Mitchell.

"His [simoes] appointment would be a turning point for the program," the player said. "Having someone who has a good understanding of soccer in this zone could be the solution to the problem of our over 20-year absence from the World Cup tournament."

Simoes also has offers on the table from the national teams of Venezuela and Cuba and has indicated in discussions with the CSA that he will need to reach an agreement with the CSA by March 31 or talks could be cut off.

Linford indicated that the CSA are also reviewing applications of another unnamed candidate, bringing the total number of applicants to four, but failed to say who the applicant was.

With a report from Canadian Press

[nolando]

Wow...choosing Canada over Venezuela would be a big victory for the CSA in my mind...Ven is next door to Simoes' home, is hardcore religious like Simoes, has large pockets of people who speak Portuguese like Simoes, and has been giving strong indications that they are serious about trying to compete with the South American giants...Chavez's government might be a sticking point (but i sincerely doubt it since the article lists Cuba as the other possible employer)...all in all, if Venezuela is offering similar cash and extra incentives to Canada, then us getting Simoes should be viewed as nothing short of a coup.

[CanadasBest]

Reading between the lines of this article, it's clear that Simoes has countered with an offer substantially more than what the CSA has budgeted. Whether or not that figure is $500,000 who knows.

One thing is for sure, if they do offer him a large contract, they better be insisting on a relatively cheap way to end the contract if performance becomes an issue. We could not afford to pay out the remainder of a contract this size and pay a new coach.

I think Simoes is the best choice for this job. I wouldn't pay him more than $350,000 though. Let's be honest here. The political climate is neither stable in Venezuela nor Cuba. I'm sure he would much rather bring his family to our great country than be under the thumb of Fidel or Chavez. Living in Canada would be a $1,000,000 per year benifit in my opinion!

[Guest Jeffery S.]

quote:Originally posted by gwallace76

Reading between the lines of this article, it's clear that Simoes has countered with an offer substantially more than what the CSA has budgeted. Whether or not that figure is $500,000 who knows.

One thing is for sure, if they do offer him a large contract, they better be insisting on a relatively cheap way to end the contract if performance becomes an issue. We could not afford to pay out the remainder of a contract this size and pay a new coach.

I think Simoes is the best choice for this job. I wouldn't pay him more than $350,000 though. Let's be honest here. The political climate is neither stable in Venezuela nor Cuba. I'm sure he would much rather bring his family to our great country than be under the thumb of Fidel or Chavez. Living in Canada would be a $1,000,000 per year benifit in my opinion!

Actually the way prices are in either of those places, we would probably have to pay more than them to compensate cost of living, not less.

Add to that the likelihood that in both places a national soccer coach, as vital in the state promotional scheme (read propoganda through sport), would get some very serious privileges, like an apartment or home, a car, other perks. Which I don't think we could offer, or at least not in the same terms.

Was it always going to be one person for technical manager and coach, like Holger, or was that up in the air? I am asking as that doubling up of roles does justify a heftier salary.

[nolando]

quote:Originally posted by gwallace76

Let's be honest here. The political climate is neither stable in Venezuela nor Cuba. I'm sure he would much rather bring his family to our great country than be under the thumb of Fidel or Chavez. Living in Canada would be a $1,000,000 per year benifit in my opinion!

While I agree that Canada is among the best countries in the world for a number of reasons, not the least of which living standards and relative security, don't forget that there are those who believe wholeheartedly in what the governments of Venezuela and Cuba are doing to their own countries, particularly latin americans. If the other two countries he is considering are Ven. and Cuba, I would even go so far as to say that Simoes is quite likely very sympathetic to the socialist cause. At the very least, it doesn't seem to be bothering him too much in the run up to his final decision. Finally, I really don't think that Simoes or whomever fills the vacant positions in Cuba and Ven. will have to worry about government meddling as there is no recent history of this in either country (that I have heard of) and FIFA has been very vigilant and very swift in their treatment of governments in such situations. If only the UN had as much teeth and authority.

[The Ref]

Is Simoes out then. He stated that because of his other offers he needed a committment by March 31st or the talk were off. Now that Linford declared that he cannot have a meeting until the 21st of April, what happens? Linford surely doesn't need all 20 board members, he just needs a quorum. He could also have a conference call and get it done.

[Winnipeg Fury]

Now it's April 21:

Canadian Soccer Association delays board meeting on new coach

OTTAWA (CP) - A board meeting expected to finalize the new coach of the Canadian men's soccer team has been put off until April 21.

A spokesman for the Canadian Soccer Association said Friday that the meeting, originally slated for Saturday, had been postponed because of the difficulties in assembling some 20 board members at short notice. Association president Colin Linford told reporters last week that his four-man selection committee had settled on one candidate from a four-man short list.

Linford, who had wanted the new coach in place by late March or early April, said the choice was down to two Canadians and two foreigners.

It's expected the two Canadian candidates are under-20 coach Dale Mitchell and under-17 coach Stephen Hart.

Brazilian Rene Simoes, a well-travelled coach who took Jamaica to the 1998 World Cup, is believed to be one of the foreign candidates - with one report saying the job is his.

Canada has been without a full-time coach since Frank Yallop quit last June to take over the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The CSA is also looking for a chief operating officer and a technical director.

[Guest Dave]

In any beurocracy, when you see that a decision is coming that you don't like, and you don't have the power to change it, a good tactic is to delay the decision as long as possible. Quite often the delays will cause other things to change, and at the end of the day the decision may swing in your favour.

I wonder if something like this is going on now... ie, Board members who don't want Simoes suddenly remembering that their second cousin is having his wisdom teeth removed and needs their support, so they can't make it to a board meeting on that day.... maybe in two weeks time.....

[Loud Mouth Soup]

How about Voyageurs in each city where these board clowns live head on over to their houses and download Skype for them, or show them how to dial a f*cking phone. They conference call for the meeting, and it's done.

Is the CSA still using dial phones or telegraphs? Pathetic excuse for not having a meeting.

And if there's some regulation stating members have to be physically present for meetings, that's got to change. Now. It's no excuse with technology today.