3-5-2

[Aero]

I think that one thing that Ellinger definitely has going for him is that he is very familiar with many of the young, great players in this country. And they all seem to love him. I think that influence could go a long way towards putting together a young and talented team over the next few years. I don't think we can start talking about dumping him when we haven't even gotten to use what may be his greatest asset to its fullest potential yet. If anyone in this country can put a good team together from some of the young players in this country, it would be him. He probably has a pretty good idea of who the great young players in other countries are as well from playing against them too. Let's give him a year or two to get the team he actually wants before we cast him aside.

[Old Ska]

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

2004. Last season. The Revs were so bad that we didn't know which loser team would make it in the West or East until the last game of regular season.
Then all of asudden, the Revs became AC Milan (I kid).

You think very highly of Nicols I guess. He is a good drafter, thats for sure.

But I agree with Old Ska, we have to at least have this conversation.

9 points at the end of the summer?!?!? When does your summer end? By my count they were at 12 at the end of July, and had that big steak into August. Not great, of course, but a far cry from "9 at the end of the summer". Nicols has the experience to warrant some faith in him. I am less comfortable with blind faith in Ellinger. This is why I say we need to watch the rest of June very closely.

[Old Ska]

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

You do realize that Mellor is like 90, right?

Wow, I'll leave that for someone else who is in their early- to mid- 50s here to address.

[Jim Umber]

Originally Posted by Old Ska

I am less comfortable with blind faith in Ellinger. This is why I say we need to watch the rest of June very closely.

Me, I am firmly in the "Blind Faith" category. We ARE an expansion team. We DO have some great players. They aren't clicking as yet. I think it is coming. I believe it is coming. I know it is coming.

They're going to break out and whoop everyone! I know it! I know it, even as I watch them put forth a half-hearted effort!

Blind faith! There's nothing like it. We have the greatest team in the league, coach and players, if only they would convince themselves of that, and start playing like it.

[Old Ska]

Jim, I admire your faith. Put me in the "faith without works is dead" category. Or at least getting more and more into that category. Like I said, June performance will be the key.

[BroncsBomber]

Originally Posted by beaveman

I was listening to the coach's interview from last Tuesday on my way to the game Saturday (rebroadcast on 1280). I really agree with what he said about the players on the roster. Players such as Andy Williams were left available for the expansion draft for a reason. Chicago was not impressed with his performance (and maybe his attitude?). Other players also had similar problems, or maybe just didn't have the talent. This is an expansion team and, with the exception of a few players, is built on the expansion draft. It will take time for the team to be able to draft the players they need and discover others (such as Tiger) that will fit into their system.

I don't think we should put this all on the coach's shoulders. The preseason expectations might have been a little high for this team. Give it more time (maybe even a few seasons?) and see what happens.

I couldn't agree more. I think this team has actually over achieved in some circumstances and that is due to coaching. We do not have a very fast team and we have a couple of problem areas that we need filled. With time we will get better. This is an expansion team, and we are still better than the 10 year old cRapids and the much hyped Chivas...

[Loyal1]

We are still in contention for the playoffs, Open Cup, and the Rocky Mountain Cup. Pretty sure we'll get the latter of that list. Maybe we'll pull a Liverpool= midtable in the league and focus on other hardware.

If GA can last this long in Cbus and Rongen can stick it out in DC for as long as he did then JE should be ok.

He may turn out to be an average coach. I could live with that I think. By firing your expansion coach it is admitting that you hired the wrong guy [chivas].

[Stucki]

We have to give this team time to play together before we go head hunting. Many of the attacking problems the team had in the last week were simply not knowing what each other was about to do. We are an expansion team. Yes, we have some talented players, but everyone of them was deemed expendable by their previous team. They may gel into a cohesive unit, or they may not. I was just hoping that they would play like they have something to prove every game. I don't think it is a coaching issue. A coach is only as good as his talent. A good coach will get a game here or there, but a coach won't be able to hide a dearth of talent.

[Old Ska]

Originally Posted by mrstucki

A coach is only as good as his talent. A good coach will get a game here or there, but a coach won't be able to hide a dearth of talent.

So in your view we have no talent?

Harsh. All I am saying is that we have to maybe consider that coaching is the issue. I still think our guys are pretty talented (yes, even Dipsy).

[Stucki]

Originally Posted by Old Ska

So in your view we have no talent?

Harsh. All I am saying is that we have to maybe consider that coaching is the issue. I still think our guys are pretty talented (yes, even Dipsy).

No, I'm saying our talent was oversold to get people excited. We have talent, but they are in no way cohesive. If they were as good as some of us make them out to be, they wouldn't have been available. We are an expansion team, we get who we get. As long as we stay ahead of the Crapids and Goats, I will be satisfied with the season.