MLS: RBNY fires Johnston, timing for effect.

Despite being injected with cash and a name change to forestall easy derisive monikers, like MetroScum and Mutts, NY has not performed well at all.. having won only two games.

So Mo Johnston -who took over after Bob Bradley was fired so as to get Chivas on track- was fired and his Assistant, Richie Williams, affectionately known by some as the Ankle Biting Munchkin of Death (ABMOD) during his playing days for Arena has taken over as interim.

The timing is no doubt to take advantage of the bounce which occurs anytime there's a change of helm.. especially as the virtual expansion team Crew is next up, 6/28.

Of interest also is the abounding speculation that Bruce Arena will come aboard later as Manager.
Of course this is plausible as Red Bull has the money, but Bruce still wouldnt have done it had the US played well in Germany. He would be looking in Europe.
But now it makes perfect sense. if there's ANYONE who can make the Mutts perform, it's Arena.

However, given NY's history, it's by no means a certainty anything will help.

But, if I were otherwise disaffected, I'd be betting on RBNY for tonight.

 

I don't know. Arena seems to be on the "outs" with the MLS right now, even though he has done some backpeddling. MLS Supporters Lash Out at Arena

He and Garber might have to go out for a few beers before he is allowed to come back to the league :?

 

And, strangely, the hoped for effect did not happen.

Which makes sense in retrospect. The team malaise is not against their coaches... it must be bigger and higher things, affecting.

Crew 0-0 RBNY The Crew has demonstrated their punchless inability to get the ball or strikers into a scoring position, the Mutts are usually less inept.

 

Maybe Arenas can make them more offensive minded and have themy play a 5-4-1 like he did the US in the world cup.

That will turn things around. :3d tongue:

 

I understand why he played 4-5-1 but i think his player selection was wrong for it..And Steve Ralston would have come in handy, out there at times.

In retrospect, I think even Bruce regrets not coming out against Czech with 4-4-2 incl. Johnson paired up with Brian.

 

I bet Arena winds up in NY or Toronto, or possibly San Jose if they get a team, as his European hopes got flushed down the toilet 5 minutes in the Czech game. After all, he's still a part of the MLS front office, as of this minute anyway.

But hey, be happy Red Bull actually gets a point out of most of their games unlike my team, RSL, who just loses outright.

 

Don... NONE of the others on the US team, save perhaps the GK's, are "International Class" players.

The key is to come up with the best, most effective, team.

I'm not sure about Arena.. RBNY woulld have to offer full control and a lot of cash. Toronto, perhaps more.

I'll bet he's still got some European clubs sniffing, though the bigger ones would have dropped out.

 

I believe he played 5 defenders in that last game... when we needed 3 goals to make up a differential.

Aside from that McBride had a spectacular season playing with a partner. Bad management, not nearly as aggressive as one would hope, and with perhaps one of the top 5 deepest teams (according to the analysts on the TV) in the cup tourney, the fewest subs...

He did do one thing... he pretty much answered all the questions on whether or not Landon Donovan is the best player the US has... he's not.

But he does have the biggest forehead I've ever seen.

 

Yeah I'm not seeing how Ralston would be an upgrade. He can only play on the right. And who was playing on the right???????

Dempsey, are best player in the tournament.

We needed Landon to show up or someone else who'd play that role. Hell I’m sure Adu would have been better. He would have at a minimum done every thing he could to get involved in the game and would have been very pumped to play on that stage. Landon was not and I hope not to see him in a USA uniform for a long time and if he can't improve than never again.

All that said, there’s no way I would have been prepared to put Adu on the 23 before the cup started.

 

I would have to be honest... why not?

He could have sat next all the other allstars that didnt get a shot... and acquired time in the atmosphere.

Think about that... guy like Fabregas for spain are in their teens and on the field because they are the best players in the world. Adu may not be, but can be. The only difference between the two is the level of competition... Adu doesnt get exposure to anything Europe throws at fabregas.

My point: We are by far the least experienced country when it comes to big games and that sort of stage. Guys like landon donovan are playing infront of crowds that are smaller then where he played in college or highschool. Adu, unless, chelsea buys him, or some other super football organisation, will never be ready for the world cup EVER... unless of course you rely on him as your best talent... which we never do.

In short, since I'm hardly making sense... the US has to give up on this seniority bull, and go with talent and chemistry, which we have only the former, and will almost never have the latter.

They do need to get these players ready for that stage... we need guys with something to prove... adu would be a shoe in on my team and he'd get subbed at the 80th minute every game.