As Earl said yesterday, we’re doing the MLS preview a little differently this year, and our first article today is on the men on the bench, the new head coaches. &nbsp;This offseason five teams from various situations and needs hired new head coaches, all from very diverse backgrounds. &nbsp;MLS teams have been trending towards hiring former players, as a way to bring in league knowledge and experience to help their teams. &nbsp;Of the five coaches hired this offseason (not counting John Hackworth, who was given his gig full time), <del>only two</del>&nbsp;three played in MLS. &nbsp;Time will ultimately tell how successful these new hires will be, but that should not stop us from giving grades for the offseason hires.
Jose Luis Sanchez Sola (Chivas USA) –&nbsp;Chivas begins its Mexican overhaul by hiring a veteran coach of the Mexican leagues. &nbsp;Chelis saw some success in Mexico’s top flight and was popular with his players. &nbsp;If the cultural change of the club is successful, Chelis could be the perfect guy to lead Chivas USA out of its current morass into playoff contention. &nbsp;However, <del>the first</del> Mexican head coach <del>in MLS</del> is a rookie of this league and, that combined with having to totally make over a team in flux, means that unless ownership gives him a very long leash, this will be a tough job to handle. &nbsp;Who else, however, could do it?&nbsp;Grade: C-
Marco Schallibaum (Montreal Impact) –&nbsp;Another team adding some international flair to its staff to reflect its culture, the Swiss head coach takes his first job outside of Europe. &nbsp;A veteran manager who knows the kind of players Montreal loves to sign (think Southern European), this could be a good fit in terms of player relations. &nbsp;The mixed success of Schallibaum in Europe however is worrying, as is the fact that this is his first experience coaching in MLS. &nbsp;Also, since 2003, he has not coached the same team for more than one season (although that may be the fault of his fickle bosses). &nbsp;Here’s hoping he has a longer leash than Jesse Marsch. &nbsp;Grade B-
Mike Petke (New York Red Bull) –&nbsp;The ranks of former MLS players-turned-head-coaches grows with this surprise, and rather late, hire by New York. &nbsp;This hire to me was a lot like how New York’s rival handled their last coaching change; DC United also went to a long-time player and fan favorite to lead a revitalization. &nbsp;Petke has a ton of MLS experience (and MLS Cup winning experience) as well as some time overseas, so he has an ideal profile for an MLS job. &nbsp;He knows the franchise in and out, and in many ways is a perfect hire. &nbsp;However, the extended hiring process and the public knowledge that he was probably the third choice for the job undermines his authority some. &nbsp;Ultimately, he will be judged on how he handles the team’s superstars and if he wins an elusive trophy. &nbsp;Grade A- (although management gets a D+ for the hiring process)
Caleb Porter (Portland Timbers) –&nbsp;Recognizing that passionate fans can only take the team so far, Gavin Wilkinson hit the restart button and hired one of the up-and-coming coaching stars of U.S. soccer. &nbsp;Despite the failure to make the World Cup with the U-23s, Porter has a proven track record of working with younger players and has a good tactical mind. &nbsp;This is his first foray as a coach into professional soccer so how he manages at the next level (where his players actually are getting paid) will be interesting to see. &nbsp;However, it’s hard to see how Portland could have done much better than this hire. &nbsp;Grade A
Ryan Nelsen (Toronto FC) –&nbsp;Toronto always does things a little differently, but new boss Kevin Payne is bringing some old school MLS style north of the border. &nbsp;Former DC United player and experienced international Ryan Nelsen retires mid-season from QPR to come to Canada for his first head coaching job. &nbsp;Much like Montreal, Toronto needed a coach who has international ties to fit into a culturally diverse city. &nbsp;Nelsen attended college in the U.S., won an MLS Cup, and played with some of the best players in the world in the EPL. &nbsp;However, this is his first coaching stint at any level, so there will be a learning curve with a team that has seem quite some turmoil since its inception. &nbsp;Grade B+
How would you grade the new hires?

MLS '13 &#8211; Reviewing the Coaching Hires

MLS '13 - Reviewing the Coaching Hires - World Soccer Talk

MLS '13 – Reviewing the Coaching Hires

<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6592" src="/files/2009/10/portland_timbers-300x300.jpg" alt="portland_timbers" width="300" height="300"></figure></div>Now that the United States national team has assured itself a place in the 2010 World Cup, the American soccer community can turn its attention back to the domestic game. This season has been unlike any other in recent memory, as both Major League Soccer and the United Soccer Leagues have produced compelling story lines throughout 2009. Many will argue that some of those stories have negatively impacted the development of top-flight football in this country, as the recent sale of the USL has caused dissension among the league’s clubs.
Nevertheless, football’s collective stock has never been higher in the United States, as Major League Soccer has consolidated its brand and the league’s future appears extremely bright. Readers should bear in mind that MLS is only fourteen years old, and while the early years were marred by attempts to “Americanize” the world’s game (see club names like Tampa Bay Mutiny et al.), the league office has now created a single party line intent on establishing a viable form of professional football. The knock-on effect from the David Beckham experiment has exposed MLS to new audiences, and the league is now mentioned alongside AC Milan on Sky Sports News and in La Gazzettta dello Sport. Yet the recent success of MLS lies in the league’s ability to select markets capable of supporting true football culture.
There are many great sporting cities across the United States, but few are truly able to sustain the organic supporters subculture associated with the beautiful game. Lets face it, soccer supporters are a unique breed. While the gridiron faithful may claim that consuming copious amounts of red meat quantifies fandom, proper football fans know better. After all, the relationship between soccer supporters and their clubs is not forged by gross mass-marketing. Rather, football culture is a tribal experience that binds supporters to their individual sides through triumph and adversity. To see contemporary examples of this observe a football match in Barcelona, where a football club literally carried the language and traditions of the Catalan people under Fascist oppression. On Merseyside football is a distinct way of life, as lifestyles are determined by declaring allegiance to Everton or Liverpool Football Club. London, Rome, Buenos Aires – football culture is the beating heart of these various urban centers.
Major League Soccer took massive strides in cementing this type of fervent football passion in North America by bringing league play to the Pacific Northwest. That is not to say that fan culture in cities like Toronto and Washington D.C. is not stellar, but the obvious success of Seattle Sounders FC has raised the bar. Each weekend 35,000 supporters pack Qwest Field in an unprecedented display of support. There is no question that the chanting rave green masses have elevated the standard for supporters culture across MLS. If you don’t believe me simply scroll down this website to Major League Soccer’s glaring attendance figures.
<div id="attachment_6599" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><div><figure class="external-image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6599" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-6599" src="/files/2009/10/1395199085_559c9af8f7.jpg" alt="Soccer City indeed: The Timbers Army" width="500" height="375"></figure></div>Soccer City indeed: The Timbers Army</div>
Yet despite the attention surrounding the Sounders, Portland’s 2011 entrance into the American top-flight will raise the bar once more. Simply stated, Portland has the best set of supporters in American soccer. Before the backlash begins, allow me to explain. Working in the Pacific Northwest soccer scene has given me a unique insight into the Interstate 5 corridor. From Portland to Vancouver, this part of North America is rife with football support that stems from large expatriate communities and local ties to the defunct North American Soccer League. Carrying the self-proclaimed title of “Soccer City USA”, Portland can bear this label because no other city rallies behind a second tier club in the same manner as Timbers fans.
The Rose City has not seen top-flight football since the NASL folded in 1984, yet PGE Park’s attendances swell over 10,000 routinely in the second division. In fact the Timbers averaged 9,734 fans per match in 2009 while playing in the United Soccer Leagues. This figure becomes more significant when weighed against Seattle’s 2008 USL average attendance. While the current Sounders are renowned for their overwhelming fan support, in the USL the club could not muster more than 2,500 fans on a regular basis. Meanwhile, Vancouver sold out Swangard Stadium regularly in 2009, but the current ground seats just over 5,000 spectators for USL play.
When compared with their rivals Portland’s home support is staggering, and the fan base is hardly composed of fickle members. The main supporters group is known as the Timbers Army, and this ravenous hoard devotes itself to vocally imposing itself on Timbers matches for 90 minutes. The TA is invariably contrasted with Seattle’s Emerald City Supporters, and while the Sounders faithful have backed their team admirably this season, this same fervor was lacking in the USL. Portland’s fan base is primed for Major League Soccer, and the fantastic support that is on display each week in the USL will thrive once the Timbers make the jump to the top-flight.
Part of what makes football such a visceral experience is the rivalry that surrounds the sport. The size of the United States and Canada makes traditional derby matches difficult to come by, but this is not the case in the Pacific Northwest. Once Portland and Vancouver join Seattle in MLS the North American soccer public will see mass away support for the first time in the continent’s history. Yes, a fair number of fans make the trek from Toronto to Columbus each year, but those numbers will pale in comparison to the away support in 2011.
The Portland-Seattle derby is of particular interest. With the two cities only two and a half hours from each other fans will be eager to renew this great rivalry. In the summer of 2009 the two sides squared off in the U.S. Open Cup and the atmosphere at PGE Park was simply the best I have encountered in North America. It was reminiscent of an English F.A. Cup match-up between a Premier League side and a relegated second division rival. Over 16,000 supporters packed the ground, and Seattle’s 1,000 away fans were a sign of things to come. The Timbers Army was incredibly vocal, orchestrating brilliant displays and waving numerous green and white checkered flags. Derby matches are crucial in developing the intensity of the American game, and Portland’s arrival will signal a new era in this regard.
<div id="attachment_6597" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><div><figure class="external-image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6597" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-6597" src="/files/2009/10/keita-goal.jpg" alt="Keita celebrates against Seattle in the U.S. Open Cup third round." width="500" height="333"></figure></div>Keita celebrates against Seattle in the U.S. Open Cup third round.</div>
Lastly, the current Timbers side isn’t half bad either. In 2009 the club claimed the Commissioner’s Cup as regular season champions, as Portland went on a 24-match unbeaten run and led the USL First Division in scoring. Manager Gavin Wilkinson was named Coach of the Year, and club President Merritt Paulson announced this week that Wilkinson will remain on board for the 2010 season. While it remains to be seen if Wilkinson will be at the helm in 2011, one thing is clear: this is a football club that can make an immediate impact at the next level. PGE Park is an intimate football venue, and with renovations on the way this atmosphere will only improve. Wilkinson is a top manager, and there are a number of players on the current roster that could continue playing at the next level. Goalkeeper Steve Cronin was recently loaned to D.C. United for the remainder of their season, while Mandjou Keita set the USL alight this season by scoring 11 goals.
If Major League Soccer is truly going to become a top domestic league passionate fan bases are needed to support well organized clubs. While this concept appears relatively obvious, it is a much more difficult notion to master. Clubs like Toronto and Seattle have certainly done their part, and Portland will add another level of authenticity in 2011. After all authenticity is the key. Portland’s fan base is already incredibly loyal in the second division, and this zeal will continue to grow once the club is playing in MLS. Derby matches are essential in fostering passion for this sport, and once Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver begin playing each other in MLS a new era will be underway. For anyone interested in seeing the beautiful game thrive in our corner of the world this will be a decisive moment, and personally I can’t wait.

What the Portland Timbers Mean to the Credibility of MLS

What the Portland Timbers Mean to the Credibility of MLS - World Soccer Talk

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MLS '13 – Reviewing the Coaching Hires

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What the Portland Timbers Mean to the Credibility of MLS