With J Hutcherson -- Hey look, it's another MLS coaching vacancy. This time, it was Tom Soehn opting himself out of the running for a new contract with DC United. That might end up being a unique exit, but DC ends up in a situation familiar to too many clubs in Major League Soccer. A quick turnaround with the identity of the club at stake.
Here's how that works. Pre-apology and the fine that went with it, DC's president Kevin Payne put words to what a lot of people consider the League's biggest problem. Lack of entertainment. In real terms, that comes down to clubs adopting conservative approaches to tactics and the squad selections that go with them. In MLS, that's almost always down to the coach.
With MLS, the coach normally is the primary recruiter, scout, and tactician. There aren't a lot of situations where the product on the field is far removed from the coach's vision. That normally carries with it a disconnect between a coach trying to get results and a team trying to market itself and its sport against other options.
Most of us remember the story of Sigi Schmid getting shown the door in LA for putting out a boring product. Regardless of whether or not that criticism was accurate, it's the only considerable push against the idea that results solve all problems. Schmid's Galaxy had the best record in the League at the time. They would end up needing several seasons to get back to the point where results versus entertainment was even an issue.
For some, that brought the entertainment argument to a quick end. Style is irrelevant with a losing team. Well, maybe. The Payne criticism was that too many clubs playing negative soccer makes it hard to watch this League. That pushes against the idea that results are the primary point.
Sure, some clubs and their coaches would have to be dragged along screaming to really get a very basic concept. Play an open style of soccer and more people will be interested in watching your team. That doesn't require an exhibition atmosphere where shots rain in from all angles. It does need a different approach to a number of things taken for granted in MLS.
It's not tactical naivete that has defenders stepping into every passing lane, opting for the hard tackle, and basically turning defending into being a nuisance. It's an understanding gained from watching how this League works. Sacrificing skill for gamesmanship, justified by making or coming close to the playoffs.
For most MLS teams, it's still one or two creative midfielders feeding the forwards and everybody else clogging lanes and tight marking in the box. Add in sub-par officiating, and it's a situation where not following along is simply too much of a risk.
I doubt seriously any coach enters MLS looking to play boring soccer. They want to get their ideas across, turning a team into a season-long display of how they see the game. That hits up against the realities of MLS rosters, the drag o the summer schedule, and the standard operating idea that creativity needs to match up with immediate results.
The result is a league of look-a-like teams. The exceptions aren't enough to convince the others that there's a better way forward. That's why you see the same coaching moving from club to club with the same system. It's an easy solution.
MLS is in a unique position as this season winds down. Enough clubs are already looking or considering looking for coaches to to bring an influx of new ideas into the League. It's an opportunity for things to systematically change. Instead, it's likely going to be another recycle effort.
Comments, questions, solutions to problems that have yet to present themselves. Please, tell me all about it.
