Two days after ending the 2011 season with a tie in Toronto, the New England Revolution announced a mutual parting with longtime coach, Steve Nicol. This season showed hints of a developing future amidst plenty of crummy results filled with exasperating breakdowns at both ends of the field. Our club collected a US Open Cup, the only trophy worth talking about in Revs history, and challenged for conference and league titles during Nicol’s time. He coached some great teams and this seasons crummy team, too. The next coach will be only the second in the last ten years.
Was this an opportunity missed? Did New England miss an opportunity to kick Nicol upstairs, keep the guy who had final say on bringing in plenty of talent from college and international markets? Did New England miss an opportunity to keep a coach whose teams were always a threat from set pieces, and this year particularly thin of talent and support for higher-ups? Or did the Revolution and Stevie shake hands and say, “thank you, we will not sign a new contract for the same plan.” I have read and heard arguments that Stevie lost this team and couldn’t muster a game plan or system. That may be true, and I will still miss Steve Nicol. He was the first coach to bring my team some respectability. Steve Nicol is gone and the Revolution continues.
Stevie’s departure is only half of the resolution that this team needs. The Kraft stewardship of our club will forever be remembered as founders, though they have shaded their management with a constrained public discussion of the club’s direction that edges near secretive. We found out the first business day after the season ended, but when did Steve find out he wouldn’t be returning? When will the club share it’s philosophy, before or after the coach is hired? Will we hear about candidates, or simply be presented with the next coach? The only two names floated in the Boston Globe represent more of a continuation of Steve Nicol’s legacy than a break towards a new influence: former Revs players Jay Heaps and Steve Ralston.
The other issue yet to be resolved is Shalrie Joseph’s contract status. Also, as a fan, I’ll be curious to know what jersey he’ll wear when we see him playing again. Whether we can hardly blink before news arrives or we wait until the last possible moment, some news we know is coming. Most signs point to Shalrie Joseph moving out of New England. If Shalrie also departs the 2012 season will be distinctly separate from the success of the early 2000s. It would be surprising if a new coach and the absence of Shalrie Jospeh improved this team.
I’d love to be surprised and I fear instead a churning of coaches and systems and mediocrity. We had a coach who helped assemble a great team. This year his attempts to pull in talent fell short as the squad leaked goals. A coaching change alone will not improve this team. There are likely to be a number of changes between now and success. It would be great if some of the significant changes that bring our club success happen during this offseason. The announcement that Steve Nicol is no longer the coach of the New England Revolution is significant, but not surprising.
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