MLS Coach Watch

It's that time of the year again in the MLS. Everyone is talking about the playoffs, who's going to be coach of the year, who's going to be MVP, et al. What's missing is the speculation over what coaches and players are likely to be given their walking papers before the 2007 season begins. Here on the ones on my list. What coaches do you think are close to getting the boot?

John Ellinger Overall : 13-33-10 2006 : 8-11-5 2005 : 5-22-5

The first year of Real Salt Lake's existence and the first for Ellinger as a head coach was a disaster. Not only did the team only win 5 of 32 games, not only did they lose 5-1 to their expansion rivals Chivas USA, but they didn't get a single win in their last 12 games of the season. Only a fluke goal against San Jose allowed them to tie their 2^nd to last match of the year and avoid losing 12 in a row to complete the season. His 2^nd season in charge didn't start any better with RSL going 0-5-1 in it's first 6 despite having the 5^th highest payroll in the league. And just when it looked like he may have turned things around with 4 league wins in a row, they incurred their worst defeat in team history as NY Red Bulls beat them 6-0. His team still has a chance to make the playoffs. Surely anything short of that will result in Ellinger losing his job.

Dave Sarachan Overall : 46-41-28 2006 : 8-8-7 2005 : 15-13-4 2004 : 8-13-9 2003 : 15-7-8

Dave had a pretty good start to his career in the MLS. The set backs he faced in 04, like losing Bocenegra and Beasley, didn't stop people from question how much 03 was just leftovers from Bradley's time in charge. The Fire had bland year last year. They did show some glimmers of hope that Sarachan was building something special for 2006. But even when accounting for the long road trip they took to start the year, the 2006 Fire have again been an average team. I'm not sure with the new stadium's lack of sell outs in it's first year Guppy can afford to bring back Strachan for what would seem to be another so-so year.

Steve Nicol Overall : 54-46-27 2006 : 7-7-10 2005 : 17-7-8 2004 : 8-13-9 2003 : 12-9-9 2002 : 10-10-1

The Revolution's management didn't have confidence in Fernando Clavijo as New England's head coach. But as management seems to do, they do nothing in the off-season only to act early in the next. Making it difficult for the new coach to mold the team as they'd like until the next summer. Nicol did a good job of salvaging New England's season going 10-10-1 and getting them to the MLS Cup Final. He did the same last year, winning the eastern conference to boot. So it may seem odd to be talking about Nicol loosing his job. But he's been there for 5 years now. And at the very time he looked like he had built a championship team, they go 7 weeks without a win and are in 3^rd place in the East. Even though Nicol has done a good job, the front office very well may decide he's taken the team as far as he can.

Colin Clarke Overall : 37-35-19 2006 : 12-8-3 2005 : 13-10-9 2004 : 10-14-6 2003 : 2-3-1

I don't think it will happen but we've seen more confusing moves in the league before. Despite a recent losing streak, FC Dallas (FCD) is still in first place in the West. They've been progressing each year they've been in charge. He took one of the single worst teams EVER in the MLS and within just over a season turned them into a team capable of challenging for the MLS Cup. Yet some folks seem to think there's a chance FCD will let him go if he doesn't win the MLS Cup this year.