I'll stay as long as I'm asked to stay and I'll move on if I'm asked to move on.
-Chris Cummins
There has been much speculation of late about whether Chris Cumins will be back for a second season as Toronto's head coach. Serving as an interim since John Carver left suddenly 200 years ago (or so it seems) Cummins has been widely criticised for his tactical handling of the team following several games.
Indeed, it's likely fair to say that he has been out-coached at times, particularly during the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round tie with Puerto Rico.
There has also been some speculation that Cummins may not want to stay for personal reasons. I'll let others get into the details of that, but there is some suggestion that his family would be better off with him back in the UK. If that's the case, then fair enough.
However, today's statement that he'll "stay as long as he's asked to stay" would seem to put that to bed.
The question, then, is should he be asked to stay? Although I see his "areas for growth" as much as the next guy, I've yet to be convinced that the team would be better off bringing in another coach. Many people seem to look at a coaching change as a magic bullet that will fix all the club's problems. I see it more as a Band-Aid to distract from shortcomings in the makeup of the club. I'd rather see Cummins given the opportunity to grow into his role, then to make another coaching change for the sake of it.
Stability is a good thing, you know.
So long as Cummins really does want to be here, and so long as there isn't something behind the scenes that we aren't aware of that is stopping the team from performing, then let him have a full season - from training camp to final whistle -- to truly mould the team into his own.
Frankly, I don't see many better alternatives (that aren’t pipedreams involving the raiding of other organization’s coaching staffs) out there anyway.
4 comments:
as much as i agree with your point that stability is good, i beleive that a coach that is able to fully maximise are imposing midfield properly would be a much better fit. carver seems to skip the midfield all together and rely on barret to score (not a good idea). i like giving people chances but maybe a tactical caoch would make more sense.
I would say I'm still on the fence about Cummins. There have been a lot of good points and bad points with his tenure so far but those seem to coincide with whether or not we dropped points the previous week.
But credit where credit is due, it did take some balls to switch to a 3-5-2 against RSL. With all the troubles we've had at the back and with the season on the line, if that decision backfired, I'm sure we would be lining up candidates for his replacement right now instead of debating whether or not he should stay.
Even with the holes in the squad TFC should be higher up in the table.
Cummins comments post San Jose, where he had said that the team wasn't listening to him when he was yelling them to not sit back, sealed the deal for me. The work Cummins can do with younger players is a true asset however if the other players are not listening to him it is time to bring someone in who can lead.
My first option would be Steve Nichol. There were rumblings earlier this season that he may leave.
Second would be John Luminiatis. Knows how to coach and win on a budget.
Third would be Preki. Has done some good things with Chivas.
Pipedream hire would be Stephen Hart.
I don't know how you can find a quality MLS coach without prying from another club. Quality coaches, like players, aren't just lying around. If they are it is usually for a reason.
I think Preki should be the first and most realistic option.
Nicol is unlikely to leave a safe job in NE to work under Mo Johnston. Luminiatis seems like a take no prisioners type that wouldn't sit well with some of the coddled talent on this team...
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