CVI's own Brian Hibbard was at the Chalk Talk and has this to say (thanks Brian!)
He started by looking at what players the opposing team was fielding. He then put his players in position to cover those players. He had Ugo and Erpen in the middle of field covering Angel. Angel was Ugo's primary assignment leaving Erpen to clean up. He had Kyle in the defensive mid to cover Mathis and help out with Angel if needed. That was his reasoning for those players and positions. He didn't say much about Gargan or Prideux except that they free to help out in the middle if thats where the play is.
He moved up to midfield placing Cooke, Jovan and Clark across the midfield. He mentioned that he likes how Clark has been playing and has really been impressed with him. He also brought up the fact that Colin is young and still needs finish better but that comes with experience. He talked about Cooke and how Cooke likes to play. "He isn't the fastest person on field and he isn't equipped to run to the ball when played ahead of him. Cooke is more effective when he receives the ball around the midfield and can carry the ball and cross it rather than running it down."
He moved on to the forwards and had Jacob up top. He was debating on whether he would start Niko or Gomez next to Jacob because he was uncertain on Gomez's fitness from coming back from Copa. He broke the field up into 3 lengthwise sections and talked player movements in those sections and more unimpressive strategy talk.
After the strategy talk, he then started what seemed to be a plea for his job. He repeated his passion for winning and that he his honest and believes in the team and isn't giving up. He gives straight answers and believes in straight talk. He also said he doesn't read BigSoccer because nobody puts a picture of themselves up and he doesn't believe in hiding behind a screen name. He prefers face to face interaction.
He said that he is willing to take risks. He brought up the '05 playoff game when he had 10 men on and we were down a goal. He took off a defense player and put in a forward and we ended up winning the game. He said its all about strategy and that he is willing to do what it takes to win. (Something to that effect)
After his plea he opened it up to questions. Someone asked about how Cummings fits into his game plan. He said that he liked Cummings and believes he will be a star. (If he really believes this, why not let him play?)
Someone asked about the lack of goals and how the team is practicing to overcome this. He said it seems to be a league wide problem. You cannot create the same atmosphere of fans screaming, guys running at you, players jumping in front of you and the mental atmosphere of trying to score goals in a game situation.
Other questions were asked and he gave the typical coaching answers. It was nothing of great consequence. There was one about a DP. Jeff jumped in and confirmed the details about Borgetti.
Someone asked about the 28th roster spot with the departure of Wingert. He wasn't exactly clear on why Wingert left, but it did sound like Wingert wanted money and Clavijo wasn't going to give him. It seems like it was a mutual decision to leave. Jeff then speculated on they are working on bringing someone in. (Speculation is Osornio)
He talked about Niko at one point and brought up the fact that last year he had 8 goals and a pretty good year. He asked if "Has Niko suddenly forgot how to play?" He said no, he's having a bad run right now and taking him out would hurt him more than help him.
I asked him why play people out of their natural position when he has capable players to play in those positions. My question was aimed at why he plays Jovan in the midfield when he is natural forward. I brought up the fact that Jovan makes runs and takes shots better (like a forward) than his possession and ball distribution (like a midfielder). He basically gave me the answer of players are hurt and he doesn't have the squad that he wants. (This doesn't explain why he won't play Wasson or Cancela. I think he believes they may not be able to handle Angel, Mathis or Reyna because of their youth.)
The most interesting question came toward the end. Someone asked him if everyone was healthy who would he bench and what squad would he field. He never really answered that question and danced around it.
When he was walking out and I ask him what do you do to inspire the players in these down times. He said that you ask them not to give up. Show them stats that they are coming close and you try to build up confidence in them. He said that even though we are in a down time, he said what really matters is how you play at the end of the season. He mentioned if you look at all of 1st and 2nd place teams during the year from last season, all of them were out of playoffs in the first round. It was the teams that played well at the end of the season that succeeded. He said, "it's not a sprint but a marathon." (I wanted to respond with the fact that we won't make the playoffs if the season ended today so how exactly would we win this marathon. But, he was whisked away to do the pre game interview)
Jeff Plush stayed after and answered questions. Someone asked him how important the supporters groups are. He said they are vital to the success of the club.
I asked him if they are going to change to the Arsenal. He said no. He did confirm that they thought about it, but they changed their mind and ultimately did not change it. He said that partnership will bring some good things to the club.
I asked him point blank why Jovan is still on the field. I said he (Jovan) is called the human cone and the Oxygen thief. Jeff laughed under his breath at this. I told him if you look at his balls won vs. balls lost and his passing it is horrific. I said, most of the fans see this, why does Fernando play him? His response was that he can't answer for Fernando, but what he is probably thinking is that Jovan is a veteran and he knows that when he puts his name down on the roster, FC knows what he will get out Jovan. I told him to pay attention to Jovan and how bad he plays and maybe he will see it to. (Of course Jovan comes out and has a decent game)
**My opinion of this whole situation**
Going into the chalk talk, I was of the opinion that Fernando needs to go. I think that he making decisions to keep non productive players on the field while young, up and coming talents are reserved to sit and play reserve matches. I question his substitution decisions when he pulls off productive guys and puts in non productive players. I don't think he identifies when the opposing team has a bunch of slow defensemen, he should be putting speed on the field to run laps around them rather than slow "target" forwards.
I went to the chalk talk to see if my opinion was valid. Does he see that his players aren't producing? Is he willing to change something to make it happen? Has he given up? What is his game plan? How does he approach opposing teams?
I got those answers and then some. I did see that he does approach the game reacting to the players on the opposing team. He is a very nice and straight forward person. He has a lot of passion for this team and the game. He wants to win just as bad as we do.
However, he identifies that his players aren't producing. But rather than bringing in players who can produce, he sticks with the non producing players. This is the nice guy in him. He is giving them chance after chance. He is not willing to make the necessary changes.
This is why I am still in the fire Clavijo camp. He is not willing to take off non productive players and give his youth a chance. If he does give them a chance, he only gives them one game to produce. That is hard for any player coming off of the bench.
He approaches games defensively rather than offensively. The majority of his strategy was about how we are going to deal with Angel and Mathis and the attack of the Red Bulls. It wasn't about how we are going to create scoring opportunities or offense.
He is a reactive person rather than a proactive person. You need to be proactive in order to succeed in this game.
I would like the next coach to be a forward thinker rather than a defensive one. Clavijo would be a good defensemen coach & he is good at seeing young talent. He is terrible at believing in old talent and thinking that they will improve. Once you are over the hill or have fallen down from your peak. It is next to impossible to get back up it and you have to be someone really special to make it happen (Mario Lemieux?). Simple logic. He doesn't seem to understand it though.
(Editor's note - Mario didn't lose it - his back lost it!!)
Posted by mark at July 10, 2007 03:59 PM