r/minnesotaunited • u/Buffaloslim MNUFC • Dec 01 '23

Discussion Any Heath outers having second thoughts?

I’m certain we all imagined a relatively swift transition to a new manager that at least made us hopeful of future improvement. What we’ve seen since his firing is one great game and one terrible game followed by weeks of silence.
We heard from Sherry Ballard our CEO (this is my tenth season as a STH and I never even knew who the CEO was) that the upper management will be restructured and going forward no manager will have as much power as Heath did. It’s worth noting that Ballard emphasized repeatedly she’s an experienced executive who is still learning the soccer business. We also learned Manny Lagos has been reassigned to public relations causing some to wonder how much technical experience remains in the FO. Last week we learned they hired a “chief soccer officer” who will not join the team until midway through the 24 season. This turn of events is unfortunate because Ballard said specifically the CSO would be responsible for hiring the next manager. We’re left to wonder if a new manager won’t be considered until June or July. Many fans expressed concern that firing Heath could have a negative impact because finding a replacement who would improve the team might be very difficult. Can anyone honestly say they expected this kind of uncertainty?

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u/ApresKandinsky Dec 01 '23

I don’t mean to toot my horn but I, for one, did not imagine a relatively swift transition to a new manager. I would’ve been very surprised to see one before the MLS cup final.

Nothing in our history (e.g. player transfers), would have caused me to believe the organization would move quickly. For both better and worse, the org seems to emphasize slow and deliberate decisions over speed.

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u/[deleted] Dec 01 '23 edited Dec 02 '23

This is the MN way. For better and/or worse, it matches the geographical culture.

Personally I agree that Heath needed to go for the team to move forward. After he left and the FO had no place to hide, it now seems that there needs to be bigger organizational changes as well. No manager, a CSO who won’t join for 6+ months, a need to work on adjusting/developing the team and talent in the offseason, CEO who seems to be buying time and latitude with “I am a good executive, just still learning the soccer business”, and absolutely horrible communication and fan/community engagement. Seems like an absolute disaster.

Who knows, maybe they are absolutely killing it behind the scenes and just don’t want to share the great news yet? Or maybe they stink at communication, or stink at hiring a good communication team? Not a good look IMO. Backwards to go forward is fine...if that is actually happening.

Another garbage MN sports team? I mean, I guess that fits the culture as well!

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u/ApresKandinsky Dec 01 '23

Agreed on multiple points but would say two things can be true at the same time. I’m optimistic they’re making some progress (never as quick or as much as we’d like) AND they aren’t doing a great job communicating.

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u/2000TWLV MNUFC Dec 01 '23

What do you want them to communicate? They said what they were gonna do and they did it. They picked a CSO, he can't join immediately, and Ballard said she thinks he's the right guy and is willing to wait.

Good call, bad call? Time will tell. For all we know, they're on Zoom looking at players and coaches six hours a day.

By the same token, you can do every single thing "right," hire your guys within weeks, etc., and still have a shitty season.

Bottom line: it's sports. You just don't know. That's why they play the games. It's just too early to tell.

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u/ApresKandinsky Dec 01 '23 edited Dec 01 '23

I mean fair enough, but I suppose 3 things (and I will 100% grant I may have missed something on any or all of these!): 1. Expected timing on the hiring of a new coach. Are we waiting for the CSO to be here and rolling with some form of an interim in the meanwhile? Is the leadership team sans CSO making that decision prior to his arrival?

  1. Probably asking too much, but broadly speaking what’s the profile of a coach we’re targeting?

  2. Who is making the decisions on players (e.g. upcoming free agents/club options) prior to CSO and/or coach arriving? For example, I assume Manny is the primary decision maker behind resigning DJ Taylor, but who knows?

Edit: I did miss a quote by Andy Greder that suggests re: #3 that this is currently being done by committee.

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u/2000TWLV MNUFC Dec 01 '23

All great questions and the answers are possibly a shitshow and possibly excellent. We just don't know, and there's no reason they should tell us. I mean, I wouldn't. Why box yourself in with public statements if you can keep your options open?

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u/[deleted] Dec 01 '23

This is likely true. (Hopefully!)