Monday, November 5, 2007

Frank is gone

Frank Yallop has resigned from the Galaxy. He informed the players after the Hollywood United charity match in a meeting.

When the decision happened is another matter.

I talked to Frank on Friday morning, and he was still chatting about his plans for the team. Later that day, however, the Galaxy training session for Saturday was cancelled.

Some reporters with sources up north found out early Sunday that Frank had agreed to terms with San Jose. The story began leaking out from there, but many reporters, including me, only found out when David Beckham was asked in the mixed zone by one about the change. By the way, the press had to wait for Beckham for about as long as it took the entire match to be played.

Frank didn't appear for the media last night.

Speculation is high that the Galaxy allowed Frank to talk with San Jose about the coaching job because he wasn't in their plans. However, it's possible that it was a preemptive move by Frank - tired of the pressure in Los Angeles and perhaps aware that a firing could happen to him at any time with the Galaxy. With San Jose offering a comfortable three year contract, Frank could have decided to return to his old stomping grounds and forget his Galaxy days as a bad experience.

Beckham seemed genuine in his disappointment over the move, and that intersects with the one criticism he ever offered of his Real Madrid tenure, when he said it was difficult to deal with all the coaching changes the organization went through.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

How about Beckham as player/coach?

Or Beckham and Donovan as co-player/coaches?

Or Klinsmann (as just a coach)?

Or Queiroz?

Or ... ?

Joel Aceves said...

They should hire Greg Ryan.

Anonymous said...

This makes me sick. If there's anyone who should have resigned, it's Alexi Lalas. In fact, didn't Lalas say earlier in the year that if the Galaxy don't make the playoffs, he'd fire himself?

A man of his word. Yeah.

Anonymous said...

klinsmann would only come if he as coach/general manager...

Anonymous said...

I agree. From over here in Houston, I only hoped we could pick Alexi's pocket more than we did. Jaqua has been a great addition for us, and the only thing we had to give up was occasional player Kelly Gray? Lalas seems like one of those guys who loves to play a game, but his love is trumped by everyone else, who loves to play against him because they know an easy time is coming. He is Death, the Destroyer of Franchises.

Mister Zero said...

The Galaxy better start developing a plan of attack pretty fast. Lalas talks about players who want to play in this new environment...what about a coach who wants to work in that environment? Move Lalas to ticket sales director and bring in Klinsi.

Anonymous said...

It's an unfortunate situation. With Frank leaving and presumably going to San Jose to coach, it just throws in another crappy situation for the Galaxy since they have the friendlies coming up. I think he will succeed in San Jose not having to deal with the crap he had here (Beckham circus, injuries, poor schedule, no bench, and of course lets not forget LALAS) I wish him well. Now lets move onto the bigger picture, how do we get another coach to want to be here in LA and work with Lalas! I don't want to see another player turn into a coach right now, we need an established coach to come in and make this work!

Anonymous said...

The only way I'd keep Lalas is in a PR role. Keep him COMPLETELY away from any decision making.

EdTheRed said...

Well, Arena is available...

Anonymous said...

I want Jorge Salcedo from UCLA, but there's no way AEG would be that intelligent....

just another one of you said...

Yeah so what are the chances that Arenas is hired now that he's been given the boot? This seems like the typical dumbass move Lalas would go for.

JT Soccer said...

Looks like you'll get Bruce Arena there now that he's been let go by NYRB.

Anonymous said...

Why all the Lalas hate? Just asking.

Nathan Henderson-James said...

M,

Are you serious? Did you not watch the Galaxy's season? Did you not see all the inexplicable personnel moves? Did you not see the ridiculous schedule the Galaxy had to play? Did you not see what Lalas did in SJ and NYC?

I say take him behind the woodshed and chop his balls off.