Section B · Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, September 23, 1998
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Nothing magical about Wizards' losing season
Commentary
The Wizards ended any hope of salvaging their season Saturday night. Get ready for some changes.
With a 1-0 loss to the Dallas Burn that typified the bad luck (punctuated by a penalty kick by preki that Dallas saved) and lack of organization that has been prevalent this season, the team guaranteed a fifth-place finish out of the six teams in the Western Conference.
The luck you can't change. The organization you can, and that is why head coach Ron Newman likely will resign shortly following the end of the season.
Newman is funny and likable. A wonderful evaluator of talent and a one-man public relations machine. He has never been accused of being an overbearing coach on the technical side of the game.
He expects players to have their skills and a comprehension of the game by the time they get to him as a professional. He tells them where to play and expects them to do the rest.
With more than 700 victories, at least 200 more than any other coach in U.S. professional soccer history, one would think it hard to argue with him.
Trouble is, it just wasn't working any more.
In the past two seasons, the Wizards won on sheer force of attacking talent rather than by any
coherent strategy. As long as Preki and his teammates could keep scoring goals from individual explosions of skill rather than organized buildup, the Wizards could beat most teams in MLS most of the time.
By Year Three, though, this "strategy" seemed to be wearing thin. Preki often was too tired.
thanks to his spectacular but grueling off-season with the U.S. National Team and his disappointing stint with the United States team during the World Cup. Midfielder Mark Chung, a member of the
MLS "Best Eleven" last year, scored a paltry two goals this season and looked bad doing it.
Sam Pierron
Trigger-shy forward Digital Takawai moved in and out of the lineup. His most frequent replacement, Paul Wright, couldn't use his speed well enough to make a real impact.
Forward Paul Rideout and leading goal scorer Mo Johnston both were forced to play more defensive roles because of injuries, limiting their use and effectiveness in the
attack. When either were playing up front, the Wizards were much more effective in creating and converting chances.
While the Wizards' defensive problems from the previous two years seemed to be solved at times, there were alarming questions that rang out the whole year.
Team defensive player of the year was surely rookie right fullback Scott Vermillion from Olathe. From the moment he stepped onto the field, Vermillon's cultured long passes, exquisite crosses, deft touches and timely overlapping runs added to the Wizards' drives to the goal.
Unfortunately, the rest of the backline was inconsistent and the Wizards head into the off-season with a likely coaching change.
Who will stay, who will leave and who will be signed?
All of these questions can be best answered by the answer to another question: Who will be the next coach?
The rumor mill will say former U.S. coach Bob Gansler or current UCLA coach Sigi Schmid. Both are good candidates, but only time will tell if these rumors are accurate.
For questions or comments,
w write spierron@ukans.edu.
Pierron is an Olathe senior in political science.
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