OSU assistant coach and obvious head coach prospect Linus Rhode represented Canada a total of fifteen times between '94 and '96. He has appeared against France, Guinea Bissau, USA, Korea, Mexico, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Australia. Linus netted three international goals, played against EPL standout Mark Viduka and even has a win against Team USA.
But we got Canada tonight with a 3-0 win. And the Stanley Cup is in the United States! Nyah-nyah you maple heads.
The Gazette Times has reported that Bob De Carolis has no specific timetable for hiring Oregon State’s new women’s soccer coach. Between the lines this means; De Carolis is up to his ears trying to find a new basketball coach. With the recruiting period complete and the spring season coming up, De Carolis may decide to stall until after the fall season. Installing Linus Rhode as head coach would buy De Carolis some time until then.
Bob De Carolis also stated, “Being competitive enough in the Pac-10 to get to the NCAA tournament is always our goal. (The salary) will be competitive within the market.” I believe him. Check out how the OSU women's soccer program spends its cash compared to other schools. (figures are from U.S. Dept of Education for 2006)
Nike-blessed University of Oregon spends more on its women's head coaches than OSU. But we lay it all on the line for our...assistant coaches? Come on Bob, is that figure correct? Is that really where we want to spending our dollars? A few other items I notice:
1) Why do we carry 26 players? You know only eleven are on the field right. Uh, can't we get a graduate assistant to wash the jerseys?
2) How the ?%+{ is the women's team spending $70,000 more than the University of Portland. Their (post) season runs about three weeks longer than ours! Are we flying a charter jet to USC?
3) I don't care about our non-existent revenue. Don't you dare think about charging us to attend a women's game before the team wins a Pac-10 game again. I like free, thank you.
“For the most part the kids have done well academically,” De Carolis said. “From a student-athlete perspective I think it’s been a good experience, so somebody who could continue that process would be good.” This is what i hear, "The women's soccer program loses over $100 grand a year. It makes business sense to cut the program, but I can't because of Title IX."
Seriously, I have faith in De Carolis here. He has a good track record with his coaching hires. But I'm syaing it now. If OSU hires Greg Ryan I will lose it.
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Wouldn't it be cool to have a soccer coach at Oregon State that played at Rhode's level? Players don't automatically make coaches, but it doesn't hurt.
I'd like to see Linus get a chance.
Posted by Jeff Merten
It makes sense to me to install Linus until at least the end of the fall. Its a simple solution. OSU can try Linus out in the position. In case Linus doesn't work out there would be more candidates after the fall season.
It's after the fall season now and Linus should be gone. an absolutely horrible season. Good talent wasted.
Here is my opinion of coach Rhodes. I sent this to the AD of OSU:
Mr. Bob De Carolis,
Let me start by saying that you have done a great job as AD. You've single-handily turned the Oregon State program around and i thank you for that.
As a father of two girls, I have enjoyed over the years taking my daughters to the OSU women's soccer games. We have been regulars at the games for about 6 years. As a former division 1 player (Michagan State) and now a coach for my daughters, I have enjoyed watching and teaching them about soccer by attending the games.
The former head coach (Steve) always played an exciting and competitive style of soccer. I was disappointed when he resigned but very optimist with the promotion of his long time assistant. My hope was that he would continue the tradition and style that was OSU soccer.
Unfortunately this was not the case. The new head coach (Linus Rhodes) plays a style of soccer I have never seen nor want to watch. Allowing teams to cross mid-field by 10 yards before engaging is an absolute failure of a game plan. Of the 9 games i attended, not one of the other teams played this style of soccer. In fact, not in my five years of college soccer did I see a team play this type of soccer. It was almost like he was trying to lose. I know it is a 4-4-2 but to drop everyone back all the time allows for no offense.
In his defense as a new head coach it could be argued that he did have "his" players yet. However, he was the assistant head coach and I am sure he recruited the players on the team now. What really shocks me is the talent level on the team is good as compared to previous years. Although I would argue he is playing or not playing about five players in the wrong positions.
Just looking at the stats alone show a lack of ability to coach in the PAC-10. 19 games played this year with only 16 goals scored. That is a horrible stat and is also 9 goals less than the previous 5 years. This is directly related to the style of soccer his has installed. I thought it was interesting to see how he responded when a player would try to press on offense. He would either call out "drop back" or pull that player out of the game which was devastating to watch from the stands.
My hope is that you, as the athletic director, takes a more aggressive oversight on how he coaches this team and I hope that he does not have a long term contact. To be completely honest with you, at the end of this season I brought my daughters to the game mainly to see the opposition. I found myself cheering for them because they were playing soccer as it was meant to be played. I would rather see OSU lose every game next year but play aggressive and fun soccer than see the boring games I sat through this past year. I am positive that with players would enjoy the game much more in that respect also.
Thank you for your time,
M.S. Anderson
Salem, Or.
HERE IS THE AD RESPONSE:
Mike thanks for your e-mail and thoughts. I can’t say that I am as educated in the intricacies of soccer strategy even though I have had three daughters play at a high level. But it seems like your concerns have some merit. My only thought is that we had a very small roster this year with attrition and injuries so maybe that had something to do with it. I will forward this to coach and maybe he can shed some light. Would hate to lose a fan of the Beavers.
Bob De Carolis
Director of Athletics
Oregon State University
541-737-7373
LATEST UPDATE.
As said by others, Linus needs to go.
Thanks for sharing Mike. Its cool that De Carolis pays personal attention to fans like this. I've sent him emails in the past (about other stuff) and he has personally replied to each one when he could have easily just clicked [delete].
Good job Bob!
Here is the e-mail to the head coach. I hope others are sendinge-mails to the AD and head coach.
Coach Rhode,
This is Mike Anderson, we have spoken a few times over the years about soccer in general and potential high school players. I was optimistic when you were promoted to head coach last year and looking forward to attending as many games as possible. I was able to attend nine games with my daughters. Now that the season is over and I have had a few weeks to reflect on the season I have a few points I would like to make.
Overall i was very disappointed in the outcome of the season. Not so much do to the record but by the style of soccer you have instilled. A basic 442 with a very defensive type game did not work out at all. Not to mention dangerously boring to watch. I hope you were able to noticed that although many games were "one goal games" you really had no chance of winning or tie these games, which is the hallmark of this type of play.
Here is my assessment of the players. I feel they have the talent to complete if put in the right position and with a more forward 442 or even 433.
Goalkeeper: Good job here in having Colleen Boyd(5) start. She is by far your best and most aggressive keeper.
Defenders: Tough to rate because you placed so many in a small space. It was like watching 5 year olds all grouped together. I can tell you Brittany Galindo (22) should not be in the middle. She created way too many fouls at the top of the box for this type of defense. If she is good enough to stay on the field then move her to the wing. She is just too dangerous in the middle and it showed. Ashley Seal (10) is fast and quick. Why is she right defender? She is wasted in the back and should be moved to right mid. She could easily move back to help defend as well as push up to actually have an attack.
Midfielders: Obviously Rachael Axon (4) is your controller. She plays the position very well but has nobody to pass to. MacyJo Harrison (6) is a standard player. She doesn't have the striker skills that she was hyped-up to be but she would be a good mid wing.
Forwards: Najma Homidi (3) is not a striker. She dances way to much to be in that position which partially explains the four goals this year as striker. She would be much better utilized at the forward wing position. She could control the ball and cross into the center for a chance. Brittney Sheffield (28) seems to be the only pure forward. She is quick and aggressive to the ball. I really don't understand why you have her coming off the bench. The game is much more competitive when she is in the game. Jessica Velazquez (8) should not be on the field at all or at most subbing for breaks. She is slow and has poor ball handling skills. on top of that she has no toughness. She gets pushed off the ball far to easily to be starting. I think if you review the game films it is clear why your goal scoring is down over 30% from that last 6 or 7 years. You really need to make changes on your midfielders and forwards.
I would like to finish by saying that I was not impressed at all on your first year as head coach. I found your strategy and style to be a plan for failure. I think you understand that players do not like to play this type of soccer and when you are losing changes have to be made and starting players need to be re-evaluated. You recruited most these girls as assistant head coach and the failure of this season falls squarely on you. I might be the only one with the guts to say this to you and the AD directly but be assured that a number of us who attend the games regularly feel this way .
Sincerely,
M. S. Anderson
P.S. At this point I am very concerned on the new recruits that will be announced soon.
I agree with Mike that they are "dangerously boring to watch". Coach Rhode needs to go. What makes the situation even worse is that Coach Rhode is a former player. He must know how horrible it is to play such a boring style of soccer and at the sametime not even have his players in the right position or on the field. You know the girls he is coaching have to be thinking the same thing. I feel bad for them. JUST RESIGN COACH RHODE!!!
Thanks to Mike and Logan for commenting. I agree with some of your points regarding the OSU women but I'm not ready to call for Rhode to resign yet.
Over on the men's side however...
Look for a new post about both coaches here soon.
And what team do you guys coach for?? Oh right... bleacher coaches! Do everyone a favor and just shut up.....please! Kbye!
Nukks, as a blogger I am taking your comment as a sign of attention from a wide range of views. For that I am thankful.
But I am going to have to contest your request that the "bleacher coaches" shut up. All comments are welcomed on this blog so long as they contain some level of thought and value to the soccer community. Our discussions help us learn more about our Beavers and stoke the fire of interest around the team.
Nukks I think your message is driven by your support of the OSU team and that is a great thing. Thank you for reading and for commenting here.
To Mr. Anderson and Logan: and what do you have to say now??? All of the sudden when womens soccer took off you lost your tongue? Shame on you.
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