I knew you'd know.Short answer is 29 points in 16 games is equal to 2019, 2 points back of 2018, and ahead of everyone else. I'm planning a half-season post after Friday that goes into some of the underlying data.
Just got this alert from The Athletic. This is bizarre:
if he does leave, let it be at the end of his contract. not some mid-season bs
he has had success in the womens game so its not too random.Just got this alert from The Athletic. This is bizarre:
Need to make room for Pep somehow. Win, win.A big question is whether he'd want this job. A few years back, he gave up the top spot with Man City's women to take a job as an assistant for us. That's leaving a head job in a top league for an assistant position in a far lesser league just to switch from the women's game to the men's.
So, he's taken backward steps and paid his dues all over again to establish his resume in men's soccer. Does he want to return to the women's game after all that? I suppose the huge growth in the women's game could tempt him, and we don't know if maybe there is something about the men's game he's discovered he doesn't like. Still, it would be a surprise.
You know, that just might be it.Need to make room for Pep somehow. Win, win.
I can see a scenario where he left women's football because he thought it was a backwater and wanted to get into the higher profile and pay of the men's game, and now, he realizes he left a good thing.
Since Cushing left the Man City women in 2020, women's football has grown quite rapidly, probably a lot faster than he ever expected. It's no longer a backwater. It's established and growing and getting tons of attention. The coaches are getting paid. The coach at Chelsea when he was at Man City is now making well into the 7 figures coaching the USA.
If I had to guess, I'd say he wants to see it through with us. My ifs are very big ifs, and he's only about a third of the way through the project here. Maybe verging on halfway through.So we need to take a step back here just a bit -- I read an article in the Athletic this morning, it's not even known if Cushing is interested. Sounds like Arsenal wants him, but there's no confirmation Cushing is even interested. Hopefully he's asked about it at his press conference this week.
If I had to guess, I'd say he wants to see it through with us. My ifs are very big ifs, and he's only about a third of the way through the project here. Maybe verging on halfway through.
Arsenal could certainly throw a bag of money on his agent's desk, maybe a big one, and it might be tough to turn down for a man in his position. He has his family to think of. But if it's a par offer, or something close to it, I don't see him leaving a job half-done.
I've thought of that. He seems to love New York, and it's not like CFG dispatched him to Yokohama. It's not that tough to get home for visits. But he and his family might miss England. And I know, were I coaching in Europe at his age while my parents were still alive, I'd be anxious to be closer at hand for them.He's also been away from home for the last four years, and maybe he wants to go back home with his family. I can't imagine this job is easy when he's across the pond.
I've thought of that. He seems to love New York, and it's not like CFG dispatched him to Yokohama. It's not that tough to get home for visits. But he and his family might miss England. And I know, were I coaching in Europe at his age while my parents were still alive, I'd be anxious to be closer at hand for them.
But my gut tells me he's in for the long haul. He's suffered the slings and arrows too much to walk away without silverware. And I'm firmly convinced we have a five-year plan to take us through 2027 and 2028. He's one of the architects of that plan. He's not going to want to hand it to someone else after he's done all the spade work.