Column: John Thorrington can become the best general manager in the MLS next season
It was a year full of resiliency and disappointment for LAFC as they closed out the 2021 MLS regular season under the .500 win percentage mark and a few spots below the playoff qualification line, finishing as low as ninth place with 45 points, and if that wasn’t enough to consider how the year went, the Black and Gold also placed lower than their rivals, the Carson Galaxy.
There could be plenty of things to point at for the cause of this year’s failure, such as injuries, lack of depth rotation and miscommunication between the players and the personnel, but the truth is, in order for LAFC to become true champions and a successful club for many years to come, the club needs to focus on the most important off-field aspect of the business: The Off-Season.
Any opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer. - Jerry Reynoso
Despite a losing record, there is not too much for LAFC to clean up. Other than a new manager, the things that do need cleaning are nothing new; solving the goalkeeper situation, a third designated player, a defensive veteran presence, depth rotation, and a few possible adjustments to fortify the endurance of the club going into the season.
It does seem like a lot, and that’s why I feel like it is the most important off-season in the club’s history. A moment so grand, it can make one man the most important person in LAFC’s history, and that man is John Thorrington.
Bob Bradley’s (left) sacking was the first move of the off-season John Thorrington (right) , now he has a big task in looking for a successor. Photo Credit: Los Angeles Times
JT and the factory
When LAFC hired John Thorrington as the club’s general manager and president of soccer operations back in 2015, he wasted no time to express what his plans were for the club, not only for their upcoming inaugural season, but for many years to come. In an interview with MLSSoccer.com’s Sam Stejskal in 2016, he talked about his role as a GM and what he plans to bring to the table, stating that he is looking for a “solid foundation”, and pointed towards the club’s developmental academy and a possible USL franchise. Evidently, that promise has been fulfilled as the Black and Gold now have a partnership with USL Championship-side, the Las Vegas Lights, a few academy products in the senior team, and one of the best academies in the MLS NEXT.
It’s not a solid foundation just yet, but a great place to have a base, especially when you had been planning something like this years before the club had its first game and its first coach was announced.
But now that LAFC are entering their fifth regular season, how different of an approach will Thorrington take when it comes to refurbishing this roster?
Here’s another quote from that 2016 interview with Sam Stejskal that should answer that question:
“Thorrington says they’ve begun the process of searching for a head coach and players. They have received plenty of interest in the head coaching position in particular, but aren’t in any rush to appoint someone, content instead to wait and ensure they make the right hire.”
About seven years later, I would not be surprised if Thorrington is going into this off-season with the same mindset for this coaching vacancy, and as a fan at that moment, I really appreciate JT’s transparency, but the truth is, in today’s game, he isn’t obligated to be as open as he was during the club’s expansion process, and I think it's starting to affect today’s fans a little bit because it’s only the second time the club has ever considered a potential revamp within its roster.
Joined by Max Bretos and Vince La Rosa of 110 Football, John Thorrington took some time to speak about the current state of the club as the off-season begins, an interview that led to many reactions within the LAFC Community. Photo Credit via 110 Football
Tweaks, Transparency, and the famous interview
It’s been about two weeks since the infamous interview with Thorrington on the Max and Vince Podcast, which is plenty of time for people to overreact, argue, call for firings, and the whole nine yards of managerial sacking culture, but it has also been enough time to carefully re-listen to the interview and disect everything JT discussed with MVP. In case you didn’t take that time, no worries, I got you covered. From John Thorrington’s new favorite word, “tweaks”, to his reassurance of transparency, here is a breakdown on the good and the bad of this interview:
Transparency
Prior to the interview, 110 Football had presented a Q&A opportunity on twitter, which allowed fans to insert questions that they had for Thorrington for his special appearance on the MVP Podcast. Fans sent in lots of questions, but we all wanted answers to a few of them: Who will be LAFC’s next coach? Will Vela return next season? Who will be the third designated player? Unfortunately, Thorrington did not have an answer to these questions, so when he was asked by Vince La Rosa who exactly will the team sign as the coach for the Black and Gold next season, Thorrington responded with what many thought was the worst possible response: a great coach.
Coaching Search
It’s a tough response to disect, especially from a fan’s perspective, you would wish you could know what’s going down in the offices of the Performance Center and what exactly is on the drawing boards. You just want a little more information, a little more transparency. I understand everyone's frustration, but the truth is, from a managerial aspect, that was a fantastic response, especially everything he said following that phrase.
I believe many people overlooked this interview and expected way too much from Thorrington, and instead of taking a careful listen, they heard his first responses and already had their minds made up about it. It’s like listening to a song for the first time and saying you don’t like it after 15 seconds of listening. You gotta finish the book before giving it a review.
Thorrington goes onto explain the qualities and the characteristics of the “great coach” LAFC is looking for and the coaching search process that JT and the board are going through, saying that the playing style will not change and they are considering similar criteria within the same process they went through to acquire Bob Bradley. A very complex way of thinking, but you can obviously tell the effort and patience the former USMNT player is putting into this situation, as he is trying his best to make the best hire.
“This is a testament, not to [me]. This is our Supporters, this is our Owners, this is our Players... it’s just incredible what this club has achieved in four years...”
John Thorrington overlooks an LAFC match from the top of the Founders Club in Banc of California Stadium. Photo Credit: LAFC
JT and his tweaks
Despite using the word “tweaks”, which evidently resulted in an overreaction from some folks online, John Thorrington gave the most thorough responses to the MVPs and did most of the talking in his short appearance. With that, I do agree that we have a solid foundation with this roster and that a few adjustments can turn this ship around. LAFC have the best financial situation, the best problems that need minimal solving, and out of all the managers in the league, if there were to be someone in the exact position that JT is in right now, I don’t think there is anyone better to be in this position than Thorrington himself. With that being said, I do believe he can become the best general manager in the league, and if all works according to plan, he will have the opportunity to prove it.
“...the building blocks are here. This is not an overhaul, this is just a tweaking of what we already have.”
Reflection
First things first, I would like to address those who weren’t content with this interview. I do believe Max and Vince asked all the right questions and tried to get more out of Thorrington as best as they could, and that it was nothing short of a great interview. But I also understand why a few fans are angry at these responses, and they have every right to be because these are the same fans that put countless hours and days of passionate work in order to produce the greatest display of active support the league has ever seen.
I would like to also apologize because at the dawn of this frustration, I considered many ungrateful and took my frustrations out on some fans because I felt like I had a better understanding of JT’s position and the club’s current state. Regardless, it was not right of me to do so and I apologize for any comments that I’ve made towards anyone. At the end of the day, I am a fan of this club and will forever be one. Nothing less, nothing more.
This off-season is surely one all fans should keen their eyes on, and I have complete trust in John Thorrington to make the best moves possible for both the club and the supporters.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
~ JR4