Head Coach Interview

Head Coach Interview

Topic Author: Bret Higgins

Posted: 10:47 AM Feb 9, 2009

Replies Posted: 9 comments

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Bill Elliott, head coach of the Panama City Pirates is not your average coach. Last season he joined a PDL start up team, didn't get some of his players until the first day of the season and lead them to a winning season with an eight game unbeaten run, that's half the season.

Anyone who watched the team last year would call that an unqualified success. The team grew, players developed and Panama City was made more aware of the world's most popular sport.

Whilst the Pirates finished fifth in the PDL last year it disguises the fact that they had the third best defence, conceding a nine goals fewer than both the Cary Railhawks and Atlanta Silverbacks, who finished third and fourth respectively.

But that's enough about last season, what does Bill Elliot want to see in 2009? I asked a few questions...

The Englishman: What are looking forward to this season?

Bill Elliott: I'm really looking forward to the new season. Last year the club grew and many people became aware of soccer in Panama City. I'd like to see more of that and an increased fan base, more people turning up for games.

TE: The league format has changed this year, with the Carolina teams leaving our league and Mississippi and Louisiana teams joining us. How will that affect things?

BE: It's better when it comes to traveling and I think that the league will be much more competitive from top to bottom. There are some good franchises joining us this year, like the New Orleans Jesters.

TE: Let's talk about players, old an new. I know that some of the fan favourites like Joe Nasco won't be back with us this season as they are climbing the professional ladder. Can we expect to see some familiar faces with the fresh talent you bring in this year?

BE: Firstly, the PDL isn't all about winning every game, as much as we would like to win them all it's about developing players for the future, so the players we want are the ones who want to improve with every game.

Tom Wharf, Matt Watts the English defenders are definitely on my list along with local players like Kenny Robinson, CD Harris and Ryan Rogers. With any luck we'll have John Dill back too.

There are some players who I would like to see back with us, like Bruno Conceicao and Ahmad Ihmeidan who are being chased by clubs in higher leagues. One of the benefits of coming back to an outfit like the Pirates is that more players from the college level make it into the MLS Superdaft from the PDL. We have to wait and see, but it would be nice to have them back.

We're taking a look at some up and coming players like Jemmy Cange ( http://www.mcc.commnet.edu/athletics/rosters/msoccer08/Cange.php ) a big, robust striker who has a real eye for goal.

Also we may be getting Brian Martinez, who played for Thunder Bay Chill who won the Heartland Division and the PDL playoffs last season.

Lastly I'm very excited to have Eduardo Oliveira ( http://goargos.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/oliveira_eduardo00.html ) with us. He's 6'5" and 210lbs of midfield dominance. Most importantly though, Eduardo is a coach I have worked with and he'll be a huge influence on the players on and off the field.

TE: What are your expectations for the new season?

BE: I'm hopeful for the season ahead, not just from the players, but from the fans as well. I'm looking to see more experience from the team, tryouts are on the 7th and 14th of March and I'm going to come over to Panama City before then to see the town and staff.

TE: A Pirates fan, Mark, wanted to know if you'll be working the wide players as hard as you did last year.

BE: I'm comfortable coaching all formations and systems. Last season I used the players in a way best suited to their playing style. This season may be different, we'll see what happens.

TE: Thanks for taking the time to speak with me, Coach, I'm getting excited about the upcoming season and I'll do my best to drop in on one of the tryouts on the 7th or 14th.

BE: Thank you. Feel free to call me anytime.

Just after our chat I received the schedule for the new season. I'm more than happy to announce that the Pirates will play at home on both the first and last games of the season! It's going to be a good tough test of character for the first two games as we go head to head with Bradenton and the Kraze... I foresee much heckling!

Here's the full schedule:

May 2009

Sun May 10 7:00 pm Bradenton Academics at Panama City Pirates Gavlak Stadium

Sat May 16 8:00 pm Central Florida Kraze at Panama City Pirates Gavlak Stadium

Thu May 21 7:00 pm Panama City Pirates at Atlanta Blackhawks TBD

Sat May 23 8:00 pm Panama City Pirates at Nashville Metros Ezell Park Stadium

June 2009

Sat Jun 6 6:30 pm Panama City Pirates at Mississippi Brilla Robert P. Longabaugh Stadium

Thu Jun 11 7:00 pm Panama City Pirates at Atlanta Blackhawks TBD

Sat Jun 13 8:00 pm Mississippi Brilla at Panama City Pirates Gavlak Stadium

Sun Jun 21 7:00 pm Atlanta Blackhawks at Panama City Pirates Gavlak Stadium

Fri Jun 26 8:00 pm Panama City Pirates at Baton Rouge Capitals Olympia Stadium

Sat Jun 27 8:00 pm Panama City Pirates at New Orleans Jesters Pan American Stadium

July 2009

Fri Jul 3 8:00 pm Baton Rouge Capitals at Panama City Pirates Gavlak Stadium

Sat Jul 4 8:00 pm Baton Rouge Capitals at Panama City Pirates Gavlak Stadium

Sat Jul 11 7:00 pm Panama City Pirates at Central Florida Kraze FSA Complex

Sun Jul 12 5:30 pm Panama City Pirates at Bradenton Academics IMG Soccer Academy

Fri Jul 17 8:00 pm Nashville Metros at Panama City Pirates Gavlak Stadium

Sun Jul 19 8:00 pm New Orleans Jesters at Panama City Pirates Gavlak Stadium

I'll be talking with Carey Turner, General Manager of the Pirates this week. If you have any questions, let me know!

The Englishman.

Post Your Comments

Posted by: TheEnglishman Location: WJHG
That would be the Champion's League, old boy. Borussia Dortmund would probably not be 2-0 up at half time against Inter Milan in that competition. Blog will re-commence next week!

Posted by: Matt Location: PCB
Er, Champions Cup, not UEFA Cup. Pardon me for I am but a lowly 'soccer' fan...

Posted by: Matt Location: PCB
Pressing issues... like watching the UEFA Cup perhaps?? ;) Juventus should be tough.

Posted by: The Englishman Location: WJHG
Yep, sorry about the wait on the blog, pressing issues at the station have demanded my full attention. The new blog will be up soon.

Posted by: Matt Location: PCB
Waiting impatiently on the new blog... good match for Chelsea on Sat v. Villa, too bad they couldn't do that the whole season.

Posted by: Kelly Location: PCB
Looking forward to the new season! Now, if we can get the ticket prices down some we'll be set!

Posted by: Matt Location: PCB
Beckham had Donovan on the team which is (unfortunately for US soccer) heads and shoulders better than a lot of other teams had out there. In my opinion the failure of the Galaxy/Beck experiment was the lack of team cohesiveness that arises naturally when two players make the majority of the team's salary. That, and he was hurt all season. So much for his soccer school in LA and raising the level of play here in the US. Hopefully MLS can snag Ronaldinho and build up the enthusiasm with another big name foreign transfer. I'd love to see them make Milan come and play the MLS All-Stars the the HD Center and see him get booed. =P Oh yeah, and go Pirates!

Posted by: The Englishman Location: WJHG
Being honest I think it's a waste, but not monetarily. LA Galaxy will make a bundle on his sale and I am sure the merchandising, an area American business excels in, has made a substantial profit already. Had he have seen out his career it would have been worth it in terms of improving the American game with the population, but I blame this squarely on LA Galaxy for loaning him to AC Milan in the first place. Granted, Beckham's presence alone has increased awareness of Major League Soccer, but now all it has done has highlighted how far behind the rest of the world the American game is. I only watched one LA Galaxy match, and Beckham was injured for it. They don't have that good a team compared to others I have seen. It was a bold idea, and possibly the correct one, were it not for the fact that they didn't bring in anyone else to support his arrival. One player does not a team make. They needed to bring in at least three players to make a backbone to build on.

Posted by: K.Loggins For soccer overall, it seems like Beckham is returning to Europe to play, after having been on loan for the American off-season. This certainly falls short of the 5 year contract orignally envisioned. Do you feel that, despite the curtailment of his playing time in the States, Beckham's presence helped elevate national awareness of soccer as a viable sport? Or do you think it was a waste of money?

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