Ryan Nelsen (Unattached FC Coach)

I was assuming we were talking about next year, when his geriatric legs can no longer handle the pace of the EPL :P

I think it seems ridiculous that he would leave QPR at all at this stage of the season and at this stage of his career, given the fact that he's captaining them, probably been their best player so far this season, and has a manager who thinks he's great.

Ryan Nelsen for the Phoenix has its pro's and con's

1: What does it do for our budget? Granted Ryan does not need the cash, but he is hardly going to take a mulligan for the team. Personal sponsors to make it happen? Could front ads for Trade Me...

2: What message does this say to Sigmund as the incumbent, Boxall as the back up and also Durante as the captain? I would not expect Dura would lose it but it would make for an interesting scenario and could be unstabilising. I would not expect that to happen both being professionals.

3: To play once a week in the sun near his own backyard. Would be ideal for him as opposed to the cold season with many fixtures. His workload gets lighter.

4: From a culture point of view, its a chance to instill in some players that this is what we did at Blackburn/QPR and this is what we are going to do here. Would be great to help measure what we do (using Ed as well) with what is done at big clubs in the the EPL and adjust accordingly.

5: Marketing - a home run. Other players that have been around longer and have an ego, need to be prepared for him to become the automatic face of the team. Marketing have to have enough nous to use him (which I am less confident about)

6: How does this affect the AWs when he wants to skip games? He would not be able to do that here because there would be no travel or 'last minute injuries'

7: Someone mentioned coaching. What message does that say to Greenacre and his development. Some reports that the juniors are playing like pants under him...

8: Having an American wife, it would most likely be a 1 and done deal as he has mentioned a few times moving back to the US to be closer to her family and considering she has been a football wife, why would you not give that back to her at least.

9: He is still starting in the EPL. A back 2 of him and Dura would make us the best CB pairing in the league (more so than we are). Not as mobile perhaps but a night and day upgrade on Sigmund.

10: With his age, propensity for injuries, are the referees smart enough to protect him from bad challenges because like ADP, he will be a marquee player (perhaps not so much in AU). We have heard many whinge about it. Juninho, ADP, Kewell.. Its not so much the physicality of the league but the policing of it by rookie referees (another story)

11: The conspiracy theorists will be abound about Ryans *cough* Rickis coaching record.

12: Ryan likes to make his issues public in the media in his own way. Is he happy to be muzzled? How is Gareth going to handle Ryan stealing his column inches about total football and be respected for it because he knows what he is talking about as opposed to Gareth getting laughed off the stage like he did.

13: It is rumoured that Ryan does like things his way. Considering we have had a good squad harmony for a long time is he happy to slip into how we does things around here too?

Personally I would grab him but be very mindful of the problems it could create. Why would you not grab a starting EPL captain? Its a no brainer.

 Interesting points JV

However I dont see it happening here at all.

So much better an opportunity there (US) in comparison. Plus he gets to be coach : -)

Totally agree Hepatitis. It is unlikely for sure but If the Phoenix want some positive column inches right now and to generate some good press (and they are taking a bit of a hammering in the press across a few fronts from the hacks) nothing could go astray in helping that than them coming out and pinning their colours to the mast with a 'We would like Ryan' article.

I heard this on the radio this morning and then an hour later on the next news bulletin, they said that DC United had come out and said the rumours of him going there were bollocks. I really can't see why 1. Ryan as captain and starting regularly would want to leave now and 2. Harry wanting to let him go. QPR are in the middle of a relegation scrap and Nelsen is one of their best performing players. It seems a no brainer that he will stay until at least the end of the season surely.

another link speaking about a rumour saying that toronto fc are also interested

http://www.mlssoccer.com/blog/rumor-central/2013/01/04/rumor-central-epl-dc-united-veteran-ryan-nelsen-mls-assistant-coach

Wasn't he supposedly "injured" at Blackburn and hadn't played in months and then all of a sudden, he was playing for Spurs after he signed for them so no, not the same as Rovers.

Seems I have to take that back, this article quotes Harry that he does have an offer to coach a team.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11711/8382530/QPR-defender-Ryan-Nelsen-may-be-about-to-take-up-a-coaching-role-at-DC-United 

QPR would be mad to let him go and Harry has just talked up Ryans price of keeping him.

I did wonder why the captain's armband had been taken from him and given to Clint Hill

Quick question, has Nelsen ever given away a penalty in the EPL. 

A couple of times yes, last ditch tackles mostly

This also: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20920097

I think its just his way of getting one last big payday from QPR to pay for his retirement.  Unless we fail to qualify for the World Cup my gut instinct tells me that he will retire as a player after Brazil then US Clubs, AWs, Nix etc. can approach him to coach/manage etc.

I think Nelsen may leave QPR in the end of the season. What I think he should do is stay at QPR until May then move to DC United or Nix as either as a player or a coach. I think he may be the next All Whites manager and that will make Tommy Smith the main skipper in my eyes.

I do feel that he might be manager of either the All Whites or Phoenix.

He won't be coaching in NZ any time soon.

I can see so many reasons why he would not end up coaching the AWs any time soon.

1: Historically, its always been Ryan vs NZF and he said as much after Waite got the chop last year.

2: Coaching experience? (jokes aside about his WC record)

3: What does that say about the NZF coaching pathways? What does it say to the people NZF have invested in and the next guys that have gone through it and stuck by NZF when they could have left.

As for coaching the Phoenix, he would be too close to a lot of them still to be objective and get stuck in. Again, coaching experience? aT the moment, I doubt they would reach out to him because of the cost.

Can I ask, do you own a PS3 perhaps and still wear a uniform between 8:30 and 3:30pm Dhall?

Hey, not all school kids are idiots.... just 95%... (Probably including myself)

Regarding the Nelsen thing, did Arry just make up a whole load of rubbish? He loves to talk so much I think he just read the papers and didn't even ask Ryan. Either that or the parties involved (Ryan, DC United) are lying.

Coaching the All Whites? That'd be a great idea, let's get somebody with no coaching experience in to coach the national side. The only thing favouring him possibly could be the lack of outstanding Kiwi coaches around, but even still, no thanks.

I was sceptical at first but now I think he will go. He is on contract until May but will probably then be shown the door. He has (allegedly) been offered a coaching role at his previous club which would be his dream job especially factoring in his American wife.

I'm sure the MLS season starts in March so if he turns it down now and says "I'll play out my contract" will the position still be available or will they have offered it to someone else?

He needs to think about his long term security for himself and his family. Why pass up this chance for the sake of playing on for another 4 months. It may not come up again.

I do not use a PS3.

Xbox and school uniform then :)

Thats a shame as JV got one from his great grandson for Xmas and has just managed to get it out of the wrapping and wants advice on what to do next

Not sure if NZ friends have seen it yet, but Ryan Nelsen apparently hired as head coach at Toronto FC.

No source yet but I've asked mao if he has one.

Some US media reporting that he will be announced as the new Toronto FC head coach in a press conference in the next 24 hours.

http://www.soccerbyives.net/2013/01/breaking-tfc-set-to-name-nelsen-new-head-coach.html 

So if Nelsen retires to take that job, would Ricki appoint him as an assistant for the WC playoffs? It's a big loss from the playing group and making the WC is massive, that could be a way of keeping him involved.

That's a rather left field turn. You would have thought he would have spoken with Ricki... He may not be retiring from internationals but can he be picked with out any matches, fitness or form?

He really must not be enjoying it at QPR and probably not care about his reputation because he will not be a liked man at QPR if he makes this move.

He's been there 6 months, and has (as always) given his guts - he has a golden opportunity that doesn't present itself every day, and this early in the window there is ample opportunity for them to get a replacement, not to mention he was only brought in as backup to begin with. I think most of his team mates (as Derry has said on the radio) and reasonable fans will understand his choice.

If not, I'm pretty sure they'll move on pretty quickly regardless.

Edit: Apparently it's at end of EPL season anyway so it's: 

hopefully, if true, this means more opportunities for Kiwis at an MLS club ala Portland Timbers. Maybe Elliott will join him

Looking more and more likely. http://www.cp24.com/sports/toronto-fc-to-name-ryan-nelsen-head-coach-1.1103666#ixzz2HKQZEpgB

It will be very interesting to see how he goes at Toronto. I hope he does well but plenty of top players have done what he's trying to do and found it tough. Does he even have any coaching badges yet?

As for the All Whites, let's face it, he was only ever one injury away from being permanently done. Might as well deal with it now. Let's get Durante in and press ahead with him, Reid, Smith, Sigmund and Boxall as CB options. Still plenty of quality there.

Would be good to see Nelsen show enough loyalty to the AWs (and vice versa) to see him in some kind of assistant coach/technical advisor type role for the inter-continental play-offs, and hopefully the WC.

Here's another link, though it's not confirmed yet. http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=412975 

For those who don't follow MLS, Toronto FC has consistently been one of the worst teams in the league since they joined in 2007. In 6 seasons they have had 7 managers, soon to be 8. There is already plenty of controversy over hiring a player with no managing experience to coach the team, but at this point I don't see how Nelsen could be any worse than some of the train wrecks they've had in the last few years.

Nelsen is a class player, but how do you guys think he would be as a coach? I really have no idea.

 He did well coaching us at the world cup.

...I mean...He has no experience but should go ok.

As he said..... one injury away!