Nowak not the right man for Union right now

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The two-word phrase kept getting tossed around, dangling in the air inside the interview room at PPL Park, waiting for other words or phrases to sweep in and provide further context.

But nothing else came. All we got were two vague words, over and over again:

Philosophical differences.

That was the reason why Union CEO & Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz called a meeting with Peter Nowak on Wednesday morning and told the only manager the team has ever known that his services would no longer be needed. That was the reason he decided to turn the reins of the team over to Nowaks deputy, John Hackworth, who has never before run a professional team. That was the reason why the franchises biggest change of all came by getting rid of a man who seemed so keen on making changes of his own.

Philosophical differences.

Its just a matter of certain styles and certain ways and the purpose of who we are and what our brand is that you sometimes go in different directions, Sakiewicz said. Im not going to get into specific detail about that. Thats a personal issue between Peter and me and owner Jay Sugarman and the rest of the ownership.

What exactly does that mean?

Was the move made because the team currently has nearly double the amount of losses (seven) as they have wins and ties combined (four)? No, it was not about wins and losses, Sakiewicz reiterated throughout the press conference, stressing that he believes the Union are far better than their record would indicate.

Was it about the recent trades that sent away arguably the clubs three most recognizable players in Sebastien Le Toux, Danny Califf and Danny Mwanga? Nope. Sakiewicz supported all of those moves and believes the incoming players are just as talented, if not more talented, than the outgoing ones.

Was it the fans seemingly losing confidence in Nowak as these moves were made in conjunction with the team plummeting down the standings? Well, Sakiewicz said, I have not detected any fan erosion, so that cant be it either.

Was it Nowaks coaching style? Doubtful considering Sakiewicz called him a terrific coach with the best sideline instincts hes ever seen.

Of course, maybe all of these things factored into the decision and Sakiewicz simply preferred not to trample on Nowaks grave. He has that right.

But if you search through the rubble of the franchises messy third season, it shouldnt be hard to find some answers, something that further explains the phrase philosophical differences. In fact, there may even be a hint, hidden in the press conference, right around the time when Sakiewicz was asked if he had any control over Nowaks personnel moves and he said this: No. Those are Peters decisions.

So perhaps its as simple as this: Ever since being named the executive vice president of soccer operations at the beginning of the 2011 season, Nowak had too much control. And combined with a habit of making moves as often as people change their socks, and an attitude that screamed I can do no wrong, it was a dangerous recipe, one that had the Union plowing ahead, but not in the direction Sakiewicz and the franchises investors wanted.

Nowaks vision and confidence in his own management abilities could have worked well here in Phillyand for a time, it did. He embraced the Sons of Ben and the rest of the Union fans, becoming the first MLS manager to set up a Twitter account so he could interact with them. He stressed an exciting brand of attacking soccer. He wanted his team to play as tough as the city it represented. He never strayed far from his mission of building a young, talented core of players that would end up outlasting him. He was funny and often jovial. He jumped into players arms after big goals. He had many good qualitiesone reason why he remains the only person to win an MLS Cup as a player and a coach.

But for all of his good, there was also bad. He made so many moves that it was hard for the team to build much chemistry, and then he asked for patience so the team could build chemistry, and then he made more moves. He rolled the dice by making tactical, lineup and formation changes in important games. He didnt seem to communicate well with his players. He pointed fingers at the referees. He loved the fan support, but didnt want them to question his moves or criticize players. His Twitter account was set to private. He became overly defensive of his decisions and rarely took blame for any missteps. He was often ornery. He had too much power and he wasnt afraid to wield it.

Are there other ways to describe Nowak? Of course. Hes an interesting and complex man whose media interactions only scratch the surface of who he really is. Some players love him; others dont. Some think hes brilliant; others think he doesnt know what hes doing. He did good things and he did bad things, and while not a bad soccer coach, he was a bad fit for this franchise, in this city, right now.

Hes a hard man to figure out, this Peter Nowak. So maybe, in the end, the best way to explain why it all didnt work out really is to cite philosophical differences, move on and see what lies ahead.

Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for CSNPhilly.com and MLSsoccer.com. Email him at djzeitlin@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter at @DaveZeitlin.

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