Minton: Why Domènec Guasch's Cannoli Selection Shows That Boston Legacy FC is in Good Hands
Dome knows Noli's
The north end in Boston is known for hosting amazing Italian restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and coffee shops. Boston Legacy FC’s general manager Domènec Guasch took a visit and gave his definitive cannoli rankings, and they indicate that the GM knows what to look for in a player (and a cannoli).
Guasch started off with a Modern Pastry, a bakery established in 1930, on Hanover Street. The bakery takes pride in its “old-world methods” and came to the United States to share authentic recipes, culture, and hospitality.
The general manager’s cannoli grade of 8/10 shows that he doesn’t need to rely on updated stats. He doesn’t need to see xG or advanced analytics to know if a player has what it takes or not.
When it comes to a cannoli, he doesn’t need it to have some deconstructed form of the dessert. He likes it as the forefathers and foremothers of the pastry intended, and can tell from that whether it is good or not.
The inclusion of the chocolate chips does show that he is okay allowing more modern elements of the game to inform his thinking, but he doesn’t let that shadow the overall product.
Next up is Mike’s Pastry, a place that essentially everyone in New England should know.
Now the words that will follow will expose me as every time I get a tattoo at Boston Barber & Tattoo Company, I get a cannoli from Mike’s. Maybe I should now get a tattoo of a cannoli to throw the universe into a new plane of existence.
Guasch gives Mike’s a grade of 7/10. It shows that he isn’t just going to want to sign a player because they are a big name. He’s not signing Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting or dragging Megan Rapinoe out of retirement.
The general manager notes that it was a little sweeter than Modern Pastry. This is similar to a player forgetting the fundamentals and opting for flash which might be great for fans but not great for wins.
Did you know cannolis were not always overwhelmingly sweet?
Also, the employee claims that Mike’s cannolis are the best in the world. While I am not Italian and do not want to weigh in on geopolitical issues, I think a cafe in Italy MIGHT have the upper hand.
While Gusach appreciated the confidence, which all players should have, he does care about how a player will affect the locker room. You don’t need a player calling out teammates in the press or making matches all about themselves.
Finally, we get to Bova’s, the place that solidified the need for this article.
Now again, I am a Mike’s guy, the well-known name. I have not heard of Bova’s. This could be my fault or due to Mike’s Pastry being the place that tourists typically go to.
When asked for what cannoli was the best, an employee mentioned that the best version happens to be the most expensive one. Guasch obliges and orders.
Now while there could be concerns about overpaying, Guasch is willing to splash some cash in order to get high-quality players. When it came to cannolis, that is exactly what he got.
The general manager gave the cannoli a nine because he believes perfection doesn’t exist, exactly what you want to hear from your general manager. Every player has their drawbacks but Guasch can spot their strengths just like he was able to taste each flavor note of Bova’s cannoli.
The cannoli itself was no nonsense. It didn’t have chocolate chips or powdered sugar and came in a convenient plastic container.
Guasch wants a player with the intangibles. There are some skills that every player needs to have and be able to build upon.
Boston Legacy fans should have confidence in their general manager. He knows how to spot a good cannoli, and I imagine with his experience at Barcelona, he knows how to spot good soccer players.
Took a “last day before we go back to work” trip to the north end today and asked my family to read this in preparation. Thanks, it’s was helpful.