The sad thing is that Paunovic does and look what good it has done for him, or the Fire. Looking at the USSF requirements, I am not sure how Paunovic qualified. https://www.ussoccer.com/coaching-education/licenses
i was reading this article about the cubs and couldn't help think about the fire's offseason- http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25668790/do-cubs-enough-keep-baseball-toughest-division this line right here specifically got my attention: The good news is it's not always easy to connect the dots from winning the winter to winning in October. The best teams are the best teams because they already have good players. In fact, doesn't it seem like the teams that win the winter are the ones that need to the most? "Look, St. Louis is doing a lot right now because they needed to," one veteran scout of the division said. "You don't see the Red Sox overhauling their team or making big trades because they have a championship team right now." the fire don't have a good team and are not making moves. they are not trying to win the winter, so why should we think they'll win in the summer?
I'll give credit where credit is due . @bunge has been saying this for years . I know six or so years ago I seem to remember him posting something on roster turnover/MLS standings and championships. Now that is just ********ing sad... That I can point to something that far back pointing to the futility of this franchise and absolutely nothing has changed - but in fact may be even worse
what is that saying about doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results? the question is, is he insane or are we? (no, it is him.)
Kuba being available on a free reminded me to take a look at the current crop of international free agents. There are some pretty good players out there.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019...f-and-hairston-potentially-move?autoplay=true Made an offer to Kappelhof, but he said no. So NRod made a (low ball) offer just to keep his rights, so when he resigns we get funny money out of it.
This is getting rediculous. There’s no way in hell we finish above last place. We barely have enough players to field a team.
to put some numbers behind that point, here are all the MLS champions (plus some Fire seasons) who had been in the league at least 4 years with average player roster tenure and number of players who'd been with the club 3+ years: 2017 TORONTO 1.68 6 2016 SEATTLE 1.96 6 2015 PORTLAND 1.68 6 2014 LA GALAXY 2.00 9 2013 SPORTING KC 1.60 7 2012 LA GALAXY 1.77 10 2011 LA GALAXY 1.30 5 2010 COLORADO 1.04 4 2009 REAL SALT LAKE 1.35 1 2008 COLUMBUS 1.32 3 2007 HOUSTON 1.73 7 2006 HOUSTON 1.40 6 2005 LA GALAXY 1.65 6 2004 DC UNITED 1.45 4 2003 SAN JOSE 1.17 3 2003 FIRE 1.79 8 2002 LA GALAXY 1.78 6 2001 SAN JOSE 0.95 2 2000 SPORTING KC 1.27 6 2000 FIRE 1.00 0 (11 players remained from the 1998 squad) 1999 DC UNITED 1.44 9 2016 FIRE 0.54 1 2017 FIRE 0.70 0 2018 FIRE 0.82 1 2019 FIRE 1.17 0 (current) .68 0 (if we fill 10 open roster spots with new players)
given the obvious value of squad continuity, Nimrod's priority should have been to keep players like Campbell, Conner, Johnson and even talk Vincent out of retiring (which I have to assume was directly related to how shitty NImrod, Pawno, and Hauptman are). Should also have worked hard to keep Deleeuw, Kap and Polster in the fold. Dump Dean, Campos, Collier, Movsisyan, Gordon, Sanchez, and Solignac and Mo Adams (INT casualty). Herbers and Marcelo are okay additions I guess, but I don't like Marcelo's INT status. In any case, it shouldn't have been that hard to return a squad more in line with the low end of championship caliber continuity, with several players with 3+ years playing together. Instead we're likely to regress to 2016/17, trying to integrate 10-12 players into the squad, in what may be the last season for 3 or 4 of our best players (anyone taking odds on Basti, Niko, Dax, and Katai all being around in 2020?) We'll essentially be an expansion team in 2020.
with how good atlanta and lafc were in their first years, we could only dream of being an expansion team. signing players is hard.
I know he is old now but Diego from Brazil would be great for the team ....looks like he may be going to Orlando though and Cincinnati is close to getting a #10 too. Once again, we aren't getting anyone to fill that spot....someone we've needed for years. I get we have a young guy there but I want proven player there.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/01/08/reports-gutman-polster-likely-wont-be-chicago-fire-2019 "#cf97 not interested in signing Gutman, but signing other homegrowns." How is Nelly not interested in signing Gutman?
He is not interested because 1) Gutman will probably sign in Scotland (so Rodriguez can "cash in" on his rights for some GAM) and 2) Rodriguez is an idiot. From the article: "The Fire signed center back Marcelo from Sporting CP this offseason, though have just four defenders under contract at the moment." So we have a starting back four.
This is.....A disinterested organization. 2019 Chicago Fire Roster as of December 27, 2018: FORWARDS: Collier, Elliot Herbers, Fabian Nikolic, Nemanja MIDFIELDERS: Adams, Mo Bronico, Brandt Campos, Diego Edwards, Raheem Hasler, Nicolas Katai, Aleksandar McCarty, Dax Mihailovic, Djordje Schweinsteiger, Bastian DEFENDERS: Corrales, Jorge Del Grecco, Nicolas Lillard, Grant Marcelo GOALKEEPERS: Cleveland, Stefan Sanchez, Richard
This reminds me of Lindsey wanting no part of the Fire experience. Can’t say I blame him. Better off somewhere where he can develop instead of stagnating here.
We will not play a single game in 2019. Please, this is the only way to save the season. Trade everyone.