It was obvious that that was the play all along. They're basically relaunching the Fire and Hauptman had to go for it to have any credibility with the fans. Plus Mansueto is clearly willing and able to put real money into a team which can and should be a league flagship. Hauptman cant play in the same league with Blank, Haslam et al. Next up: Precourt pocketing a big bag of money and giving way to an actual owner. I cant believe MLS wants to launch a team owned by the single most contemptible owner in American sports, particularly when hes got the shallowest pockets in the league Hauptman will pocket a nice chunk of change. Lets let Fratface McDaddysMoney do the same and let a grownup take it over.
I feel sorry for the person that had to make Hauptmann’s ownership of the Fire seem like a successful time for the club. This part made me laugh... ”Hauptman led the Fire for 12 years after acquiring the club in 2007, making the playoffs twice this decade and finishing as runners-up in the 2011 U.S. Open Cup.” Twice in a decade.
Chicago fans have to be ecstatic; "Hauptman Out!" has been a mantra for a long time. I'd say "Let's all point at Chicago and laugh!" if it weren't so pitiful.
It's good to see you posting again, Bill. We've missed you. I hope everything is ok with you and yours.
The Fire has a new owner ready to spend, and we are hailing a six point stretch against FCC and Chicago, a strong hold on eleventh place in the East, and the signing of Mokhtar and Diaz as a return to MLS relevance. God, I love this board.
In all honesty I don’t see many similarities to the Crew and Fire ownership changes. Main similarity seems to be a new, much wealthier owner replacing a hated, cheaper owner. Besides that we had both owners employ the failing Dave Greeley. In terms of willingness and ability to spend...it seems there’s this self funded stadium the Crew are building and a new training center. I’m not sure if that has made the news but I’ve heard it’s a pretty big deal and spend.
You are being an insufferable troll. This board has been quiet over the last two weeks or so because of the international break. Literally NOTHING has been said recently about 11th place. While Mokhtar is still questionable, do you not think Diaz is?? Give it a rest, bub.
They somehow overlooked the F*re being the first team to win consecutive wooden spoons. That's an accomplishment.
The board has not been quiet because of international break. If the team had any hopes of a playoff berth or playoff positioning we’d be talking about that over international break. The board has been quiet because this season has been a failure beyond anyone’s wildest pessimism at the beginning of the season. Diaz is a good player on an extremely poor team, several levels below the likes of Piatti...a much better player on a very bad (but much better than 2019 Columbus Crew) team in recent years. Nothing has been said about 11th place because everyone spent all their energy after a win over expansion FCC like it was MLS Cup. The hangover is looking at the bigger picture.....bub.
Minor correction: I've been quiet because, recently, every time I try to start a conversation in this here 2019 Other Teams Thread (because let's be honest, the other MLS teams are the only ones worth talking about at this point of 2019) I get shouted down. So, there's that.
Weekend of the underdogs? Chicago smashes Dallas 4-0 Crew upset Atlanta 3-1 FCC keeps Montreal away from the playoff line 1-0 Orlando comes back down 3-1 to draw the Revs. Philly was a couple missed calls away from topping LAFC.
I assume we all noticed that sign right behind the goal in Atlanta tonight about the banning of political signs being political or something like that?
Pretty wild stat. DC United has only 2 wins against teams in playoff position. March 3rd against Atlanta March 16th against RSL
Read this on the Fire boards... How could you leave out the crowning achievement of the Andrew Hauptman Chicago Fire - the only back to back Wooden Spoon winners in the history of MLS? That is a precious achievement.
David Silva to join Inter Miami God what I would give to have a player of that class and quality here in Columbus.
I'd honestly be shocked if Bez could attract a player of David Silva's quality to consider Columbus, and more shocked if our owners would open their wallets enough to make the player's interest a reality. That said, I'd love to be be proven wrong.
Not that I don't agree with you that it would be nice to get a name like that, but... I'd almost* rather have someone of the Pozuelo/Giovinco/Brian Fernandez/Carles Gil/Gustavo Bou category - someone that was bouncing around the middle of the Europeans leagues (or South America, a la Fernandez) and would come here with half the price tag and make the same impact on the field as an aging superstar. * But guys like that don't sell jerseys or put butts in seats or otherwise increase revenue, which is of equal importance to trophies. Hence my mixed emotions. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Though Columbus is a tough sell for a player of that caliber, I believe that a person passionate about Columbus could instill that passion in someone else. As evidenced by their first few years owning the Browns, I don't believe that the Haslams are timid with the pursestrings, sometimes to their detriment. Please, sweet baby Jesus, prove hang wrong and me right.
Well maybe we've hired the wrong guy because if Miami can sell this to David Silva, imagine what kinda player he can get to come to Mapfre/AEP park!