Alert: Gregg Berhalter Sporting Director and Head Coach Career Deathwatch or should that be "Nut Rider?"

Title's imply different jobs...I think one is finding them, the other is selling them on being here.
Granted "Head" implies the scouting function could be "underneath" him...

 

thanks. Coincides with my thinking but titles can be tricky. Hopefully the actual announcement will tell us more.

 

https://www.chicagofirefc.com/news/chicago-fire-fc-announces-first-team-coaching-staff-moves

First Team Assistant Coaches Carlos García and Paulo Nagamura OUT

 

Today’s announcement says “identify, recruit and acquire” players and that he reports directly to GGG. Not much left for Pelzer. He must be going/gone or reporting to Stephens or doing something not involving the roster,IMO. Do you agree?

 

Maybe Pelzer & his family like living in Chicago & don't want to move right now and they're OK keeping him around in some role. Guys like Mitrovic & Talliander stuck around after the bosses that brought them here were gone.

 

He gone.

 

Interpreting your response literally, that is a good thing. New broom cleans best.

 

Hopefully. it will become evident this season.

 

No word on the set piece coach? For all the good he did any one of us in this forum could have dome as good, if not a better job.

 

I checked Transfermarkt for Fire coaching, etc personnel. It listed the 3 current
Board of Directors members as Joe, the COO and Frank Klopas (who was appointed 10-20-24). I do not remember hearing of this appointment. Did I miss it or is this another piece of information the Leagus/Fire was withholding from public to protect strategic secrets?

(FYI- both Heitz and Pelzer listed there with 12-31-24 contract expiration dates.
I do not remember seeing this before.)

 

IDK if Transfermarkt has the best info when it comes to senior management. John Urban hasn't been involved in a loooooong time. Dave Baldwin would certainly be on the board and probably CFO Pawel Szynalik and Chief Legal and Administrative Officer Laura Warren. Then depending on how big the board perhaps several outside directors. Finally, 3G could be on the board with Klopas. Heitz would have been on the board and he will still remain on the Lugano board.

 

Thanks so much for the correct info.

 

Don't quote me, I'm merely taking an edumacated guess with the top 3 executives listed under Joe on the website. If Klopas is on the board it might mean 3G is left off. There could be surprises too.

 

Got it. Your info. made more sense than Transfermarkt.
Guessing GGG is probably on BOD.
I just never see anything about this topic. Thanks again.

 

If anyone is going to the GGG thing tonight can you please give us a report on what went down?

 

Was there and will share later…playing in a Texas golden tournament right now

One thing I heard that would be great to get a second on…I think I heard GGG respond to a question about recruiting with a comment about ‘That’s in Sebastian’

 

Thoughts/observations from the "Fireside Chat"...
1) GGG was personable and yet had a distinct 'air' of experience, competitiveness, and conviction.

2) He answered everything tactfully and yet more directly than I expected.

Example: He was asked about who else he was going to get rid of He responded 'Not appropriate to speak in specifics, BUT its clear there are players that have not performed to expectations and won't fit with our plans...so there will be more departures".​

3) I asked if he would build the roster with 'best quality available' or 'to fit target tactics'. He responded "We will be running 4-3-3 & 4-2-3-1 and have defined expectations for each position to run it the way we want to run it...and will look to add players with those characteristics"

4) GGG was asked about who on the roster he plans to build around...Hugo, Guti, & Brady.

a) He believes with the proper support that Hugo will have a 15 to 20g season
b) He believes Guti and Brady still have lots of room to grow/improve and will be key pieces.
c) GGG indicated Acosta has played much much better in the past than he has here, he didn't have a good enough year, and he wants to see him return to form. I was pleased to hear he also saw what I/we saw, and hope he can help him return to form...but certainly sounded like he is on a short leash....improve or move on.
d) GGG indicated Fede has not fulfilled his potential, but he sees someone with the heart of a lion and believes he is coachable. He will be invested in further.​

5) GGG indicated we will add DPs (plural!) and big spend U22s. Not sure how that works with roster rules, but he said Joe is fully supportive of the investment and it is what needs to happen to improve the roster.

a) GGG “we have a lot to improve, but specifically, we need to retool the defense, add a couple dangerous attackers, and a central midfielder”​

6) GGG was asked about "the pitch" to potential new players...3rd largest market, new world class training center (where the players spend most of their time), ground floor of a program build with a fully supportive owner, and a new development oriented team culture.
7) GGG was asked about Ludovic Taillandier's departure...despite building a competitive team in their division, the bottomline was he had not achieved development of players from CF2 to the first team. GGG view's THE goal of CF2's coach is to develop players for the first team.
8) GGG was asked about where he would find players...that's when he mentioned something like 'Sebastian should answer this', but went into some detail.

a) the EPL is paying so much more than the MLS that young Euros with a shot at the EPL will stay in Europe.
b) the MLS has matured significantly and is a great development step for young SouthAmerican players trying to get to the EPL.
c) In general there is a lot of quality across the globe available that is no longer chasing an EPL dream
d) There are a lot of experienced MLS free agents becoming available.
​

9) There was some talk about the record attendance, possible new stadium, and the value/impact of a vibrant game day (a'la Dortmond, Azteca, etc). Having that is like starting a game 1-0. We look to invest in achieving that...and we know it starts with the product on the field.

I'm sure I'll remember more later, but I'll leave it here with...
10) GGG "I'm not on a 5yr plan...I'm a very competitive person...we are aiming to win now...it is absolutely achievable and what we are going to do"

Cheers

 

A great post! Thank you so much!

 

A remaining unanswered question- What is status/position/duties of Sebastian Pelzer? It sure looks like he is staying.

 

I’d like to hear confirmation of how I heard it from anyone else that was there…
But yea, GGG acknowledged ‘that’s on Sebastian’ and pointed at him in the back of the room.

 

My pleasure.

As expected, I've already got other things coming back to mind...

There was a cheeky moment was when a Mexican gentleman asked GGG if (because of the size of the Mexican community in Chicago) he would be targeting a Mexican star signing.....GGG responded something to like of "There are lots of great Mexican players, and I have really enjoyed beating them on the International stage, but we will not be targeting a demographic....we will simply be targeting players that best fit our metric to play our style...nationality is not part of our metric"