Did you ever get that feeling that something changed and you couldn’t put a finger on it until it had really happened and you wonder how you didn’t notice it when it was happening?


Like following the Chicago Fire? Specifically since 2004, that trying to win every game just wasn’t important?

It sort of hit me, that I might as well be rooting for West Ham or Tottenham or Newcastle or some other team that was rarely going to finish at the bottom of the table, but also highly unlikely to finish at the top or compete for any trophies. Sure, it’s only recently that MLS had Superliga or CONCACAF Champions League slots to play for and the playoffs are always a crapshoot, but it really hit home mid season 2008 that I’m rooting for a team that doesn’t seem to care if it flames out in the playoffs or not. A team that doesn’t seem to care anymore if it gets tossed out of the Open Cup anymore and certainly doesn’t give a flip about the Supporter’s Shield.


I’m sure that from 1998 to 2003, I could be accused of being a front running glory hound. The Fire had won MLS Cup & the US Open Cup in its inaugural season, won two more Open Cups, won a supporter’s shield and had been runner up for MLS Cup twice more, and lost the Supporter’s Shield twice more on goal differential. Since that time, Chicago has only won one more Open Cup, been a runner up to another, all while finishing at the bottom of MLS in 2004 and tossed out of the playoffs in the subsequent 3 seasons. During those glory years, I can honestly say that I felt that not only the players, but the front office cared about winning, since then, I just don’t know.


For the last 4 years, I watched talented players be poorly coached, played out of position and played in formations that minimize their skills and abilities. Long serving players who bled for the shirt be traded off to acquire players with questionable health issues, inflated salaries, poisonous attitudes who care more about the check than the jersey they’re wearing or the badge on it. Maybe it took this long to fully realize it because the hiring of Osorio, the acquisition of Blanco, and to a similar degree, the acquisition of McBride. Those things have been little sparks of hope that were supposed to reignite the Fire, but they haven’t. Too much water has found its way into the fuel and instead of fixing the big issues, the front office and coaching staff keep trying to spark a fire without the kindling to sustain the fire until the fuel catches.


With the departure of Osorio, Hamlett got his turn, whether or not he was first choice, I doubt we’ll ever know, but right now, he doesn’t look like the right choice and at best, the safe choice. Merely a continuation of coaches that seem to believe that the system or formation is what the players have to adapt to, rather than make your system fit your talent. And even if you believe the system/formation is primary, at least go out and get the players than can succeed in that system rather than setting players up for failure and fans up for another year of frustration. Another season of not being the laughingstock, but being nowhere near competing for a championship. We have a new president and owner, which is nice I guess. A technical director that is a hero and legend, but really, other than Klopas, I don’t know that I believe in the commitment to winning of anyone else, even players that used to have passion and drive, but now play like the worker who’s been worn down by everyone else’s malaise, depression and ineptitude.


I guess what I’m wondering is, when this team, front office and everything save the fans, just decided to accept mediocrity and when, if ever, is it going to change? When are we going to go back to caring about winning and leaving every opponent crushed in our wake?


MS