Hot Time In Old Town - 2019 Chicago Fire Season Wrap-Up & OffseasonTRADITION - HONOR - PASSIONhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50655/htiot-fav.png2019-11-21T11:00:00-06:00http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/rss/stream/206720912019-11-21T11:00:00-06:002019-11-21T11:00:00-06:00The New Fire Logo Is Garbage [UPDATED]
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<img alt="MLS: Chicago Fire Announcement-Soldier Field" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/L_bnqZaUcS_wckm1w5-nLgqoT3k=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65747247/usa_today_13478691.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The club had to get this brand refresh 100% right. It’s not even close.</p> <p id="ugkwxI"><strong>UPDATE 11:05 am</strong>: Right at press time, <a href="https://www.chicagofirefc.com/post/2019/11/21/finding-fire-inside-our-new-badge">the club made the new branding official</a>. Original post is below.</p>
<p id="SJrdsI">A report by Jeremy Mikula of the <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/soccer/ct-chicago-fire-rebrand-crest-20191120-7mkmtyo4v5asdphktqwauj2m5u-story.html"><em>Chicago Tribune</em></a> has confirmed the patent filing for their upcoming re-brand that was posted to Twitter by user <a href="https://twitter.com/TwentyHouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1197176367764426760&ref_url=about%3Asrcdoc">Don Crafts</a> Wednesday morning. And, folks? It’s not good.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">If the United States Patent and Trademark Office is to be believed, the rumours are true. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cf97?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cf97</a> <a href="https://t.co/rowCupUKTr">pic.twitter.com/rowCupUKTr</a></p>— Don Crafts (@TwentyHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/TwentyHouse/status/1197176367764426760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2019</a>
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<p id="BKrkrl">A generous interpretation of the symbol could describe it as a fire and its reflection on a lake. The new logo is a series of triangles mirrored vertically, encircled by the new name of the club, <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a> FC. A color version was released last week, with the fire being colored yellow, and the reflection in the lake being red, surrounded by navy blue. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here you go <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cf97?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cf97</a> nation. Your brand new Chicago Fire logo! Let me know what you guys think in the comments. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mlssoccer?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mlssoccer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chicagfire?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#chicagfire</a> <a href="https://t.co/e1pfiT7sB8">pic.twitter.com/e1pfiT7sB8</a></p>— MENINRED (@meninred97) <a href="https://twitter.com/meninred97/status/1195189809733652481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2019</a>
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<p id="pyWnq6">It’s a design reminiscent of generic, procedurally-generated video game soccer crests for teams that the developers couldn’t afford to license. It’s an oval with some stuff in it. I don’t know what audience it’s trying to appeal to. Maybe they think they can pull some Bundesliga or Premier League fans with the European aesthetic. Or maybe they’re trying their hand at some abstract expressionism, with all the skill and deftness of a first year SAIC student. Regardless of their intent, the result fails to impress.</p>
<p id="NG2uKc">Some fans also pointed out that the new logo bears some resemblance to symbols used by the Latin Kings street gang.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">So can somebody explain why our logo is some resemblance to the Latin Kings sign? Im just saying Im not tryna get checked over some fire merch. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cf97?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cf97</a></p>— BurningIron (@BigPhil_Steve) <a href="https://twitter.com/BigPhil_Steve/status/1197238091964125184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2019</a>
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<p id="skhPSi">Given how long this re-brand has been in the works, it seems unconscionable that something like this would not have come up in the design team’s research. For a club that’s making a concerted effort to reconnect to its urban fanbase and re-establish itself within Chicago city limits, this kind of ignorance is simply indefensible</p>
<p id="bHTIzg">We— Fire fans broadly and those of us at Hot Time— thought that with the takeover, Joe Mansueto would be better able to understand what connects our local sports teams to the life and culture of the city. But from my point of view, he’s almost as clueless. </p>
<p id="nC6hfx">The argument can be made that this whole thing is Nelson Rodriguez’s baby. It was, after all, him driving the thought that the club needed a re-brand and that the current brand, with all its history, wasn’t working anymore. However, the buck stops with Mansueto. At any point, he could have stepped in and said no— or at least, made sure that it looked good. But he didn’t. He let Nelson Rodriguez have his vision of what the the club is. </p>
<p id="oRA9rz">The new logo is a brand without an identity. It looks vaguely European in order to attempt to allure a soccer fan who has less than zero interest in MLS or American soccer beyond the men’s national team. It’s lifeless and unrepresentative of the former players and fans who love the club. </p>
<p id="MrBTSH">If the Fire brain trust had any sense, they would cancel whatever plans they had, stop the rollout, and take whatever punishment MLS and Adidas will dole out for not having a new kit design this year. Whatever that punishment is, it can’t be worse than this. </p>
https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/11/21/20974408/cf97-chicago-fire-new-logo-awful-terrible-whyRuben Tisch2019-11-14T15:30:00-06:002019-11-14T15:30:00-06:00Who Should Replace Paunovic?
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<img alt="New York Red Bulls v LA Galaxy: MLS" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Y37jQtBYbDRthlMjms6yC1ROgo4=/0x0:1746x1164/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65703155/1147028751.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>We take a look at a few names that could be leading the Fire in 2020</p> <p id="2wiMZS">With the exit of <span>Veljko Paunovic</span> and the rest of his technical staff yesterday, the search for a new head coach for the <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a> has begun in earnest. </p>
<aside id="HtkcTl"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Report: Veljko Paunovic Out As Chicago Fire Head Coach [UPDATED]","url":"https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/11/13/20962840/cf97-chicago-fire-pauno-out"}]}'></div></aside><p id="04jDH1">There have been a lot of names thrown out there as possible replacements, so I took some time to compile a small list of names, and listed some pros and cons for each candidate, </p>
<h1 id="gUUFZ7">Jose Mourinho</h1>
<p id="TQFPno">It’s the name that has been on everyone’s lips, joking or otherwise, since the news broke yesterday morning. He’s probably the manager with the most accolades and success without a job right now, and would be the most expensive and bold signing Joe Mansueto could make. </p>
<p id="VfNXJn"><strong>Pros</strong></p>
<p id="ZFZVeo">It’s hard to argue about his qualifications. He’s won multiple UEFA <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> and domestic trophies. He’s managed some of the best and has been able to successfully manage egos to glory. Behind all the bluster and bravado lives a man who loves to think about the game, and is always thinking about where finding the edge that will win games. If we’re looking for someone obsessed with winning, this is the guy. </p>
<p id="HwpESN"><strong>Cons</strong></p>
<p id="1kbBPQ">Aside from Porto, his biggest successes were with teams that could pay for and acquire top level talent with close to unlimited budgets. With the constraints of MLS’s roster building rules and the weird salary structure, It’s very hard if not impossible to put together a squad that would keep him happy and engaged. I’d worry that he’d get disillusioned and check out quickly in a similar fashion to Ruud Gullit during his tenure with the <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a>. Plus, based on his tenure at Man United, he may not have the genius anymore. </p>
<h1 id="lzEPb4">CJ Brown</h1>
<p id="bnSPI7">The current assistant of NYCFC, CJ Brown is probably the best qualified former Fire player who isn’t currently managing a team right now. Since retiring in 2010, he’s been learning the ropes from people like Jason Kreis and Domènec Torrent as an assistant.</p>
<p id="vAUHOz"><strong>Pros</strong></p>
<p id="MeG6VR">His hiring would show ownership’s recommitment to the history of the club. And in a year where we’re expecting a brand refresh, that would come as welcome relief to most if not all of the fanbase. CJ Brown is an actual Fire legend and would be welcomed with open arms. This is probably the best PR manager hire— it would be the least controversial and most well received of all the hires they could make.</p>
<p id="rZGDRm"><strong>Cons</strong></p>
<p id="0urOd8">Regardless of his club legend status and his seven year apprenticeship, the question that must be asked is, “can the club afford another manager that is learning on the job?” Paunovic’s biggest problem was his inexperience at both managing player conflict, and the game itself. In a year where the club need to make the biggest impact on the pitch as well as off of it, I don’t know if a manager on his first job is where you want to be. </p>
<h1 id="hnZ6fd">Miguel Herrera </h1>
<p id="vllchv">The current manager of Club America, and reaction gif icon, Herrera is another one of those can’t-miss hires at first glance. He’s been around the North American game a long time, and has been successful everywhere he’s been. </p>
<p id="vjLS2N"><strong>Pros</strong></p>
<p id="klp6of">He wins wherever he goes, and his football is exciting to watch. Club America has been nothing but successful since he got there, and just recently won the 2019 Clausura Copa MX with the club. He could also be instrumental in the signing of Latinx players that would energize a large segment of the fanbase, creating a buzz that the Fire haven’t seen since Blanco rode off into the horizon. </p>
<p id="I2YtJs"><strong>Cons</strong></p>
<p id="0UgT2f">If you thought Velkjo Paunovic was volatile and petty with his players, Miguel Herrera is on a whole ‘nother level. He’s benched players for remaining friends and communicating with former teammates, and was fired from El Tri in 2013 for assaulting a journalist. He also was suspended for three games in October for <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/america/story/3961027/americas-miguel-herrera-cops-three-game-ban-for-explicit-tirade-aimed-at-referee">using a homophobic slur at a referee.</a> You do not want that kind of press.</p>
<h1 id="3hTMGw">Chris Armas</h1>
<p id="Zg5Oda">The current manager of the <a href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a>, Armas has had big shoes to fill after <span>Jesse Marsch</span> left for Europe. He has filled them well, making the playoffs each of his first two seasons, and winning a Supporters Shield in 2018.</p>
<p id="POc7Of"><strong>Pros </strong></p>
<p id="hAJnIf">Everything that CJ Brown had going for him applies here too, plus the benefits of already having managerial experience and being successful at it. </p>
<p id="fogT6p"><strong>Cons</strong></p>
<p id="fmWvEd">He’s still under contract in New York, so that means that if the Fire want to hire him, they’re going to need to give the Red Bulls some sort of compensation, whether it be a transfer fee or draft picks or something else. He’s also had some criticism leveled on him by the fanbase, although some say that it’s been done unfairly, and <a href="https://www.onceametro.com/2019/9/1/20843817/was-there-ever-faith-from-red-bull-global-in-red-bulls-head-coach-chris-armas">that he was set up to fail by management.</a></p>
<h1 id="nuUu9a"><span>Mike Petke</span></h1>
<p id="DzVH8g">No. God, no. We do not want that energy in our lives. We’ve suffered enough. </p>
<p id="IcS2z2"><strong>Pros</strong></p>
<p id="qQwp8a">He’s okay. He’s been relatively successful every club he’s managed.</p>
<p id="KpQXLY"><strong>Cons</strong></p>
<p id="8LMBWP">He was fired from RSL for <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/08/12/real-salt-lake-coach-mike-petke-fired-for-anti-gay-ref-tirade/">a homophobic tirade</a> during the Leagues Cup. You do not want to be the first club that hires him. </p>
<h1 id="DOMEpP">Conclusion</h1>
<p id="M91bXV">I think the best hire form the name’s I’ve listed would be Chris Armas. He’s already a successful manager, and is probably the least risky of all the candidates I’ve laid out. On the other hand, Mourinho has both the lowest floor and highest ceiling of all the managers out there. If you’re a gambling man, he’s your guy. </p>
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<p id="SLgYgc">What do you think? It would be impossible to go through each and every candidate, so I’m sure I missed some. Leave us a comment below with who you think the next Fire manager should be. </p>
https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/11/14/20964568/cf97-chicago-fire-new-manager-replacement-jose-mourinho-cj-brown-chris-armasRuben Tisch2019-11-13T08:45:14-06:002019-11-13T08:45:14-06:00Veljko Paunovic Out As Chicago Fire Head Coach [UPDATED]
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<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The former Serbian international’s four-year stint as head coach is apparently over</p> <p id="iTcoqG"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F1373721%2F2019%2F11%2F13%2Fsources-veljko-paunovic-fired-as-chicago-fire-head-coach%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hottimeinoldtown.com%2F2019%2F11%2F13%2F20962840%2Fcf97-chicago-fire-pauno-out" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">According to a report</a> in <em>The Athletic</em> from Sam Stejskal and Paul Tenorio filed early this morning, the <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a> have sacked head coach <span>Veljko Paunovic</span>.</p>
<p id="rW2HTb">The club has yet to release an official statement. </p>
<p id="RN1qkP">In his time as head coach, Paunovic posted a record of 41 wins, 37 draws, and 58 losses. His greatest success came in the 2017 season, when the Fire qualified for the playoffs after a long absence and were briefly in contention for the Supporters Shield. </p>
<p id="H7iOPi">The news comes weeks after the club officially announced the move to Soldier Field, as well as <span>Bastian Schweinsteiger</span> and <span>Nemanja Nikolic</span> announcing their departures. Yesterday, the impending <span>Dax McCarty</span> trade was made official. And there’s still a brand refresh to be unveiled in the very near future. If the reports about Pauno pan out, it would leave little doubt that new owner Joe Mansueto is looking to rebuild the franchise almost from scratch. </p>
<p id="AcaUcT">It’s worth noting that club president Nelson Rodriguez told reporters at a media roundtable last month that Paunovic would definitely return for the 2020 season. This leaves several possibilities; either a potential replacement for Pauno suddenly became available and the club felt like they couldn’t pass up the opportunity, Rodriguez knew this was coming and lied to the press last month, or Mansueto overruled Rodriguez in making the decision.</p>
<p id="X1sN1x">There are lots of unanswered questions right now surrounding the club, besides the obvious one concerning who will replace Pauno. Is Rodriguez’ job next on the chopping block? With all the roster turnover that’s happened and will continue to happen between now and January, what is the plan to rebuild the squad? If the club doesn’t fill the head coach (and, reportedly, sporting director) vacancies soon, who will make time-sensitive roster decisions over the next month? </p>
<p id="jTvoj9">We’ll have more on this story as it develops.</p>
<p id="78RxK3">Update 11:14 AM: The club released it’s <a href="https://www.chicago-fire.com/post/2019/11/13/chicago-fire-part-ways-head-coach-veljko-paunovi">official announcement</a>. Along with Pauno being let go, his technical staff has also been released, although they will be allowed to reinterview with the new manager. </p>
https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/11/13/20962840/cf97-chicago-fire-pauno-outBridget Gordon2019-11-05T12:30:00-06:002019-11-05T12:30:00-06:00Dax McCarty’s Exit Leaves The Fire With All Sorts Of Problems
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<img alt="MLS: Chicago Fire at Orlando City SC" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/M4YCruIAWh3k857Yg8RvJWDFH24=/0x0:1523x1015/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65629813/usa_today_13525941.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It makes sense in a vacuum, but losing Dax McCarty creates more problems than it solves</p> <p id="GllprV">The <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a> sent their <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulTenorio/status/1191419174012301314">capitan Dax McCarty to expansion side Nashville SC</a> yesterday. In return, the Fire recieved $50k in TAM, $50k in GAM, and a 2nd round draft pick. </p>
<p id="EVrLJ6">On paper, the move makes some amount of sense. McCarty is 32; toward the end of the year, it was looking like he was regressing in the quality of his performances. He was not the same player that he was in 2018 or even the beginning of the 2019 season. He lost a step and and his decision-making seemed to slow down, costing the Fire tempo in a world where they were most successful playing quickly. He was also more prone to turn the ball over at inopportune times, creating mismatches and more problems for a defense that was shaky at the best of times.</p>
<p id="25VbhP">However, the move also leaves the Fire with some big problems and very few obvious solutions. The Fire now have as thin a central midfield as they’ve had in a long time. If no significant moves are made, the starting central midfield trio is currently <span>Brandt Bronico</span>, <span>Djordje Mihailovic</span>, and newcomer Álvaro Medrán. While this looks good on paper, it leaves the Fire with no real depth to speak of. The only other central midfielder on the roster is 32-year-old Michael Azira, who frankly did not impress in his limited minutes with the club last season. Unless Nelson Rodriguez gets his white whale in Juan Quintero (<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/11/03/report-juan-fernando-quintero-targeted-irresistible-offer-mls-club">who is rumored to have received a huge offer by an MLS club</a>) or find a player in free agency, the Fire could potentially be in huge trouble. </p>
<p id="Cnm8kq">Much like with the <span>David Accam</span> deal, in a vacuum this isn’t a terrible idea. Getting a return for a player who was eligible to walk out the door for nothing is always a bonus, and $100k is not an insignificant amount of money. However, there’s no reason to suspect that this time the Fire brain trust will get it right when they’ve proven themselves incapable of doing so. It took the team a year to find a dynamic replacement for Accam, and by the time they did, the club had already decided to blow up the roster and start over. <em>Again</em>. </p>
<p id="KHHoU5">We’re heading into Year 5 of Nelson Rodriguez’ 3-Year Plan, and Dax’s departure sends a signal that the club is finally giving up on whatever the plan was. We’re barely a month into this offseason and we’ve already seen the exodus of the team’s most important players— <span>Bastian Schweinsteiger</span>, <span>Nemanja Nikolic</span>, and now Dax. This chapter is closing without a trophy and with plenty of heartache. </p>
<p id="TZKhY4">The Fire’s front office is sending a message that they’re preparing to start over, but the club can’t afford to do that. They’re moving to a new stadium with more seats and nowhere to hide. They need to win, they need to win <em>now</em>, and there’s no reason to think that the people currently in charge of building the roster can accomplish that. </p>
<p id="ZYaXWC">Whatever the merits of this move are in a vacuum, context is key here. And in context, this is just one more problem that the front office doesn’t know how to fix. </p>
https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/11/5/20948310/cf97-chicago-fire-dax-mccarty-trade-nashville-sc-mls-2020Ruben Tisch2019-10-31T14:00:00-05:002019-10-31T14:00:00-05:00Fire Front Office Moves To Undermine Section 8, Launch Corporate Takeover Of Supporter Culture
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<figcaption>Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Fire front office continues their attack on the hardcore supporters</p> <p id="rhkyrY">Just when we thought it was safe to be optimistic about the new direction of the <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a>, our fleeting hopes are starting to evaporate.</p>
<p id="QETwJ2">Earlier this morning, Section 8 Chicago finance director Carri Alldredge posted a Twitter thread commenting on a meeting held last night between the Independent Supporters Association and front office officials. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cf97?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cf97</a> fam, this is not a drill.<br><br>Supporters met with the FO last night and was informed of several decisions they have made, many that directly affect our community.<br><br>1. They want to trash the Charter<br>2. They are forming a new “council” that circumvents the ISA<br><br>(1/4)</p>— carri (@carrifromtexas) <a href="https://twitter.com/carrifromtexas/status/1189919156390563847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2019</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">3. They will require supporters to register for “membership”<br>4. They refuse to renew the ticket deal with supporters, eliminating our main source of revenue and severely impacting our ability to function<br>5. They will have minimum requirements for SGs to be recognized<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cf97?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cf97</a><br>(2/4)</p>— carri (@carrifromtexas) <a href="https://twitter.com/carrifromtexas/status/1189919158168965121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2019</a>
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<p id="7kHLuM">Further unofficial reports of the meeting suggest that the ISA will have one seat on the new appointed supporter’s council, with the other representatives being hand-picked by the club. The club also indicated that they would be dissolving <a href="http://www.s8c.org/about/the-chicago-fire-soccer-club-supporters-charter/">the supporter’s charter</a>.</p>
<p id="lkiiPR">By Alldredge’s account, the front office is undertaking a brazen power grab aimed at undermining Section 8 and remaking Fire supporter culture into a shape of their choosing— smaller, friendlier to the club’s interests, and easier to control.</p>
<p id="lNqtI0">The end of Section 8’s status as a ticket broker would be a tremendous blow to the ISA’s ability to conduct gameday operations. By removing their primary source of revenue, Section 8’s ability to produce tifos, organize trips to away games, and recruit new fans. The implementation of a supporter’s registry— something which Section 8 has resisted and pushed back on for years— is also deeply troubling.</p>
<p id="cWFOq7">While <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2013/8/27/4663216/e-pluribus-unum-htiot-responds-to-the-editorial">tensions between supporters and the front office</a> during <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2018/6/8/17442258/cf97-chicago-fire-sector-latino-ban-free-101">the Andrew Hauptman era have been well-documented</a>, there was hope that Joe Mansueto’s purchase of the team earlier this year would signal a fresh start and a healthier relationship between club leadership and the most dedicated fans. Those hopes have been quietly dashed in recent meetings between front office officials and Section 8, with <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/9/13/20864277/cf97-chicago-fire-banner-policy-update-iron-front-section-8-mls-2019">the most visible clash coming in September following the club’s restrictive ban on “political” banners</a>. </p>
<p id="gK6Fyd">There have been rumblings that the front office is not only continuing to take an adversarial pose against supporters groups in the Mansueto era, but that they see the move to Soldier Field as an opportunity to bust Section 8’s leverage once and for all. This was hinted earlier this month when stadium maps offered to potential season ticket buyers showed that there would only be one supporters section, as opposed to two at SeatGeek Stadium.</p>
<p id="E87oZG">We’ve reached out to the front office and Section 8 leadership for comments, and we will update this piece if and when they respond. In the meantime, <a href="https://twitter.com/carrifromtexas/status/1189919160467374080">Alldredge is asking fans to attend Section 8’s board meeting next Tuesday</a> at Schuba’s Tavern in Lakeview to discuss the situation.</p>
<p id="KzxJDJ"><em>An earlier version of this article mistakenly reported that the next Section 8 board meeting is tonight. We’ve updated the post to include the correct date (next Tuesday). We regret the error.</em></p>
https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/10/31/20941933/cf97-chicago-fire-front-office-section-8-supporter-councilRuben TischBridget Gordon2019-10-17T12:30:00-05:002019-10-17T12:30:00-05:002019 Chicago Fire Retrospective Part 2
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<img alt="MLS: Chicago Fire Announcement-Soldier Field" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RGS0brqvs-VlorIe6VaN5TClp50=/0x0:3500x2333/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65491749/usa_today_13478694.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Our look back at the 2019 season concludes</p> <p id="VATWAc"><em>This is the second of a two-part retrospective on the 2018 season. You can read part one </em><a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/10/10/20907537/cf97-chicago-fire-mls-2019-retrospective-part-1"><em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="usrdbC">
<p id="r3HsLk">In retrospect, the humiliation caused by the loss to St Louis FC was the catalyst for much of the good news that was to come during the second half of the season. The now familiar refrain of “Hauptman Out” was picking up steam once again, this time with much more urgency. Something had to give, and soon. </p>
<p id="qmhbAa">The first domino of change came in early July, when It was announced on the 9th that <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/7/9/20687624/cf97-chicago-fire-seatgeek-stadium-bridgeview-amended-lease-official">the Fire were indeed leaving Bridgeview</a>, and paying a grand total of $60.5 million for the privilege. The news had been bandied about <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/5/8/18537375/cf97-chicago-fire-break-lease-village-bridgeview-soldier-field-2020">since early May</a>, but this was the first official notice of the club declaring it’s intent to move back to the city. The reaction was largely positive, and the assumption was that the Fire would play in Soldier Field for at least the short term, with the site of the former Michael Reese Hospital speculated as the home of the Fire’s new soccer specific stadium.</p>
<p id="YlfVe4">Meanwhile on the pitch, the Men In Red had to sit and stew in their misery for two weeks waiting for the group stage of the CONCACAF <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/concacaf-gold-cup">Gold Cup</a> to play out, and when they finally returned to action, things were as bad as when they left. </p>
<p id="zGnzsz">They dropped points to <a href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/">Real Salt Lake</a> in their first game back. It was another good start destroyed by defensive mishaps. Aleksander Katai scored in the first 5 minutes with a worm burner of a set piece that confused everyone and wound up in the back of the net. 26 minutes later, an RSL cross was headed towards the penalty spot and the arm of <span>Mo Adams</span>, leading to a penalty that was buried by Albert Rusnák. </p>
<p id="zSHq6n">The Fire would then go on to win only one of their next eight games, including losses to <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/teams/fc-cincinnati">FC Cincinnati</a> on the road and <a href="https://www.brotherlygame.com/">Philadelphia Union</a> at home. Their one win, a 5-1 victory over <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/teams/atlanta-united">Atlanta United,</a> was a game that could only be described as bizarre. Atlanta looked like they wanted to be literally anywhere other than SeatGeek Stadium, and played like it. An 11th minute red card for ATL center back Leandro González Pírez set the tone early, and for the next 79 minutes, the Fire had what amounted to a training session. That would be it for good news throughout the month of July, though. At least not until the Fire got some support from a new signing.</p>
<p id="JM7f6S">Jonathan Bornstein was announced on July 22nd as the newest member of the <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a> roster and he made an instant impact. His first two games with the club, a scoreless draw with DC United and a 1-0 win at Houston, were both clean sheets due in no small part to his experience and poise under pressure. All of a sudden, for a while, the Fire looked like they could have turned the season around. They even beat Philadelphia, the first place team in the east at the time. However, a 2-1 loss to New England would ultimately be their undoing. By the end of the season, that result would come back to haunt them, as they finished three points back of the Revolution. A win in Foxboro that night would have meant they were playoff bound, and would have made what came next all the sweeter. </p>
<p id="P5weDd">After years and years of poor results and an increasing slide into irrelevance, the pressure for club owner Andrew Hauptman to sell the club to someone else from the fanbase was as strong as ever. With Open Cup debacle, and the move back into the city already in motion, it seemed like the perfect time for him to divest himself.<a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/9/13/20864554/cf97-chicago-fire-hauptman-out"> On September 13th, it was announced that Hauptman sold his majority stake in the club to Joe Mansueto</a>. </p>
<p id="aloYzV">After Mansueto, who had purchased a 49 percent stake in the club the previous year, completed his takeover of the club, the mood changed. There were celebrations on Twitter and in real life. Fire players once alienated by Hauptman were all of a sudden coming back to the club. From Mike Magee to Diego Gutierrez, Fire legends were celebrating this new era of club history.</p>
<p id="gW31xs">Buried under all of that was news of a much more sinister kind. This was a tumultuous year for the league, as it found itself in an ideological battle with the forces of good that it would eventually lose. Members of supporters groups across the country were being banned for fighting back against the growing nazi presence at MLS games and in the United States in general, and the <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/9/13/20864277/cf97-chicago-fire-banner-policy-update-iron-front-section-8-mls-2019">Fire’s FO joined the rest of the league</a> in cracking down on anti fascist displays while still <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/mar/06/proud-boys-and-skinheads-mls-faces-an-incursion-from-the-far-right">burying their heads over the growing nazi problem</a>. In late September, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/24/sports/soccer/mls-iron-front.html">MLS backed down</a>, and displays of the Iron Front were allowed in stadiums once again. However, we should always keep in mind where MLS stands on this issue, and their unwillingness to actually solve the problem.</p>
<p id="NUGN6p">With eyes on things more important than soccer, the Fire would finish the season undefeated, and play the best soccer of the season. Their first game after the sale was a 4-0 victory over <a href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a>, securing the Brimstone Cup officially for the 7th time in it’s 19 years of existence. The next two draws from Cincy and Toronto officially eliminated them from playoff contention, but they ended the season on a high note, a 5-2 win over Orlando in Orlando. The Fire ended the season in 8th place with 42 points, and a 10W-12D-12L record.</p>
<p id="E8Ouvx">The 2019 Chicago Fire season was a roller coaster, both on the pitch and off of it. The highs of Joe Mansueto’s takeover and some beautiful soccer will be marred by what could have been on the pitch, and MLS’s political stand off of it. At the end of the day, the 2019 season will go down as one of the most important in club history. For good, and for ill. </p>
https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/10/17/20915709/cf97-chicago-fire-2019-retrospective-part-2Ruben Tisch2019-10-15T12:30:00-05:002019-10-15T12:30:00-05:00Nelson Rodriguez Needs To Go
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<img alt="MLS: New York Red Bulls at Chicago Fire" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/x_oeqoPOVWo-QAVuA-EGt1rVgUw=/0x0:4350x2900/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65473382/usa_today_8884175.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Fire president/GM doesn’t have a plan to move the club forward. </p> <p id="FqqeCQ">Yesterday, <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a> president and general manager Nelson Rodriguez <a href="https://twitter.com/ChicagoFire/status/1183821269193646081">took to the podium</a> for his end-of-season debrief with the media. </p>
<p id="GEupwI">Rodriguez offered clear answers to a few pressing questions. The Fire picked up their club options for Jeremiah Gutjahr, Micheal Azira, and <span>Fabian Herbers</span>, giving them some good depth at forward and midfield. He confirmed what we thought about seating capacity at Soldier Field; the third level will be initially closed off, and the initial number of seats will be limited to 28,000. He also announced that they’ll have more information on whatever they’re doing to the club’s brand in November. </p>
<p id="yAmPq8">However, when pressed on this season’s lack of success and whether or not he and head coach <span>Veljko Paunovic</span> should get another chance next year, he around the question. His answers to tough questions about the product on the pitch were meandering and often bordered on the absurd. At one point he made a long, tortured metaphor about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_War">Russia’s invasion of Finland in 1939</a>; its relevance to the current state of the club was, shall we say, “murky.”</p>
<p id="IkaMhT">But perhaps the most galling moment came when he insisted that “our football didn’t let us down.”</p>
<p id="XpbUbb">The 2019 Chicago Fire season was defined by football letting them down. From defensive mistakes and goalkeeping errors letting in goals that shouldn’t have been scored, to not capitalizing on being the team with the second highest expected goals in MLS, this team squandered chance after chance on the pitch. </p>
<p id="5pReWT">Yes, at times they showed they were capable of wonderful football. They were the first team this year to take points from eventual Supporters’ Shield winners LAFC at their home stadium. They won multiple games by three or more goals. On their day, they could look like the most dominant team in the league. But when it mattered they always seemed to fall flat on their face. They had opportunity after opportunity to make something of the season, and they let it get away.</p>
<p id="ud6any">Nelson Rodriguez is either lying to you, or lying to himself. And I can’t decide which is worse. </p>
<p id="2ZkUP1">Either he thinks that the 2019 season really wasn’t that bad, or he’s trying to spin you into believing underachieving as badly as they did this year isn’t really a problem. He blames this year on problems not on the field, but larger cultural issues, and now that those <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/9/13/20864554/cf97-chicago-fire-hauptman-out">cultural issues are gone</a>, next year with him will be better. </p>
<p id="pgujsH">This isn’t the first time Rodriguez has put on this particular song and dance routine. At the end of the 2018 season, he took responsibility for not putting together a proper roster, something he reiterated yesterday. What he didn’t acknowledge is that he said at the end of the 2018 season that the next year he’d do a better job. He didn’t. Rodriguez keeps promising that next year will be better, we just need to give him more time, but “better” never actually comes.</p>
<p id="GQudqc">I’m sick and tired of Nelson Rodriguez insisting that everything is okay when clearly it’s not. He revealed a lot when he said that the reason all three Designated Player contracts expired at the end of this season was due, in part, to the possibility of someone coming in to replace him for the 2020 season. </p>
<p id="aEYu6g">He was right when he said that there was nothing he could say to assure the fan base that he was the right person for the job. Because he’s not. </p>
<p id="SBfRmh">It’s time for the Fire to move on. </p>
https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/10/15/20914467/cf97-chicago-fire-nelson-rodriguez-out-media-roundtable-october-2019Ruben Tisch2019-10-14T12:30:00-05:002019-10-14T12:30:00-05:00How Will The Fire Move On After Niko
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<img alt="MLS: FC Dallas at Chicago Fire" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BUQwwdKiatS1zgrKm2gN9MZxyVQ=/0x0:4464x2976/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65463977/usa_today_13359357.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The 2017 Golden Boot winner announced he was moving on over the weekend. The Fire must do the same.</p> <p id="x4u03z">In a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/424241681109478/posts/1163169357216703/?sfnsn=mo">Facebook post</a> published over the weekend, <span>Nemanja Nikolic</span> said his goodbyes to the <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a>.</p>
<p id="ZSy6mu">Niko was a bright spot in an otherwise bleak section of Fire history. Along with <span>David Accam</span>, he came into the squad in 2017 and helped turn the club around. The Fire went from last place team the year before into a contender for the Supporters’ Shield, lifting the sprites of a beleaguered fan base, giving them something to believe in, and injecting some life into a club that was on life support. That year also saw him win the golden boot, become MLS Best XI in win Best MLS Player at the ESPYs.</p>
<p id="sluS2b">Despite never reaching that level of success again, Nikolic leaves the club as it’s second leading goalscorer, scoring 50 goals in only 90 appearances, and his absence leaves a gaping hole in the attack, and one that the front office must fill in the off-season. While <span>CJ Sapong</span> did an admirable job in attempting to fill in while he was slumping this season, It won’t be enough going forward.</p>
<p id="rJU8oU">This will be the first big test of the new front office. Replacing Niko’s goal output will be critical to succeeding next year, regardless of other moves the club decides to make. With this news and the retirement of <span>Bastian Schweinsteiger</span>, the Fire now have two open designated player slots open, and how they fill them will be extremely important.</p>
<p id="wu2ovT">This is something that in the past, this club has not been good at. When they sold <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2018/1/19/16910708/cf97-david-accam-traded-philadelphia-union-allocation-money-matt-lampson-jorge-bava-2018-mls-draft">David Accam to Philadelphia</a>, they failed to replace his production and influence right away. It wasn’t until Przemysław Frankowski this year that the club got close to that mark. The Fire need to sign someone just as dynamic and influential as Niko was this winter.</p>
<p id="kxVoyG">One of the names being talked about as a replacement, mostly because of <a href="https://twitter.com/danriccio650/status/1181627509013508097?s=21">this tweet</a>, is Olivier Giroud. Despite this rumor feeling like his agent trying to drum up more interest for him in the European market, the Fire should still make an effort to sign him. He’d be great in MLS. His power and intelligence would run over some of the inexperienced and poor defending, and with the quality of service he’d get here from the likes of Nico Gaitán and Frankowski, there’s a good chance he could challenge Vela and Zlatan for golden boot winner or league MVP. </p>
<p id="K6GHK3">Another name I’ve been thinking a lot about recently is Bobby Wood. Currently toiling in the 2. Bundesliga with Hamburger SV, he only has three league appearances in nine games and no starts. He’s played just 23 minutes for the club, and could really use a change of scenery. Wood is a lot more similar in playstyle to Nikolic than Giroud would be. He’d pressure back lines the same way Niko did, and would be more athletic and able to high press for longer periods of time.</p>
<p id="RIr4SY">Regardless of who they get, the club cannot let this lie like they did with Accam. The Club put a lot of pressure on themselves to be successful in 2020 with <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/10/8/20904471/cf97-chicago-fire-mls-2020-soldier-field-official">the move Soldier Field</a>. Therefore, replacing Nikolic’s production is a “must do” this offseason. If they don’t, than they can kiss any dreams they had of becoming relevant in the city goodbye.</p>
https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2019/10/14/20911828/cf97-chicago-fire-nemanja-nikolic-departsRuben Tisch