Details scarce for Chicago Fire's latest rebuilding plan
The characters directing the Chicago Fire's latest new era are in place.
General manager Nelson Rodriguez, who was hired Sept. 19, on Thursday introduced his new coach, Veljko Paunovic. They arrive with high expectations and a long-term perspective.
Their task: make professional soccer relevant again in Chicago.
While they didn't say it directly - Thursday's news conference was long on platitudes and short on specifics - Rodriguez and Paunovic made it clear the club is starting over again.
The team's moves the last few weeks made that clear as well. Club officials declined Monday to pick up the options of nine players and have three more out of contract. The roster is down to 13.
Team officials also let go three longtime support staffers last month.
"There were a lot of good people that we made decisions to offer them different opportunities to no longer remain with the club," Rodriguez said. "A big part of that is my estimation that we'd gotten a bit stale. Pauno is high energy, and he's very enthusiastic and he's very positive. ... I think they were an unfortunate necessity of moving this club forward."
It's possible a couple of players could return, but the club will move forward with new equipment managers and a new team administrator. There also will be considerable roster turnover.
The results might not change as quickly, however.
"Everything is a process, and the first process now is building, finding the right players," said Paunovic, who also said he believes the Fire can make the 2016 playoffs, something the club has done just once in the last six seasons as attendance dwindled and media attention shrank.
"Like Pauno said, we always aspire to win MLS Cup," Rodriguez added in a separate meeting with the media. "Is that realistic? It probably isn't. In our league it's also not impossible."
In other words fans will have their patience tested again.
"We're really looking at this with a 3- to 5-year horizon to get there, and I believe that we will. We're going to build a championship program," Rodriguez said.
A high-priced designated player is more likely to be the final piece of the puzzle than a building block.
"I think that our market is sophisticated enough to see through pandering," Rodriguez said. "So it's not about signing a player just because they have a big name or have a reputation or others believe he'll sell more shirts or tickets. What we need to assemble is a championship team."
Will Paunovic have the financial resources he needs to be successful? It's a question that will dog the club until it wins again.
"Of course," Paunovic insisted.
What type of players will Paunovic and Rodriguez seek? Again, specifics were left for another day.
"I think a team is always a mosaic," Rodriguez said. "There are a lot of different tiles that fit into the construct of a team and a well-functioning locker room."
The club will expect players from its Fire Academy to join the first team, but there's no guarantee guys such as former Cary-Grove High School and University of Wisconsin midfielder Drew Conner will sign this winter. A source said the club has requested video of Conner from Wisconsin. Paunovic will travel to the College Cup to scout another Academy player.
"Interesting player," Rodriguez said about Conner. "Has great history within the club, has great history within the area. Certainly someone that we have to consider. There are others like him that we have to look at and consider - players that suggest good potential moving forward."
The Fire has always had great potential and a great history. Now it's time for Rodriguez and Paunovic to try to rediscover that potential.
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