This article was sent in by reader/writer/ Fire fan Daniel Casey. Feel free to follow
Daniel's example; send in any articles you like! We love to hear what you have to say, and could
always use the help.
The pre-season for any sport is an exciting time, full of anxiety and hope.
The Chicago Fire have signed 25 year-old Uruguayan forward Federico Puppo. HTIOT first put this
rumor up over a week ago and it's interesting to see it finalized. It seems the Chicago Fire
technical staff should be fully familiar with Puppo.
"Federico Puppo is a player we've kept an eye for the past few seasons," said Fire head coach
Frank Klopas.
The Chicago Fire announced that Mike Matkovich and Leo Percovich will return to the club as
Frank Klopas' assistant coaches for the 2012 season. Matkovich rejoins the Fire as an assistant
coach, having previously served in the role for the club from 2009-10. The fact that Klopas is
bringing Matkovich back on suggests that there was some kind of rift between Matkovich and former
Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos.
So Tweed did this article and wanted me to do a follow up. "You're full of hatred and black
heartedness why don't you take a stab at who should be cut." He says to me over the Gchats. I pause
wondering if to take his comments as a compliment or just a statement of truth. "Hmmm that has to
be a compliment" I think to myself.
When Frank Klopas took over as interim head coach of the Chicago Fire back at the end of May, it
appeared as if he would only be leading the club until a permanent solution was found at the end of
the season.
Turns out that permanent solution was him.
On Thursday afternoon, the Chicago Fire took that interim label off of Klopas, making him the
sixth head coach in club history.
For the second straight year, the Chicago Fire are not participating in the MLS Playoffs.
Despite a valiant turn around in the final games on the season, most notably the stunning comeback
against DC United, the Fire came up just short. As we enter the long and dark off-season the Fire
have many questions to answer before kicking a ball in 2012.
Frank Klopas helped a struggling Chicago Fire transform from league laughing stock to legitimate
playoff contender in less than a season and has been rewarded with a chance to keep doing the job
he did so well this past season.
The Fire will remove the interim tag from Frank Klopas' interim head coaching position and make
him the team's head coach for the 2012 MLS season, sources told Fox Soccer on Tuesday.
Chicago came very close to the post season, now they have to focus on saving the right 11 for
the expansion draft. (Getty Images)
I took a day or so off from writing these lists, but I hope to get to at least two today.
Today, we are focusing on the Chicago Fire. Frank Klopas' team struggled out of the gate due to
injuries and youth but once former manager Carlos de los Cobos was shown the door, the Fire turned
things around in the summer and ended up being a decent team for 2012.
Fire's Frank Klopas -- Getty ImagesBy Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire have not exactly established continuity with their head coach
over the past five seasons. Five different coaches have been at the helm since the start of the
2007 season.
With the Fire's 2011 season in the books, the focus once again turns toward the sidelines, where
Fire technical director and interim head coach Frank Klopas posted an 8-5-10 record after replacing
Carlos de los Cobos.
Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
The Chicago Fire haven't had much to celebrate in a season marred by the ouster of coach Carlos
de los Cobos and a league-low four wins through 26 games.
But Tuesday's 2-1 triumph over the Richmond Kickers put Chicago in the U.
Hans Backe and New York are on the brink of disaster. (Getty Images)
It has been a while since I last updated my coaching hot seat post. In fact I don't believe I've
updated it since Carlos de los Cobos was about to be let go in the Windy city earlier this
summer.
There really shouldn't be too many surprising names on this list below.
Frank Klopas -- Getty ImagesBy Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com
Chicago Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas and former head coach Carlos de los Cobos have been at
the helm for 11 games apiece this year. So this is an opportune moment to take a look at how things
have changed -- or not changed -- under their leadership this season.
What was solid rumor yesterday is official team news today as the Chicago Fire released
Bratislav Ristic to open an international spot for new signing Pavel Pardo. Ristic was signed on
September 14, 2010 after a long trial period with the team. He went on to make 8 starts in 2010
playing at RB, LB, RM, and even a little bit at CDM and LM.
Your intrepid rumor monger has been digging since his last article repeating reports linking
Club America and Mexico defensive midfielder Pavel Pardo. Interim Head Coach Frank Klopas has also
expressed an interest in Argentine attacking midfielder Sebastian Grazzini, saying the Fire have
been following him.
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced today that they have waived rookie midfielder Davis Paul.
Frank Klopas said, "We want to thank Davis for his contributions to the Chicago Fire and wish him
the best of luck in his next venture". Everyone here at Hot Time In Old Town does the same. Davis
Paul is a great guy who works hard and is a creative individual.
Sean Johnson -- Getty ImagesBy Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire offense has not regularly produced over the past month, but
the team's defense has turned into a saving grace for points.
Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas has been at the helm for five matches.
The New England Revolution will wrap up their two-match home stand on Saturday against their
bitter rivals the Chicago Fire in an encounter that is shaping up to be a basement brawl. Chicago
has had a miserable season thus far and currently sits even with the Revolution on points in a tie
for second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference.
Fire's Orr Barouch -- Getty ImagesBRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- With all of the lineup changes, formation
switches, and an in-season coaching adjustment from Carlos de los Cobos to interim head coach Frank
Klopas, Chicago Fire rookie forward Orr Barouch is one of the few constants throughout the Fire's
trying season.
By JOSE M. ROMERO
Three games into his stint as interim head coach, Frank Klopas seems like the right hire for the
Chicago Fire.
Klopas, who replaced Carlos de los Cobos late last month following a slow start in which the
club tallied nine points in 12 MLS games, made all the right moves in Sunday's 1-0 win for the Fire
over the host Columbus Crew.
Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
The Columbus Crew has made a nasty habit out of surrendering the opening goal, having done so in
each of its last six contests. But on the plus side, Columbus has battled back to earn a draw three
times during that stretch, against Seattle, Chivas USA and New York.
We exchange three questions with Andy Edwards of The Daily Wiz in order to get some insider
perspective on Sporting Kansas City as the Chicago Fire travel to KC to open up the brand new
Livestrong Sporting Park tonight. Andy's answer to my first question is below and the other five
questions in the exchange are after the break.
Fire owner Andrew Hauptman remains optimistic about the club's chances to compete for a playoff
position this season despite the team's 1-4-6 start and feels that under the direction of interim
coach Frank Klopas the team can improve. Hauptman was also complimentary of now former coach Carlos
De Los Cobos although his hiring ultimately did not work out.
The Sounders play the Chicago Fire after a great win against Real Salt Lake. Meanwhile, the Fire
will be dealing with plenty of changes as they released coach Carlos de los Cobos this week and
installed Frank Klopas as the interim head coach. He'll be looking to get more out of the Fire
while searching for a long-term coach for the team.
Fire's Diego Chaves -- Getty ImagesBRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The post-Carlos de los Cobos era begins for
the Chicago Fire, and it is no secret that interim head coach Frank Klopas' squad has a deep hole
to climb out of.
The Fire are 1-4-6 and have tied a franchise-worst nine-game winless streak (0-4-5).
By ANTHONY ZILIS
One thing is clear to captain Logan Pause and his Chicago Fire teammates throughout their
nine-game winless streak – the Fire hasn't been outplayed by a wide margin.
"If you're getting broken down by another team who's playing great soccer, you can kind of hold
your head up.
MLS coaches keep telling us, it's about the players. And yet, too many people out there don't
get it, forever convinced that formations, tactics and some kind of motivational fairy dust can
compensate for a flawed roster. That includes a portion of the supporters, some media members and
way too many MLS executives (who really ought to know better).
Photo by LA Galaxy
For American soccer fans, we are entering a frantic month of soccer. In addition to our normal
MLS action, we will have the chance to see the Gold Cup and an impressive friendly against Spain.
With the action spread out across the U.S., this may be the most soccer saturated this country has
been since the 1994 World Cup - cities across the country even without MLS teams will get to see
the beautiful game at a high level.
Weather: 61 degrees, 13 mph winds with light rain. Otherwise known as sucky.
Surface: Natural Grass
Location: At a monument to the dominant Japanese automaker in Bridgeview, IL
Referee: Abiodun Okulaja
Line Judges: Brian Poeschel; Peter Balciunas
4th Official: Allen Chapman
Attendance: 11,926
Lineups:
Chicago Fire
Coach: Carlos de los Cobos
GK: Sean Johnson
D: Gonzalo Segares
D: Cory Gibbs
D: Yamith Cuesta
D: Bratislav Ristic
LM: Marco Pappa
RM: Dominic Oduro
CM: Logan Pause (C)
CM: Daniel Paladini
F: Diego Chaves
F: Cristian Nazarit
Bench:
F: Orr Barouch
M/F: Gaston Puerari
M: Baggio Husidic
M: Corben Bone
D: Pari Pantazopoulos
D: Dasan Robinson
GK: Jon Conway
San Jose Earthquakes
Coach: Frank Yallop
GK: Jon Busch
D: Steven Beitashour
D: Ike Opara
D: Jason Hernandez
D: Bobby Convey
M: Joey Gjertsen
M: Brad Ring
M: Khari Stephenson
M: Ramiro Corrales (C)
F: Steven Lenhart
F: Chris Wondolowski
Bench:
M: Anthony Ampaipitakwong
M: Sam Cronin
M: Brandon McDonald
D: Bobby Burling,
F: Ellis McLoughlin
D/M: Justin Morrow
GK Andrew Weber
- Lenhart gets lose down the left side but Cuesta is there to take the ball away and kick it long
towards Nazarit.
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jun 2, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Despite the Memorial Day
holiday, Monday wasn't a quiet one for Major League Soccer. Two clubs, the Vancouver Whitecaps and
Chicago Fire became the first of the 2011 season to dump their coaches. Teitur Thordarson felt the
axe in Vancouver, while Carlos de los Cobos was relieved of his duties by the Fire.
By CALEB SONNELAND
Coming off a big victory over Real Salt Lake at the Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, Seattle is
now preparing for a "resurgent" Chicago Fire side that changed managerial hands over the weekend.
Former Mexican National Team defender Carlos de los Cobos was ousted in favor of Frank Klopas,
previously employed as the club's Technical Director, as the Fire prepare to play host to the
Sounders.
New Chicago Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas went right to work on Tuesday conducting his
first training session and his first media sessions. The sports press was out in full press with
cameras galore. You might have even noticed the coverage on the local news stations yesterday. I
think this was in part due to Klopas' history in Chicago as a player and a famous soccer
figure.
Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
By ANTHONY ZILIS
Chicago Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas said Tuesday that the evaluation process of Carlos
de los Cobos, who was fired on Monday, began at the end of the 2010 season, when the Fire failed to
make the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history.
Frank Klopas wrapped up his first training session as the "interim head coach" of the Chicago
Fire this morning by answering questions regarding the immediate future and direction of the team
after yesterday's dismissal of Carlos De Los Cobos. Klopas explained that the move was a "soccer
decision" and was not an easy move to make considering that as Technical Director, De Los Cobos was
his choice in January 2010.
Photo provided by Chicago FireBRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Chicago Fire technical director and now interim
head coach Frank Klopas wears his Fire passion at the highest level.
Klopas' soccer roots are embedded within the Fire organization and the city of Chicago, and he
wants to see this club return to its glory years that he experienced as a player.
Hey y'all. How was your Memorial Day weekend? Did you get drunk and act the fool at a cookout? Did
you give a rambling, arrogant press conference? Did you get fired from your coaching gig or maybe
get homesick for Europe?
I ate too much and watched too much soccer yet I still can't think of anything worth running my
mouth about today that 100 other people aren't already talking about.
Ex-Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson.de los Cobos is out of a job after Fire axe.We're barely a third of the way through the season but already poor form is drawing consequences.
Two head coaches were let go from their positions yesterday as their clubs seek an immediate
turnaround in fortunes.
Ex-Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson.de los Cobos is out of a job after Fire axe.We're barely a third of the way through the season but already poor form is drawing consequences.
Two head coaches were let go from their positions yesterday as their clubs seek an immediate
turnaround in fortunes.
Yesterday was certainly an eventful Memorial Day for many MLS fans as two teams decided to ditch
their respective head coaches. Our friendly neighbors to the north, the Vancouver Whitecaps, bid
adieu to their long time USL coach Teitur Thordarson and the Chicago Fire opted to seek out a
different direction than where Carlos de los Cobos was taking the team.
With coaching changes made in Major League Soccer this past weekend with both Teitur Thordarson
(Vancouver) and Carlos de los Cobos (Chicago), Ives Galarcep looks at the moves by both teams.
The 2011 season started off with so much promise for both the Vancouver Whitecaps and Chicago
Fire, two teams who came into the season with question marks and coaches who seemed like prime
candidates to be replaced if things didn't go well.
Photo: Courtesy Philadelphia Union
Union
Ah, a 6–2 road win. So, how was your weekend?
Not so good for Toronto coach Aron Winter and goalkeeper Stefan Frei. "We were humiliated," said
Winter. "When my first touch is getting the ball from the back of the net, that's not good," said
Frei.
