CHICAGO, Ill. – The Chicago Fire have publicly mulled spending “Keane-like money” on big-name player signings since owner Andrew Hauptman took the reins nine years ago. But there is a growing feeling that this might be the year when that possibility finally becomes a reality.
Armed with a war chest of MLS currency in the form of targeted allocation money and general allocation money, the Men in Red have been linked with Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, Middlesbrough’s US goalkeeper and Chicago native Brad Guzan and Legia Warsaw’s Hungarian striker Nemanja Nikolic.
And while reluctant to reveal specifics about any of these potential moves, Fire general manager Nelson Rodriguez said in an exclusive conversation with MLSsoccer.com that the Fire are well positioned to secure the services of some of the players he and head coach Veljko Paunovic have targeted this offseason.
“We are, in terms of the MLS resources we have, the TAM and GAM, two first-round [Super]Draft picks this year,” Rodriguez acknowledged when asked if the club was in good financial health heading into the winter transfer window. “We also have budget space, which is helpful, and then we have the two Designated Player slots. Along with that, I think we have started to develop that nice core that we have been talking about and looking for.
“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but we feel good about the position we’ve put ourselves in,” he added. “I know there will be a large expectation from the fans and from media for us to make ‘big moves,’ but I think we have to be disciplined and make sure that what we choose to do fits into our overall plan and that we make it work when we make those decisions.”
The initial plan that both Paunovic and Rodriguez have regularly referenced since their arrival seemed to suggest that any marquee player would be the final piece of a carefully and strategically assembled jigsaw. However, on the back of yet another disappointing season where Chicago fell well short of the MLS Cup Playoffs, there may have been an adjustment to that philosophy.
“The thinking remains the same, but part of the thinking is also that we don’t think we are as far away as perhaps some other people think,” Rodriguez said. “We think we have a pretty good group assembled. Now, everyone within that group – and I have to say this again, me included – has to get better. If the existing group comes back and is the same in terms of its performance, in terms of its effort, in terms of its intelligence, then we won’t be good enough again.
“So we all have to get better. Having said that, we think we’ve a pretty good group and we think if we can improve in some key areas that we would have the opportunity to make a good jump in the standings.”
Some high-profile moves this winter could do much to restore faith in a front office that has borne the brunt of criticisms for the poor returns of the past few years, which have seen the Fire play just one playoff game in seven underachieving seasons. Chicago have finished 19th, 20th and 20th in the MLS Supporters' Shield standings over the last three seasons, respectively.
“We noted at the end of the year that one of the big needs of the team was what I call ‘a boss,’ ‘a leader’ and preferably someone who can play in the midfield and fulfill that role,” Rodriguez said. “Someone with a high soccer IQ, someone who is good and comfortable on the ball and someone who could help our younger core. That still remains a focus.
“Another big focus for us is what we call ‘a gamebreaker,’” he continued. “It could be a No. 10, it could be a No. 9, it could be another dynamic goal-scoring winger, but somebody on the offensive side of the ball who can, in a moment, whether through a dribble or a pass or a shot, create a goal that we might not otherwise be able to get. Those are the two needs identified and those are the two needs we continue to pursue as priorities.”
Rodriguez confirmed that Paunovic, his assistant Marko Mitrovic and chief scout Matt Pearson have been busy since the season ended and have identified targets in several countries.
“We’ve identified players of interest and we’re now following up with our video work, background work and in-game and live analysis with the hopes of making offers in December and January as the window around most of the world opens,” he said.
If Rodriguez and Paunovic enjoy a productive offseason, they believe it can halt the Fire's sustained woes and give them realistic ambitions of entering the playoff picture. That is the immediate ambition, at least.
“Look, we have to win,” Rodriguez said of expectations for 2017. “The fans have suffered enough, yet they continue to be incredibly supportive and our ownership has suffered and we feel a responsibility now that we can’t keep talking about the future, the future, the future. The present has to count and the only way that it can count is if we win games. And so the expectation is that we will be in the playoffs and competing.”
