It’s safe to say that since training camp started in February, Carlos de los Cobos was on thin ice. After posting a 9-12-9 record in 2010, and missing the playoffs for just the second time in team history, there were hopes that the issues that plagued the team last season would be a memory, and that fans would see a new and different Chicago Fire team in 2011. While some of the issues departed, and the team took on a new and different look, the problems that plagued the team during the first half of the 2011 season are what ultimately led to Carlos de los Cobos’ departure on Monday.
Replacing de los Cobos on an interim basis, and looking to turn around the team’s 1-4-6 start is Fire Technical Director Frank Klopas. Klopas is no stranger to Chicago soccer. As a member of the inaugural 1998 squad, he helped lead the Fire to their first and only MLS Cup, as well as the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup that year. He is a member of the Ring of Fire, and after retiring from competitive play, he served as an assistant coach in 2000 under now-USMNT manager Bob Bradley, as well as time from 2004 to 2006 as the General Manager and Head Coach of the Chicago Storm.
It may be safe to say that, for a variety of reasons, this is not only the easiest move to make for the organization, but also a common sense move on the part of the Fire. Certainly bringing someone in on an interim basis is easiest from within, but in addition to that, much of the scouting, prospecting, and homework done in attaining the current first team was done by Frank himself during the offseason.
There is speculation as to whether or not the move to have Klopas step in as interim was a decision by the powers that be in the Fire organization, or if it was made by Klopas himself, although indications seem to lead towards the latter. Either way, one thing Frank Klopas wants to bring into team play is consistency. When asked about shifting lineups or formations, the new interim coach said, “This is not the time to experiment. You do stuff like this in preseason when you have two months to try things and figure things out. I think we just have to fine tune certain things.”
That in itself seems a move in the right direction. As has been indicated here previously, de los Cobos was known for seldom fielding the same lineup two games in a row, and he toyed throughout the pre-season, as well as the regular season, with a number of different formations. In retrospect, it seems that many of the roster and formation moves he made in the 2011 season were an act of desperation, likely because he knew the ship had to get righted in order for him to stay on for the duration of his contract.
While Carlos de los Cobos’ departure has seemingly caused a collective sigh of relief among Fire nation, Carlos faced his now-former team on Tuesday, urging them on in the rest of their season, and thanking the organization for the time spent in Chicago. Regardless of coaching styles, formations, or lack of production in the way of points in the win column, today’s action on the part of de los Cobos, especially in facing the team that just hours ago fired him, shows an incredible amount of class and character from the former Chicago coach. Here’s wishing for success in his future coaching job, wherever it may be, and that he finds a system that clicks with his coaching style and strategy.
(image courtesy of chicago-fire.com)
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