Wynalda: Fire Are True Champs

By Eric Wynalda
MLSnet.com

(Saturday, Oct. 25, 2003) - The Chicago Fire walk into Columbus on Sunday (4:00 p.m. ET - ESPN2) as Supporters' Shield winners and in this week's column ESPN2 analyst Eric Wynalda analyzes what has made Dave Sarachan's squad the elite team in MLS after an offseason in which the squad experienced an overhaul in personnel. He also chimes in on the officiating in last week's D.C. United vs. Columbus match and answers fan e-mails:

The Dallas Burn and Columbus Crew, two teams which reinforced their squads during the last offseason, may have been the teams which did not qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs but who has dealt with more adversity than the Chicago Fire? And look where they are - in first place: Supporters Shield winners.

They had to play on Fieldturf and last year they lost what many thought to be the heart of their team - Peter Nowak retired, Hristo Stoitchkov and Dema Kovalenko were moved to D.C. United and Josh Wolff went to Kansas City. Many felt that this team was done.

I'll be honest. At the beginning of the year when Chris Armas wasn't yet fit, I was very skeptical as well. But they succeeded in pulling it together. They didn't make excuses and they just figured it out. Sure they had injuries and had to deal with the adversity of playing on a surface they did not want to be on. But at the end of the day they are where they are because they did not do what other teams did and drowned themselves in their own excuses.

Although the Fire are not always the most spectacular team, Wynalda enjoys watching Gatorade Rookie of the Year candidate Damani Ralph.

San Jose fits into this category as well. They lost their leading goal scorer in Ariel Graziani, Best XI left back Wade Barrett, Goalkeeper of the Year Joe Cannon and they replaced Jimmy Conrad with a less experienced defender. But somehow they turned out to be a better team.

It's an indication to me that once again talent isn't always what you think it is. Talent can come out of nowhere and if you really nail down why Chicago was successful this year it does NOT come down to a few individuals (despite the fact that Damani Ralph may be the best rookie we've ever seen. No rookie comes close to this guy and if I were an agent he would be my first client).

So why is Chicago where it is? Let's first start by giving Dave Sarachan some credit. He took over this team in an obvious re-building phase. But he had a great core to work with and we shouldn't forget that. But like we've seen with other coaches in this League who have mismanaged their core sometimes, they can be more of a negative than a positive.

In Chicago's case Sarachan did not have to do much coaching. They have guys who know how to win beginning with Armas' comeback first and foremost and the return to form of an injured Jesse Marsch. Then there are Zach Thornton, Carlos Bocanegra, DaMarcus Beasley and Ante Razov - these guys know how to win. In the case of most of them, they have proven it since 1998.

Hands down the Chicago Fire are the best team in MLS. Chris Armas' influence as the team captain and leader with his silent work ethic may be a big part of the equation but I think it goes back to Dave Sarachan's ability to manage the group and not coach the team.

Wynalda believes that with players like Chris Armas, the Chicago Fire are equipped with winners.

Sarachan let the team find itself. This is without a doubt one of the only teams that has a distinct style of play. The play to their strengths and as a group they know what those are. Sarachan has allowed the players to be themselves within the framework of a system. That is what a good manager does.

The Fire are probably not the most spectacular team to watch (although I enjoy watching Damani Ralph play). But that's exactly the reason they are successful. They are winners and they just win games. Winners make it happen and losers let it happen. That's the team's mindset. They're not going to put on the most attractive display of soccer and they're not going to dazzle you (every once in a while Andy Williams is fun to watch).

The Fire continue to stick to who they are as a team and they are staying true to their season. San Jose has not been doing this and quite frankly you can tell that they're just waiting for the playoffs to start. Chicago is not. They're coming to play on Sunday. A guy like Chris Armas, who never takes his foot off the pedal, will make sure of that.

I'm not going to give the kiss of death and predict Chicago will win it all because there is too much parity in the League this year.

THE TRUE CHAMPION

If we did not have playoffs we would see Chicago holding up the championship trophy - and deservedly so - at the end of Sunday's match. If our system was similar to most any league in the world we would have been going back and forth this weekend watching the San Jose vs. Los Angeles and the Chicago vs. Columbus matches as they unfold to see who between San Jose and Chicago would win the title. They would have been two championship games in two stadiums and maybe that would have been a better way to finish the season.

The reality is that regardless of whether Chicago wins Sunday's game against Columbus or not, they will have just as good a chance at winning the championship as the Los Angeles Galaxy believe it or not. When the MLS Cup Playoffs start, it's all about form and unfortunately for teams like Chicago who have put together one heck of a season, they have to refocus and remember the things that got them to this point. If they do that they will get to The Home Depot Center on Nov. 23. But I refuse to even guess who's going to win it this year.

Wynalda believes the playoffs may take the chance away from the Fire to add to its U.S. Open Cup triumph with an MLS Cup.

For the Chicago Fire, a brilliant season could go for nought with the advent of the postseason. Even if they enter the playoffs with home field advantage - let's face it, there is no home field advantage this year.

This should be the point of the regular season where teams are finding their form and battling it out for the top of the table - for the league title. But right now we have teams resting up for the playoffs and frankly San Jose, for example, has played the worst soccer I've seen from them all year. I would rather see San Jose battling it out with Chicago for the title and we probably would see better things from the Earthquakes if that were the case. Even Bruce Arena said it on the air in a recent broadcast - let's pack more punch into the regular season.

HANDS OFF ABBEY

A little note about the referee of last weekend's game between D.C. United and the Columbus Crew. I'm going to surprise everyone and all of you who have written to me complaining about officiating: I will defend that referee.

I think that game between Columbus and D.C. United was as hard a game to referee as any game I've seen this year. Due to his angle on Hristo Stoitchkov's flop, he could not make a fair judgment call on it. There were more fouls that took place in that game, of the tactical and professional kind, than you see in most games. Unfortunately at times that game got out of control but I blame the players - namely Stoitchkov and Dema Kovalenko for the diving that turned the game into something it should not have been.

MLS' review board should step in here and I would encourage it to go back and watch the tape from that game and punish some of the players for the dives that happened in that game. There was also an inadvertent elbow thrown and a head butt and it's all the same person. That's all I have to say about that.

CHIVAS ON THE HORIZON

Many of you wrote in about the League changing the rules for Chivas and that was just a case of bad reporting by the American soccer press. The League has confirmed the foreign player rules will not change to accommodate Chivas.

The fact remains that Chivas is coming to MLS but I have to wonder if this makes sense. If you are building a brand, which is MLS' goal, you make your own product and not steal someone else's identity. Are we sending a message that our new tradition isn't good enough? That we can't figure it out on our own? Also, Chivas is a special club but its identity lies in Guadalajara. I'm surprised they would take the step to take their brand outside that context.

I'm sure this is a debate that will continue through the offseason and it will heighten the anticipation for the team.

MAILBAG:

I had been a die-hard MLS believer until recently. One of the things that got me disenchanted with the league was the way their key players (John Harkes, Leonel Alvarez, Marcelo and even Eric Wynalda himself) were being hung to dry when they were past their prime. There was simply no respect to the importance these people played in the creation and growth of MLS.

I am very saddened to see that Eric is doing the very same thing to Marco Etcheverry. El Diablo deserves to go out the way he wants and comments like Wynalda's only instigate those who already have absolutely no loyalty to the league. MLS will never, never reach the religion-like following other leagues enjoy because of lack of loyalty to the fans, players from the league and even ex-players like Eric. Does not Eric remember his not-so-good ending with the Fire? I don't recall Harkes or Lalas taking advantage of their journalistic positions to incite fans to oust him. Eric was too great of a player to end up bitter at his own elite group, which made the first two years of MLS perhaps the best ones of this now-failing league.

- Marco Ruiz, Parkland, FL

Wynalda says that Marco Etcheverry is receiving criticism that should not be directed toward him.

WYNALDA: For the last time - I am not attacking Marco Etchevery. If you really break it down I have been defending him. He has been under a great deal of criticism and I'm not just another guy chiming in. I'm simply stating that I think it's unfair to judge him for the player he is now.

And in regards to John Harkes, or a Tab Ramos or myself: our departure from MLS was never celebrated nor were we ever honored for any of our accomplishments. I'm not bitter in any way. It was my belieft that people assumed that we would go away. Obviously we have not and we have no intention of going away. We care far too much about the development and growth of the sport in this country to just disappear.

I hope when Marco and other players like Carlos Valderrama and Mauricio Cienfuegos will also continue to be a part of the future and not the past.

(Regarding Wynalda's comment on Julie Foudy being a true captain and stepping out of the starting lineup) I kinda feel I have to frame this a little more gently than I need to, since (a) I've been a fan of yours since 1990 and (b) you performed a great service to your nation not only on the field but by standing up to Giorgio Chinaglia ... But considering the 1998 World Cup, don't you think you're not exactly in a position to criticize another player's leadership abilities?

- Dan

WYNALDA: Thomas Dooley was our captain. And our real captain was sitting in his home in Virginia during the 1998 World Cup. The competition was an embarrassment. I know that and all of us as players know that and it had nothing to do with a lack of leadership. It was an entirely different scenario. And if you want to know that story wait for my book. My book will tell the real story of what happened.

My question is about the U.S. Open Cup. Do the players really care about this competition? The media and fan interest seems very poor... how would you suggest this competition's profile be raised. Should the prize money be increased? Just seems that there isn't enought buzz surrounding the event; a real shame given the history behind it. Thoughts? Walter Chudowsky - NYC

WYNALDA: I agree with you. To make the players care there has to be more money. There is virtually no money in that cup. Such a prestigious cup like that should have more money involved. The players do care but not enough and the reason for that is the biggest problem I have with MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup final - there is not enough attention because of the timing of it. It's drowned in the back pages of newspapers when either pro football or college football or the World Series make the back page.

Having a signature final is what makes a league special. Everything has to be a culmination of all the blood, sweat and tears - that's what a cup final is all about. We don't have that. We're just another game happening at a stadium at the same time as four or five different events. Until we figure out that we need a signature finale we will not get the kind of attention we deserve.

I grew up believing in your U.S. national team, and have grown to believe in our MLS. I gotta say after reading some of your colomns that as a soccer player and writer you are doing a good job in giving the game some honesty and character. I believe as more people become more honest in the league and its evaluation we as a country will arise as the sleeping giant and bring home the World Cup. Do we as a country have a reason to believe in a trophy for 2006? Will we get a well deserved revenge on Germany? Will Armas be playing?

- Gabriel Hillman - Milligan College, Tennessee

WYNALDA: Everything that we do as a league we have to realize that we are judged at the end of the day by how we do in World Cups. It was interesting for me to see how much credit MLS took for the results of the U.S. National Team at the 2002 World Cup when really nothing was done to make it easier for those guys. I commend the efforts of the players due to the fact that they made the best of a bad situation to be pulled out of their league in midseason and perform the way they did. It was truly amazing.

More tournaments like the Confederations Cup (above) will help the U.S. in the 2006 World Cup according to Wynalda.

The decisions that we make today and tomorrow and next week will have an effect on the team that ends up in Germany 2006 and knowing that we'll be judged on how we perform in the World Cup, more should be done to ensure we have a great showing in Germany. I believe, however, that it will be very difficult for our players until certain measures are taken to ensure the fact that our players have optimal training and optimal preparation. At this time they do not.

A perfect example is our excluding ourselves from Copa America. This is an embarrassment and it is one more reason for us to reevaluate our schedule. I commend the Costa Rican soccer federation for the recognition of this fact and their willingness to try and resolve the situation by including the Costa Rican National Team in that tournament. It is a wonderful opportunity to prepare and play againt the best teams in our region in a big competition. For us not to go will be a huge, huge mistake.

As a commentator you seem as direct as you were on the field going for goal. I like your straight talk. In that light I'd like your opinion to a couple of questions. First, is Ray Hudson really the coach to take DC United back to the top. I love the guy's passion and commitment, but I wonder about his coaching skills. The second question relates to what is the one thing you think ought to be changed in MLS to help it move on to the next level?

- Nick

Ray Hudson has done a fairly good job under the circumstances of managing this team. It's not his job to COACH D.C. United. Sure there are a couple of players who obviously need coaching such as Eskandarian, Quaranta and Bobby Convey but if you really look at D.C. United's team, their group is the most difficult team in the League to manage – with their strong personalities and the adversity they have had to overcome.

In response to the second question – the single biggest problem we have is the schedule. If you're dealing with reality you're asking players to perform through the summer months when it is viritually impossible to play soccer. You're dealing with perception where fans think the game is slow and the games aren't competitive. They blame the abilities of the players which is not fair. By changing the timeline of our league to co-exist with FIFA's international calendar, our product would get better and that should be the most important aspect of our league – the product. Because when the product gets better, the presentation gets better and you deal with the reality and perception of reality in the same swing.

So here's a question for you: does the U.S. really deserve to be a top 10 team? I was just as excited about their World Cup success as the next American soccer fan, but it discourages me to see that 1) we have yet to win a major tournament at any level, and 2) it still seems like we have trouble "dominating" teams we are supposed to beat ... It makes me wonder if our W.C. '02 success was more due to catching the rest of the footballing world off guard. I'm sure that won't be the case in '06.

- Hollins Showalter, Minneapolis, MN

WYNALDA: If we play in the Copa America and do well then the answer is yes. If we do not play in the Copa America, then no.

There is no "supposed to dominate" in international soccer. Not until you go to Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala do you understand what that means. Those are some of the most difficult places to play on the planet. If Brazil played in our region they would struggle with the likes of those teams on those fields in their backyard they're not easy to play against.

Great job on the MLSnet.com column mate! My question for you is, how do we, the hardcore MLS fan, grow the supporters clubs? These groups of fans who cling on to their team and country for dear life are the core of what makes a great league. How do we convince the casual fan to join one of the many MLS supporters clubs and stand and sing the full 90? In addition to that, how do we convince the teams to work with the supporters instead of against us? (save for Chicago and D.C.)

- Mark from NYC - Empire Supporters Club (MetroStars)

Wynalda wants to make sure the diehard fans are the ones that are catered to.

WYNALDA: We're trying to win over the hearts of people who don't care about the game – the causal fan. Very seldom do we see a casual fan become a diehard fan. What concerns me sometimes is our ability to recognize the diehard fan and take care of him. We need to keep you coming back and make you feel special because in actuality you are. But too many times our fans are taken for granted and it concerns me.

Eric - I appreciate you willingness to "call it as you see it" even if at some times I may not agree with your call. I absolutely give you credit it candor and explanation behind the position you take. Keep it up. Now my question for you. What is your take on the three best coaches in MLS... and the three worst coaches. I'm not asking who did the best or worst jobs. But if you had to choose among three coaches to run a hypothetical MLS side, who from existing coaches would you want? And which three would you avoid like the plague? And while we're at it (since a couple of sides will likely be in the market for new coaches this off-season), which MLS assistants do you think should get first consideration on the basis of their ability?

- Joe Willmore

WYNALDA: In professional soccer coaching isn't necessary - at least it shouldn't be. If the developmental programs have done their jobs by the time players reach MLS there shouldn't be a lot to teach. The learning that happens comes from the experience gained by the players on the field. They learn from their own mistakes and from learning how to be better professionals. So it's difficult for me to comment on who the best coaches are if they're still "coaches" or think they need to coach – then they need to go back to college. In regards to assistants who I think are proving that the head job might be their next step, they are the obvious ones: Dominic Kinnear (San Jose), John Trask (D.C. United) and the entire staff in Chicago: Tom Soehn, Dennis Hamlett, and Darryl Shore.

Do you have feedback on Wynalda's feedback? Please send your comments to Wynalda by clicking here. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.

Read Wynalda's past columns here:

Sept. 23 - Stewart is no Flop
Oct. 3 - Star Power
Oct. 13 - The Media Got it Wrong
Oct. 17 - A Season Gone Sour
Oct. 25 - Fire Are True Champs