If only Peter Nowak was still a Man in Red. The Fire legend is back in Chicago this weekend as the head coach of the Philadelphia Union, but perhaps he’d be better served anchoring an unsteady Fire midfield still looking to find its form under new coach Carlos de los Cobos.
Section 8 fixture Ben Burton, for one, might be pining for the old days in Chicago. He takes to the Soap Box this week to talk about Nowak’s legacy, the Brian McBride-Collins John tandem and a serious lack of character on the field.
MLSsoccer.com: Peter Nowak’s back in town this weekend. What do you make of his new role in Philadelphia?
BB: We’re actually having a little party for him (Friday night), and he’s gonna come out and say hello to all the old school fans. We still embrace him. He’s our legend. As we’ve been saying lately, “your coach, our legend.”
MLSsoccer.com: Is Peter the greatest player the Fire’s ever had?
BB: That’s a tough one. Lubos Kubik was always my favorite, but Peter was obviously up there with Hristo Stoichkov, and even in recent years, Cuauhtemoc Blanco was very good. Peter was the heart and soul of the team, and even if he wasn’t necessarily the best player, he was the epitome of the team.
MLSsoccer.com: So what’s the epitome of this 2010 team?
BB: Are you sure we can’t just keep talking about the glory years instead of this team?
MLSsoccer.com: We have to move on.
BB: Okay. The coach is trying out some new things, so I’m not so worried right now. You bring a coach in late, you have to let him get used to the players. I’m not happy with the way they’re performing, and I think they need to toughen up and speed up in the midfield. But you give them a break for the World Cup, bring them back and put their nose to the grindstone, as they say, to see if we can make a season out of it.
MLSsoccer.com: What do you make of de los Cobos’ changes?
BB: I’m not worried about the choices he’s made. I’m more worried about the players themselves. He’s given a lot of guys opportunities, and no one’s truly grabbing hold of them. And that’s really disappointing. The only thing that irks me about his choices is that I’d like to see two strikers instead of one, especially if our midfield can’t hold the ball for more than two seconds. It’s a bit of a conundrum.
MLSsoccer.com: So who do you put up top?
BB: Brian McBride and Collins John up top is what I’d like to see. Patrick Nyarko has been really successful on the right, but until he learns how to strike the ball, then he shouldn’t be up top. With Patrick on the right and Justin Mapp on the left, McBride and John up top, you have a decent start. But there’s a gaping hole in the middle just not being filled by anyone.
MLSsoccer.com: What would help?
BB: He’s been hurt, but John Thorrington would help, because he has some speed, and we lack that. And he has tenacity. We don’t have either right now in the midfield. You can’t teach speed, but you certainly can teach a little grit. Someone has to step up and take control.
MLSsoccer.com: What do you make of de los Cobos’ offseason moves?
BB: Krzysztof Krol has been one of our best players. He’s made some mistakes, but he’s successful at going forward, and he’s very good on the ball, for a defender especially. He’s been a bright spot. I’m still waiting to see John produce, because I’ve seen him in training and he has the skills to really be an above average MLS striker. I’m hoping to see him break out. Julio Martinez I’ve been disappointed with, because I thought we finally had a true right winger that we haven’t had in a long time. We’ve had Nyarko there or Chris Rolfe before, but it’s been a long time since we had a great one there. Martinez doesn’t look like he’s the guy.
MLSsoccer.com: Will you guys become a threat to win the Eastern Conference?
BB: I think we’re going to be a playoff-bound team, even if it doesn’t look like it right now. We need a midfield acquisition, and someone has to do it. Maybe with this World Cup break people will watch some good soccer, maybe have a few beers and relax, they’ll come back reinvigorated. But someone has to take control of the team, because we don’t have that sprit out there right now. Someone’s wearing the captain’s armband right now, but there doesn’t really seem to be a captain. Someone has to fill that role.
MLSsoccer.com: Will the Fire make a move to get another Mexican player to fill the hole left by Blanco?
BB: I’d go elsewhere. It’s hard to find a good Mexican player at a good price, because they have a league that they’re successful in already. We already have a Mexican coach, and I don’t want to cater to any one individual nationality. I don’t think that’s the way to go. We should cater to building a successful team. Chicago’s proven they have fans and they’ll come out for a successful team; they’re a good fan base. But there’s just something about this team that has no character. That character could come from the Ukraine, from Russia, I don’t care. But you offer these fans character, people will have something to latch onto and embrace.
