Spencer, Mariner the latest to interview for Fire post

Houston Dynamo assistant John Spencer and New England assistant Paul Mariner have interviewed for the Chicago Fire's vacant head coaching position, sources in Chicago have told SBI.

Spencer and Mariner join Fire assistant Denis Hamlett and long-time Chicago soccer star Frank Klopas on the list of candidates to be interviewed by Fire president John Guppy. There is no word yet on who is left on the list of potential replacements for Juan Carlos Osorio, who was introduced as Red Bulls head coach on Tuesday. If I had to rate their chances right now I'd set the order as: Hamlett, Mariner, Klopas, Spencer. That's not the order that I think they should be considered. That's the order I think they stand.

What do you think Fire fans? Do these candidates make you more optimistic than the first two? Do you think Hamlett deserves to be the front-runner? Are you still not buying that he is a serious candidate? Are you still holding out hope that Hristo Stoitchkov emerges from the woodwork to take the job? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[Ted]

Come on Mariner!!!!!

Bring him onboard Guppy.

[papa bear]

I don't buy that Hamlett is the front runner. I'd like to know more about where you get the idea that he is.
He's been passed over 3 times already. It's not like he's hotly sought after. Maybe you've heard something all Chicago fans haven't seen.

Mariner would be a nice choice. Laugh if you will, but if Jol has expressed any interest in MLS I wouldn't mind seeing him either. He was treated harshly this year. He took a middling, at best, team and made them respectable the last couple of years.
Spencer would be OK as well.
Klopas should get nowhere near the bench.
Jesse Marsch is supposedly a candidate as well, I wouldn't mind him. He has a great tactical mind and is tough.

[Landis]

I'd order them this way:

1. Mariner- I don't think NER would be as good as squad without him.

2. Hamlett- Has given his dues to the Fire, probably deserves a chance based on his coaching experience

3. Spencer- Been with Houston through the championships and definately knows how to attack. Only has two years coaching experience- might be a little green still.

4. Marsch- Probable one of the most tactically skilled players in MLS. Knows Chicago, but too green in the coaching aspect for my liking. Would make a great assistant and work with young players well.

5. Klopas- Doesn't have a good history with coaching and has been out of MLS too long.

[Steve]

Mariner - PLEASE!!!!!!!!

Though I am pleased that he is considering the top assistants from the two best run (on-field anyway) franchises in the league over the last 5+ years.

[Fuegofan]

Please NOT Mariner, he's from hated New England. And when I say hated, I don't just mean that we've had a lot of important games with them that have had a lot of intensity, but a lot of other factors. I don't like their style of play and I don't like their personnel. Mariner has been a part of that, and I want none of it here in Chicago--except the winning. But that, as we have seen, can be done with prettier soccer than in New England.

[Fuegofan]

As for the other candidates, I'm fairly neutral. Hamlett has paid his dues, but I don't know much about his strategic mind. He has worked under some great coaches, so maybe he would know how to get the most out of the Fire. None of the candidates know the team better, that's for sure.

I don't know enough about Klopas and Spencer as coaches to even hazard a comment. They both played a lot of soccer on this continent and the old one, but who knows how that will translate into coaching.

[jessie????]

it's amazing to me that people who clearly don't KNOW these people or their knowledge make these comments- thank god none of you make the coaching decisions

[khan]

This is a pitiful ist of names, IMO. Were it just a few years ago, these might have been a fair sampling of potential MLS head coaches.

But today's MLS requires that a head coach have some ability to attract the international player. With the expansion of the league, the thinning of the talent pool of American players DEMANDS such a coach. Most of what Osorio brought to the table were his connections that led to Wanchope and Conde.

Speaking to the list of candidates:

IF Hamlett were at the front of the line, why not hire him already? He's just down the hall from Guppy's office.

Have Mariner or Spencer used any of their connections in soccer to land an international player for their clubs?

Klopas and Marsch, while Chicago favorites, lack the international connections and reputation to be of much use in today's MLS. This is particularly true for Marsch.

In any case, I'd be disappointed in Guppy were he to limit the search to these coaches. This is because I don't think that any of these guys are up to the task.