If MLS Wants to Raise the Ante - Chicago Head Coach Sarachan Must be Fired

Sound crazy, eh? Maybe even a bit over the top? Hear me out for a second. The one defining quality of top sporting leagues around the world, whether it’s the NFL, the EPL, MLB, La Liga, etc., is the pressure placed on every single game.

Every single game folks. Coaches are routinely held responsible for poor performances. A series of especially poor results is more than enough reason to get axed. Which is why I’m suggesting Sarachan be shown the pink slip immediately.

Real Salt Lake took a bold step earlier this year by firing Coach Ellinger after a dismal start to the season. Quite frankly, Chicago’s performance is even worse. After starting the season 3-0-1, they’ve dropped three straight games and have looked absolutely lifeless at times. And unfortunately, most of the blame falls on Sarachan’s shoulders. How else could you explain not starting Barrett or Thiago and sending an overly defensive lineup against Dallas….at home?!

Dallas is known across the league as having the epitome of a “bend but don’t break defense.” If there was ever an opportunity to light the scoreboard, ESPECIALLY in front of the home fans, last night was definitely the one. And you can’t blame the players. Mapp was on a completely different level last night. He single-handedly dominated the pitch, no one could even come close to matching his brilliance. Calen Carr had a breakthrough game as well.

In fact the entire Fire lineup had a breakthrough game. But when Chris Armas is one of your main attacking options, something is definitely out of whack. I guarantee you Barrett puts in AT LEAST two goals with the world-class service Mapp was dishing out all night. It should come as no surprise folks that as soon as Barrett and Thiago were introduced on the field, the Fire immediately scored a goal. It was that kind of night. The Fire should’ve won this game by at least a margin of two goals. But they didn’t. And it’s all squarely on Sarachan’s shoulders. He lost the game for the Fire.

The league is manhandling them right now. New England and Toronto dissected the entire squad and left the remains of their mauling for Dallas to chew up as well. They’re a hapless bunch and someone needs to shake things up. If MLS wants to see regular season games be taken more seriously, then Sarachan needs to pay the price for not being sub-par the past two weeks. The sports business is a tough world, but MLS needs to raise the pressure and places these coaches on the hot seat if results start to sag.