No Blanco? No problema. Or so it’s been thus far in Season 14 for the Chicago Fire, which hasn’t much missed the not-fully-fit Mexican international Cuauhtemoc Blanco thanks to the inspired and energetic play of second-year Guatemalan midfielder Marco Pappa.
Praised by Coach Denis Hamlett as “very skillful on the ball” and “always looking to attack,” the speedy Pappa was inserted into the starting lineup in Blanco’s absence and has since scored the lone (and thus, game-winning) goal in the Fire’s home-opening win over the Red Bulls and helped Chicago to an unbeaten 2-0-1 mark in the East.
Hamlett can only laugh at Pappa’s reputation of roaming “all over the place,” admitting that “It’s a plus and a negative” – the good being that “his energy and being in different spots causes other teams problems”, the bad being that “there are times when it puts us out of balance and causes us some problems.”