Marco Pappa: loves Chicago, but wants some Europe

Jun 22, 2012, 8:51 AM EDT

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You always had the feeling that Chicago Fire attacker Marco Pappa was more like the college girlfriend than the “always and forever.”

That is, you enjoyed your time together, but it always seemed to have a termination date, and you knew one day they would graduate, then move on to bigger and better things.

As for Pappa, if you didn’t know, now you know. Because here’s what the Guatemalan international told MLSsoccer.com on Thursday:

I really want to step forward in my career and try to go to Europe. I don’t say that I don’t like it here, I love it. I love Chicago. The city has given me a lot as a soccer player and personally. This is the city that I love, but I need to think of my future. A soccer career is so short, so you need to do your best always.”

Here’s the thing:

If Pappa, 24, really wants the Euro treatment, he’s got the skill to make it happen, no doubt. But Europe’s a big place. If he wants to land at a big club, or wants to swim with the bigger fish of a higher quality league, he’ll have to pick things up a little.

He’s not having a bad season at Toyota Park, not at all. And that swell free kick goal against the United States last week, the strike that helped his team split the points in a World Cup qualifier, was one for the CV as well.) But three goals and three assists through almost half the season? Again, not bad.

When Pappa is good, he is zooming. He has game-changing stuff, for sure. His issue has always been consistency; Pappa still suffers long spells of “average.”

The young lefty already has don’t enough to place himself on the European watch lists. Whether it’s a smaller club in a smaller league, smaller club in a more fashionable league or top-shelf club in a top-shelf league, there’s still some sorting out to do.

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4 Comments (Feed for Comments)

slxc - Jun 22, 2012 at 11:52 AM

Esperarce was clear to every player to reach the highest level of competition is to play in Europe because there are more competitive leagues and tournaments are also more important as the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, it’s not underestimate the MLS it is known to be a league that is rapidly growing and in a few years, the league is as important as level of competition in the Spanish league, English, German etc. and USA will be seen among the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL.
I hope we get to pappa European football.

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starybyk3 - Jun 22, 2012 at 2:06 PM

Steve, you paint too rosy a picture of Pappa. After having watched almost every match of his since he joined the Fire, I can say that his long spells of “average” are a lot closer to “below average.” The occasions when he makes a truly remarkable soccer play are all too rare. Pappa’s basic approach is to try to dribble through two or three oppponents while his teammates stand around and watch. His style of play is an attack killer. Ask anyone who sits near me in Section 107 at Toyota Park how many times I am screaming at him to do the fundamental things that every smart soccer player knows how to do. I think the skill is there, but the soccer brain is sadly absent.

If he has a switch he can flip that turns off his maddeningly bad habits, then he might find employment in Europe, If not, I can’t see for how any club that plays at a level higher than MLS would have any interest in him.

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- Steve Davis - Jun 22, 2012 at 7:01 PM
  
  I can’t argue with anything you say, to be honest. But he DOES have that ability to turn it on. And that alone is going to garner some interest. Lesser players can and have gone to Europe. So, if the guy really wants to go, he’ll get there. As I said, where he lands … well, the range of possibilities really is all over the place.
  
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  - starybyk3 - Jun 22, 2012 at 11:25 PM
    
    The times that Pappa turns it on are examples of how the exception proves the rule. When the rumors were out there last winter, I had hoped that MLS would sell him back then. At least they could have gotten a transfer fee.
    
    “Going to Europe” can mean a lot of things, I suppose. Maybe Pappa and his flaws will be OK in the lower levels of weak leagues. The previous rumors had him going to Twente. How much playing time is he going to get at a top Eredivisie club if holds on to the ball for more than two or three touches? No way.