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The Chicago Fire can start thinking about 2007, now that their first match is scheduled. The Fire will host the New England Revolution on April 7 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview to kick off the 2007 campaign. The Revolution and the Fire have developed a solid, bitter rivalry over the years highlighted by the Revs ending the Fire's 2006 season in New England in penalty kicks. Four of the five times the Fire have met the Revs in the playoffs, they have been knocked out by them.
During the offseason the Fire will be looking for a few key players to bolster their team. Dave Sarachan feels the Fire needs only a few players to take the team to the next level: "We have a lot of pieces in place, but because we fell short, we still would say we're one or two players away from maybe putting us over the top."
The Fire will surely be looking for some additional scoring power during the offseason after losing forward Nate Jaqua to Toronto FC in the MLS expansion draft. The Fire was limited to protecting just 11 players prior to the expansion draft. Nate Jaqua will be missed; he continued to improve with each season and scored a personal record 8 goals in 2006. Over his four-year career, which started here in Chicago, he scored 21 goals and 11 assists in 92 games.
The MLS recently approved the Designated Player Rule, informally referred to as "The Beckham Rule." This allows teams to seek out a star player whose entire salary would not go against the team's salary cap. The first $400,000 of the player’s salary will count against the team's $1.9 million salary cap. The rest will be financed by the individual team owner.
This rule allows Major League Soccer teams more freedom in courting world-renowned soccer players like David Beckham or Luis Figo. The Red Card is reporting that Fire GM John Guppy has a list of 75 players that the Fire are currently reviewing with a focus on Mexican and Polish players that will help bolster ticket sales while cranking up the energy of the team.
Chicagoist hopes the Fire will take advantage of this rule and bring an international star to the Fire. Who would you like them to get?
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I have heard rumblings that Brian Mcbride a Chicago Native might someday return to finish his career in chicago. Though with his strong play for Fulham this year I wonder if they would let him go.
But, I hope if Mcbride came back it would not be as a Designated Player I would prefer the Fire get even a more recognizable and international player than Mcbride.
I always like Jared Borghetti--the Mexican international who plays for Bolton.
But what about Chuatemoc Blanco? He would be pretty cool!
I would rather have them choose someone from South America, a young talent with a potential of re-sale.
But very good one, where they don't have to pay it all for the player, so the owner takes talent and profits of it at the end.
I agree Borghetti would be an interesting pick-up. The Fire would get a strong player while also helping drive box office ticket sales.
I saw Borghetti play in a couple of games for Bolton last year during the UEFA Tourney and he looked a bit clueless.
After I read this post I looked at Luis' blog and noticed that he is playing in Saudi Arabia, so maybe a return to North America is in order.
How about Fonseca? I think he's playing in Europe somewhere.
No offence to the good Polish residents of Chicago, but I think that from a marketing perspective, a top-notch Mexican international would be awesome for both the Fire and the MLS.
Update: The Guardian is reporting that Shevchenko wants to leave Chelsea.
Of course his salary is £30m! I dont see the Fire picking that up, but it would be interesting, nonetheless.
Another idea: how about Zidane? I know he's retired, but what a great way to ease into it by playing a couple of years in the MLS? He could salvage his reputation from the infamous head butt incident.
i think cuathemoc blanco, jared borgettii or any mexican is good like ramon morales from chivas, adolfo bautista from chivas ,tripa perez, francisco palencia, omar bravo there all great players so yeah they should pick some and send then but for chicago fire i prefer andres guardado from atlas. peace out my fellow beaners. simon y ariba las chivas.