MLS 2008 Preview: Chicago Fire

By: Daryl | March 26th, 2008

Blanco Fire preview

Just a few days until MLS 2008 gets underway, so time for another of our magnificent MLS bloggers to deliver a team preview. Today, Sean from Chicago Offside tells us what 2008 holds for Chicago Fire.

Nuts and Bolts:

The Fire’s season last year was divided neatly into two sections: The Time Before and The Time After (Blanco). Before: futility, injury, pathos. After: ferocity, inspiration, playoffs. The idea this year is, well, Señor White is here right from the start, so …

Unfortunately, it’s seldom that simple. An offseason of unprecedented turmoil has seen the Fire shed its captain to retirement, its coach to New York, and its stud defender (Wilman Conde) to Never-Never Land following some tampering by that same coach-turned-Judas.

In other words, all will be revealed in time. Nothing left to do now but wait for the games and hope for the best.

The star:

Cuauhtemoc Blanco is, without question, the star of the team, and his influence in the stretch drive to the playoffs last year was nothing short of miraculous. Now comes the hard part: As an encore, he needs to produce at that level for an entire MLS season. Will the summer grind wear the 34-year-old down? And if it does, who else can spark the Fire?

DP or not?

Yes, Blanco will dominate headlines and sell replica jerseys by the case-load.

The newcomers:

The Fire’s big offseason signing is Tomasz Frankowski, a Polish striker who is a pure finisher. Reports have Frankowski looking like the player whose clutch goals propelled Poland into the Euro 2008 finals, not the one who spent a year rehabbing with Wolverhampton.

He’ll have a chance to combine with the Fire’s top draft pick, the quick and tricky Patrick Nyarko. Nyarko will not figure in the early season, but look for him to pick up playing time as the season progresses. Until then, ‘06 Fire MVP Andy Herron is back with the team. So we got that goin’ for us, which is nice.

Keep an eye on:

Chris Rolfe. If the injury-plagued striker can stay healthy – and can adapt his game to the midfield – then one of the big question-marks in the lineup has an answer. If Rolfe struggles on the wing, expect another season of midfield-by-committee.

Wilman Conde. If the broad-chested Colombian stays with the Fire and plays like a man in the final year of his contract – which he is – then the defense will continue to be solid in front of whoever’s in goal. If he sulks, uh-oh.

Jon Busch. The Fire drafted mammoth ‘keeper Dominic Cervi to serve as Busch’s understudy, but he still has not signed with the club, preferring to keep his options open. Which means that the Fire start the season with exactly one quality keeper – and he’s spent more time on the training table than the pitch the last two years.

We’ll win the league if…?

… all the drama in the offseason was just offseason drama. If the Fire can get the players on the roster on the field and playing well, anything’s possible.

We’ll be in trouble if…?