Fire Sign Colombian Nazarit

The Chicago Fire today announced the signing of 20-year old Colombian forward Cristian Nazarit on free transfer. The striker, from Colombian Primera A side Independiente Santa Fe, will be available and could see time as soon as Saturday’s match at Toyota Park against the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps.

Nazarit began his pro career with Colombian side America de Cali in 2007, appearing in 13 matches before transferring to Independiente at the beginning of 2008. While with Los Cardenales, Nazarit appeared in 42 matches, scoring 16 goals.

Fire Technical Director Frank Klopas said of signing the young Colombian, “Cristian brings a wealth of talent and experience to the Chicago Fire. The Colombian target forward has pace, strikes the ball well and is able to play with his back to goal. His size and offensive abilities make him a positive addition to our team.” Indeed, at 6’1”, Nazarit could bring some needed size to the frontline, especially crucial on corner kicks, where the Fire are an abysmal 0 for 37 thus far this season.

Even with his size and talent, however, Fire fans are indeed wondering what might be up Klopas’ sleeve with this move. Signing Nazarit means the Fire are now at a 30-man roster, and have filled an international spot with the signing. Marko Maric, who currently fills another international spot on the Fire roster, was placed on the disabled list, which made room for young Cristian in the lineup.

Aside from roster spots, there’s also the glaring issue of injuries. With the loss of Maric, Cory Gibbs during the April 17th game against Los Angeles, and recent injuries to midfielder Mike Videira, captain Logan Pause and defender Josip Mikulic, Fire fans are curious as to why Klopas & co. would sign another striker, when the seemingly obvious issues plaguing the team currently involved the midfield and backline. The addition of Mike Videira at midfield, seen as a positive early on, has proven to overload the midfield with defensive minds that have failed to successfully hold possession. The change in formation seemed to bring some midfield spark, but Carlos de los Cobos has yet to find a combination that has thrived in the center mid position, having used Pause, Videira, Daniel Paladini, Corben Bone, and Baggio Husidic in central midfield roles thus far this season.

Likewise, defense has been solid at times, but shaky for the most part, as proven by the Fire being fourth in the league in goals against. Cory Gibbs’ veteran experience has been lacking since coming up lame with a hamstring injury at the end of the game vs. the Galaxy, and Josip Mikulic, probably the best addition to the Fire defense, was pulled last weekend in the 37th minute with an injured shoulder sustained in a pile-up with Colorado GK Matt Pickens. Mikulic has been seen this week in training in street clothes and sporting an arm sling, and is listed as doubtful for this weekend’s match against Vancouver.

With all this being the case, one has to wonder what Klopas may have in mind with signing another striker, given the fact that the team has the Uruguayan combination of Gaston Puerari and Diego Chaves up top, who have started every game together this year with the exception of Houston. In addition, they have backup strikers Orr Barouch and Gabriel Ferrari, both of whom have shown definite flashes of promise in reserve matches, as well as some solid time in a sub role for Barouch. Combine that with the ability of midfielder Patrick Nyarko to play a striker role if necessary, and the acquisition of former Houston Dynamo striker Dominic Oduro, traded a few weeks into the season for Fire favorite Calen Carr, and again, one has to wonder what plans Klopas may have for the first team, as the season enters week 8.

One thought could be related to the new formation revealed against Colorado Rapids last weekend. The new 4-1-4-1 formation brought out by De Los Cobos lent itself to Gaston Puerari playing a midfield role, with Dominic Oduro taking up a wing position opposite Marco Pappa, a position usually reserved for Patrick Nyarko, who was utilized as a sub in the game. Orr Barouch, who came on as a substitute as a striker in games earlier this season, subbed in Saturday instead as a midfielder, taking the place of center mid starter Corben Bone.

All these factors combined seem to point towards some positional shifting on the part of Carlos de los Cobos. If suspicions hold true, and CDLC has a change in mindset from earlier in the season, we could very well see the likes of Oduro and Puerari in midfield roles, which would allow the opportunity for new signing Nazarit to come in as a replacement up top for leading goal scorer Diego Chaves, who has shown more promise than any other new face for the Fire, but who has also shown occasional signs of fatigue late in games. With as many close games as the Fire have been involved in this season (only one game this season has been decided by more than one goal), it’s likely that the addition of someone like Cristian Nazarit could very well be to inject some fresh legs and scoring ability into an offensive core that would be a difference maker in close games like the Fire have been involved in this season. The only other possible speculation at this point would be that Klopas has plans for the summer transfer, but that will remain to be seen when the time comes.

Until then, Chicago fans will have to trust that, just like the addition of Diego Chaves and Gaston Puerari, this is a move that will soon pay dividends for a team looking to make a good showing in the 2011 campaign.

(image courtesy of mlssoccer.com)