Saturday begins a new season of sorts for the Chicago Fire. After Monday’s release of now-former head coach Carlos de los Cobos, the Fire look to change the misfortunes they’ve experienced during the first third of the season, and will attempt to do so Saturday when Seattle comes to Toyota Park.
The firing of de los Cobos was a surprise to no one in Chicago Fire circles. After going 9-12-9 last season, and starting the 2011 season 1-4-6, including an eight-game winless streak, it was apparent that Carlos de los Cobos was not going to get the job done for the Fire, and that his style of play and coaching was not a fit for Chicago. In his stead, Fire Technical Director Frank Klopas, an original member of the ’98 MLS Cup winning team, Ring of Fire member, and Chicago fan favorite, has taken the helm on an interim basis.
Klopas, during his first week of heading up first team training, has indicated that there may or may not be some lineup changes coming in the match against Seattle on Saturday. It would seem that captain Logan Pause, now fully healthy after a hamstring injury, and Daniel Paladini will make up the crucial central midfield core. Paladini and Pause seemed to work together with more chemistry than the previous regular tandem of Pause and Michael Videira, and when Videira went down with concussion issues, the time was right to bring in Paladini, who had seen solid action with his former Carolina Railhawks, but up to that point hadn’t played minutes in any MLS matches. The hard work of Paladini as well as Corben Bone seem to have impressed the powers that be, as it would appear a real possibility that Bone fill in the wing position typically occupied by Marco Pappa, who is away on Gold Cup duty for his home country Guatemala.
Defensively, the Fire look to present a similar backline to their game against San Jose, looking to infuse Yamith Cuesta with Cory Gibbs in the middle, and Gonzalo Segares on the left flank. What is unsure at this point is if Klopas decides to put last week’s RB starter Bratislav Ristic in his same role (a role he’s not ideally suited for, but can play when needed), or if Klopas will go back to Jalil Anibaba, who started the first nine matches of the 2011 season, setting a record for Chicago Fire rookies. Also getting back to playing form is Steven Kinney, who was sidelined after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the last game of 2010 against Chivas USA. Kinney was seen running this week at training, and has begun handling a ball as well, a definite positive sign for Fire fans.
Seemingly, Frank Klopas will have the most options at the forward position. It’s likely that Dominic Oduro will again start on the wing in place of the still sidelined Patrick Nyarko, although Nyarko has been training this week, and reportedly feels well enough to go should Klopas decide to insert him back into the lineup on Saturday. Nyarko is listed as “doubtful” for Saturday’s match, so it’s more likely that Oduro ends up on the wing. Doing so will find Diego Chaves, who looked more rested and energetic against San Jose, pairing up with either Gaston Puerari, or Cristian Nazarit. Nazarit, the young Colombian acquired a few weeks back by the Fire, made his first start against San Jose last week, and made an impact when his initial blast off both posts led to Dominic Oduro’s goal against the Earthquakes. Klopas’ other choice up top would be Gaston Puerari. Puerari paired well early on with Chaves, as the two shared time on the pitch together prior to coming to the Fire. More recently, Puerari and Chaves have both struggled to find the goal with regularity, although that could have less to do with performance, and more to do with constantly changing formations and lineups under Carlos de los Cobos.
The Fire will be looking to change their fortunes against a Seattle team that, although they are coming off a win on Real Salt Lake soil, snapping a 29-game winning streak for the 2009 MLS Cup champs, are a significantly more depleted side than the one the Fire faced in week three. That game saw a few unfortunate errors on the part of the Fire ultimately cost them the game, as Seattle, while not playing superior through the ranks, did get a “stand on your head” performance from veteran GK Kasey Keller. The Fire will look to exploit a Sounders team that will be without the obvious star midfielder Steve Zakuani, as well as forward O’Brian White, out after having surgery to remove a blood clot in his leg. Also questionable, although not for injury, will be Freddie Montero, who was recently benched by Sigi Schmidt for lack of production. If that indeed is the case, it will be interesting to see what a Seattle club coming into Toyota Park will have for the Fire, with three major factors in their success missing action or on a scoring skid.
Regardless of the complexion of Seattle, this is sure to be a turning point for Chicago, with a fresh start in the air and renewed confidence and energy in the club that is palpable when watching them train this week. If nothing else, one can be sure that the Fire will come out on Saturday night looking to make a statement to their new interim coach, to the fans, and to a Seattle club that could end up less an opponent and more a victim.
Prediction: Chicago 2 Seattle 1
(image courtesy of chicago-fire.com)
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