Chicago is one of the most in-form team in MLS right now having won their last three matches. Each win has been a unique performance showing the mental toughness of the squad. Friday’s 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City demonstrated that Chicago could put on a bunkering, defensive display on the road. Given the fact that most MLS fans want to the see shambling defensive displays that lead to obscenely high scores like what went on in the California Classico between LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes, it’s no surprise that few took serious note of Chicago’s victory. To beat Sporting at home is a feat and to shut them out even more of one, which speaks to Chicago’s form and Kansas City’s quality of play at home.
Another difficult road match faces Chicago. Although Houston’s recent form as been all over the place (L-W-T-L-W), the Dynamo are undefeated at home this season and it’s been over a year since Houston were defeated at home. Chicago is once again in a position to put significant distance between themselves and the teams behind them in the Eastern Conference table. With a win, Chicago will increase their advantage over Houston in the standings by seven points and be one point behind third place Kansas City. This is the time of year where every game is vital as jockeying for playoff position begins.
Centerback Arne Friedrich will most certainly start but if he will be alongside Austin Berry or Jalil Anibaba it can’t be said for certain. Sebastian Grazzini won’t be available (more below) and Federico Puppo and Rafael Robayo may still be working out some injuries. New signing Alex put on an exciting performance as a sub during the match against Kansas City. I would imagine that Rolfe would start in place of Grazzini but look for Alex to again come on off the bench. The fancy footwork that Alex displayed certainly can’t be ignored and one hopes that his enthusiasm mixed with Marco Pappa’s great play of late as he seeks to catch the eye of Europe (again more below) will inspire.
Inspiration and a positive mentality need to cultivated in Chicago. There have been rumors and tensions and scant facts over the last couple of weeks threatening to stunt the great work the Fire have done and elevate their style of play—quite simply, it’s maddening. Once again there are whispers in all corners about the future of winger Marco Pappa. There have been reports of Villarreal and Wigan being interested in the Guatemalan international. Most recently, it’s been reported that Pappa will find his way to the Dutch league with Heerenveen. “Interest” has been said to come from powerhouses PSV, FC Twente, and AZ Alkmaar, however much I love Marco Pappa he does not have the quality to play for any of those three teams…but Heerenveen, that sounds like a proper fit. Of all the rumors, the supposed $3 million bid to be made by Wigan would be the most sensible. Pappa could excel at Wigan and would be a little mini-me for manager Roberto Martinez (seriously, the two look like father and son). Would the MLS let Pappa go? Maybe. MLS has an annoying habit of over-valuing its players and then missing out on getting anything for their players. Whispers have it that Chicago have made an extension offer to Pappa, which means if he does go overseas the Fire will retain his rights in MLS—the same situation it had with Chris Rolfe.
Marco Pappa moving on would be a blow to the Fire. Next to Sean Johnson and Patrick Nyarko, Marco Pappa has been a face of the franchise for the past couple of seasons. Since 2009, Pappa has been among the Fire’s team leaders in goals, assists, and shots; he is a vital piece of the Chicago attack. What’s more, there is no replacement for Pappa currently on the team. Options to step-up and take on Pappa’s role are unproven, suspect in the minds of many supporters, or just not the right fit—Federico Puppo could fill the role (and not just alliteratively) but he’s more of a forward than a winger, the same can be said of Orr Barouch and Chris Rolfe who are great players but would be stifled in the Pappa role, and Corben Bone has been waiting patiently for his chance to make a mark in Fire history but it’s a big question mark if he could make the role his own.
All of this is made a bit muddier by the on-going drama involving Sebastian Grazzini. The return of Chris Rolfe and the deliciously cheeky 26 minutes that new signing Alex gave on his debut, had Fire supporters comfortable with the idea that they’ll have the creative attacking midfielder role taken care of should Grazzini’s contract option not be taken up. News last week came out that Chicago’s front office had finally exercised the option—Grazzini was not saying goodbye to Chicago. But then Grazzini didn’t travel to Kansas City and now he hasn’t traveled to Houston, and this week he did not train with the regular first team. All of this suggests a gross instability. All of this paints the Chicago front office in a poor light since Grazzini has been the lynchpin of the Fire’s attack—two goals and five assists. Only Dominic Oduro has a better percentage of shots-on-goal to shots taken, 15 shots-on-goal of 30 shots taken for Grazzini and 20 shots-on-goal of 38 shots taken for Oduro. There has been an extreme disrespect shown to Grazzini who certainly deserves and earned an extension to his contract that would more lucrative than the paltry $50k salary that he has been receiving.
Other moves by the Fire seem to have them angling to add another forward over the summer transfer window. Centerback Kwame Watson-Siriboe was traded to Real Salt Lake for what amounts to a second round Superdraft pick, or a glorified trialist who most likely will not be signed. Watson-Siriboe was severely underserved by former head coach Carlos de los Cobos and was never able to get his footing back. What is fortunate for Watson-Siriboe is that he will have the familiar face of C.J. Brown at RSL, if there is anyone who can get him back on track it’s Brown. Also, last week saw the releasing of forward Kheli Dube, who had been injured most of the season. The moves open up some salary space (around $100k) and free up roster spots. Compound these moves with on-going complaint coming from Rafael Robayo about lack of playing time and difficulty adjusting to the MLS style of play and suggestions that he may be sold back to his former club Millonarios in Columbia. If Robayo were to be shipped out, Chicago could have salary space of around $200k.
So much salary room suggests the acquisition of a DP. It would certainly be the price range for Ukrainian star Andriy Shevchenko. And although MLS recoils at characterizations of it as a retirement league in the eyes of many European players, it has done nothing to dispel this belief. Simply look at Montreal’s insistence on bringing over Italians on the wrong side of 30: Marco Di Vaio at 35 and Bernardo Corradi at 36 yr, and now the most recent rumors of 36 year-old Alessandro Nesta. At 35, Shevchenko would certainly slot into this maturity movement in MLS. Why the Fire and MLS aren’t doing everything they can to bring European players like Jordan Rhodes over I’ll never understand. Watch team Great Britain this summer during the Olympics to see just what Rhodes is capable of (or use YouTube). Rhodes could come to MLS and be a glorious star, a young star, for the league. It is doubtful Shevchenko will land in Chicago. Much more likely is the arrival of 27 year-old Dutch striker Sherjill MacDonald, who has played with Belgium second division side Germinal Beerschot AC since 2009.
However it all shakes out, things are going to be tense in Chicago over the next few weeks whether they continue their winning ways or not.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
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