A look at the big questions surrounding the Chicago Fire for the 2007 season and looking ahead to the 2008 campaign:
WHAT DO THE FIRE NEED TO DO TO REACH THE MLS CUP FINAL IN '08?
Armed with a solid defense and excellent goalkeeping, the Fire need to improve their offensive output. With the retirements of midfielder Chris Armas and forward Paulo Wanchope announced after the 2007 season, the Fire needs to find a way to increase their scoring. Whether it is through additional signings or trade, Chicago cannot expect to win the MLS Cup when its leading scorer (Chad Barrett) has just nine goals on the season.
WHAT WAS THE TEAM'S BEST MOMENT IN '07?
The team's best moment came in the final game of the regular season. Little-used reserve John Thorrington scored the game-winner for Chicago in stoppage time in a 1-0 win against visiting Los Angeles. As they battled the Galaxy for a playoff spot, the Fire needed a win to qualify and send L.A. home for the season. If they would have lost the game, the Men in Red would not have qualified for the playoffs and if they would have tied the visitors, they would have had to play their first playoff game on the road against Chivas USA. Instead, Thorrington's only goal gave Chicago home-field advantage against D.C. United in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
WHO MADE THE MOST IMPROVEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON?
Matt Pickens made the biggest improvement over the course of the season. The Fire goalkeeper was inconsistent through the first half of the 2007 campaign but rebounded to shut out seven opponents over the course of the final 14 regular season games for Chicago. He also set the club's regular season record for shutouts with 10.
WHAT RESERVES ARE MOST READY TO MOVE INTO THE TEAM?
Calen Carr is the most ready to crack the starting lineup. He did start earlier in the 2007 season but the forward could not consistently score even when he had quality chances. When Juan Carlos Osorio took over the club in July, Carr found himself on the bench and used sparingly. However, Carr seemed to look better in his coach's eyes toward the end of the season. Osorio found more minutes for Carr and brought him in specifically at times late in the game hoping he could generate some offense. In fact, Carr assisted on the most important goal of the year for the Fire, on Thorrington's winner against Los Angeles in the final regular season game of the year which propelled Chicago into the MLS Cup Playoffs.
WHAT AREA OF THE TEAM NEEDS THE MOST IMPROVEMENT?
Attacking is the area that the Fire needs to improve upon over the offseason. An example was in the MLS Cup Eastern Conference final against New England. The Fire had 10 shots on goal to the Revs' six, but yet still could not score as they dropped the contest 1-0.
Tim Hilton is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
