If you like some spicy subplots with your Major League Soccer game, then you will love the Chicago Fire-New York Red Bulls matchup taking place Sunday at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Just look at the coaching situation. Juan Carlos Osorio, the Red Bulls' first-year coach, was coach of the Fire for a half-season last year, then abruptly begged out of his contract so he could take over the Red Bulls when Bruce Arena was removed from the job. Osorio's decision to return to New York, where he had served as a MetroStars assistant and where his wife was more comfortable living, eventually became one of the reasons Fire general manager John Guppy was let go this spring.
The Fire could claim they suffer from the pain of abandonment, although the Fire players argue that. The Fire ended up with long-time assistant Denis Hamlett as coach, and players believe they are better off with a member of the team's family than Osorio, who was brought in from the outside by Guppy to replace fired coach Dave Sarachan last year.
"I don't think it affects the team," veteran defender C.J. Brown said. "When Osorio came in, he gave the team a lift, so guys were sorely disappointed when he left and went to New York. But I think we have a good thing with Denis. I don't think any of the guys look at it as Osorio did something (harmful) to us.
"In retrospect, we got a better deal with (Hamlett), who believes in this club and has grown up in this club and lives and dies with this club," he said. " Now you have a coach who believes in the club but also believes in the players and has a vested interest in it. You like to play for guys like that."
There are at least two good player controversies as well. Defender Wilman Conde, who was brought in last season by Osorio to play defense for the Fire, asked the Fire for a trade in the offseason so he could play with the Red Bulls and Osorio. The Fire refused, and Conde is still a backup defender with the Fire.
Last season, Osorio found Paraguayan defender Lider Marmol and brought him into Chicago for a trial. Marmol did not sign last year, and Osorio talked Marmol into working out with the Red Bulls this spring even though Marmol belonged to the Fire. Eventually, Fire technical director Frank Klopas talked Marmol into coming to Chicago, and he has signed a contract.
If you dig deeper, you will find out that Fire has won one MLS Cup and played for two others, while the Red Bulls have had little success in the league. But none of the controversy will have much of an effect on the outcome of the game.
What will determine the winner will be how each team deals with the talented defensive squads they are playing against.
The Fire have allowed just five goals in eight games, and one of them was an own goal. In losing 2-1 to Houston last week, the Fire gave up multiple goals for the first time this season. The Red Bulls have given up just six goals in seven games.
"It is going to make for a good game, because you have two teams that are defensively sound, that work hard on the defending part," Hamlett said. "We have to make sure we come ready to try and break them down, have patience with the ball, because that is how you are going to get your chances."
The Fire's injury report lists midfielder John Thorrington as doubtful with back spasms (Thorrington was dressed but did not scrimmage with the team Friday). Both Conde and Brown are on the injury report and listed as probable but neither is expected to play.
If Hamlett chooses to make a lineup change after losing to Houston, he could go back to having Chris Rolfe and Chad Barrett on top (Rolfe played in the midfield in Thorrington's absence against Houston, with Calen Carr playing forward). He could then fill the midfield spot with rookie Stephen King or he could move Diego Gutierrez up to a defensive midfield spot and start defender Dasan Robinson, who has one start this season.
Marmol's visa problems have been worked out, and he is with the team, but is not expected to be selected to play until he gets some playing time in a reserve game.
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
