With their preseason trip to Florida just past its halfway point, it’s time to take a look at a few things the Chicago Fire need to start sorting out before they leave the Sunshine State early next week.
Here are three issues Carlos de los Cobos and his staff need to key in on over the next few days.
1) Identify who will step up at forward
Multiple offseason departures and a bevy of new, relatively unknown, signings up top have Fire fans worried about who is going to put the ball in the back of the net in 2011.
They have good reason to be concerned. As of this moment, the team only has three strikers under contract. The lone known quantity – 28-year-old Calen Carr – has never been much more than a bit player in MLS. Carr’s teammates on the forward line – Uruguayans Gastón Puerari and Diego Cháves (above) – are mysteries. Both have had decent scoring rates in the Uruguayan league, but no one is quite sure whether their past successes will translate to MLS.
Several trialists – including former US youth international Gabriel Ferrari, who started in last week’s friendly against Florida Gulf Coast University – and unsigned draft picks Jason Herrick and Davis Paul fill out the Fire’s forward crop. Like Chicago’s signed strikers, none of the unsigned players are proven on the MLS level.
The Fire’s technical staff must quickly identify which player (or players) is going to step up on top. If they don’t think anyone fits the bill, they must look elsewhere.
[inline_node:326504]2) Define Jalil Anibaba’s role
The rookie defender (at right, in middle) is widely considered to be one of the most MLS-ready players in this year’s draft class. He’s been training as the first team right back throughout the preseason and it’s a relatively safe bet that he’ll get significant playing time at the beginning of the year.
But what happens when injured right back Steven Kinney comes back from his ruptured Achilles this summer? Does Kinney supplant Anibaba in the starting lineup, forcing the UNC product into the middle – where he played in college – or the bench? Does Anibaba keep the starting right back role?
The Fire don’t have to answer those questions right away – Kinney isn’t slated to come back until May at the earliest – but it’s worth it to start thinking about all the possible alternatives now.
3) Get Patrick Nyarko finishing
There’s no question that Nyarko can set up goals with the best of them. The Fire’s speedy winger tied for the fifth most assists in the league last year, racking up 10 in 27 appearances.
Unfortunately, Nyarko isn’t as successful as a finisher. The 25-year-old Ghanaian scored just one goal last year – three off of his 2009 pace. The Fire need him to increase that number this year (especially given all the uncertainty at forward) but it won’t happen all by itself – he needs to start working on it now, putting in extra time after training to better capitalize on the numerous chances he gets.
Sam Stejskal covers the Chicago Fire for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at sam.h.stejskal@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @samstejskal.
Join the chat on MLSsoccer.com for the Columbus Crew-Real Salt Lake CONCACAF Champions League match on Tuesday, beginning at 7:45 pm ET!
On the eve of their Champions League matchup against the Columbus Crew, emotions are starting to bubble to the surface for Real Salt Lake players and coaches.
“I would say that I’ve had emotions the entire preseason about this experience,” head coach Jason Kreis told MLSsoccer.com. “I’m really excited for the opportunity to hopefully get in, show well in this tournament, and hopefully move forward."
Defender Chris Wingert, who began his professional career at the Crew from 2004-'05, prefers having to play a meaningful match while other teams are still in the throes of training.
“I think we’re really excited to get going," Wingert said. "As an athlete, it’s a lot better to be playing an important game than just practicing at this time of the year.”
Midfielder Javier Morales has been feeling calm about the high-pressure tie, but he admitted that'll likely change as kick off approaches.
“Now I feel okay, I think I’m relaxed - maybe later, maybe Monday - you feel a little nervous, a little excited,” he said.
For newcomer Arturo Alvarez, he has a different dynamic going on. He’s facing the prospect of his first match in an RSL kit.
“Whenever you come to a new team you’re looking forward to that first game," Alvarez said. "It’s a really important game and hopefully I can get that out of the way.”
“You get a little bit of butterflies in your stomach,” he added.
Join the chat on MLSsoccer.com for the Columbus Crew-Real Salt Lake CONCACAF Champions League match on Tuesday, beginning at 7:45 pm ET!
