On counts of history and pedigree, it is no surprise that the Chicago Fire tops the league table with 36 points. A look down the Fire roster however, could lead one to believe that Chicago should be featherweights in this year's MLS fight.
"We kind of laugh sometimes when we are warming up and we look around the field. We say, 'Who are we?'" said veteran midfielder Jesse Marsch.
Not one Fire player was chosen to represent the MLS All-Star team for its match against England's Fulham FC on July 30 in Columbus, Ohio. The 11 MLS All-Star starters were selected by players, coaches, general managers, fans and media. FC Dallas head coach Colin Clarke picked five reserves, and Commissioner Don Garber added his two choices.
"It's a real under the radar kind of group in some ways, but at the same time I feel like we've got all-star caliber players," said Fire coach Dave Sarachan.
Despite starting the first quarter of the 2005 campaign in fairly unremarkable fashion, a current six-match unbeaten run -- which includes four victories -- has vaulted Chicago to the Eastern Conference lead.
"Some of the better teams underestimate how good we are," said Marsch.
"You know when you are going to play L.A. you are going to have to deal with Landon Donovan and everyone knows that. When you play us there is no real one guy you have to key on. I think that might make teams less nervous to play us."
Fourteen different Fire players have recorded goals this season and 16 different players have added assists. Both of those numbers count for most in MLS.
"I know the feeling of having to play Landon and it's difficult because you know no matter how well you play against him he's going to find a way to make some plays. I don't think anyone is that threatened by anyone on our team," added Marsch.
The Fire had averaged four MLS All-Stars per year through their seven-year history.
"If in years past when we've had big names, I think we would have been surprised if no one made the All-Star team. But this is a team with no superstars," said Marsch.
The players that had endeared themselves most to the Fire's faithful through the years have left the team and none of the recent slew of new players has fully endeared themselves to the Chicago fans.
"I think our attendance has struggled a little bit and maybe that is because the average Chicago fan was used to seeing Peter Nowak, Hristo Stoitchkov and DaMarcus Beasley. Now the only thing they are attached to is maybe Chris Armas or Zach Thornton. We laugh -- Chris Armas is on every single poster and promotional item we have because he is our only household name," said Marsch.
A defensive midfielder as a team's poster boy? Go figure. Stranger things have happened, like the league's leading team having no representation in the MLS All-Star Game.
Ivaldo Basso is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
