Chicago Fire Thread

[Aenir]

seasons almost over, Hopefully the fire can climb a few slots and get to 1 or 2seed

[ZifanQ]

Man that sucked they lost yesterday. :< Really gotta beat DC United, to get that 2th spot.

[Aenir]

hey, I thiink we are still even in the hunt for top spot! :)

[little bear]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,2400416.story

Fire announce preseason training schedule

The Chicago Fire announced its 2013 preseason training camp schedule Friday.

Players will arrive at Toyota Park on Jan. 18 for two days of medical exams before heading to Ave Maria, Fla. for 10 days of camp. The team then plays two friendlies: Jan. 27 against Florida Gulf Coast University and Jan. 30 against the Columbus Crew.

The Fire then will be in Ventura, Calif. from Feb. 2-10 for the second leg of preseason. There they will play San Jose Earthquakes at Oxnard College, on a date yet to be determined.

Preseason closes out in Charleston, S.C., where the team will face the Houston Dynamo and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Fire hosts the New England Revolution for Opening Day at Toyota Park on March 9.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,5251109.story

Fire acquire midfielder Lindpere from Red Bulls

The Fire added midfield depth and scoring potential Friday with the acquisition of versatile midfielder Joel Lindpere from the New York Red Bulls.

Lindpere, 31, a native of Tallinn, Estonia, joins the team as it prepares to open 2013 training this month. The Fire gave up a 2013 international roster spot in compensation, but other terms were not disclosed.

"Joel is a versatile, dependable player that has proven himself in MLS," Fire President Javier Leon said in a statement.

Lindpere, who has made 74 appearances with the Estonian national team, played the last three seasons with the Red Bulls. He had 15 goals and 18 assists in 97 appearances, including 89 starts.

In 2012, he played in all 34 games and was the third leading scorer behind Kenny Cooper and Thierry Henry with five goals and five assists.

He also has played professionally in Bulgaria, Estonia and Norway.

The Red Bulls' most valuable player in 2010, Lindpere scored the first goal ever at Red Bull Arena on March 20, 2010, against Santos. One week later, he got the arena's first Major League Soccer tally in a 1-0 season-opening victory over the Fire.

Gearing up: The Fire announced players will report Jan. 18 with two days of medical exams at Toyota Park before departing Jan. 20 for 2013 preseason training in Florida.

Exhibition games begin Jan. 27, and the Fire open the regular season on March 3 in Los Angeles against the Galaxy. Their first home game is March 9 against the Revolution.

Soccer Night: Fire forward Chris Rolfe is among more than 30 MLS players set to participate in a Soccer Night on Monday in Newtown, Conn., site of the recent shootings that claimed 26 lives at a local elementary school.

The event will be open to Newtown residents and local youth soccer players and offer a chance to meet players and participate in small side games. It will also feature appearances by U.S. national team stars Alexi Lalas, Cobi Jones and Mia Hamm.

[little bear]

Fire bringing back three midfielders - Chicago Fire Blog - ESPN Chicago

Fire bringing back three midfielders

The Chicago Fire re-signed Corben Bone and picked up the contract options for Alex and Michael Videira, the team announced Monday.

“It was important for us to have Corben, Alex and Michael return in 2013,” said Fire President of Soccer Operations Javier Leon. “They are skillful and versatile players that provide us with depth in a variety of positions.”

Per MLS policy, the terms of the three midfielders’ deals were not disclosed.


Bone, the Fire’s first-round selection (13th overall) in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, has made 17 appearances in three seasons with the Fire. He was one of only four players to start all of the Fire’s 2012 Reserve League matches, scoring one goal and tallying two assists in 897 minutes.

Alex joined the Fire during the 2012 summer transfer window from Swiss side FC Wohlen He scored two goals in his 17 regular season appearances.

Videira joined the Fire on March 10, 2011 from USSF Division 2 Pro side AC St. Louis. In two seasons with the Fire, Videira has started seven of the 12 matches in which he appeared, notching one assist over 900 minutes.

Fire defender Arne Friedrich received his U.S. Green Card, the team announced, granting him permanent resident status in the United States. Friedrich will no longer occupy an International Player slot on the Fire roster.


The Fire also announced Monday that they did not pick up the option for Mexican international forward Guillermo Franco.

Fire opens preseason with victory - Chicago Fire Blog - ESPN Chicago

Fire opens preseason with victory

The Chicago Fire kicked off its preseason schedule with a 2-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast University at Ave Maria’s North Park on Sunday.

Dominic Oduro and Daniel Paladini scored the two Fire goals.

The Fire played 28 of 32 players on its preseason roster as head coach Frank Klopas looked to evaluate talent.

The Fire’s next preseason match comes against fellow MLS side Columbus Crew at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

[little bear]

Fire trade Oduro to Crew for Duka - Chicago Fire Blog - ESPN Chicago

Fire trade Oduro to Crew for Duka

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus Crew have acquired forward Dominic Oduro from the Chicago Fire in exchange for midfielder Dilly Duka and the right of first refusal to former Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers.

Oduro will be added to the Crew's roster immediately. The 27-year-old Ghanaian scored 18 goals and assisted on five more in 66 regular-season games the last two years with the Fire. He also played five seasons with the Houston Dynamo, New York Red Bulls and FC Dallas.

The 23-year-old Duka played three seasons with the Crew, making 45 appearances with two goals and five assists.

Rogers was a member of the Crew from 2007-11, but joined English League Championship team Leeds United before going on loan to League One's Stevenage.

[little bear]

2013 Power Rankings: April 15 (Week 7)
	RK (LW)	TEAM	REC	COMMENT
	1 (2)	FC Dallas	5-1-1	George John needed five staples to close a cut on his head thanks to an errant beer bottle, but he was feeling little pain after his goal gave FCD a 1-0 win over the Galaxy. Raul Fernandez was also among the heroes, saving Landon Donovan's penalty.
	2 (1)	Los Angeles	2-1-2	The Galaxy were fuming after Leonardo's red card but could have few complaints after Donovan squandered his chance to put L.A. in control with a penalty of his own. Combined with its CONCACAF Champions League exit, it was a rough week.
	3 (3)	Kansas City	3-1-2	SKC had the weekend off, and the rest will come in handy. Kansas City plays on each coast this week, at New York on Wednesday, then in Los Angeles at the weekend.
	4 (4)	Montreal Impact	4-1-1	A draw was about what Montreal deserved after Columbus squandered clear chances in the first half. Marco Di Vaio's screamer put the home side ahead, only for Columbus to pull level in equally impressive fashion.
	5 (6)	Houston	4-2-0	With 35 home games in a row unbeaten in all competitions, Houston now has the record all to itself after a 2-1 win over Chicago. Dominic Kinnear credited a good team. Luck helps, as evidenced by Brad Davis' seeing-eye game-winner.
	6 (5)	Chivas USA	3-2-1	The Goats looked short of energy and execution -- especially when Erick Correa hit his penalty off the bar -- in losing 1-0 to Colorado. After playing five of their first six games at home, a stretch of three of four on the road beckons.
	7 (12)	Portland Timbers	2-1-3	Caleb Porter is no doubt still celebrating the day that Will Johnson became available in a trade. The midfielder, acquired from RSL in the offseason, bagged his third goal of the season, a magnificent free kick to beat San Jose 1-0.
	8 (8)	Real Salt Lake	2-3-2	Substitute Olmes Garcia nearly sent RSL home a winner with a spectacular goal. But an unfortunate slip and subsequent handball by Nat Borchers allowed Vancouver to tie. After playing five of seven away, RSL now has three straight at home.
	9 (11)	Columbus	2-1-3	One golazo deserved another. After Di Vaio's aforementioned blast put Montreal ahead, Dominic Oduro replied with a highlight-reel tally to add to Columbus' impressive road record that now stands at 2-1-1.
	10 (7)	Vancouver Whitecaps	2-2-2	Despite Camilo's late equalizer from the spot, Vancouver will feel it should have gotten more out of the game but ran into an inspired Nick Rimando in the RSL goal. Joe Cannon did his bit as well, denying Borchers' late header.
	11 (10)	Philadelphia Union	2-2-2	Saturday's match with Toronto was ugly in many respects, despite the Union being on the front foot for most of it. All the more reason to be thankful for Jack McInerney side-footing home a stoppage-time equalizer.
	12 (9)	San Jose	2-3-2	The red card to Alan Gordon cut deep in San Jose's 1-0 loss to Portland, and he will be sitting for a while after he was caught dropping a homophobic slur on Will Johnson. Yet another headache this struggling side doesn't need.
	13 (16)	Colorado	2-3-2	After recording its second straight win, a 1-0 road triumph at Chivas USA, things are looking up for the Rapids, who have received good performances from the younger elements of its injury-hit lineup, including goal scorer Deshorn Brown.
	14 (18)	New York Red Bulls	2-3-2	Mike Petke's side delivered the kind of consistent, composed performance that has been largely absent. Goals from Thierry Henry and Jamison Olave put the Red Bulls ahead against D.C. United, then the defense comfortably saw out the match.
	15 (13)	New England	1-2-2	The Revs' revamped defense once again allowed it to bag a result on the road, tying Seattle 0-0. As for the attack, there's still work to be done, although Saer Sene's return from injury put a charge into New England's offense late.
	16 (14)	Toronto FC	1-2-3	Toronto was left fuming over Ashtone Morgan's red card in the 88th minute, especially after the Union equalized in stoppage time. But good teams find a way to close out games like that, even with 10 men. Pity for keeper Joe Bendik, who was outstanding.
	17 (17)	Chicago	1-4-1	The Fire looked vastly improved against Houston, with their midfield looking much sharper than in the season's opening weeks. But it wasn't enough to prevent a 2-1 loss. At least there's hope now in the Windy City.
	18 (15)	DC United	1-4-1	Ben Olsen told the media that his team was easy to play against on Saturday against New York. That's about as accurate a summary as possible, given that United fell behind 2-0 early and never looked capable of a comeback. Olsen has work to do.
	19 (19)	Seattle Sounders FC	0-3-2	The ball just doesn't want to go in for the Sounders at the moment. Despite dominating almost the entire match against New England, Seattle was forced to settle for a 0-0 home draw and remains the league's only winless team.

Not a good season so far... :-(

[Aenir]

2 wins in a row now!