On paper, the Fire looks like it took a step backward in the off-season.
The Fire’s captain for the last five seasons retired in November. The coach who led the Fire from the bottom of the standings to the conference final joined the New York Red Bulls in December. And the goalkeeper who kept the team in several games with his outstanding saves left for England in February.
So why do the players still say they can win the MLS Cup?
According to Fire midfielder Diego Gutierrez, it has to do with something you don’t see on paper.
“We’re united and tight-knit,” Gutierrez said. “We’ve grown together and are playing for one another. A good locker room is a huge weapon in achieving success.”
Here are the keys to the Fire’s success this season:
Home-field advantage: A loud, raucous atmosphere could go a long way in making the Fire tough to beat at Toyota Park. The Fire was undefeated at home during the second half of last season, when it averaged more than 20,000 fans.
Overcoming Armas’ absence: Chris Armas’ presence on the field gave his teammates confidence and helped calm the younger players. With their former captain now retired, the Fire needs veterans C.J. Brown and Gutierrez to bring those same qualities to the team.
Busch’s effectiveness: Since being named an MLS All-Star in 2004, goalie Jon Busch has seen two seasons end early because of knee injuries and spent most of last season on the bench. With Matt Pickens gone, he is now the Fire’s No. 1 keeper.
Defensive dominance: The defense was the Fire’s weakness the first half of last season and one of its biggest strengths the season half of the season. The backline must continue where it left off.
Frankowski’s productivity: Tomasz Frankowski had been without a team since August 2007, but the Fire thinks the 33-year old Polish striker still has enough left in the tank that it signed him in February. If Frankowski can score the way he did during Poland’s 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign, he could be the solution to the Fire’s scoring problems.
Adding another key player: With three of the Fire’s four highest paid players from last season no longer on the team, the Fire has the cap space to make a few more moves. The team is still in need of a right midfielder, and a back-up goalkeeper now that first-round draft pick Dominic Cervi has decided not to sign.
Continue the chemistry: Juan Carlos Osorio kept things light in practice and it rubbed off on the players, who were clicking on another level late last season. Even though Osorio is now with the Red Bulls, the Fire would benefit from a similar atmosphere under new coach Denis Hamlett in 2008.
Conde’s cooperation: Wilman Conde was a defensive force for the Fire in 2007, but his future with the team has been unclear ever since he asked to be traded to the Red Bulls after Osorio’s departure.
Blanco’s health: Although Cuauhtemoc Blanco didn’t miss a game after joining the Fire in July, his history of injuries still has to worry Fire fans. Not only did Blanco turn 35 in January, but he takes a beating from opposing players who know he is rattled easily. If “Mr. White” can stay healthy for most of the season, there’s no way the competitor in him would allow the Fire to miss the playoffs.
Rolfe and Mapp’s consistency: Blanco can take the Fire only so far into the playoffs on his own, which is why the team’s success will depend on the support he gets from Chris Rolfe and Justin Mapp. Both are stars when they’re on top of their games. And if they can stay on top of their games all season, the Fire would have the sort of attack that can contend for a championship.
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larroyave@tribune.com
