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Chicago Fire preview Posted: Tuesday April 08, 2003 4:21 PM
By Will Kuhns, Soccer America It's difficult to look at the new Chicago Fire and not focus on who is no longer there: Peter Nowak, Dema Kovalenko, Hristo Stoitchkov, Josh Wolff. That quartet scored 40 percent of the team's goals during the past two seasons. But the team's most influential newcomer is Coach Dave Sarachan, who likes what he sees from those who remain. "We still have a number of veteran-type players who know how to compete and endure a long season," Sarachan says. "We also have some younger players who are eager to prove something. It's a good blend, and I've been pleased. There's such parity in the league now that it's going to be an interesting season, certainly an interesting conference." With Nowak, the quintessential engine and captain, working upstairs, the helm falls to Chris Armas, who has worked his way back from the knee injury that cost him a trip to the World Cup. He spearheads a defensive unit that ranked third in goals-against average last season. Sarachan says he hasn't decided how the team will align itself, but C.J. Brown, Jim Curtin and Carlos Bocanegra have been an effective defensive trio in recent years. Teams should have a hard time getting clean shots through to Zach Thornton.
Fire players are ready to write a new chapter under Dave Sarachan. Where the Fire's goals will come from is a trickier question. Ante Razov was the league's fourth leading scorer last season, but spent much of the offseason recovering from injuries and is suspended for the first three games. His partner up front presumably will be Rodrigo Faria, who led the MetroStars with 12 goals last season, but he also is off to a slow start, having spent most of preseason in his native Brazil. The early going will be a time for draftees Damani Ralph and Nate Jaqua to test their mettle. The most glaring hole for Chicago is the spot Nowak occupied for five seasons. The club took a long look at Jamaican Andy Williams, who posted 15 assists last year, and was acquired from the MetroStars for a conditional 2004 draft pick 10 days before the opening of the season. DaMarcus Beasley could see time in attacking midfield or work to deconstruct defenses from the flank. "It's an important year for DaMarcus," Sarachan says. "There has to be more production-slash-accountability in the attacking third of the field for him. There are going to be several guys like DaMarcus who are going to have to step up." Sarachan's coaching style starkly contrasts that of his predecessor, Bob Bradley. Where Bradley was intense and demanding, Sarachan is even and patient. How that affects the team's new identity is something to watch. "We have lost a lot, and there will be questions," Sarachan says. "We have lost leadership and we lost it in a vital part of the field, but I think this group of players is really ready to embrace a new chapter of the Chicago Fire." Told that another Eastern Conference coach labeled his team the darkhorse, Sarachan replied, "It's good being the darkhorse."
AT A GLANCEPivotal: Ante Razov. As the go-to-gun, he has to grind out goals to get the Fire going.Worth Your Money: DaMarcus Beasley. No more Nowak should mean more improv from "Jitterbug." Make or Break: Rodrigo Faria. Can he mesh with Razov and produce? If not, he could end up a league journeyman. Best Youngster: Logan Pause. His qualities (industrious, tidy and mature) attracted little hype in college but will serve him well in MLS. Underrated: Jim Curtin. Awkward looks are deceiving - this tower gets the job done. Overrated: Zach Thornton. Gives up too many rebounds.
RosterAvg. Age: 24.0 (youngest in MLS). Capped players: 9 (3rd in MLS).Goalkeepers - 13 Henry Ring, 18 Zach Thornton (USA). Defenders - 4 Carlos Bocanegra (USA), 2 C.J. Brown (USA), 5 Jim Curtin, 6 Kelly Gray, 30 Orlando Perez, 3 Evan Whitfield. Midfielders - 14 Chris Armas (USA), 7 DaMarcus Beasley (USA),19 Craig Capano (P40), 24 Ryan Futagaki, 21 Justin Mapp (P40), 15 Jesse Marsch (USA), 12 Logan Pause (P40), 16 Andy Williams (Jamaica/SI). Forwards - 22 Rodrigo Faria (SI), 11 Nate Jaqua (P40), 8 Damani Ralph (TI), 9 Ante Razov (USA), 17 Dipsy Selolwane (Botswana/SI), 28 Nick Walls. Head coach: Dave Sarachan (MLS record: 0-0-0). * Countries for which players have been capped (through March 25) are in parentheses.
Will Kuhns is a senior editor at Soccer America magazine.
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