I feel bad about losing Nowak, but there are still some things to be happy about... 1) We still have Armas 2) We still have Beasley 3) We still have Bocanegra 4) We still have Zach (though some may disagree) 5) We still have Curtin (though others may disagree) 6) We're going to back in Soldier Field soon enough. 7) We have a professional league in the US that's turning the US into a respectable power, with a team still in the metropolitan area. 8) We may still have Wolff I'm sorry, but I just needed to start a feel-good thread.
No need to apologize. We all need some encouraging words to help our hearts because our minds have added up the moves so far and it doesn't look all the great. We'll have to wait and see what other moves the Fire makes before we can pass ultimate judgment. That said, it's nice to have kept our defensive core intact but unless we get a playmaker, our goal production will go down this year and while defense wins championships, you also need to be able to score. If we lose Wolff, we'll be stuck with two poaching fowards and a midfield that won't be able to serve them nearly as well as they could have with Nowak in the lineup. And don't forget that as of now, we're still stuck with a useless salary-cap-sucking Bulgarian albatross that has done more to hurt the Fire over the past two years than any of our opposition. IF the league lets us keep our good young players, including Beasley, the Fire will a force again in a three or four years. But unless Mr. Wilt and Mr. Sarachan have some incredibly sneaky and audacious player aquisition lined up (please, O Great and Terrible Soccer Gods above, let this be true!), it looks like we could be facing another year of frustrating futility in the Suburban Plastic Postage Stamp. Until we see the full set of moves, though, we'll just have to sit on our asses and wait to see what all happens.
A lot of people in DC were upset about the Dema - Mapp trade but that won't work out for a couple years. Still, I think having a healthy Wolff for an entire season will be a huge plus and will leave the playmaking role as the only real doubt on the fire. One good midfielder away from being the best team in MLS? Maybe...
Something to Smile About from mlsnet.com "2003 And Beyond 3. A corollary to number one is that Galaxy fans take advantage of their new home and become as rabid as Fire fans."
Despite the "fire sale" I think there are a number of things for the Fire to feel very good about. And I intend no sarcasm or insults in any of the following. 1. No more "death by a thousand cuts". DCU knows this all too well. You get a good core and then you spend the next 3-4 years cutting a solid veteran each year (or trading them away for a pittance or not resigning a player) and drafting guys b/c they're P-40 rather than fill a need or BAP. Assuming Stoichkov goes, you'll be below the cap. Not significantly so, but below the cap. You won't be going into 2004's season saying "okay, who are we going to cut this time?" Instead, cuts will be b/c someone isn't performing. You won't pass up on a good deal b/c you're all capped out. Next year, Chicago will actually have the option of adding good players who make serious money (rather than seeing who in P-40 or the A-league can contribute for you). And there will be other teams (who are just starting to get into cap trouble) who will be having to dump bodies. 2. Your 2003 and 2004 teams will be young with a big upside in the future, you've got a good coach (Sarachan) who has faith in American players. 3. You will no longer have a couple of the players who had injury problems. No insults intended to Stoichkov (who I assume will be leaving once he sorts out a few things), Nowak (maybe the best player in MLS over his entire career) and Wolff. But those 3 guys make MLS max salary. And anyone who makes MLS max needs to play 90% of your games. Wolff had a serious injury every year in MLS and never scored more than 10 goals. Nowak--the past 2 years has been a gamer but never healthy. And Stoichkov..... You now have a chance to put a team on the field that stays on the field. You won't be paying big money to players who are missing for 1/2 of the season. Last year, out of your $1.7 million cap, you had a team on the field for some games (including your reserves) that made $350K. There are A-league teams that have bigger payrolls! Injuries will happen. But at some point bodies start to break down. You've got a core of guys now who are young or have good track records at playing a lot of matches. The note about Graziani being on loan--the info I saw said he was on loan till the start of the MLS season--at which point SJ hopes Barcelona of Ecuador buys him. If not, SJ will need to cut some serious cap dollars. Ditto for Columbus when McBride returns from his loan to Everton (again, right before the season).
Umm, ... I think the Wizards now have something to say about that...but a nice thought nonetheless. Hate to rain on your parade, but I'm still smarting from losing the 1998 semis to Chicago and not being able to watch the Galaxy win MLS Cup at the Rose Bowl...
It is sort of sad MLS is getting rid of most of the players I hate. No more Luisa, Serna, Diallo, Ariel... If Kreis and Cobi went I dunno what I'd do... Well, we can look forward to abusing Hristo this season, too...
Wow. There would still be a LOT of players left to hate. Here. I'll help you out. Carlos Ruiz Joey Franchino Chad Deering Marco Etcheverry Ben Olsen Danny Califf Mike Petke Richie Williams Rusty Pierce Steve Jolley Oscar Pereja Jaime Moreno Preki
I'll grant you those three...the others I personally don't have a problem with aside from the teams they play on.
Actually... I should say we have a Frenchman to hate in MLS now so maybe it's all par for the course.
Fire not Dead It is interesting to read all of the doom and gloom posts about the demise of the Fire. Take a look at who you still have. DMB, Kelly Gray, Justin Mapp, Ante Razov, Carlos, Evan Whitfield, Zach Thorton, CJ Brown. Not a bad nucelus. I think the Fire will be jsut fine this year.