Fire lineup looks good, but more scoring needed
The preseason exhibition matches are over, most of the Chicago Fire's Major League Soccer rivals have started the regular season, and now it's the Fire's turn Saturday at expansion Montreal.
Let's break down the Fire roster today position group by position group:
Goalkeeper:
Sean Johnson returns for his pro season firmly installed as the starter, but he will give Jay Nolly and Paolo Tornaghi a chance to show they deserve the top job when he reports for Olympic duty. Johnson probably will miss the season's first two games for qualifying. If all goes well for him, he'll miss a few more later in the summer for the London Olympics.
Johnson, 22, is a tremendous athlete who is still learning the position, including how to organize his back line and how to distribute the ball.
In Nolly, the Fire has a solid-but-not-spectacular veteran, someone trustworthy between the posts and more mobile than last year's No. 2, Jon Conway.
Coach Frank Klopas has high hopes for Tornaghi, who could end up the starter if Johnson leaves for Europe after the season, when he will be out of contract.
Overall, this looks to be a strength for the Fire.
Grade: A-
Defense:
The Fire already felt good about its back line before it signed German World Cup veteran Arne Friedrich to add depth, leadership and stability. It's unclear where he will fit in, however.
Veteran Cory Gibbs and second-year pro Jalil Anibaba have paired well in the middle, and Gonzalo Segares and Dan Gargan look good at fullback in Klopas' preferred 4-4-2 formation. Rookies Austin Berry and Hunter Jumper add promising depth.
Grade: A
Midfield:
The big question here is Sebastian Grazzini's health. He showed last year he adds a technical quality the Fire has been sorely lacking, but he can't add much when he's hurting, which has been all too often. He missed a few preseason games, including Friday's 3-1 victory against Minnesota.
Pavel Pardo was impressive when he joined the team at midseason last year, and there's no reason to believe he won't have another good season. But he's 35 years old, so Klopas will want to guard Pardo's minutes jealously.
Rafael Robayo appears to be a good addition, but if Grazzini is healthy it's not clear if Robayo will crack the First XI. Marco Pappa remains somewhat of an enigma, a great talent who hasn't quite harnessed all of his ability.
Captain Logan Pause is a steadying presence, solid but not spectacular. Daniel Paladini adds depth.
A little more help at this position would be welcomed.
Grade: B+
Forwards:
Dominic Oduro had a career year in 2011, scoring 12 goals, well past his previous best of 5. But MLS teams have learned they can't give him space to use his tremendous speed to go 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper. Opposing back lines won't play quite so high against the Fire.
Patrick Nyarko has partnered with his fellow Ghanaian during the preseason. He too has tons of speed, but Nyarko has been more of an assist man than a scorer, and he might be more productive as a winger opposite Pappa.
Orr Barouch returns as a super sub, and newcomer Federico Puppo seems like he's starting to feel a little more comfortable in MLS, though at 5-foot-8 he's prone to getting knocked off the ball.
If any position was calling out for the Fire to fill one of its three designated player slots, this is it.
Grade: C+
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