Fire hope new forward lives up to his numbers
It's the numbers that set new Chicago Fire forward/midfielder David Accam apart from the Fire's most recent designated players.
The 24-year-old from Ghana scored scored 17 goals and added 6 assists in 26 appearances last season for Helsingborgs in Sweden's top league. He scored 30 goals in 62 games overall for Helsingborgs. The Fire announced Accam's signing Friday, about a week after European outlets first reported the rumors.
When the Fire brought in busts like Juan Luis Anangono - whose transfer to Universidad de Guadalajara in Mexico just became official Thursday - and Sherjill MacDonald the past few years, it was with the prayer they would improve on their numbers once they reached MLS. Those prayers never were answered.
With Accam the Fire will be thrilled if he can match his Helsingborgs stats against MLS competition.
As they say on Wall Street, past performance is no guarantee of future results. But it sure is nice to know Accam has the net on his radar.
"David is an exciting, creative player with a goal-scoring mentality," said Fire coach and director of soccer Frank Yallop in a team statement. "I'm pleased that David will be joining the Fire. He's a key piece as we continue to build a deep squad in preparation for the 2015 season, and we're looking forward to having him on our team."
Even his market value is an improvement from MacDonald and Anangono. English sides Leicester, West Ham and West Brom were rumored to be interested in the speedy Accam. Accam will get the DP label because of his still-unknown salary, not because of his loan agreement.
Accam represents a step up in the type of player the Fire has signed. He is not a giant leap. He is not someone like Kaka, Frank Lampard or David Villa. The Fire will see those international superstars soon enough when the Fire plays 2015's MLS expansion teams, Orlando City SC and New York City FC.
Accam joins Michael Stephens, Joevin Jones and Kennedy Igboananike as December Fire additions. All of them played most recently in Scandinavia, where contracts end during the winter months, just as they do in MLS. Igboananike also is a DP, but his stats also are modest in comparison to Accam's.
Let the games begin:
MLS released its schedule of opening-day games Friday, and it shows the Fire in familiar spots. Once again the Fire will start the season in Los Angeles, meeting the defending MLS Cup champion Galaxy on March 6. The Fire also again will help open an opponent's new stadium, this time March 22 at San Jose, Fire coach Frank Yallop's former club.
The Fire's home opener is scheduled for March 14 against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The full MLS schedule is expected to be released in January.
Follow Orrin on Twitter @ Orrin_Schwarz