Three keys to getting the Chicago Fire in MLS playoffs
The times are changing at Toyota Park. There's new leadership on the soccer side. There's a new sense of hope, in part because of a successful preseason, though fans might have their patience tested again in the regular season.
The Chicago Fire has played just one playoff game in the past six seasons. Ending that sad streak is the first goal of first-year general manager Nelson Rodriguez and first-year coach Veljko Paunovic.
As Sunday's season opener against New York City FC approaches (1 p.m. Sunday, Comcast SportsNet), here are three things Fire fans should look for as a guide to whether the team has what it takes to make the playoffs:
1. Who is going to score?
David Accam led the team last season with 10 goals. No. 1 assist man Harry Shipp was traded last month to Montreal.
Over the past several years, having a double-digit scorer was something of an accomplishment for the Fire. Accam barely made it, though he only played 24 games due to injuries and international duty.
Accam must do even better this year. Ten won't be enough. He needs to use his blazing speed to break down defenses and to put the ball in the back of the net. He needs to finish, something that was an issue at times during his first year with the team.
Someone else must step up, too. Gilberto is the leading candidate. He and Kennedy Igboananike are the only forwards on the roster for now. Gilberto scored five times last year in 10 games after joining the club at midseason.
Both Accam and Gilberto must stay healthy, and both need to take advantage of their scoring chances. And the Fire still should pick up another quality attacking player, most likely at midseason.
2. The kids are contributing:
Unless Rodriguez goes on a signing spree, Paunovic will need to play some of the young, inexperienced players on his roster, which now counts just 23 players. There just aren't enough grizzled veterans to carry the team through a 34-game season.
Injuries happen. National-team callups happen. The schedule will get hectic. Paunovic will have to use more than 14 players. He will have to use some of the eight players age 23 or younger, if not all of them.
Can you live up to the hype, Brandon Vincent? Is Rodrigo Ramos legit? Are you ready, Drew Conner? How about you, Joey Calistri? We see you, Collin Fernandez, Jonathan Campbell and Patrick Doody.
Matt Polster got plenty of playing time last year, but he's only 22 years old.
3. Stop allowing late goals:
The last two seasons Fire fans lacked confidence the team could hold a lead or finish out a draw. In the waning minutes of a game, the Fire gave up too many disheartening, costly goals.
That has to stop.
Rodriguez has made a point of remaking the defense. Newly signed Matt Lampson looks like he'll supplant Sean Johnson at goalkeeper, judging by preseason playing time. The rest of the defense is comprised of new faces with Johan Kappelhof and Joao Meira being the most prominent at central defender.
More important, the club seems more match fit to stay focused all the way through a game's 90-plus minutes.
Kappelhof and Meira need to be everything Rodriguez hopes they are. If not, and the trend of the past two years continues, expect another season that ends in October, not November.
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