Fire's match with Crew puts a lot on line Sunday
The Columbus Crew might not recognize the Fire's back line, but the new crop of Fire defenders will know to keep an eye on Guillermo Barros Schelotto on Sunday afternoon.
"Everything kind of revolves around him," Fire technical director Frank Klopas said of Schelotto, last year's MLS MVP. "He makes things happen from his ability to penetrate, beat players and make that final pass."
There's a lot at stake for both teams this weekend at Toyota Park. The Crew leads the Eastern Conference with 42 points, but the Fire is close behind at 39. The Crew, however, has a game in hand, so this is an opportunity the Fire can't afford to waste if it wants to win home-field advantage for the playoffs and have a shot at the Supporters' Shield.
"The Supporters' Shield is right in front of us and one of our targets, and we have an opportunity to beat Columbus," Klopas said.
The Fire likely will counter Schelotto with a back line of Brandon Prideaux, C.J. Brown, Dasan Robinson and Mike Banner.
Brown is the only defender who played in the teams' July 11 scoreless draw. He and his teammates will not have to watch 6-foot-4 defender Chad Marshall, who has shown the Fire he can score off set pieces too. Marshall is out with a knee injury.
"They've got a very well-balanced team," Klopas said. "It's not going to be an easy game."
It's a busy week for the Crew, which played Wednesday night in Costa Rica in a CONCACAF Champions League victory over Saprissa. However, the Crew went deep into its bench for the game, leaving several regulars at home.
Will Blanco be back? In April Fire midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco was quoted as saying he would not return to the Fire for the 2010 season.
Earlier this week Blanco told fanhouse.com that he his remarks were taken out of context.
"I'm happy to play in Chicago," Blanco was quoted as saying this week. "The goal and the hope is that I'm renewed one more year with the Chicago Fire."
Blanco, 36, is the Fire's designated player this season, collecting almost $3 million, second in the league. His contract is up after this season.
Blanco has 5 goals and 8 assists this season in 18 games. Klopas said the team will address Blanco's status in the off-season.
Ring of Fire: Former Fire midfielder and assistant coach Chris Armas will be this year's inductee into the Ring of Fire.
Armas will join Peter Nowak, Frank Klopas, Lubos Kubik, Peter Wilt and Bob Bradley as an honoree. The ceremony will take place at the Oct. 22 regular-season finale against Chivas USA.