Fire's Klopas faces several key decisions

Fire technical director Frank Klopas is keeping his poker face on.

The Fire's busy off-season is under way, officially starting with Tuesday's decision that coach Denis Hamlett would not get a new contract and continuing with Wednesday's expansion draft. Klopas isn't one to tip his hand, but there are a number of lineup spots to fill and questions to be answered between now and late February when the team goes to preseason training.

"It's always going to be busy, probably this year a little bit more than last year," Klopas said.

But do all these changes mean next year will be a rebuilding year?

No, it doesn't have to be, if Klopas makes the right decisions. Here are some of those decisions, made and pending.

• Coach: The search is under way to replace Hamlett, but don't expect a new coach very soon. This might be the most important move of the off-season for Klopas. Fire fans will be watching closely to see if the new guy has experience with MLS's complicated and unique rules, if he has experience as a head coach, as well as if he's hired in time to have a say in any personnel decisions.

• Forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco: Signed with Veracruz of the Mexican second division, though his contract includes a clause that would allow him to return to Chicago after the World Cup. That seems unlikely at this point, which means the Fire's Designated Player spot is open.

"It's just got to be the right guy who makes sense and can fit into our organization," Klopas said of a new DP. Blanco was one of the best DPs in MLS. His successor must be also. No pressure, though.

• Defender Gonzalo Segares: Out of contract and wants to play in Europe. "The next couple of months are going to be interesting for me," Segares said last week after clearing out his locker. "I'm not going to lie to you. Since I was a little kid I've been having the dream of going to play in Europe. I've always tried to go over there, and I think right now is my last chance. I'm 27 years old. If I don't try to go now I'll never go. As of right now there's nothing concrete."

The Fire will miss his man-marking skills and ability to move forward into the attack. Daniel Woolard is the heir apparent.

• Forward/midfielder Chris Rolfe: Signed with Aalborg in Denmark. Can Calen Carr or Justin Mapp fill Rolfe's spot on the right wing?

• Defender Bakary Soumare: Went to French club Boulogne in August (yes, he still counts). Brown will get first crack at this spot, with Dasan Robinson in reserve.

• Defender David Myrie: If you're saying "who?" right about now, don't worry, you're still a good Fire fan. Myrie is the guy they signed to fill out the roster when Soumare went to France. He never came close to seeing game action. Why Philadelphia Union coach Peter Nowak chose Myrie in Wednesday's expansion draft is a mystery, but you have to figure Klopas was dancing in his Toyota Park office after that pick.

• Defender C.J. Brown: The Fire picked up the contract option Wednesday for the team captain and last remaining Fire original, and that's a popular choice in the locker room. Brown, 34, stayed healthy this season and showed he's still a fierce defender.

• Forward Brian McBride: The team picked up his option Wednesday, and it's the right move. But just being a great locker-room presence and practice-field example isn't enough. He needs to score more than he did last year. The new DP needs to be someone who will mesh well with McBride, 37.

• Defender Wilman Conde: If he still wants to leave town, he wasn't saying last week. The team mischief-maker laughed as he avoided questions, but it's doubtful Klopas will let go of a MLS Best XI player.

• Midfielder Marco Pappa: His loan from CSD Municipal in Guatemala expires. The Fire is expected to work out a deal to keep Pappa.

Fortunately, the Fire has its full complement of draft picks, and Klopas has seen most of these changes coming. He has a "database of potential players," he said, that he will turn to as he looks to fill the holes in the roster.

Here's what the lineup might look like today: G - Jon Busch; D - Woolard, Conde, Brown, Tim Ward; MF - Pappa, Logan Pause, John Thorrington, Mapp; F - McBride, Patrick Nyarko.

oschwarz@dailyherald.com