Busy off-season for Fire
Left back Gonzalo Segares is one of the Chicago Fire players going into the off-season facing some uncertainty.
His contract is up, but the Fire has a team option. Segares hopes the Fire picks up that option.
“It’s up to these guys in the front office,” said Segares, one of the highest-paid players on the team. “I’ve got one more option year, but it’s definitely up to them.
“You know here in MLS, the option isn’t your option but theirs. We’ll have to see what they decide.”
Segares, named this fall one of the club’s top 15 players in its 15 seasons, has some ideas on where the Fire can improve after its early exit from the playoffs.
“Many things,” he said. “We’re definitely not a great team yet. We have good pieces. We have a good mixture of young and experienced guys.
“Definitely, there are a lot of mistakes that I can point out. Maybe for sure not conceding easy goals and early goals.”
Going strong:One player who feels good about his future with the team is defensive midfielder Pavel Pardo.The World Cup veteran said Tuesday he feels good and has no plans to retire.#147;I will be here next year,#148; the 36-year-old said.The young guys:At the other end of the age spectrum, the Fire#146;s last two No. 1 draft choices, defenders Jalil Anibaba and MLS Rookie of the Year candidate Austin Berry, know they#146;ll be back, barring a surprise trade.Both also know they can#146;t relax too much this off-season.#147;Definitely, definitely,#148; Anibaba said. #147;You can never be content. You can never be complacent. You always need to keep driving to become better, and that#146;s my outlook on life and on my profession.#148;#147;There will always be stuff to improve on,#148; Berry added. #147;I#146;m not saying I#146;m bad at every single aspect. I#146;m just saying it#146;s something I#146;ll always look to improve on.#147;Even guys at the highest level are looking to keep improving. On the ball, making better decisions with the ball, technically, tactically, I think that just comes with games, knowing to be in the right spots and communicating.#147;I was fortunate enough to have a great group around me to help me grow.#148;A California kid, Anibaba sees a difference in himself from his rookie campaign in 2011.#147;Switch it up. Last year the first day we were released I was out of here, but I#146;ll stay around a little bit#148; before heading west to see family, he said.Anibaba would like to see the team improve its consistency, but he knows the 2012 season was much better than 2011, when the Fire missed the MLS playoffs a second consecutive year.#147;Our team has improved tenfold since I#146;ve been here,#148; he said, #147;and I think the energy and the attitude around the camp is positive.#148;Too soon to stop: Despite being eliminated from the playoffs, the Fire continues to train, working out this week and next to prepare for next season.ŸFollow Orrin on Twitter @Orrin_Schwarz