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Preseason predictions not going Fire's way

Now that labor peace has cleared the way for a 2015 Major League Soccer season, the Chicago Fire is hoping to sneak up on some people.

The Fire can start by pulling off a surprise in Friday's season opener at defending MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy (9 p.m., UniMas).

But after five seasons and just one playoff game - including 2014's ninth-place, 6-10-18 flop - nobody's going to go out on a limb for the Fire.

And nobody has.

Bovada gives the Fire 40-1 odds to win MLS Cup. If Bovada is right, the Fire won't make the postseason, even with the addition of a sixth playoff team in each conference. And even with Houston and Sporting Kansas City moving to the Western Conference.

Two of Sports Illustrated's four predictors agree the Fire will miss the playoffs again. Soccer America has the Fire finishing at the bottom of the 10-team Eastern Conference table, citing the team's 1-0-4 preseason record and injuries to Mike Magee and David Accam. Soccer America doesn't even mention Patrick Nyarko's recovery from last fall's ACL surgery.

The Fire, however, didn't stand pat after last season's struggles. Far from it. Coach/director of soccer Frank Yallop and technical director Brian Bliss were as busy as any MLS front office this off-season. The Fire is the only club that went from zero to three designated players since Halloween. Twelve of the 25 players on the 2015 roster were elsewhere last season.

But while Shaun Maloney, Accam and, to a lesser extent, Kennedy Igboananike have good track records, they aren't sure things.

The Fire's DP trio doesn't make anyone go gaga the way Kaka does for expansion Orlando City or the way David Villa and Frank Lampard do for expansion New York City FC. Those teams are sucking up a lot of MLS oxygen for their personnel moves. The Fire's signings merely get a nod of approval.

Essentially, the Fire took a step forward, just not as big a step as hoped.

All the change also is part of the reason for so much hesitancy. It could take time for the players to jell, but it's time the Fire might not have. If the team starts losing or piling up the draws again, it will be difficult to keep a positive attitude about the team given its recent history.

If the Fire can get a good start, however, it can remind fans of the worst-to-first turnaround D.C. United had from 2013 to 2014.

If the Fire is going to make soccer people sit up and take notice, the club will have to do it the only place it matters.

On the field.

Follow Orrin on Twitter @Orrin_Schwarz

Fire game day

Chicago Fire at L.A. Galaxy at at StubHub Center, 9 p.m. Friday

TV: UniMas

Scouting the Fire: New designated player David Accam isn't likely to play, but fellow off-season DP acquisitions Shaun Maloney and Kennedy Igboananike will make their regular-season debuts for the team. The Fire looks to bounce back from last year's disappointing 6-10-18 season starting with this season opener.

Scouting the Galaxy: Landon Donovan is retired, but the defending MLS Cup champion still has plenty of talent. Gyasi Zardes looks ready for a breakout season, and Robbie Keane still has a lot going for him at age 34.

Next: Vancouver Whitecaps, 5 p.m. March 14 at Toyota Park

- Orrin Schwarz

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