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With Cuauhtemoc Blanco set to leave MLS this winter, and his return far from certain, the Chicago Fire will be left with a big decision to make this off-season. How will the Fire replace Blanco?
Chicago has a promising young midfielder in Baggio Husidic who is already getting playing time, but Husidic can't place Blanco's star power or overall impact. The Fire will need to sign a Designated Player capable of making a major impact on and off the field.
But who will it be? Will the Fire be able to find another high-profile Mexican player? Could a Polish star be the next target? Will Chicago sit on the DP slot and hope that Blanco returns this summer?
Who would we sign? There simply isn't another readily-available Mexican star with Blanco's type of profile. Could Chicago lure a speedy striker to Toyota Park with a big contract? Someone like David Suazo? It's tough to tell what will happen in Chicago when we really don't know who will be running the show there after this season.
What would you do if you were the Fire?
Share your thoughts below.
Henry? Guiti?
I came to SBI today hoping this would be the topic… What does everyone think? I think the question is how much Chicago will really spend.
Charlie Davies.
Veron
Michael Owen in two years.
For now, whats the name of the guy who walked out on Notts County?
Ebi Smolarek
I imagine it will be either a eastern european or a mexican because those are the 2 main areas the fire seem to focus their marketing on.
Oh, what about Shevchenko? Big Ukrainian population in Chicago, right?
Dynamo has another overweight Mexican named Landin who would be perfect
Rafa Marquez. you heard it here first
brent, for some reason everytime i watch landin i think of blanco. i think it’s his body and how slowly he moves it.
shevchenko would be sweet. he could tear mls up for a number of years.
could they go after someone like dos santos? just throw a ton of money at him. i hate dos santos more than blanco and would love to cheer against him.
Euzebiusz “Ebi” Smolarek
link to en.wikipedia.org
Club: Unattached
Not even the biggest Mexican teams can afford or lure Dos Santos. We are talking 5 million pounds.
Smolarek signs with Philly. I’ve been calling it for months now.
I assumed Sheva would eventually sign with DC down the road.
I want someone completely out of left field, like Peter Crouch or something. That won’t happen, but some head scratcher.
Shevchenko is done, he has lost his pace and would not be worth the $ of a DP. I think the most up and coming player the Fire should get is in Mexico and his name is Memo.
John O’Brien.
How about the second most hated player on the the Mexican national team
Rafa Marquez
ruud van nistelrooy
Rafa Marquez…give Baggio a look in the mid
bring in Nedved.
the rumors were there… despite being 36 he can still haul a**… he’s played winger and CM with Juve for years…
not the star power per say, but certainly could add some hustle and grit to our midfield
jimmy bullard
Suazo…but how about going for Humberto. Monterrey only payed 2.5 million i wanna say for him and after a slow start, he’s a huge force. Ochoa only leaves for Europe.
Keeping with the overweight theme: Adriano.
8 million, not 2.5. Still not bad i would say.
How about Jacek Krzynówek from Poland a good midfielder still playing at a high level in the Bundesliga at 33 years old. 95 career caps with Poland and 15 goals. Gives them a creative force to replace Blanco but still highly marketable. With Poland out of the World Cup his international career is probably over making the switch to the U.S more palatable.
Anyone suggesting Rafa Marquez is being silly. He inked an extension with Barca through like 2013 over the summer, and there’s no way he comes here three months before the world cup. If you’re thinking after, well, that’s when Blanco’s contract with Veracruz is up, so I’d imagine they’ll try filling that slot for the beginning of the season. I just don’t see Marquez being the pick. I don’t necessarily have a name to throw out there, but I doubt the name is Marquez.
Voronin
This.
I dunno, next season it’s going to be NO: Blanco, Rolfe, Prideaux, Soumare (obviously), who else am i forgetting?
Those are some important players to replace and still be a force in the East. Unfortunately, I foresee a pretty weak season for the Fire as they build up something new.
And I don’t think they’ll get another DP just yet. Probably wait out the Blanco situation.. I love Baggio, he’s a hometown boy and all, but he hasn’t been impressing me (granted his time has been limited)
good observation by Gilby- maybe target a player from a country that won’t be in the world cup. It seems any veteran vying for a world cup roster spot won’t make the jump over here. Would love to see New England go after a Portuguese superstar if they fail to qualify.
Chicago fire must go with Del Piero… What do u thinks guys? Or Fernando Morientes… MLS need this kind of players…
Pato Margetic
Betcha they snag Jared Borgetti.
If I was any MLS team I would be courting Guti, HARD.
No wait, even better, Zidane.
I’d love that, gotta love any time a team adds a zero impact player for millions that they will have no choice but to start.
Why not take a page out of the Galaxy recipe for success and overhaul the roster with guys like Wynalda, Harkes, Lalas, and Hugo Sanchez.
Suazo only leaves to europe.
damian alvarez from pachuca
Magic Zurawski….formerly of celtic
Lets not get this all twisted. Blanco will be back the only change will be Hamlett out.
I don’t think Sheva would have much of a problem scoring against MLS defenses. Pace isn’t the only skill required, and sometimes doesn’t matter at all. Look at Red Bull.
Del would absolutely amazing….
they are going to use their DP slot on a coach and hire media-friendly Diego Maradona.
he’ll be great on “family night.”
Sol Campbell
Sheva’s wife is American too, isn’t she?
Just go for the gold and get Fat Ronaldo
DINHO!!!
whoever they get, please no more Blanco. he is over-the-hill, done, finished. he is still somewhat successful with Mexico because they have more talented players to move around him and connect with passes, but the Fire is not El Tri. same goes for McBride. but i think Schevchenko would be good for a couple years yet…
Why almost everybody here want another stupid mexican player? they don’t deserve our league, they just come here when any team in mexico want them… Stay there losers…
Well based on his past experiences with Chelsea and then AC Milan, I don’t think Cheva’s scoring touch will result in too many goals for any MLS teams.
DaMarcus Beasley or Freddy Adu. Why not?
Blanco will come back for the $. Enough said.
Ruud, Rudd, Ruud (VN). Actually, maybe they should spend that dough
on Nery Castillo…not to play him, but to beat his mofo ass.
Seriously, this is the most overrated player in Concacaf. Beasley used to be so, but at least he apologized. Imagine Beasely with the audacity of having a big mouth…thats Nery. The Mexicans wont throw him under the bus, but at least the Fire can. It would be worth every penny too.
Why does everyone name players who would not sign with MLS in the next year or two? Del Piero would be awesome, He’s not coming.
No point to bringing in a DP unless they are going to put some butts in the seats. I would like to see either Van Nistelroy or Ronaldinho in MLS next season. Both still have something left and are not getting the time in Europe. Both I believe are out of contract after this season. No to the Mexican Icon’s. Blanco has been a good player, but if you are going to spend money on a good Mexican player, let it be a younger player like Vela or dos Santos.
Klopas could totally lock this down. Call him up, let’s do this!
nick garcia
Question part 2- how do I decide on buying season tickets with out knowing who will be on the field?
Bagio Husidic and Stefan Dimitrov have shown me they should get more playing time. But Blanco/Rolfe/Soumary/Prideaux/ all leaving create significant gaps. Fire were recognized to have a deep roster, now the pool seems more shallow.
Stu Holden for one year, hes out of contract with the Dynamo. he gets to play for the fire before going to the world cup and then goes over to europe after to see how it fits.
Maybe he can split the spot with Batata.
Klopas wants a younger offensive minded DP, and he loves Polish players, so my guess is Ebi Smolarek if Peter Nowak doesn’t steal him from under his nose first.
It’s a long shot but how about Gooch. He is coming off an injury and will need to get some games in before the World Cup. It’s unlikely he will see the field for Milan and I could see Chicago being able to pick him up if they were willing to take over his contract.
Ummmm…Suazo is already in Europe (Portugual currently) and has been for several years. I agree he wouldn’t come to MLS though…a bad transfer to Inter and an injury this year with Benefica has caused his stock to drop but still capable of playing in good Euro league.
gazza
I’m calling it now, Fire sign Hugo Chavez. Yes that’s right, the President of Venezuela will sign with the Chicago Fire. Name one person who wouldn’t want to see that.
I agree with both Gilby and JohnC.
Chicago is going to need a creative midfielder. Jacek Krzynowek could be an option, but not at a DP salary.
They should consider a good Mexican that can put the butts in the seats like Blanco has done.
I agree they are going to need a creative midfielder.
Pawel Brozek from the Ekstaklasa
whys that?
Unless a sweet deal presents itself to the Fire in the off-season, (and make no mistake about it, it would have to be one hell of a deal to replace the man who has put so many butts in seats) Blanco will be back after the WC. Where else is he going to go? Back to the 2nd division in Mexico?
the answer to that question is that if you care about the game in this country and live anywhere near an MLS stadium, you should buy season tickets. if you don’t, you’re part of the problem. seriously.
Just so you guys know… The reason he went to that 2nd division team is because is getting paid about 1.5 million just to play 11 games.
They’re talking about Humberto Suazo from Chile only leaving to Europe. David Suazo from Honduras is not in Portugal, he is back with Inter Milan. He was on a 1 year loan with Benfica. He is currently on the 3rd year out of a 4th year contract.
You are so right about Landin. Wow, I did not know that he was so overweight. He needs to lower the weight down to gain match fitness. He seems to have good soccer skill.
we are talking about centre attacking mids here people to replace Blanco, not centre backs, strikers, and wingers
i would say veron, ronaldinho, or adu
Chicago does need another centre back though to go with conde….say just below the DP mark if he would sign without that much money, Sol Campbell next to conde, this is along with veron, gaucho, or adu
too many chicago players leaving, youve got to look at some big names….keep in mind to folks, MLS SALARY CAP will more than likely be raised by some extent for next season which means chicago would have more money offer campbell below DP money
hahahaha.
hahahaha
It will be Beasley. I got a gut feeling in the depths of my bowels.
Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs.
hahahaha
Unload Mapp. Bring back Beasley.
I believe you may be wrong about Marquez signing the extension. I remember that as recently as four days ago, Laporta and Barca’s Sporting Director had been all over Marquez’s case about it.
Krzynowek could score goals all day in the MLS. The only problem is, he seems like a really flighty player. I could imagine him not giving a toss after pay day.
That would make sense.
Ronaldinho
The Fire first need a midfield before we start talking about getting any strikers. Unload Mapp, potential is just that potential. If he can’t deliver already then it’s time to move on with his shaggy self. Pappa could have been that player in the mid-fied but hanging around Mapp looks to have killed any hope of that.
as much as blanco is a pain he is irreplaceable for the single fact that he is a mexican icon. loved or hated you need to see him. he is also a great player who, for his age, has the moves to win games. that being said the fire cannot be hostage to this egomaniac. if they get a dp go for a great player the fans in chitown are sophisticated to go and see a winner.
Brad Friedel. Would help the Fire, Brad Guzan, and USMNT
Humberto Suazo from Monterrey.
Baggio ???
Baggio is our 3rd (or 4th really when you consider Lowry) option CM.
The only thing about Baggio should be if he is going to still be in MLS in 2 years, not if he is going to replace Blanco. Are you nuts?
(SBI-He’s started the last two games of the season, so maybe you should remind Denis Hamlett that Baggio is only his 3rd or 4th option.)
I would say Beasley. But I don’t think he’s worth that much money.
After Beckham, Ronaldinho probably has the most star power of any player in the world. Pick him up for Beckham-type money and watch the ticket sales rocket.
No way Stu plays anywhere in the MLS beside Houston. Some here think he is going to do the one year deal with the Dynamo and move after the World Cup.
John O’Brien
ive always argued the point he stated that he would retire with Juve… doesnt mean the door is closed, but i think when he’s finished there he’s going to stay retired.
still the fact remains it would be a solid pickup
In which case why is he playing in Portugal?
There is no Suazo in Portugal. Humberto Suazo from Chile is playing with Monterrey in Mexico. David Suazo from Honduras is playing with Inter Milan in Italy. David Suazo used to play in Portugal for Benfica, but it was only a loan.
The only reason Blanco is leaving the fire is to be able to participate in the national team practices. If he stayed with the fire, Blanco would only be with Mexico’s national team 15 days prior to the world cup. By going to the mexican team, he will report 60 days prior to the world cup.
Blanco will return to the fire after the world cup.
P.S
Look for nery castillo to join a mexican team to gain playing time and to also report 60 days prior to the world cup.