Lider Marmol signs with the Chicago Fire

The Chicago Fire signed Paraguayan defender Lider Marmol, the team announced on Tuesday. The signing ends a three-month long saga that saw Marmol train with the Red Bulls for two months before eventually joining the Fire and agreeing to terms.

"We are excited to hae Lider join our organization," Fire technical director Frank Klopas said. "He is a good young player that is going to make our team stronger."

Marmol is expected to give the Fire depth both in central defense and defensive midfield. His strength on the ball, sharp passing ability and strong shot from long range could make him an ideal defensive midfielder, but he could also help provide a steadying force in central defense.

The signing is a victory for Chicago, which not only kept Marmol away from the Red Bulls, who also filed a discovery claim on Marmol, but also signed a young player with the talent to start at multiple positions.

Marmol is not without his own question marks. He has bounced around to various clubs at a young age (the Fire will be his sixth club at age 22, and that is after spending the past 10 months without a team) and also had a drunk driving arrest during his half season with Spanish club Hercules a year ago.

What do you think of the signing? Love it? Hate it? Think he's the missing piece to the Fire puzzle? Just happy to see Juan Carlos Osorio not get his player? Angry that the MLS discovery process cost the Red Bulls Marmol? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[Keith G.]

Just knew it was going to happen, well guess we can move on and look else where.

[Chow]

Is he still depressed??

[Brendan]

I knew he would come around.

[Steve]

About time.

It will be interesting to finally see this guy on the field after all this talk.

Ives - I know the league doesn't share but any early indication on what salary he ended up signing at?

[Tony in Quakeland]

If he delivers as advertized, it's hard to see the Fire as solidifying their place as the league's top team.

[Barry Jive and His Uptown Five]

It's a shame that all the unpleasantness had to occur but now it seems as if everything is in order and both teams can just focus on their play on the field.

[Jeffrey]

Somehow a nice new salary cheered him up.

[MetroFlip73]

Someone get him a beer or four and a car...

[Joamiq]

Good for him. Sorry he can't be on Metro. Now, when is MLS going to get rid of discovery claims?

[Andre]

I love Major League Soccer.
The player had no intentions of ever joining the Fire, and being given an ultimatum of "It's us, or smell you later." just gives more testament to how badly this league needs to seriously restructure alot of these "Training wheel rules" as I like to call them.

[JSquaredNY]

Boooooooo

[Frank the Frowner]

I hope he stinks. Doubt he's happy about signing with that crap club, but 10 months w/o a team and no pay check, of course he's gonna sign.

[Matt]

Cue Ives abuse from Fire fans in 3... 2... 1...

[EDB]

I would have prefered to see the moldovan winger was signed.

[Mikemike]

Nice yellow journalism, Ives!
Entirely unbelieveable. If he was signing with NY, you totally would not have brought up that DWI. Disgraceful!

[bkfiv]

Wow, once he came to Chicago, it didn't take him long to sign. I was sure this would take longer, as I was believing wholeheartedly that Lider only wanted to play for the Metros. I know he said he didn't care what team he played for, but multiple times on this site I read unbiased opinions that stated he would play for Metros, or not in MLS at all.

Seriously though, hopefully this patty-cake game off the field between Chi-NY can be over now. I want to go back to the good ol' days of not paying attention to the Metros due to their proven history of futility and irrelevence.

[Matt]

Cue whining from from Red Bull fans in 3... 2... oh wait, did someone come in early?

[anotherbodymurdered]

Just wait you guys, wait until he finds really likes it here, how much farther his salary will go here, and how much nicer the people are. Not to mention the real tradition of the Fire and playing in front of an appreciative, energetic crowd... he'll be just fine. Try harder, New York!

[Brick]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE YELLING ABOUT!!!!

[Ethan]

"Marmol is not without his own question marks. He has bounced around to various clubs at a young age (the Fire will be his sixth club at age 22, and that is after spending the past 10 months without a team) and also had a drunk driving arrest during his half season with Spanish club Hercules a year ago."

Now that Marmol is signed w/Chicago this is clearly the time to report this...

[Adam]

I'm glad the off-field drama is finally over with, so he can get on the field and play.

And I don't feel like tracking back and checking, but this is the first I recall hearing about Marmol's potential downside. Perhaps Red Bull fans now have a head start on their sour grapes campaign.

[el fuego 10]

Cue whining by Red Bull fans in 3... 2... 1... oh, wait, yeah....

[Squard]

A Blogger accused of yellow journalism, thats rich.
_________________
The term originated during the Gilded Age with the circulation battles between Joseph Pulitzer's New York World and William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal. They ran from 1895 to about 1898 and can refer specifically to this period. Both papers were accused by critics of sensationalizing the news in order to drive up circulation, although the newspapers did serious reporting as well. The New York Press coined the term yellow kid journalism in early 1897 after a then-popular comic strip to describe the down-market papers of Pulitzer and Hearst, which both published versions of it during a circulation war. This was soon shortened to yellow journalism with the New York Press insisting, "We called them Yellow because they are Yellow."

[Matt]

I'm fairly certain that Ives mentioned the DUI when Marmol's name first came up in connection with the Red Bulls, but the search function on this blog is inadequate to say the least.

[Dante]

Fire fans are never happy. You won the standoff for Marmol. I hope you enjoy having a player you have never seen play before. Good luck.

[nicholas s.]

Can someone please tell Gerber that the way to deal with whiny petulant children (the fire) is not to give in and let them have their way.

I heard they are only signing him as cover for when they deal NY Conde on the cheap.

[Steve]

26 days until we can actually meet on the field *.

* Field herein defined as green slab of concrete painted with repetitive white stripes surrounded by less than 10,000 fans and over 60,000 empty seats.

[Matt]

From Ives' original Marmol post, March 1...

"Marmol does come with some baggage though. He has bounced around quite a bit for such a young player and he also faced a drunk driving charge during his time with Herculez, an incident which expedited his departure from the Spanish club."

But go ahead and continue with your idiotic, misinformed abuse, Fire fans.

[Ives]

Ethan and MikeMike, perhaps if you read this site regularly rather than just popping in to stir things up, you would know that I reported all of these Marmol questions as soon as he showed up with the Red Bulls:

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2008/03/red-bulls-eyein.html

Now, what were you saying about "yellow journalism"?

[Dante]

Fire fans=Crew fans

[John]

What is it about football that turns people into obnoxious 12-year olds? He sounds like a player, too bad Metro couldn't get him, congrats to Fire fans and MLS needs to change those rules.

[Steve]

He's obviously got enough potential for two clubs in this league to overlook the baggage.

Maybe that proves to be incorrect and we (the Fire) end up making a mistake but as of right now, we win.

Ives-Thanks for keeping us all posted through all the drama. It's been fun.

[RS]

We've read about the DWI AT LEAST twice on this web site alone since this whole situation started. I love when people act cocky and then end up looking like fools. Try following along more than once per 6 months before making idiotic comments. I love the foolishness, though. Thank you for that.

[dabull]

glad this crap is finally over with.

as someone posted earlier, now we can go on with ignoring nyrb and their history of futility.

[kpugs]

Ethan, you are the definition of a tool. You must know how to read since you managed to get your post up here.

The "...." move only works when you are RIGHT about something though, not when you are too stupid to realize the issues have been covered repeatedly by Ives for MONTHS now. But great job, because your post just illustrates how stupid all Fire fans are, and justifies their reputations as a bunch of crybabies.

Unbelievable, even when things go right for the Fire idiots like you and Mike turn up to bitch, moan, and make uninformed statements. You sure you guys aren't originally from New England?

[Mikemike]

Hey Ives,
Come on, I was just joking.
I'm a NY fan myself.

I was just trying to impersonate the ChiTown fans.

I should have followed my comment with a "j/k"

Also, I check your site constantly. It's like crack. Keep up the good work.
-Mike

[Frank the Frowner]

Fire Fans= Kunts....

Steve funny how quick you forget Naperville.

[Homey Boehme]

If you do not like what Ives reports then don't read his blog! Troll elsewhere.

[Mikemike]

Again, apologies. Just joking.

[Steve]

Fortunately I can forget Naperville as its ancient history.

And all message board nonsense aside, I do hope for you guys to get your new park as quickly as possible.

I just hope you continue to lose when you move in.

[Frank]

new york pink cows = derby city

You have the coach that wanted to guide your "team" into a winning franchise. How is that working for you?

lol

[Trex]

Craaaaaaaaaaaap.

[Victor]

this is to the Dante kid who said the fire have never seen him play. If you could read he first trained with the Fire last year. So we have seen him play and if you say that doesnt count then well you haven't seen him play as well because thats all he did for you guys was just train. And o well this rule sucks but just shut up Red Bull fans that are complainning. The Fire could be screwed by this rule as well but with a bigger named player....Brian Mcbride. We are very interested to have him come back to the Fire and he wants to come back and play but they would have to work out a trade with Toronto because they placed a discovery claim on him.

[Frank the Frowner]

How's it working for us Frank? You sh1theads have 1 more win then us and we have a game in hand.

What are you talking about you dope.

[Ethan]

I was pointing out the timing of the statement.(when Marmol has signed w/another club) I guess I should type that my eyes were rolling while posting that, but I wasnt saying it hadnt already been reported before. I just thought it was in bad(bitter) taste. Remember the "it's NY or nothing" quote? I'll have hone my writing skills so my sarcasism comes thru. So exactly how am I bitching and crying? You might want to save your relpy and write a strongly worded email to Don Garber about how its "flagship," hardware-less, energy-drink team cant get special treatment when it brings in a player it doesnt have rights to, even though an ESPN associate has been telling you for months your team deserves him. That is all, consider the pot stirred.

[nicholas s.]

Frank

You're a fool. We have 7 points with a game in hand over everyone else. And even that would put us in 2nd place in the West. There are 4 teams over 10 points in the east because of the scheduling where all the teams in the east, play and beat teams in the west.

Also, who handed 'league leaders' Columbus their only loss? RBNY.

[Mighty]

Take the Fire Fans out of this site!!!

[brett]

you RBNJ fans crack me up... XD keep up with the quality posts...

we're banking on Marmol actually panning out, otherwise this whole situation would have looked foolish.... personally i agree with EDB in the aspect id like to see the moldovan winger sign, as that's where we are truely weak at.... but a solid player is always welcomed... hoping Marmol works out, and glad he's on our team

[Steve T]

I love these Fire fans. It isn't enough to get the player. You have to come around talking trash. Just take the player, accept the fact that you weren't his first choice, and move on. He wanted to be in New York and after spending two weeks in Chicago he finally said, you know what, I'll just play here. I doubt he's jumping for joy. He just didn't have any other choice.

[brett]

Mighty- dumbest idea ever... you know how dead this site would be without rival opinions?? git...

Nicholas s.- could have simpley said that RBNJ is in no worse position as the fire... in fact RBNJ, Fire and Columbus all have another game in hand on KC and NE... so either way, it seems to be working out fine for you guys...

congrats on beating Clb, but hold onto those types of arguements till everyone has played at least once.... fire havent playd the Crew, therefore using that seem moot when arguing with someone....

[Frank]

you are below toronto fc.

nuff said

[brett]

Steve T- dont flatter yourself.... he only wanted to play in NJ b/c of JCO... if JCO were to go to RSL, RBNJ wouldnt have been a thought in his mind...

there may be 1 maybe 2 fire fans in here talking trash... posts like yours are no better then them talking trash so get off your high horse

[Tim K]

For the record last year Marmol was actually looking to join the fire but couldnt sign before the playoffs. It was Osorios guy so good riddens he wants to leave its his fault he put the claim first in chicago!! Its deserving to see him come to the Fire and I think he will fit well! I mean its always better to play for a winning team!!!!

[brett]

Frank- yes they are below TFC, but if i recall correctly, they also have a game in hand... with a win would thus put them above TFC....

stop with these posts, current standings mean little....

[nate]

Marmol actually signed a contract with Ives to join the Fire and then split the KoreanWifeFactory.com advertising profits 50/50 when the SBI traffic spiked.

Ives is smarter than we give him credit for.

[Steve the Arsonist]

Until such time as the rules are changed, you gotta know how to work them. Chicago was in a position to work the rules to get a player and RBNJ would have done the same. If you don't like the rule, understandably, rag on the league and not Chicago for workin' it.
I'm really not being a smart ass when I say it has to be immencely frustrating to play for 13 years, around a city with such a reputation in the world for being a leader, and have nothing to show for it. That said, it comes down to the people who put the organization together.
You have no hardware, not that many winning seasons and you rag on teams and fans who are more successful? If you had five trophies and Chicago had zip, what kinda mess would you talk to Chicago fans? Take the talk from more successful outfits and march on your FO with torches and pick-axes.
Everybody is stuck with the same rules, but some FO's (and Chicago fans have had alot of gripes with our FO)have put together better organizations. That's on you and your FO...Stop whining.

[adam]

nyrb(pink cows)=trophy case empty and will be for a long time.

[Frank]

toronto fc 3
pink cows 1

there you go brett

[Victor]

Please do not say all these Fire fans because I have no problem with you guys as Red Bull fans. I only hate your team because of your coach who left us, but I love Altidore and Angel and Richards is pretty good to. I think its annoying though to hear you complain about the rules. I mean they are rules, if we switched roles you guys would have no problems with this discovery claim. So please just move on as well and please dont call Chicago a crappy team because they have been pretty consistent......thank you that is all.

[brett]

Frank- TFC 2-0 KC and KC 1-0 Fire

does that mean that TFC are better then the Fire??

early standings mean nothing, especially with RBNJ having a game in hand on all teams, and 2 games in hand on a couple others....

dont get me wrong, i like taking a jab at the redbulls but seriously lets think before attempting...

[nicholas s.]

FFS, how is everyone here reduced to childlike taunts?

NJRB? Pink Cows? In what way to do think that is clever? The most likely argument is you think you are 'really sticking it to us' by butchering another teams name.

I see this all over the place in sports. You are simple no-class supporters, no matter what side the line you are on.

-
Oh wait, NOW I get it. NJRB because the stadium is in New Jersey. Wait, wait, wait. I'm laughing so hard because of the intense cleverness of it. You changed the Y to a J. Oh sweet humor. Wait, still laughing. Oh my... it was a Y, now it's a J. Look out MENSA.

[inkedAG]

Man, and I thought we were done with Fire Fans pointing out that they are f**kin morons. My mistake.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

Dear Firefans,
We have first allocation (san jose used theirs on that haitian striker, Jean-Michel Peguero) which gives us McBrides rights, should he decide to return, we did not make a discovery claim.

Im sure a trade can and will be arranged should be come back, and we retain his rights.
Sincerely,
Ossington Mental Youth

[brett]

nicholas s- calling them RBNJ is not an insult.. fact is that quite a large number of NY'ers ive spoken to dont consider the redbulls a NY franchise and are eagerly awaiting the expansion of NYCFC.... the "pink cows" id agree with you on...

ive stated along time ago that i would not say RBNY or NYRB ever again after getting into a spout with some NY'ers and their lividness of how the redbulls calling themselves NY despite not being in NY... what drives me insane is as im from Indiana and i support the Fire, they live so close to the redbulls and fail to support them b/c of locality....

so no, RBNJ or NJRB is not an insult...

[Matt]

brett, as someone who drives an hour and a half each way from New York State to RBNY games, I can assure you that not all New Yorkers feel the same way about the Red Bulls. They are our local team, based in New Jersey or not (funny that these same people have no problem with the Giants or Jets playing in Jersey). I have serious doubts about whether there is a huge untapped audience out there clamoring for a club in Queens. When and if we get one there (maybe never) I guess we will find out.

[nicholas s.]

brett.

that's interesting. maybe that's my own bias assuming that a jersey reference is insulting :)

I agree in part. I wish the team was in NYC proper, but I can't imagine switching to another team if one was put there.

[brett]

inkedAG- lol, you do know ignorance isnt hereditary correct??

[brett]

inkedAG- you do realize that ignorance is not hereditary correct??

[jokerman326]

I don't know how many times NYers thought the league should just intervene and order Chicago to surrendur its claim, and Marmol to sign with NJRB simply because its fans see themselves as a "flagship team" deserving of entitlement at the expense of other, more successful (on and off the field) teams in the League. Now THAT'S whining.

[Matt]

Brett, as someone who drives an hour and a half each way from New York State to attend RBNY games with a friend of mine who lives in Brooklyn, I can assure you that not all New Yorkers feel the same way about the Red Bulls playing in New Jersey. They are our local club, whether they are based across the river or not. I find it funny that you rarely hear the same sort of complaints about the Giants and Jets.

I have huge doubts about there being some great untapped horde of soccer fans just waiting for a NYCFC to show up in order to jump on the MLS bandwagon. I hope that's the case, because it would only help RBNY, but I expect that they would face a lot of the same market challenges that the Red Bulls are facing - a crowded sports market, little media attention, etc. In any event, I've chosen my club (God help me) and won't be switching sides, whatever happens.

Is Bridgeview part of the city of Chicago, or should we take to calling you the Bridgeview Fire?

[sublicon]

@metroflip

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!

[martha]

Marmol, Nyarko, and Conde for

Osorio?

HAHA!!!

[MasterShake]

hmm I guess nobody in NYC supports NJ Giants...idiots..

oh and Fire fans dont worry, the Waaaaahmbulence is on its way

[anotherbodymurdered]

Come on dudes, you know RBNY = ReBrand New York

[dabes2]

MLS is getting pretty interesting.

Bitterness between players, fans, coaches and front offices. Much better than when AEG and Hunt owned everything.

I'm excited about this season.

[mikeK]

Sad thing is no one in the RB will have the balls to go studs up into him the first time out.

Did he atleast get paid? I know the MLS doesn't diverge such info, but certainly you've got to hear something eh?

[Eric]

Look, I'm a fire fan and as much as these petty little insults from both sides annoy me, I think this is actually going to be good in creating a nice rivalry between the two teams.

[Eric]

Look, I'm a fire fan and as much as these petty little insults from both sides annoy me, I think this is actually going to be good in creating a nice rivalry between the two teams.

[Matt]

So much for getting this song started at Giants Stadium...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIboUtLTx6c

[Haig]

"Is Bridgeview part of the city of Chicago, or should we take to calling you the Bridgeview Fire?"

Those idiots still haven't figured out how to get around that uncomfortable truth.

[anotherbodymurdered]

Those who think they are smart by bringing up Bridgeview could learn from history: the original home of the Fire was Soldier Field, in the heart of the city. Or are you saying the team should have ReBranded when the new stadium was built? I can see why you'd have that misconception.

[Haig]

Which is why the Phoenix NFL franchise is known as the "Chicago Cardinals," right?

[Warren]

Just happy to see Juan Carlos Osorio not get his player?

Exactly.

[anotherbodymurdered]

Bringing the NFL into the zingfest smacks of desperation. But thanks for playing!

[Matt]

Who cares where your original home was? What does that have to do with anything? Woolwich Arsenal became just Arsenal when they moved. It's a legitimate point to raise if you're going to continue to be douchebags about the NY/NJ thing.

[Drew]

Nice, good news for the Fire. I wonder if this is a precursor to a trade. Our D/d-mid is getting stacked.

[wally]

no prob..we'll just ride Reyna and Stammler until their kneecaps crumble.

[Eugene]

How fitting will it be if Chicago beats NY in four weeks and Marmol is the player with the game winning goal?

Just stick another dagger in our hearts.

Juan Carlos, thank you for taking our team and dragging it through the gutter.

Juan Carlos response: "It's ok, I have 2-3 key players I'm going to sign in the next 60-90 days and Marmol wasn't Colombian anyhow."

[Eugene]

Cue Raging Bull Nation appeasing Osorio's missteps in 1....2....3......

[Justice]

As a neutral observer (I support DC United) I think everyone had to have seen this ending coming. The Fire were going to get the kid to sign eventually considering he had no other options. That being said, I think the name calling is a bit childish. I'm interested to see this kid play. Ione of those guys who wants to see the overall level of league play rise, so I like it when everyone can benefit as much as possible. It's a shame that things are so bitter between CHI/NYRB but it makes for great football. Vamos United!!!

[stephen healy]

Well tough luck Rd Bull fans (all 5 thousand of you)!! Let the little man couch get you to the playoffs where you may win one for the first time. Also way to go Ives the house journalist for Red Bull can I have some of your stock??

[papa bear]

Posted by: Andre | April 29, 2008 at 01:58 PM

you mean other than the FACT that he trained in Chicago last year and was working on a deal that couldn't be completed before the transfer deadline? Yeah, sounds like he had no intention of playing in Chicago.

Posted by: Frank the Frowner | April 29, 2008 at 02:36 PM

I remember Chicago still pulling more fans in Naperville than RBNY does.

Posted by: Mighty | April 29, 2008 at 03:16 PM
If he left it to having just RBNY fans there would be about 15 hits a day. I'm pretty sure his advertisers would be upset with that development.

Hope Marmol works out as well as people have been reporting from Fire practice. Also, if Conde is on the block as Luis is speculating, I hope we get a quality RM out of it. (I'll take Terry Cooke, not likely, but I'd like it)

[papa bear]

@Posted by: Haig | April 29, 2008 at 05:30 PM

no, we 'idiots' realize that unlike you retards apparently, the rest of the f'n country calls the entire metro area by the name of the biggest city.

We can call it the Chicagoland Fire if it would be better for your fragile sensibilities. Just like we could take to calling RBNY the "0-fer forever in all titles and honors NY Metropolitan Area Red Bull Energy Drink Soccer Kick Boys Team"

[martha C]

Haig,

Bridgeview is at least In the same state as Chicago. Its just over a small bridge from Chicago.

NJ and NY are not even in the same state.
You guys should start picking a new name for when Red Bulls eventually sell the team.

[Mikemike]

Stephen Healy-
Are you drunk?
-Mike

[krasny]

"Cue Ives abuse from Fire fans in 3... 2... 1..."

as opposed to Fire abuse from Ives fans?

[rednow.red4ever]

"Can't you just take the player without [crap-talking]?"

I certainly am (and I'm a fire fan)....however I did notice many red bulls fans doing the same when they got the coach....nice try N.J., always talking out of both sides of your mouth....

[rednow.red4ever]

If he never had intention of signing with Chicago, then why the EFF did he just sign with Chicago? If he was that distraught he could have easily gone to a different league....

[Haig]

Martha, they're not the "Illinois Fire," so state boundaries come into it. Thanks for playing.

[Haig]

Martha, they're not the "Illinois Fire," so state boundaries don't come into it. Thanks for playing.