Does McBride make Chicago the team to beat?

Now that Brian McBride is set to join the Chicago Fire after the Olympics in mid to late August, one question begs to be answered. Does McBride make the Fire the MLS Cup favorites?

Yes, New England has been the class of the league for most of the season, but Chicago was dominant the first two months of the year before offensive struggles, and issues with forwards being able to finish, helped lead to a winless month of June. Now Chicago will add McBride to an attack that features Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Chris Rolfe and Justin Mapp.

McBride is a proven goal scorer and a leader, someone who can energize a team and help bring the best out of it. We all saw him inspire Fulham to a successful race to avoid relegation last season and there's no reason to believe he won't be able to inspire the Fire come playoff time.

So there's the question. Does McBride make Chicago the favorites? Does Chicago still have other issues that will keep the club from adding an MLS Cup title exactly a decade after adding one in its inaugural season? Is New England, which has posted the league's best record essentially without Taylor Twellman, still the favorite?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[kyle]

Chicago is a very strong candidate once again. We always turn it on near the end of the year and this will only help.

[Jeff]

He's arguably not near midseason fitness requirements and in what should be his twilight years. I think it's premature to say that the move is anything other than a gamble.

[Tony in Quakeland]

Gotta say yes. The only possible problem would be if Blanco and McBride duked it out for the limelight. But that's not McBride's personality.

[Jay-Z]

Provided that McBride produces as he is capable of and stays health, I would see anything less than an MLS cup a disappointment. Based on his production in the EPL, I'd have to rate McBride as the top striker in the league. Add that to the league's best defense and it's a formidable opponent.

Chicago has the goods, now is the time to produce. Blanco and McBride aren't getting any younger...

[Jeff]

He's arguably not near midseason fitness requirements and in what should be his twilight years. I think it's premature to say that the move is anything other than a gamble.

[Tony in Quakeland]

McBride's a gamble the way the sun coming up tomorrow is a gamble. He just needs to be fit for the playoffs

[kpugs]

McBride's never fit the true definition of prolific. But what he has that many in this league don't is deadly finishing, i.e. he doesn't waste chances. That fact alone makes it awesome that they gave up Barrett for him. Barrett seemingly needs 10 clear-cut chances to score one goal. McBride only needs 1.

[anotherbodymurdered]

Wow, no way to work in some Conde/Marmol references in this one to inspire a truly anti-Fire comments section?

[adam]

cant wait to see blanco and mcbride play together.

[Bill]

He certainly adds a striker threat to compliment the roster. But, it's a team sport and late august/early october is late in the season - too hard to call.

I hope for the best for him/them.

[Betinho]

The Revs have won the East the last 2 years right? They are in first place right now right? I think they are the team to beat. Just sayin...

[Ted]

I don't think it makes them favorites, if only because I'm not sure I want to base that on the acquisition of a 36-year-old forward.

I think it will be interesting to see how he plays with Blanco. Off the top of my head, I can't think of a player McBride has been club teammates with that has Blanco's ability.If he can put in half the sitters Barrett missed, I think Chicago will be scary.

I think NE is a deeper team though. A few injuries here or there, and Chicago could be done. NE is better equipped to fill those spaces.

[Curtis Spiteri]

The answer to the several questions posted in your last paragragh Ives is . . . yes.

And to further that point, I will not say that its's not a good prediction to not count out the teams not mentioned as not competing for the team to beat or not beat.

So . . . yes.

[Dominghosa]

McBride isn't just a 36-year-old forward. You would know that if you saw the impace he had on Fulham last season when he was playing and when he wasn't playing and when he came back.
You will again see his impact in the Olympics.

[Dominghosa]

McBride isn't just a 36-year-old forward. You would know that if you saw the impace he had on Fulham last season when he was playing and when he wasn't playing and when he came back.
You will again see his impact in the Olympics.

[Dominghosa]

impact

[Karl]

As far as I can tell, Chicago's biggest weakness now is its head coach - I just don't like his decisions on who starts/sits, etc. At least he can't keep starting Barrett anymore.

[Fumar]

NE is deeper in that they have been forced touse more players. Chicago has added some personnel under the radar, but they haven't seen game action because Hamlett is a "if it ain't broke don't fix it" kind of guy.

If Chicago sees some injuries (knock on wood) I think our depth will show through. It'll be tight finish and a fun playoffs.

This just might be the most exciting season the MLS has ever seen. Get the edge of your seat warmed up, this is gonna be fun.

[FC Uptown]

Not fit for the playoffs? The guy is going to the Olympics, he will be in great shape. Plus, he's a crafty veteran just like Blanco. Without a doubt they are a team that can take the whole thing. Just LA, they have 2 DP's now.

[Mark]

Has McBride ever lit it up in MLS? He's always been a great forward, but he always seemed better on the Nats or in Europe when surrounded with better talent. Chicago has Blanco, Mapp and company to get him the ball, so probably the best situation he's had in terms of an MLS roster that can get him the ball in dangerous spots. Nothing again Columbus, but I can't think of any attacking midfielders besides the one good year Kyle Martino had while McBride was on the team. Maybe Warzycha or Brian West, but that's about it.

[Barry Jive and His Uptown Five]

"He certainly adds a striker threat to compliment the roster. But, it's a team sport and late august/early october is late in the season - too hard to call.

I hope for the best for him/them.

Posted by: Bill | July 25, 2008 at 03:37 PM"

Bill, September follows August, not October.

[Karl]

I actually like Chad Barrett a lot and think he has a ton of potential. He just needs to improve his finishing and I hope he can do so in Toronto.

[brett]

the fire's only weakness is our forwards.... our mid is deep and our defense is deep.... we solidify our attack and we'll be rolling...

but are we the team to beat?? until we sit pretty ontop the league then NO..

[brett]

for those judging when we'll get BMB, if the US do well and we are without him for a decent chunk of the regular season then nothing new has changed...

instead of Barrett (who i think could be a quality striker in the MLS) who shanks open opportunities, we'll have to resort to either injury prone Frankowski or Rookie Nyarko to head up with Rolfe...

[Joe]

Do we how much McBride is making and how long the contract is for? Lets just hope he doesnt hurt the knee again and is good to go for the next 2 years. Hopefully Hamlet will keep Rolfe pushed up top with Brian so Rolfe can run off of him. Chad wants to play like Brian but just couldnt do it. Now we have him and things will be much better. We have the deepest team in the league and we just got rid of the only player that was really holding us back.

[jdawg]

Don't forget your two-time defending MLS Champions, the Houston Dynamo. Our roster is still better from top to bottom than Chicago (but maybe not NE). That said, McBride still helps out alot, though as some of the comments have pointed out, he has never been a prolific finisher.

[jeff]

No. He could easily be another Reyna. He's always hurt and he's 36. Bad combo.

[Danny]

Simply put... Yes.

[Danny]

Reyna and McBride are nothing alike. McBride was scoring quality, important goals in the Premiership just a few months ago. Reyna was a different type of player.

McBride is also going to be match fit coming in and ready to play on something other than Giant Stadium (injury factor).

[Eugene]

I still think it's NE's year. The team has youth, depth. They are just so hungry to win this year after having lost so many times.

Overall, NE, Houston, Chicago, DC, LA all look dangerous. I would also be worried about Toronto if they get an impact forward.

[Einar]

jeff yes mcbride gets hurt but its usually his face that does because of how dominant and daring he is in the air. and everytime he comes back from an injury it only makes him stronger.

[brett]

jdawg - top to bottom?? i dont know about that... kind of a bold statement...

especially one you cant prove... merely an opinion....

what Houston has is Team Chemistry... you've sat on pretty mucht the same starting core (obviously some players left, but overall its the same faces) for Houston's existance (and Quakes existance before that)... Houston knows how to play together, but i dunno about the reserves...

i mean at one point we had Conde in our reserves .... now obviously Conde is a solid and one of our best defenders, but we were quite successful without him in the starting XI.... reserves on defense: CJ and Robinson (who were starters last year), Washington and Woolard (who are rookies, yet have done well when played), and Marmol (who has yet to make a presence on the field)... and even Guiterrez

our defense alone SCREEEEAMS depth...

our only weakness is up top...

but im not taking anything away from Houston, merely pointing out your comment about being better from toop to bottom is farce and subjective...

[Einar]

do u know how many cheek bone surgeries that guy has had?more than how many times flores has scored so far this season.

[Ted]

"McBride isn't just a 36-year-old forward. You would know that if you saw the impace he had on Fulham last season when he was playing and when he wasn't playing and when he came back.
You will again see his impact in the Olympics."

I did. I watched every minute of every game starting in January to see how the club would do. He is still a good player. But he is 36.

[sublicon]

Broin McBroid! Broin McBroid! Broin McBroid! Broin McBroid!

[Fumar]

@ sublicon

I don't get it.

[brett]

Ted- and Maldini is 40, yet some would rank him up in the top defenders....

sometimes AGE ISNT EVERYTHING.....

BMB may be 36 but he was one of the main reasons Fulham is still in the EPL.... and he still has some gas in the tank

[eric]

Getting consistent performances out of Mapp is just as important as adding McBride for Chicago to win it all.

[TwistedTidings]

McBride's injury history is something to be concerned about-- he was inspirational when he played last season, but his long absence was one of many reasons that Fulham needed so much help at the end.

If he's healthy, though, he's clearly one of the best forwards in MLS history. That doesn't mean he'll score a lot of goals. His two 9 goal seasons in Fulham were better production than most of his seasons in MLS (after 1996, he never scored more than 12).

So is McBride the last piece for the Fire? Man, I don't know. Someone needs to score goals, and the team is full of guys who are better at setting them up. Maybe, like some of you have said, McBride in 2008 will be different from McBride in 2001 because his supporting cast is better. But I don't think the cupboard was completely bare at the Crew either for McBride's first 4 or 5 years-- Warzycha was really good for them, Maisonneuve was too, until he got injured and Jeff Cunningham (don't laugh) had more than a couple years where he had 8 or 9 assists.

[giaco]

Fumar--he's feigning an English accent to pronounce the name.

[Fumar]

Mapp's been playing well recently with the septor of being trade bait hanging over his head. Maybe someone should talk to this kid and tell him he's at the cross roads of his career. If he still wants to play in europe he needs to take it to the next level sooner rather than later.

[Ted]

@Brett

I'm not saying he isn't a good player. I actually said he is one. I said he's 36. There are certain risks when it comes to dealing with older players, that is a fact.

All I said was he is 36.

[spencer]

I'm not sure I'd say they are the favorites its still too early to call it. But the McBride Rolfe tandum could be very deadly as I rate Rolfe as one of the best. But as someone pointed out Houston is picking up steam and is finding their stride. I could also see RSL making a push if they found a quality target man, because Deuchar just can't cut it. New England is good too but I'm just still not convinced that they are that great to have it wrapped up. Should be an exciting finish with a lot of transfers happenening during the summer.

[anotherbodymurdered]

LOL the comment about Houston's depth from top to bottom was OBVIOUSLY referring to their awesome stable of forwards including Fire reject NATE JAQUA.

[Adam R.]

I wish my team had Brian McBride. I'll bet that goes for a lot of fans of a lot of teams.

[Fumar]

What do you think Ives? Instant impact or injury prone elderly player? Does this make Chicago the MLS Cup Favorites? I wanna hear from Ives, who i recently noticed lost his Jersey Flavor to this blog.

[ag nigrin]

To answer Ives question... I think it will take awhile for Chicago to be title contenders with or without McBride. It takes time to build a winner as evidenced by Houston and NE!

[Pete]

Angel > McBride, but Chicago > everyone but NE, with Columbus and Houston right behind.

[Edgar]

I am going to miss Barrett's wide open misses. LOL!!! He is going to take his rolling on the floor bicycle kick, hopping and skipping and hand over the head disbelief look to Toronto. Their is a station on Sirius satellite called Hardcore Sports Radio. They complain how TFC suck so bad and they don't like Jeff Cunningham. Wait til they get a load of Chad Barrett's stupidity. Missing wide open shots.
McBride is going to be a dangerous 1-2 punch with Cuauhtemoc Blanco. McBride and Rolfe at forward will be dangerous. McBride will be a great mentor for Rolfe and Thorrington. Plus they have depth with Banner and Daniel Woolard. Transfer Frankowski to another team overseas; he is useless.

[jdawg]

brett--- false and subjective? one might ask what objective criteria you are using in your evalutions, but anyway to my arguement. The Orange have some mighty depth in the midfield, with Stuart Holden, Geoff Cameron, Corey Ashe, not making the starting 11. In defense, Patrick Ianni and Craig Waibel are not in the starting 11. That is 2 members of the Olympic Team that aren't even in our starting 11. And now we got Nate Jacqua back in the fold. Not to mention our regular starting 11. So yes, I do think we have the deepest roster in the league. I do believe Ives has mentioned that on occassion.

[Jon E]

@ ag nigrin: I think what you say is less true in MLS than in most leagues. To build a consistent contender, sure it takes time. But the MLS champs don't have to top they table. They just have to win games in the playoffs. A team with good players, good timing, and good luck can do that more easily.

[John]

Chicago will probably get McBride for 9 regular season games. Assuming there are no injuries during the regular season or Olympics.

In the meantime, the East is a beast--every team is competitive. Right now, probably the worst team in the East is DC United--and we saw what they looked like going into the All-star break. NE has played well all season. Columbus is strong. TFC--if they get a forward (and no, Barrett isn't the answer) will be tough. Red Bulls--if the new talent works out and Angel stays healthy.

A healthy in-form McBride is a huge plus. But that assumes he's healthy. And that Chicago is still in position to make a run.

[jdawg]

Oh yes, and then there was that 2-1 win at your house in May (when yall were playing well too). Forgot that one.

[Pepe]

If they pair Chris Rolfe with McBride up top then Yes.

If they continue to push Rolfe out wide right, then No.

McBride will help but he can't do it alone. When Rolfe is up top, our entire offense looks better. It will be even more so with McBride.

I love the idea of Rolfe running off McBride. Let Blanco run behind them and feed them. If that happens, then I do think the Fire are the team to beat.

[green]

jdawg, I'm with you. I remember last year around here some folks didn't think Houston would win it. They ARE the team to beat. You know once this almost meaningless season is over it's a whole new game and Houston knows how to bring the pain.

[mike ruze]

I think the Fire is the favorite.

Every team struggles at some point in the year., and the Fire struggled the whole last month. yet they stayed in 3rd place in the conference.Now they get rid of their worst striker and add a better one.

[martha]

Mcbride----Rolfe

Mapp----Cuah---Thorrington

----marmol---

Sega---Conde---Soumare--Robinson

----Bush------

Me likey

[Steponhens]

Houston is definitely the team to beat again. I would be surprised if they did not win.

[paul]

Chicago should have said they do not want McBride, then the problem is MLS's. If they think the league needs him fine, but why should Chicago give up a starter, money, draft picks and ISL? The talk about Mcbride is surreal, like being 36 means nothing. Reminds me of posters claiming the price for Freidel was too low as if 37 meant nothing, even for a goalkeeper.

[Dave]

They should have dealt Rolfe. McBride could have helped Barret become a top finisher in MLS.

[Fumar]

Only a shrink can help Barrett become a top finisher. Let's hope TFC has a good one.

[sublicon]

@fumar

You wouldn't!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3ixSTzD4SSU

says it all.

[Steve]

NE is the favorite until someone makes a run at them.

Martha - You're out of your mind if you're just going to pencil Marmol in place of Pause based on what we've seen of him.

[anotherbodymurdered]

I'd like to see Conde and Marmol switched in the above lineup, and I think Prideaux has proven himself thus far on the right. But yeah, something like that, please no more dual defensive mids.

[johnny]

Columbus is still the team to beat. They've looked the best in the first half. Haven't always gotten the result, but even when they lost to the Revs they looked better.

They do play terribly on turf, however

[Matt]

New England is still the favorite. They've been playing this well without Twellman and even Cristman and Mansally haven't been able to maintain their health. Castro as well can be an impact and I love the energy of Khano off the bench lately.

NE might have a lapse with Parkhurst gone to China but Igwe should be able to step in with Heaps sliding to the middle.

McBride makes Chicago even more potent... but the Revs still are the best.

[Isaac Mundia]

McBride's style of strength and Hard nosed tactics made him perfect for the EPL due to their dependence on crosses and headers for a lot of plays. McBride also has a sick finish on him so if Blanco can play some good passes to him it'll be deadly. Justin Mapp has speed and crossing ability so thats another danger. Funny, lol it'll be interesting to see how Chivas USA (Ante Razov) vs Chicago Fire (Brian McBride) is going to go down. should be good.

[martha c]

Steve,

Ive seen enough of Puse to know what I DONT like. Or put Conde there and put marmol in the backline.

Hamlettt has a history of playing favorites not whose best

[Alex]

NE the team to beat???????? Please, they don't know how to "close the deal". They're the Buffalo Bills of the MLS. Until they do it, I will doubt them. Besides, no one in MLS runs the table all year and wins it. It's always who is hot at the end. And Houston is vulnerable - they can't score much.

[kpugs]

Mark, you and everyone who thinks McBride is a gamble are missing the point. McBride has never "lit it up" anywhere, ever. He is NOT a guy that comes even close to that fabled "goal every 2 matches" label of prolific.

As I mentioned in my first comment, he is a deadly finisher. When you combine that with his passing ability and tireless workrate, including helping out the midfield, you fine true value regardless of his age. One only has to watch him closely to realize this--believe me, I used to hate on him more than anyone I knew until I realized how good he really was.

Think of all the wasted chances we see by subpar talent in this league every single matchday. Now, think of the fact that McBride doesn't waste chances. This is why he is not a gamble, and this is why Toronto got totally screwed in this deal. He might not score 15 goals in 15 games, or even 7 in 15. But he WILL have nothing other than a positive influence on the Fire.

This is also why as a RBNY supporter I'm even sadder.

[kpugs]

Also, I couldn't agree more that the Revs are the favorites to come out of the east. Having said that, Alex has made a great point. I have a hard time making them the "team to beat" in the entire league when they always end up choking eventually, even if it is in the cup final.

And no, I'm not hating here. I have unfortunately witnessed first hand that when they play terribly they are still lucky and resourceful, and it has hurt my team. But you gotta win at LEAST one before I start bowing and exclaiming you as the favorites. That's just how it works.

[brett]

jdawg- you saying Houston has more depth is indeed subjective.... its merely opinion at best....

and who cares about the 2-1 win at toyota park, outcomes are not up for debate...

[Chris]

To suggest that Houston's defense can compare with the Fire's is a joke.

In the mid, I love Chicago's mid, but I think DD and Holden are great so I won't push that one.

Up top we are obviously lacking, but with McBride coming.... and maybe Rolfe moving up... could be interesting.