While much of MLS remains focused on the current playoffs, for the Fire it’s already 2015.
Next year’s roster, contract renewals or rejections, potential international signings and protected players in an upcoming MLS expansion draft have dominated this week after the Fire completed their disappointing season.
Last Friday’s encouraging 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo closed an otherwise frustrating season as the Fire (6-10-18, 36 points) earned the fewest victories in franchise history while notching the most ties ever in MLS.
Coach Frank Yallop isn’t wasting any time searching for help, but he’s silent on specifics.
He will depart on a European scouting trip this weekend while players scatter to far-flung hometowns or stay put in Chicago for training. Forward Mike Magee and midfielder Patrick Nyarko will be around for post-surgery rehabilitation.
“We want to change the team to obviously get a lot better for next season,” Yallop said this week. “We need some help in the first 11. I was pleased with the overall efforts of the whole team, but our quality and our talent was maybe not enough in areas that were important.”
The Fire could lose two players in an expansion draft to stock new teams in New York and Orlando, Fla. But they also have some flexibility and cash to dangle in front of potential international signees. Yallop would like to sign two or three players.
Yallop isn’t overlooking his current roster. Discussions have centered on player meetings and new contracts and/or extensions and many current players could return.
Veteran defender Gonzalo Segares, among the hopefuls as he enters an option year, said fresh talent would help throughout the roster.
“Obviously, you have some key players with injuries but we need to get stronger in the back, the midfield and up top,” he said. “I’m sure (we’re looking for players who) are the next level and can push this team (into the playoffs).”
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For rookie midfielder Harry Shipp, whose roster spot is safe as a homegrown Fire player, it’s not just where help arrives but how cohesive the 2015 team is.
“We have to have guys who believe in one system and really buy into (it),” said Shipp, who had seven goals and six assists. “The problem this year was we had different guys wanting to impose their own style on what we needed to do.”
Fire captain Jeff Larentowicz said experience suggests there could be many changes ahead.
“In the past when I’ve been on teams that have bad years lots of things change,” he said. “I’m sure that the staff sees there are many places that they’re going to have to change around.”
The Fire locked in one player for 2015 with Wednesday’s signing of 30-year-old defender Lovel Palmer. Terms were not disclosed.
Yallop said other decisions involving current players aren’t likely to be finalized for several days.