In yesterday’s part one of the Breakdown, I looked at the pecking order for goalkeepers and
dynamics of the back line in both a 3-5-2 and 4-4-2 formation. Today in part
two, I look at the midfielders and strikers on the current roster..
Midfielders
The most certain thing in the middle of the park for the
Fire in 2011 will be the presence of captain Logan Pause in the space in front of the backline and behind the
midfield corps in de los Cobos’ 3-5-2, breaking up attacks and serving as the
general in midfield.
Central Mids
Sharing in central responsibilities alongside the nine-year
Fire veteran should be the team’s third highest goal scorer in 2010, Baggio Husidic, who will link with
Pause defensively and work to support last season’s team Golden Boot winner Marco Pappa as the Guatemalan
international will look to play a freer, more attacking central role this
season.
Second year Fire player Corben
Bone is joined by new offseason signings Daniel Paladini, Michael
Videira and Marko Maric working
in reserve in the midfield. Bone and Paladini provide more attacking acumen,
with the latter showing his ability from distance and on dead ball situations
in the final preseason match vs. Charleston.
Videira, who’s also been deployed on the back line, provides
solid passing and the ability to break up attacks and at 6’2”, the Croatian
Mikulic brings size and the ability to clog up the middle of the park. Both are
able to play as destroyers but also as holding midfielders.
A “jack of all trades” type player,
Bratislav Ristic
, who typically plays on the right side can fill
pinch into the middle if needed.
Home Grown product Victor
Pineda can also be looked to in the middle but will likely see the wealth
of his playing time come in Academy and reserve matches this season.
Left Mids
In de los Cobos’ 3-5-2, we’ve seen Gonzalo Segares and Davis
Paul spend the majority of their time playing on the left wing.
When Segares plays it, the formation looks a bit more
defensive, though the Costa Rican international has impressed in moving forward
up the flank in preseason. Officially signed Thursday, Paul brings a bit more
offensive creativity to the left side but has also show to be a capable
defender.
Still out due to injury Mike Banner can also be looked to on
the wing when he returns and though he’s looked at as more of striker, new
signing Orr Barouch has played out wide in preseason, a familiar place for him
from his first year with the Tigres U20 team.
If the formation shifts to a 4-4-2, expect Pappa to move
from his central attacking role out to the wing.
Right Mids
Out on the right flank,
Patrick Nyarko and Ristic have
split time in preseason, though the Serbian midfielder has started more of
late.
Ristic provides a better defensive option in the 3-5-2,
though Nyarko’s speed and ability to create will be needed for a team that has
some question marks in the attack.
The right side of midfield will be the most intriguing spot
to me when Saturday’s starting lineup is released.
In a 4-4-2, I believe the Ghanaian winger starts and that
leaves the ability for Nyarko to switch flanks during the match with Pappa,
like was done on numerous occasions in 2010.
Strikers
The most offseason change has come to the Fire forwards up
top.
With
Calen Carr
, the only striker returning from last season
out with a concussion, it seems a near certainty that the Uruguayan duo of
Diego Chaves
and
Gaston Puerari
will feature on Saturday.
Puerari has been with the team a few weeks longer than
Chaves and will work as the supporting striker, using his speed and ability on
the ball to set up his fellow countryman, who is more of a pure finisher.
The speedy Carr will play a similar role to Puerari upon his
return, while 19-year-old striker Orr Barouch has showed his ability to finish
earlier this preseason, racking up four goals against New York.
Jeff Crandall is the
Team Writer for the Chicago Fire. Follow him on Twitter @JefeCrandall.
We're just eight days away from Opening Day 2011, March 26 at Toyota Park where the Chicago Fire host Sporting KC at 3pm. Individual tickets start at $15 and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling 888.MLS.FIRE.
