Gameday: Chicago Fire at New England Revolution

The Fire square off against the New England Revolution this evening for the second time this season. Five weeks after dismantling a ten-man Revs side 4-0 at Toyota Park, the Fire visit Gillette stadium to play their third road match of the 2008 MLS season.

Both sides appear healthier than they were for their last meeting, so tonight’s contest could feature better and more even play between the two teams. The Fire once again are without captain C.J. Brown, however reserve midfielder Brian Plotkin is the only other red affected by injury. Star forward Taylor Twellman is unlikely to play for the Revs, but key contributors Chris Albright, Michael Parkhurst, Jeff Larentowicz, and Steve Ralston could all be available for the defending Eastern Conference champions.

Here are a few storylines to consider when viewing tonight’s match:

- Chicago’s forwards: Who will play? How will they perform?
How the Fire’s attackers play tonight will go a long ways towards determining what Chicago gets out of tonight’s match. That goes without saying. Still, I’m particularly intrigued to see who head coach Denis Hamlett goes with tonight and how they play, because I think both of those questions are much more up in the air than normal.

John Thorrington, having scored both goals in the Fire’s 2-1 win over Colorado last week, seems poised to start at right mid for the third week in a row. If that indeed happens, then with Chris Rolfe finally healthy, tonight marks the first time all season that Hamlett truly has all of his options to pick from to fill two forward spots.

The top candidates to start would appear to be Tomasz Frankowski and Chad Barrett, who have started at forward in every match for Chicago this season, and Rolfe who is almost certainly the team’s best striker but up until today has only appeared at right midfield. Two more forwards who could see time for Chicago are Andy Herron, the team’s MVP in 2006, and Calen Carr.

Barrett and Frankowski, of course, were fantastic in the Fire’s 4-0 win over New England a few weeks back, scoring 3 of the 4 goals in that contest. Aside from in that game, however, the two players have struggled mightily to finish any chances. In fact Barrett and Frankowski have scored just one goal combined in the Fire’s other four games this season.

Hamlett has continued to start Frankowski and Barrett in spite of the pair’s inability to produce goals, citing an unwillingness to change a lineup that had been winning matches. That doesn’t change the fact, though, that had Thorrington established himself as the answer at right midfield by week one, Rolfe would’ve probably started the season playing striker. Now, with Thorrington performing ably in that role and Barrett and Frankowski having done little with ample opportunities to impress, tonight could be the night that Rolfe starts up top for the Fire.

Either way, the way that Chicago’s forwards perform tonight will probably decide the match. Chicago’s midfield, led by Cuautemoc Blanco and Justin Mapp, has shown the ability to consistently provide service to the team’s forwards. If Rolfe is in the lineup tonight, it will be important that he shakes off the rust from not playing forward this season and perform like the clinical poacher we’re used to seeing. If Herron gets the nod, Chicago fans will be hoping to see, for the first time all season, the same forward who made aggressive runs, beat defenders with the dribble, and scored goals in bunches along the way to being team MVP in 2006. If Barrett and/or Frankowski start up top for Chicago, whether they play the way they did in the first Fire-Revs game this year, or in the Fire’s other four games so far this season will go a long ways towards determining the outcome of the contest. Oh, and if for some reason Calen Carr starts up top for the Fire, fans will just be hoping that Blanco atleast buries one of the free kicks that he draws.

- Cuautemoc Blanco: I’ve heard fans say before that as ‘Temo goes, so go the Chicago Fire. I would argue that that’s not really true however. After all, we’ve all seen at least a few games where Blanco played great and the Fire still lost. With that said, he’s certainly the best player on the team and if he doesn’t have a good game, it’s pretty difficult for the Fire to beat anyone.

In the Fire’s win over New England back in March, a dominant Blanco helped set up three Fire goals and scored the other from the penalty spot. Blanco, playing against an undermanned Revolution team after Jeff Larentowicz’s sending off, enjoyed incredible time and space and non-existent defensive responsibility in that match, and pretty much pulled apart the New England back over the course of the night. With the Fire dominating the game from a field position and possession standpoint, the Revs were run ragged and were never able to even challenge Blanco in the middle of the field.

Tonight should be different though. The Revs, barring another sending off, will be at even strength, and Shalrie Joseph, one of the best and most physical defensive midfielders in MLS, will probably be entrusted with the responsibility of trying to shut down Blanco. After enjoying what amounted to a stroll in the park in his last outing against the Revs, Blanco likely faces his toughest scenario so far this season in squaring off against Joseph tonight. Whether or not he manages to impact the match will be key.

- Fire coverage on the flanks: With athletic wingers Khano Smith and Sainey Nyassi playing a big part in the Revs’ attack so far this season, a large part of the team’s offense has come on forays down either sideline. With those two players, plus former US national team winger Steve Ralston likely in the lineup for New England tonight, the Fire will need to be especially wary of how it defends on both wings.

Justin Mapp and John Thorrington seem the likely starters for Chicago tonight at left and right mid, respectively, meaning that they will shoulder much of the responsibility of containing New England’s wing players. Neither member of the Fire is known for his defensive pedigree, though, a worrisome reality heading into tonight’s match. While Thorrington is the player who joined the team as a forward, it has actually been Mapp, in particular, who has looked like a defensive liability at times so far in 2008.

Containing the likes of Nyassi, Smith, and Ralston will be critical for the Fire tonight, however, so how Thorrington and Mapp perform their defensive responsibilities will be a huge factor in how the match plays out. Of course the type of support those two players get from the fullbacks behind them will also play a role.

In the case of Mapp that news should be somewhat encouraging – left back Gonzalo Segares shut down Nyassi numerous times in the teams’ firs meeting this season.