Chicago Fire select Kheli Dube in Re-Entry Draft; Baggio Husidic and Jon Conway selected by other MLS teams
by HotTimeInOldTown on Dec 12, 2011 2:57 PM CST
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The Chicago Fire selected former New England Revolution striker Kheli Dube with the 8th Pick in the Second Round of the MLS Re-Entry Draft. Dube would leave the New England Revolution, the only MLS club he has ever known, if the two sides can reach a deal in the next 7 days. In four seasons the Zimbabwean compiled 14 goals and 8 assists in 72 appearances. His 2011 season was a lost year due to an unfortunate car accident in the spring that left him with whiplash symptoms for over a third of the season. He was inactive when the Fire traveled to New England back in June and started to make his comeback in late August. When 2011 drew to a close, Dube had just 114 minutes played and no goals or assists to his name.
New England Revolution fired long tenured coach Steve Nicol in the off-season and hired Jay Heaps to take over. Heaps and the Revs front office would have to have doled out $90,000+ in order to keep Dube around. It's no surprise that Heaps saw Dube as a target to put into the Re-Entry Draft. It's also no surprise that Frank Klopas and the Chicago Fire went after Kube here. By selecting him in the second round, the Fire now have seven days to re-negotiate a new and almost certainly lower priced contract. Dube holds a green card so he doesn't take up an international spot. His injury in 2011 is note for caution but it also means the 28 year-old has less wear and tear going into 2012. As long as they aren't hoping Dube will do more than give spot starts and come off the bench, this is a good move that doesn't tie up too many resources. More thoughts and the full re-entry draft after the break.
New England Revolution selected Nate Jaqua with the 2nd pick. You have to think the Fire would have taken Jaqua if they were willing to take Dube. It's too bad that didn't work out. Other former Fire players selected in the draft include Colorado taking Baggio Husidic and LA taking Jon Conway and Dasan Robinson. Alec Dufty was not selected by any team and now becomes a free agent. Players like Zach Thornton, Jeff Cunningham, Peter Lowry, and Chris Albright also join the ranks of free agency.
STAGE 2 RE-ENTRY DRAFT PICKS
|
Pick |
Club |
Round 1 |
Round 2 (if nec.) |
| 1 |  |
|
|
| 2 |  |
Clyde Simms (D.C. United) |
|
| 3 |  |
Pass |
|
| 4 |  |
Pass |
|
| 5 |  |
Pass |
|
| 6 |  |
Pass |
|
| 7 |  |
Pass |
|
| 8 |  |
Kheli Dube (New England Revolution) |
|
| 9 |  |
Pass |
|
| 10 |  |
Pass |
|
| 11 |  |
Pass |
|
| 12 |  |
Pass |
|
| 13 |  |
Baggio Husidic (Chicago Fire) |
|
| 14 |  |
Pass |
|
| 15 |  |
Pass |
|
| 16 |  |
Pass |
|
| 17 |  |
Pass |
|
| 18 |  |
Chris Leitch (San Jose Earthquakes) Pat Noonan (Seattle Sounders FC) Jon Conway (Chicago Fire) Dasan Robinson (LA Galaxy) Frankie Hejduk (LA Galaxy) |
|
| 19 |  |
Pass |
|
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Comments
I don't think Frank wanted Jaqua
Picking up another small, speedy forward tells me Frank wants to attack the same way we did last year: using speed to get behind the defense. Nazarit was the only Forward or Midfielder to score a headed goal for us last year.
Here’s a video of most of our goals last season as proof of my last assertion: http://www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=112&id=21365
Think you might be reading a bit too much into the selection of Dube or a potential selection of Jaqua for that matter.
Dube makes for a nice complimentary player for the speedsters as you point out. Jaqua would have helped to give the Fire another option in attack to keep other teams’ defensive strategy from leaning too much one way. Neither player will/would have fundamentally changed the way the Fire will attack in 2011 though.
I imagine we’ll find out more about Klopas’ plans based on what he does on the free market, not in MLS’ rummage sale.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
by Tweed Thornton on Dec 12, 2011 7:37 PM CST up reply actions
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