Yesterday's News Recap - US Open Cup match in Peoria, Mike Videira and Orr Barouch signed, TV schedule announced, a loss to DC United, 2011 Season Preview, and more!
Links after the break...
Miscellaneous News
Frank's First Kick | Chicago Fire Soccer Club
VIDEO: Klopas reflects on his first opening day with the Fire
New Store... and New Merch!
Section 8 Chicago announce new online merch store: section8store.com!
Season Preview
World Soccer Reader » MLS Preview: 18 Teams In 18 Days – #11 Chicago: Plenty Of Changes, But Are They Productive Ones?
The Fire's only title came in their inaugural season, 1998, and they haven’t been to MLS Cup since 2003. Of course, one of the seasons Chicago failed to make the postseason was 2010, but Carlos de los Cobos was able to keep his job for a second season, the Fire rid themselves of horrible signing Nery Castillo and Freddie Ljungberg, who failed to deliver after being picked up in a midseason trade. Veterans Brian McBride and C.J. Brown have retired, defender Wilman Conde is off to Mexico, Peter Lowry to Vancover. Yup, it’s a new world order in Chicago, but is the grass greener in 2011? I’m not so sure...
Mls 2011: Grant Wahl Ranks Chicago Fire
Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated ranks Chicago dead last in the East heading into the 2011 MLS season.
Season Preview | Chicago Fire Soccer Club
ESPN: Fire must find early rhythm
MLS 2011 Preview: Chicago Fire Ready To Bust Out The 3-5-2 - SBNation.com
SB Nation is a collection of over 290 individual communities, each offering high quality year-round coverage and conversation led by fans who are passionate about their favorite teams, leagues or sports. By empowering fans, SB Nation has become the largest and fastest growing grassroots sports network.
Someone Must Have Let ESPN Know the Season Starts Next Week - Fire Confidential
ESPN actually took some time and put together a short MLS season preview.
Red Bulls, Dynamo appear to be class of MLS East - DailyHerald.com
Someone is keeping score. If there's one thing I know, it's that Reader Kim will save these look at Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference and remind me of them in November.
Soccer: MLS 2011 team preview, Chicago Fire - ESPN
The Fire's makeover is so extensive that its 2011 edition could really be anything at all, ranging from a mismatched bunch of rookies and foreigners to an energetic and skillful collective, writes Leander Schaerlaeckens.
USOC
OPEN CUP PLAY-IN Fire will host Rapids at Bradley University
Tickets for the U.S. Open Cup qualifying game between the Fire and Rapids will be $20 for reserved seating in the Shea Stadium grandstand and $15 for general admission seating on the grass berms.
US Open Cup Match To Be Played In Peoria - Fire Confidential
Since playing a US Open Cup qualifying match at Toyota Park was apparently not an option, the Fire have announced that the March 30 match up against the Colorado Rapids will be played at Bradley University's Shea Stadium in Peoria.
USOC At Shea Stadium | Chicago Fire Soccer Club
Fire to host Rapids in Peoria, IL on March 30th
Fire New Signings
All-In: Fresh Faces | Chicago Fire Soccer Club
Crandall sits down with Barouch and Videira
Fire sign trialists Barouch, Videira - Chicago Fire Blog - ESPN Chicago
The Fire signed forward Orr Barouch and midfielder Mike Videira on Thursday.
Fire signs forward Barouch, midfielder Videira - Total Soccer | Fútbol Total - MiamiHerald.com
The Chicago Fire signed forward Orr Barouch and midfielder Mike Videira, the Major League Soccer club announced on Thursday.
Fire Sign Barouch and Videira - Fire Confidential
The Fire have announced the signing of Orr Barouch and Mike Videira bringing the total number of "signed" players on the roster to 25.
POSITIVE VERDICT Fire sign triallists Barouch, Videira
The Chicago Fire have signed forward Orr Barouch and midfielder Mike Videira. Videira will be added to the Fire’s roster immediately, while Barouch will be added pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
Soccer By Ives: Chicago signs Videira, Barouch
The Chicago Fire's makeover continues. The team agreed to deals with trialists Michael Videira and Orr Barouch on Thursday, adding two more names to the fold in a season full of acquisitions. The Fire now has 25 players on its senior roster.
Regional Broadcast Schedule
Fire Unveil Regional Broadcast Schedule | Chicago Fire Soccer Club
Comcast SportsNet and My50 return as official broadcast partners
Comcast SportsNet and My50 Return to the Broadcast Team in 2011 - Fire Confidential
The announcement today that Comcast SportsNet and My50 will televise 24 of the Fire's 34 games this season should be considered a good thing for Fire fans but it should also serve as a reminder that just getting the games slapped onto the airwaves isn't enough.
BROADCAST BONANZA Fire secures TV partners for 24 games
Comcast SportsNet and WPWR My50 Chicago will return as the official broadcast partners of the Chicago Fire for the 2011 season. CSN and My50 will broadcast 24 Fire matches over the course of the MLS season. Each of the club’s 34 matches will be broadcast either on local and national outlets.
Carolina Challenge Cup
CAROLINA CLUNKER Man down Fire fall to DC United 1-0
D.C. United scored an early goal, handing the Chicago Fire their second straight loss in the Carolina Challenge Cup Wednesday night at Blackbaud Stadium.
D.C. United Down Chicago Fire 1-0 in Carolina Challenge Cup - Goal.com
The matchup of the two winners from the first day of the Carolina Challenge Cup was decided in the first half, as rookie Blake Brettschneider fired home the only goal in the 10th minute. For the second straight game, Chicago was forced to finish the game with just 10 players, as Diego Chaves was sent off in the 37th minute.
Fire see red again, fall to D.C. United - Chicago Fire Blog - ESPN Chicago
The Fire received a red card and fell to D.C. in the Carolina Challenge Cup.
SoccerAmerica - Fire finishes a man down and a goal down to D.C. 03/10/2011
For the second game in a row at the Carolina Challenge Cup and third preseason game in a row, Chicago lost a player to a red card and this time it proved costly as the Fire fell to D.C. United. In Wednesday's other game the host Charleston Battery beat Toronto FC, 2-1.