Backdraft

Tomasz actually started his playing career with the Polish team Jagiellonia Bialystok in 1991.  It was not until 1998 that Tomasz joined Wisla Krakow and enjoyed much of the success which made him a starter on the Polish national team for the 2006 World Cup Qualifying rounds.  Tomasz was leading goal scorer for the Polish team during qualifying but was left off the tournament roster by head coach Pawel Janas.  During Tomasz's time at Wisla, he was able to help the team to 5 Polish Championship titles. Playing for Wisla from 1998 until 2005, Tomasz appeared in 173 matches for the Polish side and was top scorer in the Orange Ekstraklasa (Polish First Division) 3 times, including his last season with Wisla in 2005. Overall, Tomasz was able to find the net 115 times in his 8 years with Wisla, averaging 2 goals every 3 games.

Read more: Tomasz Frankowski

  
    After letting up only three goals in their first seven games, most fans would think the last thing to let them down would be the Fire's defense, but Saturday against the Houston Dynamo it was just that which led to a 2-1 final and the Fire's second loss of the season.  

"The second half I thought we just defended too much." Fire center back Bakary Soumare told Backdraft after the game. Bakary was upset after the Fire seemed to lose concentration in the final 10 minutes and let a quickly restarted free kick find Bobby Boswell's head and the back of the net as Houston won its second game in as many weeks, seeming to have finally found their rythmn. 

Read more: Houston 2 - Chicago 1 :: Fire Streak Snapped

The Fire XI

The Fire have been having some success in their 4-2-3-1, but John Thorrington's injury concerns may cause Coach Hamlett to make some changes to both the lineup and formation this week against the Dynamo.  According to Luis Arroyave of the Tribune, Thorrington is listed as OUT, although Friday's team notes have left him mysteriously off the injury report.  Assuming the worst, the Fire will need someone to step in alongside Logan Pause in the defensive midfield and step up into the attack.  Ladies and mostly gentlemen, this week's Wilman Conde Watch (tm) is officially on, accompanied by the equally mysterious Lider Marmol Watch (also tm). 

Lider was last seen in Canada or Mexico to complete his visa, but the appearance of either defender would certainly make up for any changes made in the backline.  The potential return of Frankowski to the lineup gives the team a lot of flexibility up and down the roster.  It's a good guess that the Fire will run with 2 strikers with Tomasz back in the starting 11, keeping the chemisty between Rolfe and Barrett while leaving a lone defensive mid in the backfield. 

Read more: Game Preview :: Fire vs. Houston 5/17 7.30pm

Irish Steve and Flanagan analyze why the Fire have started out so hot, and explain the importance of Chad Barrett to that success.

You know it’s neither the beer nor the whiskey, nor the fact you decided to start standing in 117 instead of 118, so why are you finding it hard to recognize the Fire this season? Two words: Denis Hamlet.

After ten years of standing in the bench’s background, Hamlet is already proving he was the right choice to replace that short guy with the notepad who left for New Jersey, or wherever. However, this isn’t just an article about our manager. This is for all of us who have and haven’t been paying attention to exactly how Hamlet’s strategic and motivational tactics are solidifying us as a team to be feared.

Read more: Explaining the Fire's Success