Blog Entries - April 2008

Follow the Fire with S8OT Season Tickets

toaddio@mac.com — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

A message from Section 8 Chicago Chairman, Ben Burton.

This year, we are offering an "Away Game Season Ticket" for our four closest road trips. Bus seat and match ticket included: $200.

Because of the scarcity of tickets in KC and Toronto, we're offering this plan for a limited time. We only have 100 packages to sell so right now this is [...]

Getting to Know Chris Rolfe

fotop81@yahoo.com — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Backdraft contributors put their heads together and compiled a list of hard-hitting questions for Chicago Fire forward Chris Rolfe. The striker discusses his personal goals, his teammates, and most importantly, how he orders his hotdogs.

Backdraft: You scored some absolutely crucial goals during the end of last [...]

Fire Sign Lider Marmol

tjd1979@gmail.com — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

The Chicago Fire announced today that they have signed Paraguayan defender Lider Marmol. Terms of the deal were not released, and he will be able to play once he receives his visa and work clearance.

The 22 year-old Marmol last played in Spain for Hercules CF, and has had trials with Reading and Coventry City in England. Prior to the last two weeks, Marmol had been training with Red Bulls in New Jersey.

The Fire's signing of Marmol fully justifies the organization's deci [...]

Highlights from Rapids @ Fire

tjd1979@gmail.com — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

The official MLS site is -- thanks to the absurd deal with HDNet -- not offering highlights of Saturday's 2-1 win over the Rapids at Toyota Park. Thankfully, a youtube user has come to the rescue. Enjoy.

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asHzy0TbH60 425x355]

(Thanks to the Herr on the forums for finding this)

Postgame Interviews: Rapids @ Fire

martygroark@gmail.com — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Denis Hamlet had a lot to talk about after the Fire's impressive 2-1 win against the visiting Colorado Rapids. Hamlett mentioned how pleased he was with the play of John Thorrington, who scored both of Chicago's goals. "Last week he [Thorrington] played well too, he defended well, got himself into some good spots last weekend; and tonight, the same thing, from the 1st minute to 90th minute he was defending, got forward, got 2 good chances and finished them."

Coach Ham [...]

Game Preview :: Fire vs. Rapids 4/26 7.30pm

fotop81@yahoo.com — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

The Fire XI

Coming off a difficult loss against Kansas City, the team looks to stay the course in the starting lineup. Early predictions have Brandon Pridueax ahead of Dasan Robinson at right back, but considering his absence from the injury report, and Conde's return to the lineup, a backline of Segares-Soumare-Conde-Robinson is not out of the question. L [...]

The Future of the Fire: Interview With Academy Director

irishboy2001@msn.com — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Earlier this month Backdraft headed out to Toyota Park to watch the Fire’s U-16 and U-18 academy teams face the U.S. U-17 national team. The Academy initiative, headed by Louis Mateus, has been running for around a year, and is one of the first fully free youth development academies in MLS.

New rules in MLS make such academies critical for the future success of teams, as each clubs can now directly sign (bypassing the draft) up to two players from their academies each year. Bac [...]

Getting to Know Bakary Soumare

tjd1979@gmail.com — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Bakary Soumare's early-season performances in defense for the Fire have been one of the biggest positives so far for the team.

To add to that, he's gaining a reputation as one of the toughest Fire players on the field whilst being one of the friendliest to Fire fans off it.

Backdraft talked to Bakary about life with the team, his new [...]

Postgame Interviews: Wizards 1-0 Fire

martygroark@gmail.com — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

After a 1-0 loss to the visiting Kansas City Wizards, the mood in the Fire locker room was glum to say the least. The players walked around with their heads low, and there was none of the usual joking around. It was obvious that this was a game the players felt they should have come away with at least a point from.

Kansas City's lone goal came in the 4th minute, a goal for which Chicago's backline blamed themselves. Fire defender Gonzalo Segares explained that "We just kep [...]

Marmol Training With the Fire, Not Yet Signed

tjd1979@gmail.com — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

The long saga of Chicago and New York's battle over the signing of Paraguayan Lider Marmol -- a very promising central defender or defensive midfielder -- has taken its latest twist.

The 22 year-old Marmol will be in Chicago to train with the Fire very soon, presumably with a view to sign. Contrary to this article by Kent McDill on the MLS website, Backdraft has been told by the Fire that Marmol has not yet been signed (that article will be retracted shortly and was an 'honest [...]

Match Preview: Wizards @ Fire, 04.20.08

tjd1979@gmail.com — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

The Fire XI

The Fire stood at the top of the league at the end of week 3 in MLS, though it was a fortunate win in Oakland, the expansion Earthquakes striking the woodwork twice and missing an open goal in the dying minutes. A better performance will be needed against a stronger Wizards team.

It's good that the Fire have depth at the back this season. B [...]

The State of the Fire: A Backdraft Roundtable

tjd1979@gmail.com — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

With the departure of President and GM John Guppy last week added to all the turmoil of the past year, Backdraft's writers decided to get together and talk about where the Fire stands now.

Here are their answers to five key questions regarding Guppy's departure, what it tells us about Andrew Hauptman, what qualities the next GM should have, and whether the Fire are in capable hands with Javier Leon stewarding the ship in the meantime.

1. Were you surprised by the timing [...]

S80T :: San Jose

irishboy2001@msn.com — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

There's always more to the story with Section 8 On Tour. Road warrior, Irish Steve, brings his account of the Fire's 1-0 win at San Jose to Backdraft.

The trip began early on Saturday morning, five members of Section 8 boarding a plane bound for Oakland. The plane was due to land 2 hours before kickoff, so we were glad to take off on [...]

Feeling Good: Fire @ SJ Highlights 4/12/08

fotop81@yahoo.com — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:11:07 +0100

Peter Wilt Available for Fire Job

tjd1979@gmail.com — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Immediately after John Guppy parted ways from the Fire last Friday, speculation began that his replacement might be Peter Wilt, who exactly three years earlier had been fired by then-owners AEG from the same position, to the deep disappointment of most Fire supporters (as illustrated by the subsequent supporters' protest).

After a weekend in which Backdr [...]

Recap: Fire Escape Earthquakes

sr.giaco@gmail.com — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

From the desk of Backdraft contributor Michael Giacometti comes this week's post-match analysis: San Jose really looked more composed than expected from the first whistle. It looked as though they had really been working together for a while and that the players seemed to gel--although, this isn't a surprise given the total amount of talent and experience they have [...]

Guppy Departs

tjd1979@gmail.com — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

In the past year, the Fire have had two different owners, three different head coaches, and now the club will soon have a new GM and President as well.

The Chicago Fire announced today that they had parted ways with John Guppy, who replaced Peter Wilt in 2005.

Backdraft wants to know what you thought of Guppy's time with the Fire, and who you&# [...]

Game Preview :: Fire @ San Jose 4/12 3.30pm

fotop81@yahoo.com — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

The Fire XI

Optimism has come full circle following last Thursday's opener with the Revolution. Now, the Fire head West to take on the expansion Earthquakes brimming with confindence on the offensive end. Coach Hamlett has already said several times that he will start the attackers with the best chemistry, but after last game's display, it [...]

A Justified Red Card

tjd1979@gmail.com — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Revolution supporters are still, would you believe it, complaining about Jeff Larentowicz's di smissal in the seventh minute of last week's Fire home opener. Egged on by Steve Nicol, who as Backdraft reported claimed the Revolution were "playing against the referee", they seem to think that the decision was both wholly unjust and changed the course of the match. We can prove otherwise.

The claim that it was some kind of bizarre decision by the referee unrelated to th [...]

Con te Partiro, Revolution

fotop81@yahoo.com — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTOGFlE7uoo 425x355]

We reflect upon last Thursday's home opener vs. New England, a vertiable symphony of goals and sweet revenge. Enjoy our own collection of highlights.