The Chicago Fire signed Paraguayan defender Lider Marmol, the team announced on Tuesday. The signing ends a three-month long saga that saw Marmol train with the Red Bulls for two months before eventually joining the Fire and agreeing to terms.
"We are excited to hae Lider join our organization," Fire technical director Frank Klopas said. "He is a good young player that is going to make our team stronger."
Marmol is expected to give the Fire depth both in central defense and defensive midfield. His strength on the ball, sharp passing ability and strong shot from long range could make him an ideal defensive midfielder, but he could also help provide a steadying force in central defense.
The signing is a victory for Chicago, which not only kept Marmol away from the Red Bulls, who also filed a discovery claim on Marmol, but also signed a young player with the talent to start at multiple positions.
Marmol is not without his own question marks. He has bounced around to various clubs at a young age (the Fire will be his sixth club at age 22, and that is after spending the past 10 months without a team) and also had a drunk driving arrest during his half season with Spanish club Hercules a year ago.
What do you think of the signing? Love it? Hate it? Think he’s the missing piece to the Fire puzzle? Just happy to see Juan Carlos Osorio not get his player? Angry that the MLS discovery process cost the Red Bulls Marmol? Share your thoughts below.
Martha, they’re not the “Illinois Fire,” so state boundaries don’t come into it. Thanks for playing.
Martha, they’re not the “Illinois Fire,” so state boundaries come into it. Thanks for playing.
If he never had intention of signing with Chicago, then why the EFF did he just sign with Chicago? If he was that distraught he could have easily gone to a different league….
“Can’t you just take the player without [crap-talking]?”
I certainly am (and I’m a fire fan)….however I did notice many red bulls fans doing the same when they got the coach….nice try N.J., always talking out of both sides of your mouth….
“Cue Ives abuse from Fire fans in 3… 2… 1…”
as opposed to Fire abuse from Ives fans?
Stephen Healy-
Are you drunk?
-Mike
Haig,
Bridgeview is at least In the same state as Chicago. Its just over a small bridge from Chicago.
NJ and NY are not even in the same state.
You guys should start picking a new name for when Red Bulls eventually sell the team.
@Posted by: Haig | April 29, 2008 at 05:30 PM
no, we ‘idiots’ realize that unlike you retards apparently, the rest of the f’n country calls the entire metro area by the name of the biggest city.
We can call it the Chicagoland Fire if it would be better for your fragile sensibilities. Just like we could take to calling RBNY the “0-fer forever in all titles and honors NY Metropolitan Area Red Bull Energy Drink Soccer Kick Boys Team”
Posted by: Andre | April 29, 2008 at 01:58 PM
you mean other than the FACT that he trained in Chicago last year and was working on a deal that couldn’t be completed before the transfer deadline? Yeah, sounds like he had no intention of playing in Chicago.
Posted by: Frank the Frowner | April 29, 2008 at 02:36 PM
I remember Chicago still pulling more fans in Naperville than RBNY does.
Posted by: Mighty | April 29, 2008 at 03:16 PM
If he left it to having just RBNY fans there would be about 15 hits a day. I’m pretty sure his advertisers would be upset with that development.
Hope Marmol works out as well as people have been reporting from Fire practice. Also, if Conde is on the block as Luis is speculating, I hope we get a quality RM out of it. (I’ll take Terry Cooke, not likely, but I’d like it)
Well tough luck Rd Bull fans (all 5 thousand of you)!! Let the little man couch get you to the playoffs where you may win one for the first time. Also way to go Ives the house journalist for Red Bull can I have some of your stock??
As a neutral observer (I support DC United) I think everyone had to have seen this ending coming. The Fire were going to get the kid to sign eventually considering he had no other options. That being said, I think the name calling is a bit childish. I’m interested to see this kid play. Ione of those guys who wants to see the overall level of league play rise, so I like it when everyone can benefit as much as possible. It’s a shame that things are so bitter between CHI/NYRB but it makes for great football. Vamos United!!!
Cue Raging Bull Nation appeasing Osorio’s missteps in 1….2….3……
How fitting will it be if Chicago beats NY in four weeks and Marmol is the player with the game winning goal?
Just stick another dagger in our hearts.
Juan Carlos, thank you for taking our team and dragging it through the gutter.
Juan Carlos response: “It’s ok, I have 2-3 key players I’m going to sign in the next 60-90 days and Marmol wasn’t Colombian anyhow.”
no prob..we’ll just ride Reyna and Stammler until their kneecaps crumble.
Nice, good news for the Fire. I wonder if this is a precursor to a trade. Our D/d-mid is getting stacked.
Who cares where your original home was? What does that have to do with anything? Woolwich Arsenal became just Arsenal when they moved. It’s a legitimate point to raise if you’re going to continue to be douchebags about the NY/NJ thing.
Bringing the NFL into the zingfest smacks of desperation. But thanks for playing!
Just happy to see Juan Carlos Osorio not get his player?
Exactly.
Which is why the Phoenix NFL franchise is known as the “Chicago Cardinals,” right?
Those who think they are smart by bringing up Bridgeview could learn from history: the original home of the Fire was Soldier Field, in the heart of the city. Or are you saying the team should have ReBranded when the new stadium was built? I can see why you’d have that misconception.
“Is Bridgeview part of the city of Chicago, or should we take to calling you the Bridgeview Fire?”
Those idiots still haven’t figured out how to get around that uncomfortable truth.
So much for getting this song started at Giants Stadium…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIboUtLTx6c
Look, I’m a fire fan and as much as these petty little insults from both sides annoy me, I think this is actually going to be good in creating a nice rivalry between the two teams.
Look, I’m a fire fan and as much as these petty little insults from both sides annoy me, I think this is actually going to be good in creating a nice rivalry between the two teams.
Sad thing is no one in the RB will have the balls to go studs up into him the first time out.
Did he atleast get paid? I know the MLS doesn’t diverge such info, but certainly you’ve got to hear something eh?
MLS is getting pretty interesting.
Bitterness between players, fans, coaches and front offices. Much better than when AEG and Hunt owned everything.
I’m excited about this season.
Come on dudes, you know RBNY = ReBrand New York
hmm I guess nobody in NYC supports NJ Giants…idiots..
oh and Fire fans dont worry, the Waaaaahmbulence is on its way
Marmol, Nyarko, and Conde for
Osorio?
HAHA!!!
@metroflip
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Brett, as someone who drives an hour and a half each way from New York State to attend RBNY games with a friend of mine who lives in Brooklyn, I can assure you that not all New Yorkers feel the same way about the Red Bulls playing in New Jersey. They are our local club, whether they are based across the river or not. I find it funny that you rarely hear the same sort of complaints about the Giants and Jets.
I have huge doubts about there being some great untapped horde of soccer fans just waiting for a NYCFC to show up in order to jump on the MLS bandwagon. I hope that’s the case, because it would only help RBNY, but I expect that they would face a lot of the same market challenges that the Red Bulls are facing – a crowded sports market, little media attention, etc. In any event, I’ve chosen my club (God help me) and won’t be switching sides, whatever happens.
Is Bridgeview part of the city of Chicago, or should we take to calling you the Bridgeview Fire?
I don’t know how many times NYers thought the league should just intervene and order Chicago to surrendur its claim, and Marmol to sign with NJRB simply because its fans see themselves as a “flagship team” deserving of entitlement at the expense of other, more successful (on and off the field) teams in the League. Now THAT’S whining.
inkedAG- you do realize that ignorance is not hereditary correct??
inkedAG- lol, you do know ignorance isnt hereditary correct??
brett.
that’s interesting. maybe that’s my own bias assuming that a jersey reference is insulting 🙂
I agree in part. I wish the team was in NYC proper, but I can’t imagine switching to another team if one was put there.
brett, as someone who drives an hour and a half each way from New York State to RBNY games, I can assure you that not all New Yorkers feel the same way about the Red Bulls. They are our local team, based in New Jersey or not (funny that these same people have no problem with the Giants or Jets playing in Jersey). I have serious doubts about whether there is a huge untapped audience out there clamoring for a club in Queens. When and if we get one there (maybe never) I guess we will find out.
nicholas s- calling them RBNJ is not an insult.. fact is that quite a large number of NY’ers ive spoken to dont consider the redbulls a NY franchise and are eagerly awaiting the expansion of NYCFC…. the “pink cows” id agree with you on…
ive stated along time ago that i would not say RBNY or NYRB ever again after getting into a spout with some NY’ers and their lividness of how the redbulls calling themselves NY despite not being in NY… what drives me insane is as im from Indiana and i support the Fire, they live so close to the redbulls and fail to support them b/c of locality….
so no, RBNJ or NJRB is not an insult…
Dear Firefans,
We have first allocation (san jose used theirs on that haitian striker, Jean-Michel Peguero) which gives us McBrides rights, should he decide to return, we did not make a discovery claim.
Im sure a trade can and will be arranged should be come back, and we retain his rights.
Sincerely,
Ossington Mental Youth
Man, and I thought we were done with Fire Fans pointing out that they are f**kin morons. My mistake.
FFS, how is everyone here reduced to childlike taunts?
NJRB? Pink Cows? In what way to do think that is clever? The most likely argument is you think you are ‘really sticking it to us’ by butchering another teams name.
I see this all over the place in sports. You are simple no-class supporters, no matter what side the line you are on.
–
Oh wait, NOW I get it. NJRB because the stadium is in New Jersey. Wait, wait, wait. I’m laughing so hard because of the intense cleverness of it. You changed the Y to a J. Oh sweet humor. Wait, still laughing. Oh my… it was a Y, now it’s a J. Look out MENSA.
Frank- TFC 2-0 KC and KC 1-0 Fire
does that mean that TFC are better then the Fire??
early standings mean nothing, especially with RBNJ having a game in hand on all teams, and 2 games in hand on a couple others….
dont get me wrong, i like taking a jab at the redbulls but seriously lets think before attempting…
Please do not say all these Fire fans because I have no problem with you guys as Red Bull fans. I only hate your team because of your coach who left us, but I love Altidore and Angel and Richards is pretty good to. I think its annoying though to hear you complain about the rules. I mean they are rules, if we switched roles you guys would have no problems with this discovery claim. So please just move on as well and please dont call Chicago a crappy team because they have been pretty consistent……thank you that is all.
toronto fc 3
pink cows 1
there you go brett
nyrb(pink cows)=trophy case empty and will be for a long time.
Until such time as the rules are changed, you gotta know how to work them. Chicago was in a position to work the rules to get a player and RBNJ would have done the same. If you don’t like the rule, understandably, rag on the league and not Chicago for workin’ it.
I’m really not being a smart ass when I say it has to be immencely frustrating to play for 13 years, around a city with such a reputation in the world for being a leader, and have nothing to show for it. That said, it comes down to the people who put the organization together.
You have no hardware, not that many winning seasons and you rag on teams and fans who are more successful? If you had five trophies and Chicago had zip, what kinda mess would you talk to Chicago fans? Take the talk from more successful outfits and march on your FO with torches and pick-axes.
Everybody is stuck with the same rules, but some FO’s (and Chicago fans have had alot of gripes with our FO)have put together better organizations. That’s on you and your FO…Stop whining.
Marmol actually signed a contract with Ives to join the Fire and then split the KoreanWifeFactory.com advertising profits 50/50 when the SBI traffic spiked.
Ives is smarter than we give him credit for.
Frank- yes they are below TFC, but if i recall correctly, they also have a game in hand… with a win would thus put them above TFC….
stop with these posts, current standings mean little….
For the record last year Marmol was actually looking to join the fire but couldnt sign before the playoffs. It was Osorios guy so good riddens he wants to leave its his fault he put the claim first in chicago!! Its deserving to see him come to the Fire and I think he will fit well! I mean its always better to play for a winning team!!!!
Steve T- dont flatter yourself…. he only wanted to play in NJ b/c of JCO… if JCO were to go to RSL, RBNJ wouldnt have been a thought in his mind…
there may be 1 maybe 2 fire fans in here talking trash… posts like yours are no better then them talking trash so get off your high horse
you are below toronto fc.
nuff said