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Fire add Dutch striker MacDonald as DP

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The Chicago Fire have added some punch to their attack, signing a Designated Player from Europe that is joining the club after spending the last three seasons in Belgium.

The Fire announced Tuesday that they signed Dutch forward Sherjill MacDonald from Belgian Pro League side Germinal Beerschot AC. The 27-year-old scored 15 goals in 82 matches since joining the club in 2009, and his six-foot frame should give Chicago a target forward to compliment the likes of Patrick Nyarko and Marco Pappa.

"Sherjill is a goal scorer who can hold the ball up, attack with pace and is very technically sound," Fire head coach Frank Klopas said in a statement. "He has competed at a high level in Europe and will bolster our attack as we make a push toward the MLS Cup Playoffs."

MacDonald is expected to begin training with his new teammates on Tuesday morning at Toyota Park.

Per club and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

What do you think of the Fire signing MacDonald? Think he will do well in MLS? Wishing it would have been a bigger name?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. “Toronto at least buy talent even if their team is poor”

    And how well has that worked out for them? The Fire are 7 points behind NY and it only takes a string of wins (which the fire have accomplished this season) to catch up to top of the east. I would argue while the team is not where we want it to be that some Fire fans are merely clinging onto their past success a bit too tightly. Teams shift, raise and fall. LA missed out on 3 straight Playoffs before becoming a dominant team in MLS. I’m not saying Chicago will follow suit, but it’s far more likely that teams will continue to be average in MLS as there can only be a couple “Dominant” teams a season

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  2. for being 29-30 and having played 31 games (according to transfermkt)Grazzini didnt seem to be the best pick up in the world. However, now fire fans are pissed that we are losing him.

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  3. Steve, you did a great job on that post. With the acquisition of Alex and Rolfe, the fire have 2 weapons to build upon. Shame we didnt keep Grazzini and we are about to lose Pappa as well. In the end, the Fire need to stop playing with 2 dmids and play two strikers. People bag on Oduro but to be fair he’s been isolated and left to play the target (a role that doesnt fit his strengths).

    remove Pause or Pardo and start MacDonald up top with Oduro with Alex, Nyarko and Rolfe filling the midfield (with Pause/Pardo behind them), and you’ll have a team that can compete. MacDonald (or any striker for that matter) will open space for Oduro to run off and get behind the defense. In all honesty the players havent been the biggest problem, but rather the formation.

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  4. just like MacDonald, Puppo was only listed as a DP b/c the fire paid a transfer fee. Puppo isnt a bad player, simply isnt the correct type of player to play in Franks 4-5-1.

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  5. not a significant amount, so long as the salary he makes with Chicago and the transfer fee puts him over the DP price tag. Therefore if he makes $150k and Chicago paid more then $200k for him he’d be listed as a DP. Next summer he’ll no longer be listed as a DP.

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  6. MLS really needs change some the DP rules. To be a DP: no low transfers (only transfer over 500k), DP’s salary to be 600k & up, name value or higher performer in respectful league, marketing, & good stats. This guy has none of these qualities, just devalue the idea of a DP.

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  7. Our team/owner/coach are a joke. Honestly this guy as a DP? They said he’s a scorer when introducing him and only 15 goals in 82 games or whatever, that’s so bs. We actually paid a transfer fee for this guy to. Our owner said we’d spend Keane type of money on a player if he fit the team, well we are struggling and need a marquee player and we bring this in. I hate our stadium and its location, I hate our owner and I hate our coach. Please sell them and move out.

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  8. Steve hit the nail on the head. The team has great chemistry and up until Grazzini left another striker was all that was needed. In the past month everyone can see that Alex is talented but not able to create and make that final pass to set up a quality scoring opportunity. Sebastian’s absence has brought our offense to a screeching halt. I agree with Steve…without a solid #10 this engine is stalled.

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  9. I bet he’ll do better than half of the DP’s to ever sign. The MLS gets a young DP and you guys are still complaining. Ya bunch babies! Lol

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  10. I have no idea how the Fire can’t attract a high profile DP. It’s the third biggest market in the city with a huge Mexican population. This is a club that recently had Ljungberg and Blanco. Getting Pardo and Friedrich to play for them on non DP deals is great but they need to make a splash and get someone like Ballack or Lampard.

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  11. Fire front office the worst in the league. They have no clue on talent. 3 years and counting for a retool when RSL and SKC take 2 years to become excellent. Toronto at least buy talent even if their team is poor. I notice that Klopas’s take on Macdonald is similar, if not identical, to what he said about Puppo, fast, good movement blah blah.

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  12. “That’ll be like 5 goals a season here, assuming you equate Belgium to here.”

    Really? Or… OR. Or maybe Belgium is better than MLS??

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  13. I’m a huge jupiler league fan and fire fan. This guy sucks. Red bulls get Cahill we get McDonald. What a joke, I’m so pissed right now

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  14. If he was unused I think some people might cut him some slack on potential, but he’s played a lot for modest sides and scored equally modestly. If he doesn’t score for marginal EPL/league sides like WBA or minimally scores for Belgian teams like Anderlecht or Germinal, why should I expect different here (the teams he has scored for like Hereford are probably minor league equivalents here)? Took him 82 games to score 15 for Germinal. That’ll be like 5 goals a season here, assuming you equate Belgium to here. For DP money! You can get that and more from Will Bruin, Kenny Cooper, etc.

    Maybe he surprises but at his age and experience level, it would be a surprise for him to surprise.

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  15. At 12 goals last year 5 goals this I don’t think the league has figured him out. But he and Nyarko are both limited, speed-type players, and they could do better. Precarious spot in the standings, arguably, must do better.

    My comment would be that when Klopas starts saying he has speed, ummmm, how is he any different than what’s on hand? What they really need is a target man in the manner of McBride or Ching, to link the attack, not more speed players to run off and leave the midfielders. Between that and the lack of proven production is where I scratch my head.

    Is there a limit to what could be afforded? How much does Quaker pay a year and is the 15K attendance cutting it? The general impression is the salary effort has deteriorated from, say, Blanco. The DP blank check ain’t bein’ filled out with so many zeroes.

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  16. Jarju, Denilson, Luis Landin. Pre-dating DP but likewise way overpaid for value, Matthaus. One assumes he was paid an unusually high amount of money that would have triggered a DP in this era. [Before the player lawsuit the salaries weren’t necessarily public and MLS briefly flirted with a level playing field under the public knowledge salaries regime before arguably reverting back to the star system under the Beckham rule, ie, DP. But at least it’s done more on the table now.]

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  17. wow ppl are really negative about this! Not a great CV and not as great as Cahill and i guess the Chicago FO doesn’t have a great record but still has anyone ever seen him play?

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  18. KLOPAS NEEDS TO TALK TO HAUPTMAN ABOUT SPENDING $$$$$$$ WISELY….WHERE’S THAT #KEANEMONEY YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, ANDREW???

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  19. Well that answer’s the Puppo question. He has been loaned to Uruguayan club Defensor Sporting for the rest of the season. Still, this signing does not stir anything in this season ticket holder

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