The Chicago Fire is enjoying a dream start to the season, is leading the Eastern Conference and is doing so with an impressive wealth of talent on a deep and balanced team.
With that all in mind, how much should the Fire give up to acquire former U.S. national team star Brian McBride? The former Fulham captain is ready to return to MLS and wants to play for the Fire, but the Fire will have to make at least one deal to make that happen. There is no question that if Chicago could add McBride without giving anything up you could install the Fire as MLS Cup favorites today (actually, you could probably say it anyway.)
Unfortunately for the Fire, acquiring McBride isn’t going to come cheap and team officials will have to decide whether adding McBride is worth shaking up team on a roll right now.
So here is the question. How much should the Fire be willing to give up? If Chicago has to trade for a designated player slot, as well as an allocation slot from Toronto FC, you would have to wonder just how much of that depth and talent the Fire would be willing to surrender. If McBride is willing to pay for a non-DP salary for the second-half of the MLS season then things would be much easier, but if he wants a multi-year DP deal, the Fire could be forced to make a difficult choice.
Does Chicago mess with some very good chemistry right now or does it sacrifice talent and depth for a chance to add a quality veteran striker in McBride, who has been playing at a high level for years now? Does the Fire pass on the hometown hero and look for a more modest deal to make for a proven striker? Or does Chicago stand pat with its current squad?
Head coach Denis Hamlett and technical director Frank Klopas will certainly be earning their money on this one.
What do you think the Fire should do? Share your thoughts below.
How about Chicago’s entire starting XI, Toyota Park, the water tower behind Toyota Park, and Ditka. Chicago gets McBride, CN Tower, and all 14 of the $h***y Ripley’s Beleive It or Not Mueseums in Toronto.
Seriously, Toronto fans are missing a few brain cells.
Steve – I’ll back you up on that one
Mo Johnston seemed to suggest in his comments that he was fielding offers from various teams. Why would he say that if the league was forcing him to trade with Chicago? I don’t think he’d shut up about that if it were the case.
So is there any more truth to the rumor that McBride will be with the Olympic squad?
Am I the only one whose head is exploding at the thought of Blacno and McBride on the same team?
I don’t think 36 year old returning Nats players should be DPs. Anyone in Jersey care to back me up on this one?
And my gut says that if McBride really turned down Fulham’s millions for another year in the Prem he already knows this as well, so it sall about the allocation.
Therfore, it will come down to Toronto having to swallow what is brokered by Mr. Garber and Co. in NYC. Fact of the matter is that McBride wants Chicago and the league needs him more than the Fire. The Fire are top of the league. They’ve already got Blacno selling the tickets so its a pretty strong bargaining chip.
I think it will cost the Fire a player or two (Robinson, Carr, Barrett, Thorrington, level), a draft choice or 2, and some cash.
Mapp and Barrett seem fair for McBride, this is his last stop plus he’s injury prone.
But I totally agree with Brett, TFC should help MLS bend the rules to land McB in Chi-town, and be angling for the best “make-up” package that MLS will give them, a good allocation and a favor in their pocket.
Question for Ives (or whomever): If I’m another team in MLS, I don’t want a Fire player in a trade whose contract is up at the end of this year, and thus may have European aspirations. Is there a list of contract lengths out there?
P.S. This is why Barrett or Conde probably won’t happen, unless some team feels that they’re the guy who will put them over the top this year.
guillermo- perhaps we should should just off-load our entire starting XI to TFC.?? lol, thanks for the laugh Tim…
TFC may act as tho they have the leverage but in fact its the fire… the fire would love to have McBride, but we dont need him… The league wants him and he wants to play in chicago… therefore as many have pointed out the league will most likely bend the rules to get this legend into the city of his choice…
anyhow, TFC should be welcoming the allocation they will most likely get… this way when they use their DP they can use the allocation in order to pick up another quality talent(s) of THEIR choice…
Not Sparky!!!!!
Conde, Marmol, Mapp and Rolfe. Toronto FC should settle for NOTHING less.
Posted by: Tim F. | June 02, 2008 at 12:44
Maybe they should throw in Blanco and Sparky too.
Kpug,
seriously what is you issue with us Fire fans? You’re sounding pathological, get some therapy. Hell, I remember how we were screwed with the Jorge Campos deal – we didn’t want him and it wasn’t state secret but the league shoved him down our throats. I can recall a few other times we’ve been screwed by the league, so as far as I’m concerned we shouldn’t have to give up squat this time around. I’m sure we will but as far as I’m concerned, McBride comes to the Fire then we’re all square with the league and it’s whacky ass rules.
Conde, Marmol, Mapp and Rolfe. Toronto FC should settle for NOTHING less.
Conde, Marmol, Mapp and Rolfe
MLS will make some sort of deal, explicitly or implicitly to get McBride into Chicago–it will happen and Hamlett won’t have to sweat too hard to make it happen.
Given the MLS’ penchant for bending the rules when it suits the marketing guys, the cost to Chicago won’t be steep–probably some allocation money, may be a super draft pick or two.
McBride, if he really wants to play in Chicago, can afford to take league minimum salary (not Development salary but league minimum Senior player salary) for this year and rework a deal in the off-season. Thrown in a couple of bonuses, he won’t do too bad for a 2/3 season. MLS is not having to pay a transfer fee to get him and so there is no need for Chicago to break the bank.
Dan-
1: we wouldnt need to get both the DP and Allocation spot, we get to pick either or….
2: IF we had to get both then NO he would not be worth it… i would not destroy our current team which is producing and scoring just to get an american legend who may score loads of goals…whats the point… the fire will do whats best in its interest and dismantling the team is not one of them
anotherbodymurdered- that would mean RBNJ would have something to offer either Chi or TFC to even be included in the triangle…. Jozy is gone, leaving JPA as their only true bargaining chip…
Brian McBride is worth trading for a designated player slot, as well as an allocation slot from Toronto FC. No other American has his combination of courage, heart, character and drive. He would have a major impact on any American playing along side him. I would pick a team of 11 Brian McBrides over any other team in MLS.
Christ, if it’s to TFC, give them Conde and some allocation money. I would hate to see Conde playing against us – he’s a monster – but I think McBride could handle him!
Another thing to consider is how much playing time McBride would get. By coming back to MLS is he taking himself out of the Olympic “overage” pool, or will he miss the August MLS matches and head over to China?
So if you are American hot shot and you want to come back to MLS the system determines that you will automatically go to an expansion team or one of the worst teams the season before. That is screwy and in reality is not going to happen. How is that going to get good players back into MLS? Basically what they are really saying is if another team signs a quality player they must move over talent to the presumably lesser side. But certainly Toronto is not currently the worst MLS team now. So really why should they get anything? Maybe this experience will make them realize they need to change things. At least before Beasley decides he would like to come back and they say he has to go to Philly.
kpugs is just saddy-pants b/c Barrett put in two against the Re-Brand Energy Drinks. You know, you complain and bluster more hyperbolic B.S. on this blog than a dozen Fire fans put together.
I’m surprised |ves and kpugs didn’t work out a way to bring Conde to NY in the process of McBride coming home to the Chi. Some kind of pyramid-scheme nonsense that will finally allow them to gaze upon the Columbian boy-toy they so lust after.
The guy wants to come back to his native land. Whether he’ll be playing or not might still be up in the air.
Kpugs’ inane ramblings make me chuckle.
Since McBride will be here a year and a half the Fire should trade Barrett, a draft pick and allocation cash.
The Fire do not need a DP slot to pay McBride more than league max. Think Guillermo Barros Schelotto. Allocation money can be used to pay the balance of a salary that is greater than league max.
Don’t you think a deal has already been made. Why would he leave Fulham without a deal in place already?
He could have stayed with Fulham for one more year and I think they would have kept him.
This is the easiest question ever. Chad Barrett is the worst player in the history of the sport, but since sometimes the ball bounces off him into the net everyone thinks he’s awesome.
Give up Chad Barrett, get McBride, it’s that effing simple.
In fact, this topic is completely ridiculous. If McBride wants to play in Chicago that’s where he’ll play. The simple fact that this is some crazy discussion is absurd. The league will literally force Chicago to give up whatever is deemed necessary. If the Fire wisely play hardball they’ll have to give up next to nothing for him, screwing Toronto.
If you didn’t read any of my previous jibber jabber, here is the rundown: Brian McBride will DEFINITELY play for Chicago, even of Toronto gets completely screwed in the deal.
There it is, that’s how MLS works. And Fire fans will still find something to whine and cry about in the deal, you can bet on that. Whiniest fans in the history of sports, worse than anyone in New England.
Obviously, you’ve got to give a little to get a little here. The three most valuable guys we could let go given our depth would be Chad Barrett (has the stats to back it up now, and would lose his starting spot to McBride anyway), Wilman Conde and Justin Mapp (still has potential, but hasn’t been producing). Other guys who might help fill out a deal would be Dasan Robinson, Calen Carr, and maybe Logan Pause (if Marmol is the real deal, otherwise we’ve got a gaping hole in the defensive midfield). I wouldn’t want to offer up either of the GA guys (Soumare and Nyarko, if I recall correctly).
Giving up Barrett and Carr also makes more room in the forward corps for McBride. I don’t think Herron is valuable enough to trade, and we put a lot of effort into the Frankowski signing to let him go.
As I understand it, we’re gonna need either the allocation from Toronto OR a DP slot from someone else, right? San Jose needs help pretty much everywhere, so sending them two or three players could make a world of difference.
If Mcbride has reasonable salary demands and makes it clear he wants to play for the Fire and only the Fire thea league will make sure he gets there.
Also by letting it be known hell play for the Fire or retire, than the value of his allocation is deeply diminished.
Herron or Frankowski, Robinson, The first round pick next year and he rights to Cervi and Will Johnson..
Thats it or get nothing.
The drive from Arlington to Chicago is substantially less than the flight and geting to the airport hassle of goin to Toronto.
Plus the income tax rate in Canada.
Will- we wouldnt need to get a DP and McBride…. as i pointed out (as well as ccb1212), DP trumps Allocation…
the Fire should only have to deal for one of those… i bet they are looking at who can accept the lesser deal (which as ive said, will probably be TFC)
IMO McBride is NOT a DP.
I think that since it is McBride’s choice to leave Fulham, and his choice in wanting to play in Chicago, he should just take whatever salary the Fire can give him (per MLS rules) for the rest of this season. Then the team can restructure things at the end of the year to sign him to a DP contract or whatever. I don’t think the Fire should take the risk of upsetting a team (by trading players, etc.) that is dismantling the rest of the MLS.
I can’t say I understand this allocation business, but it seems like McBride should be a free agent. It should be about who can clear cap room space to pay for his services. One of the many issues the players union needs to address when their new deal comes up.
I don’t really see McBride going to any team but Chicago or Columbus because the whole point of coming to the MLS was to live at home.
That being said, I’m not sure what is the appropriate amount to get McBride. He only has a year or 2 left. I dunno its a strange situation.
I don’t know how Chicago could swing both a DP slot and McBride. I’m sure Toronto isn’t looking to strengthen the strongest team in the league either. Not sure how this will play out.
This is MLS and the league knows they need McBride. McBride will go where he wants. Heck, LAG technically only have 1 DP spot, but in reality they have 3 DPs.
It’s likely the Fire will only need to trade with TFC for the allocation spot. For that, I agree that a draft pick along with one of the strikers is reasonable. Otherwise I can see Conde getting dealt.
As a Red Bulls fan, I love to see former national team players leave England to play for their home team!
Ives, maybe you can clear this up, but I thought a DP trumped the allocation system. So if he does want DP money, would Chicago even need to worry about Toronto at that point? They would just need to get another DP spot. Or am I totally wrong?
as i understand it, if McBride chooses DP money, then all the fire would have to do is obtain a DP slot (as that route would bypass the allocation route)…
if he’s not asking for DP money but rather donovan, ruiz and EJ money (allocation) then we’d have to get the rights from TFC…
i stand by my opinion that i feel we have more leverage on TFC and getting the allocation then we would getting the DP slot… TFC would have to combat the ideas of Intl’ slots and salary cap… unless they push for someone who’s Gen. Adidas then they’d have to fight against Int’l slots which may be easier then i thought prior (ie. drop a non-starting intl’ player for the likes of Soumare, which the fire wouldnt trade [at least i hope they wouldnt])
either way, i see future picks, allocation and straight forward $$$ (with maybe a lesser player, but i dunno)
If it is assumed by everyone that Conde would leave at the end of the season would that make it harder to deal him. I agree with bangersandmash – what it would take to keep him away from it’s rivals
As a Fire fan, I would love to have a player of the quality and class as Brian McBride, I believe he would immediately be an upgrade over our current crop of forwards. However, if we would have to trade for the allocation spot and the DP spot, we would undoubtedly have to trade a lot of talent. And that’s a move I don’t know we should make. It’s not like the Fire is struggling for wins at the moment. Any move would probably involve Wilman Conde, as everyone knows he’s probably gone at the end of the season anyway. Conde along with another young forward plus a draft pick would be fine with me for McBride. Anything more, and then it begins to be unreasonable. Especially if wants DP money.
JLoome, nobody said Chicago would get the DP slot from Toronto, as it is clear TFC plans to use it. If McBride requires a DP slot then Chicago would need to trade with someone like Dallas or Real Salt Lake. I can’t see an East team dealing one to Chicago.
Barrett, allocation money, and a pick.
It’s unlikely Toronto would give up its DP slot as part of the deal, as they’ve been looking for a DP striker for several months now themselves.
And they’d want something big bag, like Frankowski and Mapp, or one of the strikers and a first pick. Toronto needs more firepower upfront, it’s the one area where the team is lacking right now. So I wouldn’t be surprised if they weren’t trying everything right now to point out to McBride how short the air commute to Chicago is.
McBride has shown interest in coming back to the fire and the crew (in the past), but he’s showing large interest in playing for the Fire… he doesnt need the extra cash, im sure he’s banked quite a bit already… on top of that, he’s pretty much garenteed some form of soccer related job either with the fire (someone mentioned how perfect itd be if he worked with the academy) or some various organization…
the question is what is the league willing to give up in order to obtain him for MKTing purposes…
as it was pointed out… 1st round pick, allocation and probably some of our quality bench are up on the block (Robinson, possibly herron, etc..) but the BIG question that i pointed out last week, is DOES TFC HAVE ANY MORE INTL’ SPOTS LEFT?? and it was pointed out they do not… also they have to battle cap space, losing a player who’s been playing with them, etc…
I don’t think anyone in the league would want Andy Herron.
this is MLS, they make up rules as they come along. Chicago will get Mcbride on the cheap, and will be able to pay him DP money with out having to get an extra DP aka LA.
How much should Chicago spend? Whatever it takes to keep McBride away from the Crew. I wouldn’t let a player of his class go to one of my main title rivals.
i know the Fire would be his preference, but any idea if he’s completely opposed to playing for TFC?
I believe giving up our first round draft pick next year, throw in some allocation money we have lying around and then add Andy Herron, Dasan Robinson, and people are going to disagree with this but with McBride we dont need Frankoski anymore.
Ives,
You summed it up in the your post. The decision on McBride will depend on what kind of deal he’s looking for. If he’s willing to play half a season for non-DP money in order to stay close to home, then it’s much easier.
As a Fire fan, I’d love to have McBride but I also don’t want to give up the future for a 36 year old striker.
It seems that McBride’s first choice is the Fire, but what if Toronto convinces him to come up north? He would be a an excellent addition to any MLS team.