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With Cuauhtemoc Blanco set to leave MLS this winter, and his return far from certain, the Chicago Fire will be left with a big decision to make this off-season. How will the Fire replace Blanco?
Chicago has a promising young midfielder in Baggio Husidic who is already getting playing time, but Husidic can't place Blanco's star power or overall impact. The Fire will need to sign a Designated Player capable of making a major impact on and off the field.
But who will it be? Will the Fire be able to find another high-profile Mexican player? Could a Polish star be the next target? Will Chicago sit on the DP slot and hope that Blanco returns this summer?
Who would we sign? There simply isn't another readily-available Mexican star with Blanco's type of profile. Could Chicago lure a speedy striker to Toyota Park with a big contract? Someone like David Suazo? It's tough to tell what will happen in Chicago when we really don't know who will be running the show there after this season.
What would you do if you were the Fire?
Share your thoughts below.
Why almost everybody here want another stupid mexican player? they don’t deserve our league, they just come here when any team in mexico want them… Stay there losers…
whoever they get, please no more Blanco. he is over-the-hill, done, finished. he is still somewhat successful with Mexico because they have more talented players to move around him and connect with passes, but the Fire is not El Tri. same goes for McBride. but i think Schevchenko would be good for a couple years yet…
DINHO!!!
Just go for the gold and get Fat Ronaldo
Sheva’s wife is American too, isn’t she?
Sol Campbell
they are going to use their DP slot on a coach and hire media-friendly Diego Maradona.
he’ll be great on “family night.”
Del would absolutely amazing….
I don’t think Sheva would have much of a problem scoring against MLS defenses. Pace isn’t the only skill required, and sometimes doesn’t matter at all. Look at Red Bull.
Lets not get this all twisted. Blanco will be back the only change will be Hamlett out.
Magic Zurawski….formerly of celtic
damian alvarez from pachuca
Suazo only leaves to europe.
Why not take a page out of the Galaxy recipe for success and overhaul the roster with guys like Wynalda, Harkes, Lalas, and Hugo Sanchez.
I’d love that, gotta love any time a team adds a zero impact player for millions that they will have no choice but to start.
No wait, even better, Zidane.
If I was any MLS team I would be courting Guti, HARD.
Betcha they snag Jared Borgetti.
Pato Margetic
Chicago fire must go with Del Piero… What do u thinks guys? Or Fernando Morientes… MLS need this kind of players…
good observation by Gilby- maybe target a player from a country that won’t be in the world cup. It seems any veteran vying for a world cup roster spot won’t make the jump over here. Would love to see New England go after a Portuguese superstar if they fail to qualify.
I dunno, next season it’s going to be NO: Blanco, Rolfe, Prideaux, Soumare (obviously), who else am i forgetting?
Those are some important players to replace and still be a force in the East. Unfortunately, I foresee a pretty weak season for the Fire as they build up something new.
And I don’t think they’ll get another DP just yet. Probably wait out the Blanco situation.. I love Baggio, he’s a hometown boy and all, but he hasn’t been impressing me (granted his time has been limited)
This.
Voronin
Anyone suggesting Rafa Marquez is being silly. He inked an extension with Barca through like 2013 over the summer, and there’s no way he comes here three months before the world cup. If you’re thinking after, well, that’s when Blanco’s contract with Veracruz is up, so I’d imagine they’ll try filling that slot for the beginning of the season. I just don’t see Marquez being the pick. I don’t necessarily have a name to throw out there, but I doubt the name is Marquez.
How about Jacek Krzynówek from Poland a good midfielder still playing at a high level in the Bundesliga at 33 years old. 95 career caps with Poland and 15 goals. Gives them a creative force to replace Blanco but still highly marketable. With Poland out of the World Cup his international career is probably over making the switch to the U.S more palatable.
8 million, not 2.5. Still not bad i would say.
Keeping with the overweight theme: Adriano.
Suazo…but how about going for Humberto. Monterrey only payed 2.5 million i wanna say for him and after a slow start, he’s a huge force. Ochoa only leaves for Europe.
jimmy bullard
bring in Nedved.
the rumors were there… despite being 36 he can still haul a**… he’s played winger and CM with Juve for years…
not the star power per say, but certainly could add some hustle and grit to our midfield
Rafa Marquez…give Baggio a look in the mid
ruud van nistelrooy
How about the second most hated player on the the Mexican national team
Rafa Marquez
John O’Brien.
Shevchenko is done, he has lost his pace and would not be worth the $ of a DP. I think the most up and coming player the Fire should get is in Mexico and his name is Memo.
Smolarek signs with Philly. I’ve been calling it for months now.
I assumed Sheva would eventually sign with DC down the road.
I want someone completely out of left field, like Peter Crouch or something. That won’t happen, but some head scratcher.
Not even the biggest Mexican teams can afford or lure Dos Santos. We are talking 5 million pounds.
Euzebiusz “Ebi” Smolarek
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebi_Smolarek
Club: Unattached
brent, for some reason everytime i watch landin i think of blanco. i think it’s his body and how slowly he moves it.
shevchenko would be sweet. he could tear mls up for a number of years.
could they go after someone like dos santos? just throw a ton of money at him. i hate dos santos more than blanco and would love to cheer against him.
Rafa Marquez. you heard it here first
Dynamo has another overweight Mexican named Landin who would be perfect 😉
Oh, what about Shevchenko? Big Ukrainian population in Chicago, right?
I imagine it will be either a eastern european or a mexican because those are the 2 main areas the fire seem to focus their marketing on.
Ebi Smolarek
Michael Owen in two years.
For now, whats the name of the guy who walked out on Notts County?
Veron
Charlie Davies.
I came to SBI today hoping this would be the topic… What does everyone think? I think the question is how much Chicago will really spend.
Henry? Guiti?