The Chicago Fire will be fielding a new starting goalkeeper when the 2010 MLS season begins on Saturday at Red Bull Arena.
According to multiple sources, veteran goalkeeper Jon Busch will either be traded or waived by the Chicago Fire this week. If Busch's departure happens as expected, untested second-year goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra will get the nod in goal for the Fire.
(UPDATE- The Chicago Fire announced on Monday evening that Jon Busch was waived. Busch told the MLS Insider Blog that he was "Blindsided by the whole scenario".)
Busch won MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2008 and has been considered one of the steadier netminders in MLS since joining the Fire in 2007. A standout for the Columbus Crew before knee surgery sidelined him for two years, Busch has started and played 90 minutes in every game of the past two seasons for the Fire.
Dykstra has impressed during pre-season, but he has yet to make an MLS start. His only start with the Fire was in Chicago's U.S. Open Cup loss to the Wilmington Hammerheads last season. The Fire will go with rookie Sean Johnson as the back-up, that us until and unless Chicago finds a new goalkeeper in the international market or within MLS.
So what would precipitate such a move? Busch made $165,000, and while his salary and status as a veteran might have led to the decision (under the new CBA his contract would become guaranteed once the season begain), Busch was still a key veteran who played a large role in the team's defensive success in recent years.
What do you think of this development? Think Chicago is crazy to cut a solid veteran and go with an untested youngster? Hoping the move leads to more additions to the Fire attack or defense? Want your team to take a flier on Busch?
Share your thoughts below.
a friendly female member of the RBNY metrofanatic.com forums sent it on to me – apparently it’s from an Esquire Mag photoshoot he did a few years back – I seem to remember landon donovan being in it too – drinking out of a water fountain while looking like the biggest tool on the face of the planet.
hahahaha ridiculous! Is this a pic from your secret McBride Shrine?!
I’ll be relatively nice, and allow you to keep some of your Fire-relatedness to your avatar. Here you go: http://www.kickette.com/images/uploads/brianmc.jpg
And remember, it’s only fair that you make sure to sign in and thus have your avatar used each time you post (no cheating and choosing a new screen name either).
We’ll revisit this at the break.
hahaha oh boy, can’t wait! I stand corrected… RBNY looked great and so did the new arena. It should be a fun year for you guys. Lindpere looked pretty filthy. That was a great pick up.
…. bit busy this week, but expect your new fun avatar by Friday…
Yeah, and guess who didn’t play for the Red Bulls? Juan Pablo Angel. Guess who did play? Trialists and academy players.
“Because if your keeper was better than our backup, we wouldn’t going to our backup in place of Busch.”
What does this even mean?
JPA hopes to be back for the game, btw.
Oh yeah, Chicago Fire, worldbeaters, how dare he suggest their losing a game ::rolls eyes::
You’re right, this isn’t a preseason match. This time, NY won’t be playing trialists and academy players.
I knew Jon off the field and can say that he loved Chicago and the Fire and its fans. I can only imagine how gutted he must be. I hope he goes on to play for a few more years and continues to do well for whatever team he ends up with.
And yet he is in MLS and you still stuck in Prince William County….
And look at all the rbny fans and their egos. sure your team has changed since last year, but prove who is better on the field