The Chicago Fire's lengthy courtship of striker Collins John has finally concluded with a contract that will make the former Fulham standout the Fire's newest attacking weapon.
John will be called on to help pick off the offensive slack left by the departures of Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Chris Rolfe this winter and the strong target striker should former a good partnership with veteran Brian McBride, his former strike partner at Fulham.
The 24-year-old Dutch international has bounced around to a variety of clubs in recent years, most recently in Belgium with KSV Roselare.
DYNAMO DEAL FOR SERIOUX
The Houston Dynamo made official the long-rumored re-acquisition of midfielder/defender Adrian Serioux on Friday, completing its deal with Toronto FC, sending a third-round pick in 2011 to Toronto.
Serioux struggled for Toronto in 2009, particularly in central defense, but Houston will hope to integrate Serioux as a defensive midfield option to replace Ricardo Clark. His arrival could free up Geoff Cameron to play a more attacking role.
FIRE TIES DYNAMO IN EXHIBITION
Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad made a crucial penalty kick save in the 74th minute to help the Dynamo preserve a 1-1 draw vs. the Chicago Fire in MLS pre-season action at Houston Baptist University on Thursday night.
Onstad saved a Marco Pappa penalty kick earned by the Marco Pappa, who scored in the 71st minute to tie the match.
Dynamo striker Cam Weaver headed home a cross from Luis Angel Landin in the 63rd minute to open the scoring for Houston.
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What do you think of the Fire closing the deal to land John? Can you see Chicago challenging Columbus for top honors in the East? Think Serioux can help Houston stay a West power?
Share your thoughts below.
And Real Salt Lake signed Alvaro Sabario!
4 years??? our problems have been around longer than that but I agree with your general point
A strike that keeps Landon in the BPL may be the best thing that could happen for the US’s chances in South Africa.
Carlos De Los Cobos playing only 1 of them at a time.
Sorry to inform everyone that the so called ‘casual fan’ won’t even know there is a strike.
If a tree falls in teh woods and no one gives a damn did it really happen.
(and believe me I care deeply but there are too few of us (about 10,000 per mls city so 160, ooo total – or 0.05% of the US population)
And I know that above calculation and assumption si inaccurate but the fact is the PBA (yes the Professioanl Bowling Association) has a bigger presence on ESPN than MLS which is what makes me side with the owners versus playesrs on this.
“loaning money to anyone who wants some” = about 6 million jobs lost, hence many unemployed out there willing to do your job for less than what you’re making.
I have mixed feelings on Serioux, the guy can play but he’s acquired a bit of a rep for being a punk on the field the last few seasons. In Dom we trust, however, if he’s gonna trust the guy then I can too. Welcome back!
I hope so too, the first preseason match I saw a bit of him in he didn’t look too slender.
Fulhamerica does not exist anymore.
Because free market = loaning money to anyone who wants some? Not quite the same concept or cause.
If Johns and Mcbride gel together well and Pappa continues to show great form, Fire will win it all. Not to mention a possible surprise return of Blanco after the cup, which has been thrown around…
Needless to say, Fire are the favorites this year…
MLS scores and the standings are shown on the SkySports News crawl and sideboard (as we can see when they show it on FSC). It’s been covered in FourFourTwo magazine as well. I think they view it as an interesting curiosity, or as a way to see some of the players Fulham will bring in in 2012.
Well, the players who crossed the NFL and MLB strikes were referred to as scabs back in the day.
Yep, interesting for sure; and I think Houston will do it. Seems like every player plays better on Houston. Kinnear is a genius…
Exactly Matt… he may intend to keep playing even if there is a strike. He may be the only player on the field – think of the numbers he’ll put up! Could be the greatest signing ever!!!
IT’S OVER NINE THOUSANNNNDDDD
Yeah the so called “free market” did great for the economy over the last 4 years. When will you and other people get a clue and drop this free market stuff. Touting it around just makes you look foolish to anyone who isn’t blind to what Feds, Megabanks, etc. did.
the free market is what it is. if I want to maintain my standard of living, I have to be able to justify the paycheck I get. fortunately, there aren’t that many of me out there.
Good luck Serioux, you’ll be missed in TO!
Over / under on Pat Onstad’s age when he retires?
I hope you lose your job to someone willing to do your work for half of what they pay you. Just another ignorant American.
eskandarian has taken an indefinite leave from soccer and Sutton is with the Red Bulls officially now
I was baptized “William the Terror” by a Priest that I somehow managed to kick in the face at the tender age of two weeks. Although I long agao walked away from religion, I always liked the name. Perhaps you should change yours to “Summer’s Eve.”
Actually, wouldn’t the west coast games here be on at like 5:00 AM over there?
Hell, I’ve noticed some of my friends act like I’m an idiot for watching West Coast games that come on at 11 pm my time.
I agree. but unfortunately he has to play somewhere or the mlspu has another poster boy for whats wrong with the league, instead of seeing that the league has moved passed this type of player.oh well at least kinnear will be able to use him.
You’re wrong. It was two seasons ago, Mr. Terror. Maybe there’s no room for a guy named Terror on a message board.
How much weight has he lost? Instead of singing “Who ate all the pies?”, can we switch to “Who drank all the slimfast”?
It’d be interesting to see how Houston can keep playing well after losing their two best players last year and their best player the year before that too. If Houston is still in the running for the top spot in the playoffs then we need to crown Dominic Kinnear as “America’s Best Coach.” I’d give him the national team duties but I don’t want to see him get away from working with guys day in and day out.
There may well be no soccer AFTER the strike is over too if fans turn on teams like fans of baseball did. I know those of us who follow the game through blogs and other newssources probably side with the players, but I’m not sure the casual fan will.
Let’s not use the “scab” word at all. I don’t blame anyone who takes an opportunity at their dream job. If it happens to come to a strike then I don’t think you can fault someone who is not a part of the MLS union for trying out for their dream job.
I don’t even understand how we can be mad at blue collar guys who cross picket lines to take a $15 an hour job the previous employees thought wasn’t enough pay. There’s probably someone out there in $10 an hour job who’d love that $15 an hour job right now.
Navas will be a “huge, huge draw in Houston?” Why would that be? Houstonians are gonna turn out in droves to see some Colombian kid they’ve never heard of?
a strike
WOOT!!! Serioux back in H-Town!!!!!! This is going to be great. He was one more consistent players who would come out and have a beer with the fans after the games. I can’t wait to see his monster throws ins again, they might as well be corner kicks.
I hear it’s 2 years…
Serioux?? Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that the guy who bragged after intentionally trying to injure Beckham last season? If so, i’m not sure i’d want him on my team or in my league.
thanks for your pointless input
Ives any word on how long the contract will be for? No info on that in the Fire press release.
i would guess that a lot of teams might stop them McBride is nearly 40 and John is still an unknown quantity until the real games begin.
Well I for one will miss Blanco’s antics on the pitch. Blanco seemed to want to play and ref the game at the same time 🙂 John might be a great signing for Chicago but I doubt he will be as fun to hate as Blanco, if you are not a Chicago fan.
Is there really much of an audience in England for MLS games starting at or after midnight? I figure that MLS is to England what the A-League is to the U.S. The games are on late (live) and only the most dedicated junkies stay home on weekends watching lower level leagues.
(SBI-As far as I can tell, MLS games are repeated during more regular hours during the week, so soccer fans over there can watch them during the week when MLS matches aren’t going on.)
I hope you are right regarding his fitness. He needs to step up this season when and if Ching is called up.
Just saw news of the MLS strike on sky sports…whats crazy is landon may have opened up new fans overseas for mls because they will want to know how he’s doing over here and when he’s coming back to england. Crazy.
This comment makes absolutely no sense whatsoever – every player in the league is under contract, why would John signing one be any different? Someone posted the same thing about Kevin Hartman a couple days ago on another thread – really lame.
I was at the Htown v. Fire game. It was a scrappy game. Landin came in and showed class and skill. He played 45 minutes. He looks to have lost some weight too. He was flying around. The cross he had for an assist was special being that he beat two players and crossed the ball in with the outside of his right foot from the left side. I hope we see this from him all year. He looked like he knew he has alot to prove.
The Fire look very strong this year. How long before RBNJ comes sniffing for scraps? jk. Teams have gotta fear the Marco Pappa.
I seem to remember last year or was it year before when Ricardo Clark was injured for an extended time and the Dynamo seemed to do just fine but they also had Holden at that point. Holden is biggest loss. I’m pretty sure Kinnear will find a way to win and use Serioux in a good fashion. He is a great coach. Plus he still has a good core with Davis, Ching, Cameron and a few others that have been around for the past few years. I’m not worried. Hopefully Navas can get playing time, he will be a HUGE HUGE draw in Houston!!
A scab? He will be going on strike too. A “scab” would be someone who plays while everyone else is on strike. I don’t know if that is an appropriate term for the sporting world. Plus, there will be NO soccer while the players are on strike so you won’t have to worry bout a thing mate.
It’s great news for the Fire.. Collins John and Brian McBride uptop… who’s gonna stop them??? I’m predicting the MLS cup will be coming to Chicago this season!!!
Does it make sense to agree to a contract right before a strike? Just curious…how does that work? Does that make him a scab?
I could easily see him as the 2nd coming of Stern John, and not just for the name. If fit and engaged he could be dominant. Marco Pappa will have a break out year; he’s already banging in long range goals. Now if the Fire would just release Calen Carr for a prospect, any propect, they’re set to roll.