Photo by Mike DiNovo/USA TODAY Sports
By SBI SOCCER
The situation has gotten quite grim for the Chicago Fire, and matters were only made worse Tuesday.
The Fire announced goalkeeper Sean Johnson and defender Eric Gehrig are set to miss the remainder of the 2015 season. Johnson’s absence is due to a labral tear of the left shoulder, while Gehrig was diagnosed with a navicular stress fracture.
Johnson’s injury will not require surgery, allowing the goalkeeper to continue to train on a limited basis. Gehrig will be required to go under the knife, though, as the defender will have surgery on Friday.
“It’s unfortunate to lose Sean and Eric at this point in the season, but these types of things happen in soccer,” interim head coach Brian Bliss said. “Both players have been battling through pain over the last few weeks and they’re tough guys, but it was important to us that we make sure they get a chance to heal up and be ready for the start of the 2016 season.”
Prior to his injury, Johnson featured 21 times for the Fire this season, recording four shutouts. Gehrig started a career-best 25 games this season.
The injury news comes in the wake of a major shakeup for the Fire, as interim boss Bliss was brought in Sunday to replace Frank Yallop as the team’s head coach, while Nelson Rodríguez was added as the team’s general manager.
As things stand, the Fire are not eliminated from postseason contention, but the club currently sits last in MLS with just 27 points.
What do you think of the injury news? What do you expect from the Fire throughout the rest of 2015?
Share your thoughts below.
He needs to move on. I don’t think it’s an intelligence problem it’s more of the product of crappy coaching you get in MLS.
The crap coaching in MLS will only get you so far… He has learned all he can about kick n run soccer
Whoops, intelligence*
The irony of my post there. LOL
LOL at Johnson playing in Europe. You need intellugence to be a goid goalkeeper. You can’t just be “Athletic”
Looks like the Fire are starting to close up shop for the season. Better start playing for a spot on the roster next year guys!!!
Why is Johnson still in MLS? He needs to be in europe
Let me tell you…….Johnson is a lucky, lucky man. Labrum surgery is no joke. I’m 9 months removed from my Labrum surgery and I’m sitting at 80-85%. Strength is the only remaining hurdle but it’s been a long, long road of rehab for 2 hrs. 3-4 days a week.. Of course, my surgery was slightly complicated as the humerus and clavicle had to be shaved down and 4 screws inserted to bind everything together. But guess what?? I was/am a GK and the injury occurred from repeated dislocations suffered from diving and arm extensions. My left shoulder was so loose I had no idea that it would slip in and out of socket causing the dislocations.
Sometimes when it rains, it pours…. Yallop has had his share of success as a coach, but the few times I have seen the Fire this year, it was hard to watch… a lot of kick-ball…
Gehrig could have been one of the worst outside backs in all of MLS. But I wish him a speedy recovery nonetheless.