With changing attack, Fire look to defense
With all eyes on McBride, steady backline to balance Fire
Superstar forward Brian McBride will take the field, either as a starter or as a second-half substitute, in his first game since joining the team after four seasons in the English Premier League. Everyone will be looking to see if forward Chris Rolfe loses his starting spot, or whether coach Denis Hamlett will go with two forwards and change the midfield, and everyone will find out how McBride meshes with midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco, the team's other superstar.
Meanwhile, the back line will attempt to continue to do what it has done better than any other backline in the league this year, and that's keeping the other team from scoring.
The Fire have a 9-5-5 record (32 points) and stand one point behind New England for first place in the Eastern Conference. They have gone seven consecutive games without a loss (3-0-4), and most importantly, have played the entire MLS season without giving up more than two goals in a game.
Through 19 games, the Fire have given up just 15 goals. The next best total is 19 goals given up by Houston in 18 games. Goalkeeper Jon Busch and his back line have worked together to record eight shutouts.
"I think it has just been consistency," Hamlett said of his team's defensive effort. "These guys had a good preseason, have worked very hard throughout the year, and have placed an emphasis on defending as a ground and individually. As a result, you have seen the results from the hard work we have put in."
Hamlett is true to four in the back, and three of those four have been Brandon Prideaux, Bakary Soumare and Gonzalo Segares for most games. Soumare has played in 18, Prideaux and Segares 16 each. Early on veteran Diego Gutierrez was the fourth man, but that has switched with the development of Colombian Wilman Conde, who has started nine games and given the Fire a tall back line. Conde stands 6-2 and Soumare is 6-4.
Somehow, the Fire have melded new players into a cohesive unit.
"Our mentality all year has been to play for one another," Gutierrez said. "We have a bunch of really good defenders. Our roster is just really good this year.
"You don't see teams playing this well cohesively when they change personnel all the time," Gutierrez said. "We have been able to keep the same back four for much of the season and you see the results."
The Fire, 4-3-2 at home this season, do not play another home game until Sept. 6. They play at the Los Angeles Galaxy next Thursday (when they will be missing three starters due to World Cup qualifying duties) and then play at Houston Aug. 31.
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
