Time to revisit my projections for the last time. Who will be available for the Philadelphia Union to select? The rules were announced recently, and they're exactly the same as the past few drafts.
The following players should graduate from Generation Adidas status: Alston, Beltran, Frei, Gonzalez, Hall, Nyarko, Wallace, Zakuani, and Zayner. Click to continue reading...

Who to protect and who to expose is the guessing game for the Fire. (Getty Images)

This year unlike the last couple the expansion draft caught up with me here. I almost feel like I am a little late getting these lists out for the draft which is a couple days after MLS Cup. Starting today I will release a team-by-team list of who I think will be protected and who I think will be left exposed.

Click to continue reading...

Voting for the 2009 MLS Year End Awards is underway. I've learned some interesting things about this season's voting process:
1) For the Best XI, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Landon Donovan are listed as midfielders this year, while Guillermo Barros Schelotto is listed as a forward. You may remember the unfortunate situation from two years ago, where Blanco was a finalist for the MVP award yet missing from the Best XI. Click to continue reading...

Time to revisit my projections of who will be protected and who will be left available. What's changed in the past month? For last month's review, click here.
A few days ago I posted about when players graduate from Generation Adidas status, which is highly relevant to this topic. Check out that post for further info. Click to continue reading...

MLS rosters are finally frozen. Here's a look at how much each team has changed since March.
Also worth checking is something that can shake up a roster without a personnel decision: the injury list.
CHICAGO
Hasn't changed much since the beginning of the season except for the departure of unhappy defender Bakary Soumare to Europe. Click to continue reading...

Who will Peter Nowak and the Philadelphia Union take? Who will each team protect? I don't know, but I'll give it my best guess three months before everyone really starts focusing on it. You remember the rules, don't you? I'm assuming they'll stay the same as the past three years: 11 players can be protected, must protect three foreigners, GA players are exempt. Click to continue reading...

USL-2's Wilmington Hammerheads edge Chicago, 1-0
Kenny Bundy of the United Soccer Leagues Second Division's Wilmington Hammerheads once again came through for his squad in this 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Bundy (pictured, right) scored a goal in the 37th minute as the Hammerheads upset Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire, 1-0, on Tuesday night in the third round of the U. Click to continue reading...

Chicago continues SuperLiga play vs. Tigres
The Chicago Fire waived backup goalkeeper and 2007 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft pick Nick Noble, the team announced Friday.
Noble had fallen down the team's depth chart, with Andrew Dykstra maintaining the No. 2 spot behind regular starter Jon Busch. Click to continue reading...

From the Chicago Fire front office, the team has waived goalkeeper Nick Noble.
The Fire drafted Noble from West Virginia University in the first round (7th overall) of the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft. While he did not appear for the Fire in MLS league play through his two and a half seasons with Chicago, Noble appeared in the third round Lamar Hunt U. Click to continue reading...

Fire bench tries to make most out of exhibition vs. Club America
Chicago Fire backup goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra has no clue what the future holds with his current developmental contract situation. Could his stay be extended through the 2009 season? Could his days be numbered?
So like any professional, Dykstra is doing what he needs to do by focusing solely on the job at hand when the situation presents itself. Click to continue reading...

Starters
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UEFA Champions League
Semifinals
First Leg Matches:
-Tue Apr 28
Barcelona 0-0 Chelsea - A real dullards delight.
-Wed Apr 29
Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal - MU goal by John O'Shea, the least talented guy on the field gets it done! Click to continue reading...

In friendly play on Wednesday, Club America defeated the Chicago Fire 2-1 at Toyota Park. Juan Carlos Silva scored for Club America in the 2nd minute and Enrique Esqueda doubled that lead in the 42nd. Chicago made five substitutions to start the second half, including subbing backup keeper Nick Noble for Andrew Dykstra. Click to continue reading...

Chicago allows two first half goals in exhibition
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - Toyota Park was abuzz for Club de Futbol America during Wednesday night's exhibition against the host Chicago Fire. Supporters of the Primera Division organization got what they wanted to see as Las Aguilas won a 2-1 decision against their Major League Soccer opponent in front of a crowd of 17,342. Click to continue reading...

The Chicago Fire defeated the University of Illinois-Chicago, 3-0, on Tuesday during a charity match at Flames Field. The match raised $5,300 for the Chicago Fire Foundation.
Former UIC standout Baggio Husidic (left) played on the opposite side this year with his new role with the Fire. The Libertyville native said afterward to MLSnet. Click to continue reading...

As was expected for about a week, the Chicago Fire officially announced the signing of goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra to its 24-man roster Monday. Dykstra signed to a developmental contract and is a disabled list replacement for midfielder Peter Lowry.
Last week, PotomocSoccerWire.com had a piece about the 23-year-old Dykstra, who played with the Fire during the preseason. Click to continue reading...