Wondering how the recent moves of Chris Rolfe and Bakary Soumare to Europe will impact Brian McBride's offseason decision? Well, I asked the 37-year-old McBride - who is in the last year of his contract with the Fire - just that question after the Fire's practice last Thursday. Here is what the Arlington Heights native had to say.

Great picture find over at The Offside.
Let's get to the other good stuff out there.
The links:

• Jose's story on MLS salaries. [Times]
  
• German women crush England in Euro final. [SI]
  
• Juande Ramos to CSKA Moscow. [BBC]
  
• SI caption gaff.

Seattle needs another big game out of Fredy Montero this weekend. (Getty Images)

There's not too many more weekends left in the 2009 regular season. Week 27 is a full one as we gear towards the playoffs in a few weeks. With so many clubs still in contention the action this weekend should promise to be very good.

The Week 26 Major League Socer Power Rankings have had some significant changes from last week. The Columbus Crew have the top spot with a win over Houston while the Los Angeles Galaxy dropped after a disappointing 3-6 lost to Dallas. Other teams moving up are FC Dallas and the Kansas City Wizards who both got much needed wins.

The Fire had it all to fight for on Sunday afternoon against the Columbus Crew. First place in the East, a shot at the Supporter's Shield, home field advantage in the playoffs, you name it and the Fire had it in their grasp this afternoon at Toyota Park but in the end it all slipped away as the two sides played to a very controversial 2-2 draw.

Here's the latest on whether the U.S. qualifier will be moved, which could well help the American cause if it's played in another country:

NEW YORK (AP) -- Soccer officials are watching the security situation in Honduras, hoping they won't have to move next month's World Cup qualifier against the United States.

Just as the playoff race gets hot, the goals of the week get hotter. Something about a playoff race that makes the goals just a little bit better if you ask me.

Order of goals: Jamie Moreno, Ramon Sanchez, Ryan Johnson, Sacha Kljestan, Juan Pablo Angel, Dwayne De Rosario, Chad Barret, Brian McBride, Jeff Cunningham, Eddie Gaven, Fredy Montero, and Shalrie Joseph.

Here are a few notes from today's high-intensity Fire training session... McBride Back in Action - Injured forward Brian McBride (torn labrum) was back on the training field today, participating in his first "full go" practice since having surgery in mid-July. McBride, who isn't listed on the Fire's injury report this week, looked good in practice and didn't seem to be inhibited by the injury whatsoever.

With rosters bound and chained until the new year and this obnoxious international break now in full swing, there seems no better time than the present to effuse an EPL preview, one which -- despite three to four rounds having been waged already -- will feature a table read grossly different than the one incumbent.

Photo by isiphotos.com

As the playoffs approach, late season additions can add that extra edge to equal playoff success. For the Chicago Fire, the return of Brian McBride from shoulder surgery, perhaps as soon as this weekend, could be just what the Fire need to push them over the top.

GBS is returning to MVP form, that is dangerous for everyone else. (Getty Images)

A full weekend is upon us here as we head into the final month of the season. Once again we have a weekend that has a lot of playoff implications from top to bottom. Can the spoilers like KC and San Jose step up and bring down some clubs gunning for the playoffs?

Here are a few notes from today's Fire practice out at Toyota Park... McBride update - Forward Brian McBride once again took part in full training with the squad today and he looked good, showing no signs of pain in his surgically repaired right shoulder and saying that he feels like he can play in Saturday's game at Real Salt Lake.

Following 2-week break, Chicago a bit healthier heading into Rio Tinto
Good health is a relative term for the Chicago Fire these days. A two-week break definitely provided some necessary healing, but there still is a long way to go as Chicago visits Real Salt Lake on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium (8 p.

Chicago takes early lead but walks away with 1 point
Real Salt Lake's offense found some life in the second half, and the Chicago Fire escaped Rio Tinto Stadium with a 1-all draw Saturday night in Sandy, Utah.
For just a little more than 70 minutes, it looked like the Fire were en route to their seventh road victory.

A few quick thoughts after the final whistle at RSL, I am pleased.

I must admit that I am pretty impressed with Chicago's performance tonight despite coming away with a point that could have been three. The Fire were able to dominate for the first 70 minutes of play and I was very excited to see some great one-touch play from the youthful squad.

Jamison Olave played his heart out on a beautiful Saturday night in Sandy Utah and although a win would have been better, at least Real walked away with a tie and a point. A win and full points would have placed RSL into a three-way tie with Chivas and Colorado for fourth place in the West, but it is what it is.

1) The Columbus Crew's home unbeaten streak in all competitions is over with the CONCACAF Champions League loss to Cruz Azul. You may have heard that they broke the record for the regular season with 19 straight games back in July. However, they also managed to just do enough to break the overall streak as well.

Not sure why you'd want to imitate Maradona these days.
Might be shot by accident.
Pretty funny though.
To the links:

• One crazy road trip. [Off the Post]
  
• Brian McBride Q&A. [Goal! NY Times]
  
• Where are all the EPL draws? [Unprofessional Foul]
  
• The week's best quotes and chants.

Nick Garcia poses with irate visitor from space
For a handful of seconds Saturday night, early in the second half against Chicago Fire, Toronto FC looked like a team that knows how to play this game. Gerba with the ball at the half line in traffic, rather than his usual solo struggles out in the wastelands, sent the ball out to the left wing for Dero.

STARTERS
Huge shout out to Brian & Stephanie Pederson on their wedding! Brian is a member of the PDL team Rochester Thunder, and a very cool guy! Congrats!
-We nicknamed Brian "The Farmer" years ago, but its all been in good fun, and he embraced us as fans!
LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP
Final Match:
-Wed Sep 2
DC United v Seattle Sounders FC
Venue: RFK Stadium - Washington DC
dN
Jose Romero of the Seattle Times on the feud between the teams on who should host the final.

Columbus Crew defender Chad Marshall is Major League Soccer's Player of the Month for the month of August. This is the second Player of the Month award for the 2009 Crew, with Guillermo Barros Schelotto winning in June. 2009 MLS Player of the Month Awards March: Fredy Montero – Seattle Sounders FC April: Brian McBride – Chicago Fire May: Conor Casey – Colorado Rapids June: Guillermo Barros Schelotto – Columbus Crew July: Landon Donovan –.

Photo by isiphotos.com

As the playoffs approach, late season additions can add that extra edge to equal playoff success. For the Chicago Fire, the return of Brian McBride from shoulder surgery, perhaps as soon as this weekend, could be just what the Fire need to push them over the top.

After getting a well-deserved week off to rest their legs, the Fire came into tonight's match against Real Salt Lake ready to start the final two months of the season with yet another road win. And while at times it looked like the Fire would be able to pick up all three points at Rio Tinto Stadium, in the end it wasn't to be, and the two teams played to a 1-1 tie.

It's shaping up to be a light news day in the world of the Chicago Fire so without anything too new to report on, I thought I would share a few links with you guys to keep your Wednesday rolling along... Here's a little write-up from ESPNChicago.com's Scott Powers detailing Chris Rolfe's upcoming transfer.

With special guest Brian McBride live from one of my old haunts, the Soho Grand Hotel.

CHICAGO FIRE VS. TORONTO FC
Toyota Park - Saturday, 8:30PM EST
TV: Rogers Sportsnet
Well if it wasn't bad enough that NASL nostalgia has brought back Sounders, Timbers, Earthquakes, Whitecaps and no doubt Cosmos, Chicago Fire has decided to make Saturday's game an anniversary celebration of Soccer Bowl 1984!

The Chicago Fire are down to four regular-season games remaining, including two at home. The first of those two takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against Toronto FC at Toyota Park (televised on My50).
Toronto (9-10-7, 34 points) still is working in its recent designated player signing (Julian de Guzman).

Well it looks as if the Toronto FC won't be getting a jab at the MLS Cup this year. At least not after their performance against the Chicago Fire. Chicago's Brian McBride put a late 78th minute goal past the defense and into the opposing Toronto net.