tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51266932854044532802024-02-08T13:32:12.520-06:00Walking the PlankA blog to express opinions about soccer in the world, especially the Chicago Fire. Posts written by members of the Chicago Fire supporters group Peña Piratas.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-64003349760509638752013-01-17T17:06:00.000-06:002013-01-17T17:06:01.269-06:00SuperDraft 2013 AftermathSo on Thursday the SuperDraft came and went and here is a little recap of the action that we saw the past couple days:<br />
<ul>
<li>Fire traded pick #11, allocation money, and international slot to Colorado for Jeff Larentowicz and pick #30 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>The Fire in turn selected Yazid Atouba Emane with pick #30. Good pick because we are thin on the wing position. Various reports say he is still rough and needs time to develop, but at 20 years old he possesses good speed and technical ability. He apparently had a good week at the combine. You can read up on the Cameroonian youth player <a href="http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2013/01/fire-select-yazid-atouba-emane-second-round-2013-mls-superdraft" target="_blank">here</a>.</li>
<li>Rumblings at the draft had Columbus and the Fire talking trade potentially involing Oduro from the Fire and Duka from the Crew.</li>
<li>Other rumblings from the Fire camp is that Pardo is contemplating retiring within the next couple weeks. This makes the Larentowicz trade make sense. Pardo being 36 and Jeff L.(yeah I'm not used to his last name so I'm going to call him Jeff L.) only 29, makes Jeff a capable replacement. I hope that Jeff does well and we can forget about his history with the Revolution.</li>
<li>With the trade that brought Jeff L. and the trade that brought us Lindpere we gave up 2 of our international slots. The Fire currently have 6 international slots and 5 are filled with Tornaghi, Macdonald, Alex, Friedrich, and Pardo. If our draft pick makes the team, which it sounds like he may, then he will also occupy an international slot.</li>
</ul>
Well that's all for now, stay tuned for more musing here and over at <a href="http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/" target="_blank">Hot Time in Old Town</a> in the coming weeks as training camps begin league wide and the possibility of more trades and signings.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-44615882882567757622013-01-14T19:25:00.002-06:002013-01-14T19:25:09.501-06:00Squad Depth????So I'll make this really quick. Thanks to Guillermo Rivera for pointing it out over at <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/fire-confidential/2013/01/monday-notes-fernandez-on-the-move/" target="_blank">Fire Confidential</a>, apparently the Fire are sending Alvaro Fernandez to Al Rayyan of the Qatar Stars League. To make a long story short if true, this leaves the Fire with 1 true winger in Patrick Nyarko. Frank and company better have something up their sleeve because that leaves an opening in the starting line up on the wing. With the current roster we have, in my opinion, we do not have someone that can fill that position. Some will say put Oduro out wide and I say no, he is in no way a winger that can cross effectively and create chances like Nyarko. Maybe put Pause out there? No thanks, he does not have the pace to match some of the outside backs in this league. Rolfe? Well we already tried that when Hamlett was around and that worked to a point and we are better off with Rolfe up top period. So what do the Fire do? What ever it is they now have another open international slot open and a mess of cap space freed up. Fire it is now your move and hopefully you get something done before the season starts on March 3rd. Well keep looking here and over at <a href="http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/" target="_blank">HTIOT</a> for more of my musings.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-22129036382540832052013-01-05T21:04:00.004-06:002013-01-05T21:04:57.485-06:00The Fire Makes a Move and Some Other StuffSo the Fire made their first roster move of 2013. They traded a international roster spot to New Jersey for their Estonian midfielder Joel Lindpere. You can read all about it <a href="http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2013/01/fire-acquire-midfielder-joel-lindpere" target="_blank">here</a>. To me this is a good move. I'm not going to use the term "great" because we still have to wait and see how it actually works on the field. In the meantime I'll explain why it is a good move. Lindpere gives that box to box mid that could work well with either Pause or Pardo. He is a definite work horse that has experience in the league and also plenty of international experience with the Estonian national team. With this move he gives us more depth in the middle of the park so possibly we can move away from that 2 defensive mid formation. He also has a green card which is a definite bonus. Hopefully this works out for the team and pushes us into a better position than last year.<br />
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Well one thing that I have to point out with this club is their ambition. When Javier Leon talked about the acquisition of Lindpere <a href="http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2013/01/klopas-lindpere-will-fit-well-our-team" target="_blank">here</a>, his quote was:<br />
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Joel is a versatile, dependable player that has proven himself in MLS,” said Fire President of Soccer Operations Javier Leon. “He will provide a dynamic presence to our team in 2013 as we look to return to the MLS Cup Playoffs.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Now this quote is coming from the president of soccer operations and my thing is are the goals of the Fire remaining the same as last season? Last season's goal was to make the playoffs and they did by limping in and then crashing out. Leon says they look to return to the playoffs? Why not look into winning back the Open Cup or challenging for the supporters shied? Why is just getting into the playoffs good enough? Is this a case of setting your goals low so they are easier to achieve? Enough about that.</span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that the Fire have made a move they still have to add depth along the back line. I'm guessing they will be adding this depth through the draft and also hoping that those that were drafted last year are ready to become capable backups to the starters. We will see as the Fire look to start camp in a couple weeks.</span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">One more thing, while I was watching the United vs. West Ham FA Cup tie earlier in the afternoon, I wondered to myself, why the Fire did not throw an offer towards Joe Cole? At 31 and still capable of playing at a high level he could have been that DP to take the Fire's midfield and make it one of the strongest on the league. Plus he was available on a free transfer non the less. Then I remembered he is not #keanelikemoney or #puppolikemoney.</span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Well that's all from me tonight, keep looking for musings from me here and also over at <a href="http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/" target="_blank">HTIOT.</a></span></span>Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-46317409599617341082012-12-25T12:55:00.001-06:002012-12-25T12:55:42.095-06:00What I want for the 2013 season.<p>As we sit and open presents and share Christmas cheer with our loved ones, I can't help but think of some wishes for the beloved CF97. Well here are just a few of my wishes:</p>
<p>1. To have our cup back. We need to get the Open Cup back home in Chicago. We found out last year that no matter the opponent we have to take it seriously. I will never forget the words of my dad "No matter who you are playing and no matter the tournament you always put the best team on the field that you can".</p>
<p>2. The next thing on my list is that the Fire finally acquiring the CAM and proven goal scorer that this team needs. We may have the goal scorer position already filled if we keep Rolfe playing up top with Macdonald. In order to do that we need a proper CAM that can take over and create those chances so we can let Rolfe and Macdonald do their thing.</p>
<p>3. The final thing on my list is that the Fire set their sights higher. In 2012 Frank and company said their goal was to make the playoffs. Now that that goal has been achieved maybe they can have set their sights on the top of the league and the MLS cup. I hope they do this because I for one am tired of mediocrity. Mid-table is not good enough for a team that set a standard by winning the double in their first year. It's about time that we get back to that standard and accept nothing less.</p>
<p>Well that's it, I hope all of you have a great holidays and hope that there will be great things for us fans and the club in 2013. Look for more from me here and also at Hot Time in Old Town.</p>
Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-71133754174435828842012-12-19T17:12:00.001-06:002012-12-19T17:12:08.565-06:00Season Opener and Home Opener Announced as Well as Some Other NewsThis week the MLS released the home openers for all 19 teams which you can find <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/12/18/mls-announces-2013-home-openers-all-19-clubs" target="_blank">here</a>. Also CONCACAF announced the Champions League quarterfinal dates <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/ccl/news/article/2012/12/19/ccl-concacaf-unveils-quarterfinal-schedule" target="_blank">here</a>. So what does this mean for Frank and the boys? We travel to LA to take on the defending MLS Cup champion on March 3rd. This would be a good chance to see what the 2013 versn of the Fire will be like. The interesting thing is that LA may choose to rest players before their clash against Herediano in Coasta Rica on the 7th. On the 9th we will get to fill Toyota Park for the home opener versus Chad Barrett and the New England Revolution, followed by a visit to Kansas City on the 14th. Right now I'm calling 5 or more points from the first 3 games a good thing.<br />
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Some quickies:<br />
<ul>
<li>Julian Posada has left the Fire. Question is when did he show up?</li>
<li>SKC signed a DP in forward Claudio Bieler. Never heard of him? Neither have I.</li>
<li>New Jersey has signed Juninho but still no coach</li>
</ul>
Well thats it for now, I will doing fewer posts on here in the future as I will be contributing some articles over at <a href="http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/" target="_blank">Hot Time In Old Town</a>. So look over there for my musings, but I will still try to post here on a regular basis.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-70241516093913494322012-12-09T10:24:00.001-06:002012-12-09T10:24:14.602-06:00Now this is great.<p><a href="http://sportingclubstore.com/category/men/You%20are%20still%20%22The%20Wizards!%22%20lol%20-%20GO%20FIRE/1">Sporting Goods</a><br>
</p>
Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-79818865561248248462012-12-08T07:38:00.002-06:002012-12-08T07:38:55.455-06:001st Phase Has Come and Gone........Wait What?So the 1st phase of the quasi free agency draft happened yesterday afternoon and there was only one selection that took place. The Fire selected Maicon Dos Santos in the 1st phase. Now earlier this week I had highlighted one of the players that I could see that could help the Fire out and Maicon was one of them. I just did not expect them to select him in the first phase. What this means is that the Fire now have a player that they can make an offer to and that offer basically has to match what his option would have been for the 2013 season. According to the <a href="http://www.mlsplayers.org/salary_info.html?print=1" target="_blank">MLSPU</a> Maicon made roughly $113K in 2012 and I assume that is about what he was slated for in 2013. <br />
<br />
Now do I like this move? Yes, but I also have a reservation about it also. Now Maicon showed early in the 2012 season that he could be deadly from outside the box. He scored a couple goals for DC that were absolute rockets from 20 yards or more out. He can handle the physically side of the game and as a bench player he should be able to provide a spark coming into games in the 2nd half. Now there are some downsides to Maicon. He has shown inconsistency over the years which has led him to being bounced around the league. I think that the inconsistency is something that can hurt this team but, using Oduro as an example, maybe Maicon just needs a different situation to be in to thrive. This move also provides cover at forward since we all know that Franco is not going to be back with the team in 2013. Well that's all I have time for today but look for my next thoughts to be about why the transfer market maybe be a bit barren for the Fire and trying to predict what Frank has in mind for 2013.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-67623423757619213892012-12-06T07:03:00.003-06:002012-12-06T07:03:49.540-06:00A Look at the Re-entry DraftSo tomorrow will be phase one of the re-entry draft for the MLS. Here is a link for all of the players that are available for the draft. I'm not going to go through every single name that's on the list but just touch on the Fire players and some interesting names that could possibly work for the Fire. So the Fire declined the options of Nolly, Bone, and Segares. The first two names were not surprising to me considering Bone was projected to graduate as a Generation Adidas player and Nolly found himself third choice behing Johnson and Tornaghi. Segares was a very big surprise to me considering he has been one of the best left backs in the league since he first started playing in the MLS. Frank must have a plan otherwise he would not have done this to a fan favorite and a player that brings some grit and physical play to the team. There have been ideas tossed around why this was done and the two that make sense to me are: 1. They will try to negotiate a lower price with him because he was due to make over $200K in 2013, or 2. They have someone else in mind to take over at that position for a far cheaper salary. I'm leaning towards the first one because he is a fan favorite, and like Nyarko and Rolfe he really enjoys playing here and loves this city. Moving on here are a few names that I think would help fill our need for depth at certain positions. Now let me point out that I think these would be good for us if we draft them in the second phase of the process because that way the team would be able to negotiate a deal at a lower salary. The only names that stuck out were Ike Opara, Danny Califf, and Maicon Dos Santos. The first two would provide depth and MLS experience at center back. Opara is still young but has had injury problems over the past year but he did show a ton of promise in his rookie season. Califf you know what you're going to get with him. A center back that is very physical and doesn't mind doing the dirty work. The major knock on Califf is that he is 32 but he could provide some experienced back up for Berry and Freidrich. Maicon Dos Santos could provide us with a forward off the banch that is not afraid to shoot. With Oduro coming out and saying he doesn't like playing off the bench there is the possibility that he may be shipped off somewhere else via trade or just cut loose. Santos could be a player that could hellp us out after scoring 7 goals for DC last seaon and only being 28 might be a good utility player as long as the price is not very high. Other than that i don't think there are many other names on that list that the Fire could use(insert Chad Barret joke here). Thats about it for today, look for another post this coming Saturday recapping the first phase of the re-entry draft and some other thoughts of the player movement for the Fire.<br />
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Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-64883114606241313002012-11-29T07:47:00.002-06:002012-11-29T07:47:46.250-06:00My Attempt to Try to Figure Out the Short Game and Other MusingsIf you follow me on the Twitterverse(@firefan1998) or read this blog you would come to realize some tactics that really bother me. One tactic that the Fire choose to employ is the short goal kick. I know it has its perks but at the same time it also has its down falls. Follow me as I try to explain both sides and explain why Klopas should employ this more randomly throughout the season.<br />
<br />
One positive that I can think of is the fact that you are able to keep position allowing the ball to find its way forward to create attacking opportunities instead of lofting a 50/50 ball towards the half line. This can work if you have the proper players on the field that can make this work. The key is having that CAM that can collect the ball from the defense and turn and create some space in order to link up with the attacking players, be it with the forwards or the other midfielders. Unfortunately for the Fire this worked a small percentage of the time especially when Grazzini was shipped out and when Pardo missed time due to injury. Another positive for short goal kicks is if the elements are not in favor of taking long kicks. This is important especially on windy days. I know that growing up and playing soccer the coaches always said that if it is windy always try to keep the ball on the ground.<br />
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The major negative to playing this way is the fact that the opposing teams would play a high pressure defense. Towards the end of the season when Frank was playing the short goal kick all the time the opposing teams would play a high pressure defense effectively taking the space away from the defenders and the midfielders. If the defenders were able to receive the ball from the goalie deep in their own half the high pressure would force them to boot the ball down field. If you look at the last game of the regular season against DC you can see that the high pressure forced more turnovers from the Fire than anything else. With the high pressure also forced Sean into taking long goal kicks after wasting valuable time trying to go short. I'll point out the DC game as an example again, if you watch the second half where Sean was forced to take the long kicks, he kicked them towards Anibaba who looked like he was not ready for them. And most the time, since the Fire had no CAM, the ball was almost always played out to our wings. This forces our team to be more one dimensional and gives a tactical advantage to opposing teams. If Frank continues to use this tactic during the 2013 season the rest of the league will just play a high pressure system to effectively kill any momentum that the Fire will try to create.<br />
<br />
I will say that with the proper players on the pitch the Fire can use this effectively but they have to do a couple things first. They will have to get Sean to practice long distribution so they can randomly use it during games in order to keep the opposing team guessing what they will do. Frank and company will have to find that CAM that can create space and attacks after receiving the ball from the defense of d-mids. I know some of you will say that our CAM is Rolfe but I disagree. Rolfe is a STRIKER and should be used as such. He is much better making runs off of Macdonald and also putting himself into a position to receive crosses from either wing.<br />
<br />
Random thoughts about Garber's "State of the League":<br />
<ul>
<li>Yeah there was conversation of the MLS Cup being Beckham's last game in the MLS. Personally I just give it a "meh". I don't want to go into how he helped the sport here and blah, blah, blah. But I can guarantee you that you will be able to play the Beckham drinking game during the MLS Cup on ESPN.</li>
<li>Garber discussed the investment that has gone in to development of young American players and the reserve league. I hope the investment continues but the reserve league needs an over haul. The 2012 reserve league only consisted of playing 10 games. I'm sorry but that is not nearly enough to develop any of the young talent that is coming into this league. My opinion is that the league should work on an agreement with the NASL in order to field "B" teams. I know this seems far fetched but they do it in Europe. Imagine the Fire's reserve team playing a competitive game against a lower division side week in and week out. You will see a vast improvement in the depth of talent on the squads of every MLS team. Who knows what Don Garber has planned, but he have better do something so the younger players can develop.</li>
<li>Now on to his beloved brain child of NYC2. He mentioned that since 1996 it has always been said there should be 2 teams in LA and 2 teams in NY. I still don't get the reason for this when there are plenty of other cities that would love to have a franchise. There is the owner of the Atlanta Falcons that has expressed interest but needs to build a stadium. San Antonio sounds like a good option since they just expanded their stadium to almost 20K. Orlando City FC seems to be getting a good following but like Atlanta they also need to build a stadium. How about this report out of <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/11/28/report-tampa-soccer-specific-stadium-plans-works" target="_blank">Tampa Bay</a>. They already have a proposal into the city and it seems that the financial backers seem to be very legit. I wouldn't mind seeing another team in Florida. I do have to say that Don did leave the option open that if the NYC2 project falters that he will look at other sites. The other problem I have with NYC2 is that since it will be centrally located in Flushing Meadows that this will take some of the attendance away from the Red Bulls. That team in NJ is having a tough time as it is trying to fill the stadium. I have watched games where they said that the announced attendance was around 20K but there must have been about 8K in the stadium. If they are having a tough time now imagine what will happen when you give an option to fans to stay closer to New York City proper.</li>
</ul>
Those are just a couple things that sparked my interest when Garber gave his conference call. Enjoy the MLS Cup on Saturday and stayed tuned for more with the re-entry draft approaching as well as the "silly" season beginning where we will hear of rumors that will either make us salivate at the prospects of who can be signed or leave us scratching our heads in amazement on who might be signed.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-70327755435868715602012-11-08T06:56:00.001-06:002012-11-08T06:56:27.454-06:00The German is Back for Another SeasonSo I know I'm a day late but the Fire have re-signed Arne Freidrich. You can read the press release <a href="http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/11/fire-re-sign-defender-arne-friedrich" target="_blank">here</a> and some comments <a href="http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/11/friedrich-celebrates-fire-re-signing-and-obama-election-victory" target="_blank">here</a>. Now that the back line will beback together for another season the Fire can turn their attention to the other positions that the team needs to fill. Like I said in my last post, frank and company need to possibly look at releasing a few players but most of all look at filling the glaring need of a styriker that can be a consistent finisher and we need that playmaker that can create opportunities for our fowards. One name that I remembered that actually might make sense to bring in this off season is Gianluca Nijholt. You may remember him from being here earlier this for the coaching staff to have a better look at him. He was part of FC Utrecht in Holland but now currently plays in the Russian Premier League. That can be an option but the I would love to see if they can go out into Eastern Europe and even use the connections formed with other clubs around world to find a young playmaker. This is going to be essential if we are going to challenge the rest of the league next year. Look for more from me within the next couple weeks closer to Thanksgiving as I try to explain why Frank Klopas should work with Sean Johnson on taking long goal kicks this off season.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-84955270430791613602012-11-06T16:18:00.001-06:002012-11-06T16:18:12.228-06:00Well That Was FunSo the Fire's season came to an unexpected finish on Wednesday night as they played like they have been for the majority of October, not good enough. The month of October was painful to watch as we saw Chicago climb within a win of being first in the East and end up finishing 4th and having to play Houston in the play in game. Instead of dwelling on what could have been, especially after receiving the rest of the playoff tickets in the mail earlier this week, I will discuss my thoughts on where the Fire are and where I think they should go.<br />
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Let's take a look at the roster when I examined it back in the summer:<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 419px;"><colgroup><col span="3" style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col><col style="mso-width-alt: 4910; mso-width-source: userset; width: 106pt;" width="141"></col><col style="mso-width-alt: 3002; mso-width-source: userset; width: 65pt;" width="86"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="40" style="height: 30pt; mso-height-source: userset;"><td class="xl72" height="40" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; height: 30pt; width: 48pt;" width="64"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Position</span></td><td class="xl73" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt medium; width: 48pt;" width="64"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Player</span></td><td class="xl73" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt medium; width: 48pt;" width="64"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Age</span></td><td class="xl74" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt medium; width: 106pt;" width="141"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Contract Expiration</span></td><td class="xl75" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt medium; width: 65pt;" width="86"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Status</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl63" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GK</span></td><td class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Johnson</span></td><td align="right" class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl76" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dec. 2012</span></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GK</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tornaghi</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl69" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GK</span></td><td class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nolly</span></td><td align="right" class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">30</span></td><td class="xl78" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl71" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl63" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gargan</span></td><td align="right" class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">29</span></td><td class="xl76" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gibbs</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">32</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Segares</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">29</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kinney</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anibaba</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Berry</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jumper</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Friedrich</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">33</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dec. 2012</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl69" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Walls</span></td><td align="right" class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">22</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl71" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl63" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nyarko</span></td><td align="right" class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">26</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paladini</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">27</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pappa</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dec. 2012</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pause</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">30</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bone</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grazzini</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">31</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dec. 2012</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pardo</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">35</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dec. 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alex</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Videira</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">26</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl80" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext rgb(240, 240, 240); border-style: none solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt medium 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl81" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext rgb(240, 240, 240); border-style: none solid none none; border-width: medium 0.5pt medium medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Robayo</span></td><td align="right" class="xl81" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext rgb(240, 240, 240); border-style: none solid none none; border-width: medium 0.5pt medium medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">28</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gone any day now</span></td><td class="xl82" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext rgb(240, 240, 240); border-style: none solid none none; border-width: medium 1.5pt medium medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl69" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pineda</span></td><td align="right" class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">19</span></td><td class="xl78" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl71" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 0.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl63" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Barouch</span></td><td align="right" class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">20</span></td><td class="xl83" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gulley</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">18</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Puppo</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">25</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rolfe</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">29</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl69" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oduro</span></td><td align="right" class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">26</span></td><td class="xl78" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl71" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That roster had 28 of the 30 spots filled and 8 of the 9 international slots filled.<br />
Now let's take a look at the roster as of the last game:<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr height="40" style="height: 30pt; mso-height-source: userset;"><td class="xl72" height="40" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; height: 30pt; width: 48pt;" width="64"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Position</span></td><td class="xl73" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt medium; width: 48pt;" width="64"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Player</span></td><td class="xl73" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt medium; width: 48pt;" width="64"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Age</span></td><td class="xl74" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt medium; width: 106pt;" width="141"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Contract Expiration</span></td><td class="xl75" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt medium; width: 65pt;" width="86"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Status</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl63" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GK</span></td><td class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Johnson</span></td><td align="right" class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl76" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dec. 2012</span></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GK</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tornaghi</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl69" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GK</span></td><td class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nolly</span></td><td align="right" class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">30</span></td><td class="xl78" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl71" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl63" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gargan</span></td><td align="right" class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">29</span></td><td class="xl76" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gibbs</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">32</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Segares</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">30</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kinney</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">25</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anibaba</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Berry</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jumper</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Friedrich</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">33</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dec. 2012</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl69" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Walls</span></td><td align="right" class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">22</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl71" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl63" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nyarko</span></td><td align="right" class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">26</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paladini</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">27</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;">Fernandez</td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">27</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;">Thru 2013</td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic/ DP</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pause</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">31</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bone</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;">Thompson</td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;">28</td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;">?</td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pardo</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">36</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dec. 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alex</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Videira</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">26</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl80" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext rgb(240, 240, 240); border-style: none solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt medium 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl81" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext rgb(240, 240, 240); border-style: none solid none none; border-width: medium 0.5pt medium medium;"><br /></td><td align="right" class="xl81" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext rgb(240, 240, 240); border-style: none solid none none; border-width: medium 0.5pt medium medium;"><br /></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><br /></td><td class="xl82" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext rgb(240, 240, 240); border-style: none solid none none; border-width: medium 1.5pt medium medium;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl69" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pineda</span></td><td align="right" class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">19</span></td><td class="xl78" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl71" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 0.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl63" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Franco</span></td><td align="right" class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">36</span></td><td class="xl83" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dec. 2012</span></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;">International</td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gulley</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">18</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Macdonald</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;">27</td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;">At least thru 2013</td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International/DP</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt 1.5pt; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rolfe</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">29</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 0.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl69" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oduro</span></td><td align="right" class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">27</span></td><td class="xl78" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 0.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl71" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: medium 1.5pt 1.5pt medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Over the summer Frank brought Macdonald, Franco, Thompson, and Fernandez to replace the spots left open by Robayo, Puppo, Grazzini, Barouch, and Pappa. Robayo, Puppo, Grazzini, and Barouch were sent on loan but I have a feeling that we will not see them in a Fire shirt again. So with the roster the way it is rioght now the Fire have 27 of the 30 spots filled and if we take it that Franco and Alex(which I will discuss hiom later) will not be coming back and Friedrich(which I will discuss later also) will be coming back that leaves Frank with 4 internationals on his roster. Which that is a very good thing.<br />
<br />
I will take a look at the roster by position:<br />
<ul>
<li>GK: We should have no problems. The Fire have an option on Johnson which I kind of figure they will more than likely pick that option up. Tornaghi should be another capable back up for Johnson which leaves Nolly as the odd man out. If they decide to trade Nolly or even release him I can be okay with that.</li>
<li>DF: The combination of Berry and Friedrich worked so well that if the Fire are able to bring back Friedrich that the Defense should be good for next season. I know that earlier this summer Friedrich was questioning moves made by the FO but he changed his opinion and may end up staying for another year here because he likes the city and the fans as pointed out in his latest comments after the loss versus Houston. On the outside we should be good with all of our outside backs being back for 2013. But what kind of moves would Frank make though. If Friedrich comes back does he let go Gibbs since they are basically the same age and would have basically the same length of contract status? I could see this one happening and keeping Friedrich around to be a mentor to the young center backs that the Fire have. With having both Segares and Gargan the starting outside backs, hypothetically, would Frank see if he could trade Anibaba? I don't know about this one but I'm sure there are plenty of fans out there that wouldn't mind it. What about Kinney? That right there is one of those tough choices to make but I can see him being released due to the injury history over the past couple seasons.</li>
<li>MF: This is where I am a bit concerned about the depth and players that we have. We all know what Nyarko can do out on the flank and his ability to create something out of nothing when he is taking on defenders 1 on 1. I believe that Fernandez has definite room to improve since his last handful of games he looked rusty and could not do what he was brought here to do. I think in this case just give him a little more time and he can be a solid contributor, but there are a vast majority of fans that would love to see his head on the chopping block. In my opinion I think he can be a good fit for this team. You know what you are going to get with Pause, Pardo, and Paladini. But what happens to Pause and Pardo after the 2013 season? Pardo should be calling it a career since he will be 37 by this time next year. With Pause how long do we keep him around? As he has shown that he is a trooper and will do anything for the team but over the last month he was usually the first one being subbed in order to try to create some offense. I could see him staying through 2014 in the long run. Frank should start working in Paladini if he is eventually going to replace Pause or Pardo. I have no idea what the long term plan is with Thompson, Bone, and Videira. Are they just going to be filler for the roster to only compete in the reserve league? What is going on with Bone and is he going to get a shot with the first team in 2013 or has he wasted his opportunities? I would not be surprised if he was eventually let go due to his high salary and the possibility of the "Generation Adidas" classification being taken away. Will Pineda see the field in 2013? I hope so. If he is going to be the future of this team then he might as well start getting some in game experience. Is he a possible long term replacement for Pause and Pardo? Maybe. I hope Frank is grooming him to be a player that sticks around for sometime. Now we come to Alex. I think he was brought here as back up to Grazzini and to act as a traditional #10 who has the ability to create plays and make an impact in the middle of the park. I did not see any of this during game situations. I saw flashes and he did score a few goals, but in my mind he was not consistent enough to be that playmaker. He is on a 6 month contract and in my opinion he did not show enough to be back as a regular starter or as a 2nd half sub. I think that Frank and company should go get a #10 that can be consistent week in and week out. I could also be wrong and having Alex with the team from day 1 of the preseason he could actually be that guy the fire need but I don't think he is. I know that Rolfe has dropped back into that withdrawn forward role which is almost that creative playmaker role but we saw what happened during the last month of the season when teams took him out of the game. The Fire were unable to create anything offensively and also had to rely on pushing up field on the outside. Rolfe is a forward and should be used as such. Another position that the Fire need is someone that is able to play out on the wings. Right now we have Nyarko and Fernandez with the occasional Oduro sighting on the outside. For me Oduro is not a winger like Nyarko or Fernandez, he is more of a speedy forward that can play off a target front man. I would like to see Frank go out and try to get some one that can provide some depth on the outside. The midfield corps does not need an overhaul just a few more pieces and we should be good.</li>
<li>We come now to the forward position. We know that Rolfe, Oduro, and Macdonald will be here throughout next year. Franco should be gone in my mind since he provided little to the team since his arrival back in September. Does Barouch come back from his loan in Israel? Probably not. Our home grown striker, Kellen Gulley, may still need another year in the reserve division or possibly a season on loan in the NASL. The Fire are still in need of that pure clinical finisher that we have been missing for some time. I would like the Fire to go out and find that finisher that we need because with our current squad there was a good amount of missed opportunities this season that could have changed the outcome of games. It is important that frank and company solve this problem if we are to compete for the Supporters Shield, MLS Cup and Open Cup.</li>
</ul>
<br />
I don't see a whole mess of changes in the squad this coming off season but if the FO can fill the certain positions that we need and also fill in the depth on the bench than this team can compete. right now its up to Frank and company to identify those players that would best fit their system and get them in here before the preseason starts in January. I still want them to go out and find that playmaker we need and get that forward that can finish consistently. As always comments are welcome so leave some if you would like. For know its time for me to check out and take a little vacation from the Fire but I will be posting other random thoughts from time to time. As always GO FIRE.<br />
<ul>
</ul>
Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-65406424227916312962012-10-18T06:54:00.001-05:002012-10-18T06:54:13.290-05:00Yep Thats RightThe Fire are back in the playoffs after missing out since 2009. I know I said I would write some thoughts more frequently but other things in life have taken priority. Well lets see where I left off, the Fire travelled to SKC and lost, then came home and was just outplayed by a Philly team that had nothing to lose, and then travelled to New Jersey and beat the Red Cows 2-0 with a brace from Macdonald. I will get into the remaining schedule of 2 games in a little bit but I first want to discuss my thoughts of those past 3 games.<br />
<br />
These past 3 games to me showed that you don't know what you are going to get from this team. Against SKC, whose tactics of applying high pressure on the midfield and defense, the Fire looked flat and not able to move the ball as well as they did against Columbus and Montreal in the previous 2 games. Frank Klopas had no answer to what SKC was doing and the entire night was filled with Fire turnover after Fire turnover. The same can almost be said about the Philly game also, where there was just nothing positive about the game. Philly took the game to us and we couldn't respond. But on the other hand against New Jersey we looked good and was able to break down their defense and get the much needed win. One thing that has started to bug the hell out me is the fact that Frank insists on playing goal kicks short. Well when a team is playing a high pressure system against us this just does not work. I understand that it spreads the field out but at the same time(look at the SKC and Philly games) the Fire loses possession because they can't get it out of the back. They have got to start just punting it long. Its almost like team that play short corners, why? There is no point to it, you are given an offensive opportunity and you don't take it. Well goal kicks are like a opportunity to get the ball out of your end and regroup so why not take it? Yes I understand the tactical advantages of playing it short to maintain possession and possibly have a string of passes that can lead to an attacking play, but with this team most of the time the ball stays with the back line until they feel pressure and have to boot the ball up field anyway. Why not use Fernandez and Macdonald's height to win balls in the air? It could work but we will have to see if Frank changes at all. Well that's my rant about that.<br />
<br />
On to the remaining games of the regular season. First the "Men in Red" travel to the northeast to take on the lowly Revolution. This is a must win game for the Fire but it won't be easy. I can see the Fire dominating the midfield and having the better attacking chances but the defense will have their hands full with Sene and Bengston. I still see the Fire taking this one 2-0 with goals from Rolfe and Nyarko. A week later the Fire come home to close out the regular season against DC Who-nited. This is another must win game to secure a higher post season seed. Lets just say that if the Fire finish the season strong and win the remaining games then they will be sitting pretty in either 1st or 2nd place in the east. In order for the Fire to claim that #1 spot they will need help from NJ this weekend as they play SKC and Philly next Wednesday when SKC closes out their season before the rest of the league. We will have to wait and see what happens but up first the Revs.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-70909515486820386232012-09-28T07:25:00.003-05:002012-09-28T07:28:05.226-05:00So I Heard There's a Big Game TonightTonight the Fire travel to take on Sporting Kansas City in what looks like could be the game that could be for 1st place in the Eastern Conference. Right now the Fire are the hottest team in the league averaging more than 2 goals a game since the beginning of August and only giving up an average of 1 goal a game since the beginning of September. SKC on the other hand has only scored 2 goals in 3 of their last 8 games and has been inconsistent record wise since the beginning of August by winning some tough games and tieing some very winnable games. this game has major implications when it comes to the standings atop the East. If the Fire can manage a win tonight then they will be in the driver's seat for the Eastern Conference title have 1 game in hand and very winnable games left on the schedule(home to Philly and DC, away to NE). It won't be the end of the world if the Fire don't manage a win tonight, but if they can win and get the East title then that would mean avoiding a possible matchup with NJ Redbulls. I think the Fire can go in and win tonight by a score line of 2-0 with goals coming from Macdonald and Nyarko.<br />
<br />
I know I have been questioning the FO's moves and it seems that they have paid off. I know other sites have been analyzing the rest of the season and taking a stab at where the Fire can finish. To me i would like the Fire to finish 1st of course but i certainly hope that they can avoid that 4th or 5th place finish so they can avoid that play in game. As proven in the past regular season doesn't mean anything once the playoffs start. I mean think about it Colorado won an MLS cup and they're horrible. I also hate to stir up nightmares but RSL beat us at home and went on to beat the heavily favored Galaxy one year. Our first year we weren't supposed to win it all and look what happened. I know finishing atop the East would mean avoiding SKC and NJ in my opinion so that would be great but the way we are playing as a team I feel that we match up against both of them really well. First test is tonight though and hopefully our defense can stop the sputtering offense of SKC tonight and we can look forward to finishing the season strong and riding the momentum into the playoffs.<br />
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Look for comments about the game tomorrow mid to late morning from me again if you enjoy my opinions.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-46507927675318667922012-09-21T16:39:00.001-05:002012-09-21T16:39:50.293-05:00Hey, What's With The Yellow?So the Fire take on the Crew in a match that is a must win for both teams. After coming off an impressive win against the Impact, our Men in Red look to continue their home dominance while the Crew look to win to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot. This should be a good game to watch albeit the weather conditions that might happen, but who doesn't like a good rivalry game played while battling the elements? Well instead of going into details about the game I'll just give you my prediction: 2-1 to the Fire. It will be a rough hard fought game but I think the Fire will be able to take advantage of the sold out stadium that will be rocking.<br />
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I'd like to pose the question of how far can this team go? So far through the games that were played through Wednesday of this week, Chicago sits second in the East and third in the league. I will have to guess that the Fire are going to make the playoffs and possibly do well. This could be indicated by the superb play that they have managed over the past 2 months(granted they had their off night against DC). How long will this quality play last? Where we have been scoring 2-3 goals per game and our defense has been outstanding. I honestly don't know, because anything can happen on the field and I have come to expect that from any team that I support. If this play continues though they have a good chance of going far into the playoffs and winning the MLS Cup. I hope Frank is bringing the guys down to Earth though because they can't be looking at what happens in a month from now but what happens in the next game. Maybe we'll see a return to dominance for the Fire, which I hope so.<br />
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I know in the past I have questioned and often criticized the Front Office and Owner about the moves they have made or were going to make. Well apparently I was wrong about some of them. The FLaco move was a steal and he seems to be rejuvinated by playing here, Macdonald who knew he would adapt this well, and Alex well its Alex and the jury is still out on him. I would like to see what is going to happen this coming off season though. I will have my thoughts on that later on after the season is over, hopefully around the first week of December.<br />
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So here is to the Fire and I hope another 3 points taken from the Crew. I will try to have something special this week before the showdown with SKC.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-34261355544229708972012-09-14T07:03:00.001-05:002012-09-14T07:03:26.940-05:00So Yeah.........I know I have been slacking off for those who actually read my musings. Lets just say work, responsibilities at home, and a much needed vacation have prevented me from dedicating as much time that I need to write on a consistent basis. I know I also missed a big chunk of the season but I'm back and should hopefully have some more time to dedicate to this thing. So lets get started.<br />
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The last game I mentioned was way back when the Fire travelled to Philly to take on the Union on August 12th. Since then here are the results that I have missed writing about: 2-1 home win vs. the Revs, 4-2 away loss vs. DC, 3-1 home win vs. Houston, 2-2 home draw vs. Santos Laguna(friendly), and then a 2-1 away win vs. TFC on Wednesday. So in that stretch the Fire were able to go 3-1-1(including the Santos friendly) and put themselves in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference and only 3 points of first. The team has been playing well, despite the ugly 4-2 loss to DC, and the new acquisitions have been working together great so far. As shown in the game Wednesday, the primary attacking foursome of Macdonald, Rolfe, Fernandez, and Nyarko looked were having fun out there and connecting passing combinations that we haven't seen for sometime from this team. Overall in the month that I had missed we look like we are over that midseason slump as well as the chance to make the playoffs after missing out the past couple seasons.<br />
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The next 3 games that the Fire play should be an indication of the team's strengths and weaknesses and should be able to tell us fans where in the Eastern Conference. First up on Saturday we have the the Impact coming to town. Now this Montreal team is very different from the one that we had tied earlier this season, but on the other hand so is the Fire. Montreal look to have added depth that has made their defense stronger, their midfield has been good, and the addition of Di Vaio up top has helped them start to produce on a more consistent basis. A week later the Crew come to town and their additions also up top have been tearing up opposing defenses. Higuain and Arrieta have been providing that offensive spark that they have been missing and shouldn't be taken lightly. To finish up the month we travel to Kansas City to face SKC in a game that couldn't potentially see the top 2 teams in the east battling it out.<br />
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Now with these games the Fire should go in with the mentality that they are must win games. All 3 teams that they face are still in the playoff race and all 3 games could determine where the Fire finish in terms of playoff positioning or dare I say not make the playoffs(mathematically it still could happen but chances are not likely). If Chicago is able to win the next 3 games it would solidify a playoff spot as well as a chance to finish 1st in the east and a chance at the Supporters Shield, which is something this team has not been mentioned in the same breath with for some time now. We will have to see how the team plays starting with Saturday night. I'm hoping for the best that we have a good finish to the month but if we don't there is still October. I will have more after this weekend and in the future.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-62100259615329695042012-08-15T06:39:00.004-05:002012-08-15T06:39:59.193-05:00Things are Surprisingly Looking UpSo it was another week and another come from behind win for the Chicago Fire This week their victims were the Philadelphia Union, who took the lead in the 34th minute when a cross from the right side caused some cunfusion between Anibaba and Johnson. The ball eventually found the back of the net coming off of Anibaba. The Fire had a great response by tieing the goal through great work by Macdonald out on the wing to beat Soumare to the end line which he produced a cross that eventually found the feet of Rolfe who slotted it home. Then right before half, the Fire found the go ahead goal off a corner that met the head of Friedrich and found the back of the net. Did I call for him to score in the game against TFC, sorry I meant the he was going to score against Philly. In the second half the Rolfe finished the scoring by releasing a rocket from just inside the top right corner of the 18 that found Macmath's fingers but was too hot for him to stop. Overall the team responded great to going down and eventually put the game away by controlling most of the possession and limiting the Union to only 2 shots on goal.<br />
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So after 2 games of seeing our new DP's I have this to say. I thought that the Fernandez pick up was good to begin with and he has proven his worth through his work rate and ability to provide something that I believe had been missing. That something is the ability to create space and move the ball through quick one-twos with the other mids and forwards. His first touch is something that we had been missing since Grazzini left for "personal matters". As for Macdonald, I may be wrong about this signing because he has shown good ability to hold up the ball, make some good passes to the other attackng players, and also the ability to create space by using good footwork and his size. This is what Oduro has missing from his game. I think Oduro is one of those forwards that is still very useful to the team but the formation and style that Frank employs is not very suitable to his strengths. Yes I know he had a good year under Klopas last season but at the same the league has figured out how to play him. In this very physical league I think that a forward with size and strength has more of a chance to prosper.<br />
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One problem we did have was that Pause had to be subbed before halftime after colliding with Soumare 20 minutes earlier and it was found he broke a couple ribs and had a collapsed lung. You can read about it <a href="http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/08/midfielder-logan-pause-miss-four-six-weeks-following-injury-sunday-philadelphia" target="_blank">here</a>. This is a chance for some of the other players to step up that haven't seen the field as much this year due to the consistent play of Pardo and Pause. So I'm looking at you Paladini to step up and sot right in and bring some energy to the lineup.<br />
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This week we have the Revolution coming to town for a Saturday night affair. NE looked to be on the up and up but after not winning a game since July 8th and only collecting 1 point in that time frame they are looking to be throwing up the white flag for this season. The main sign of that was by trading Sharlie Joseph to Chivas USA. Joseph was the unquestioned leader of the team and I don't think that the New England mids will be able to compete with ours. Still they do have a couple of strong forwards in Sene and Bengston but I think our back line should be able to deal with them. Our mids will have to shut down the attacking mids of the Revs though. They will have to target Feilhaber and Nguyen to shut down because all of the attacking goes through those 2 players. I still think that we will come out winners by a scoreline of 3-0 with goals from Rolfe, Macdonald, and i think Berry will get his noggin on another one this week.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-76634584933685813742012-08-11T07:50:00.001-05:002012-08-11T07:50:43.002-05:00A Short Rewind and weekend Preview for Matchday #23Last Saturday the Fire looked pretty good despite a few players having off games and not finishing all of the chances we had. The score line didn't reflect the number of chances that fell into the Fire's lap. We beat a team that was on a little roll as of late, as the Fire picked up all 3 points at home against Toronto. They fell behind in the first half due to some sloppy play which ended up being a give away from Pappa. Which in my opinion he didn't have a good night overall despite scoring the equalizer in the second half. The equalizer came from miscommunication in the Toronto back which led Pappa to be able to round the keeeper and from a tight angle put it in. The go ahead goal came in the 84th after Toronto saw a player sent off for a 2nd yellow. Nyarko earned the Fire a free kick on the outside which Pardo sent into the box to meet the head of Berry who put it into the corner past the Toronto keeper who was frozen in place. Berry is going to be a stud in I say 2 years, in which that time he will be a regular for the USMNT and a starter for European league(my best guess would either be in the EPL or the Bundesliga). That was the game because shortly after Toronto were reduced to 9 when a player(can't remember who it was) was forced off due to injury and no remaining subs. This also marked the debuts of Fernandez and Macdonald at home. Fernandez looked good up until a slight knock right before half which forced him off just after halftime. He provided energy and creativity to the attack. The entire time he was out there his work rate was second to none. I believe he can be a Fire legend if he sticks around. Macdonald on the other hand was a breath of fresh air up top. Yes I was skeptical of him signing with the team but what he showed in the 45 minutes was a willingness to do his job. He did almost everything that Oduro can't do. Macdonald held up the ball to wait for support, made some great passes, and was able to hold off defenders with his strength. If he can get into game shape I think that Oduro will be relegated to being a 2nd half sub.<br />
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On to a short preview for Sunday's game against Philly. The Fire should be able to take maximum points as the Union look to be playing better after the departure of Nowak. It should be a tough test especially if ex-Fire defender Bakary Soumare is ready to make his first appearance for Philly after signing with the league again. But with no pressing injuries for the Fire, Klopas should field the same team as last week with possibly Oduro starting on the bench in favor of Macdonald. Should be an interesting game to see how much the team has gelled with another week of training with each other. Look for some more opinions and write up next week as I recap tommorrow's match and other random thoughts.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-9313984035173607262012-08-04T06:47:00.002-05:002012-08-04T06:47:02.336-05:00So the Fire Made Some Improvments and a Quick Look at AugustIt's been a little while since my last post and alot has happened in between now and then with the Fire. They were able to off load the the other player that needed to go(Robayo), brought in another player in Fernandez by trading MLS funny money to Seattle, and actually played a great game against the leagues best team. So everything that I said in the last post was almost the exact opposite. Chicago found a way to go into San Jose and find a way to dominate and come back home with a point which should have been 3 points but San Jose coach Frank Yallop threw a tantrum to get more extra time and San Jose scored the equalizer. Enough about that, lets move on.<br />
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Well the Fire did get rid of Robayo by sending him back home and in his place they were able to get a capable mid that the more I look at turns out to be a great move. They were able to trade for Alvaro Fernandez from Seattle for little to nothing. This is a good move because he can play any position in the attacking side of mid field, he is good in the air, can cross the ball, and tracks back on defense. His mind set reminds me alot of Ivan Guerrero, in that he seems to be a player that plays for the team and doesn't complain. Another good thing is that he will be here through the 2013 season and being 26 there is a good chance that he will be a fixture in our line up for years to come. With Alex struggling to be that CAM that we so desperately need, Fernandez has said that he is most comfortable in the middle but can play on the wings. To me I would rather have Fernandez at CAM than Alex due to the simple fact that Fernandez already has a couple season in the MLS under his belt and he knows what it takes to play in this league. It will be interesting to see how he will be used and hopefully Frank uses him week in and week out in the starting line up.<br />
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Here's my look into the crystal ball for the month of August. We have 4 games starting with Toronto tonight followed by a trip to Philly, back home against the Revs, and then finished with a trip to DC. This could be a great month for the Fire as they look to finish strong in the last 13 games, which are all against the Eastern Conference. I would like to see the Fire take all 12 points in the month of August but would be happy with 10 points. To me if the Fire fail to get at least 7 points this month this would make the road to the playoffs much harder as 3 of the next 4 games are against oppents looking up at the FIre in the standings. We will have to wait and see what happens but as for tonight I predict the Fire will take advantage of a Toronto team that played mid week in the CCL and win 3-0 through goals by Fernandez, Rolfe, and the long shot Friedrich.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-78256184553533414552012-07-26T06:57:00.001-05:002012-07-26T06:57:03.026-05:00And........................So Macdonald in, Puppo out, Rabayo looks all set to be going back to Colombia, and Grazzini is still in Argentina. Frank and company have one more day to find possibly another signing that could possibly greatly improve the team and appease a frustrated fan base. Will it happen? Chances are probably not. It seems that the club, in my opinion, has thrown in the towel on this year and is resigned to rebuilding the team yet again next season. Why do I think this? Well why would you bring in a player as a "goal scorer" that you desperately need and he has only scored 15 goals over the last 3 seasons? Why would you not try to keep Grazzini here? Apparently he was the cog that made the offensive gears click as evident by only scoring 2 goals in the last 5 games and in the last 2 games Grazzini played in the Fire managed to score 5 goals. I thought that the goal of transfer windows were to help improve the team? Instead we will more than likely 2 of our preseason acquisitions leave, we will see our most influential playmaker sit and collect a paycheck in Argentina because of so called "family issues", management paying yet another transfer fee for a "goal scorer" who has actually proven through his career and especially lately that he is not a goal scorer. Who knows whats going on in Leon and Petrei's heads but I do know this , we will by some miracle squeeze into the playoffs and maybe make it out of the first round but we will be all set for another rebuilding year. This weekend will not be easy to take 3 points as we play in San Jose who has all of a sudden turned into one of the best teams in the league. So it will be interesting how Frank plays this game but my guess is that he will play it like all the other away games this season, sitting back and trying to hold on defensively.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-51285942505656060612012-07-25T07:49:00.003-05:002012-07-25T07:49:56.916-05:00So The Fire Made a Couple MovesI really don'tknow what to make of the moves that the Fire made yesterday. They finally made it official that Dutch forward Sherijll Macdonald has now joined the team via a transfer fee paid to Beerschot in Belgium and to make room they loaned out Puppo to Defensor in Uruguay. Yes that also means Macdonald is a DP. Is this a move that helps the team? I don't think so but Klopas has a different opinion about that. In the <a href="http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/07/chicago-fire-sign-dutch-striker-sherjill-macdonald" target="_blank">official press release</a> he was quoted as saying <span style="font-size: x-small;">"</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sherjill is a goal scorer who can hold the ball up, attack with pace and is very technically sound,” said Fire head coach Frank Klopas. “He has competed at a high level in Europe and will bolster our attack as we make a push toward the MLS Cup Playoffs.”. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The one thing that Frank must have overlooked is that HE IS NOT A GOAL SCORER. 15 goals over the past 3 seasons doesn't make you a goal scorer. In cmmparison Pappa has 20 goals since 2010, so using Frank's logic that makes him a goal scorer also. Than why not try Pappa as forward instead of at mid? What Frank said about Macdonald sounds alot like the other player we made a DP by paying a transfer for and here is what he said <span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“Federico Puppo is a player we’ve kept an eye for the past few seasons,” said Fire head coach Frank Klopas. “He is a smart forward who moves well off the ball and finishes in front of the goal. His addition helps us to strengthen our attacking core. We are excited to get all of these guys into camp and begin putting in the work on the field.” <span style="font-family: inherit;">That was from this </span><a href="http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/01/fire-sign-federico-puppo" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">press realease</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. To me these sound like the same signing and the same hopes that this one will work out. I'll have more on this tomorrow.</span></span></span></span>Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-80655081360077808252012-07-18T07:20:00.001-05:002012-07-18T07:20:04.582-05:00It's Been a WhileSo I know that I haven't posted anything lately as the Fire have been playing quite a few games but instead of talking about the games I have decided to discuss a different subject,: 2013 and beyond. I know this year is far from over and I'm not giving up on the Fire this year because if they keep on chugging out the 1-0 victories I know that they will obtain their goal of making the playoffs. That's a whole other issue that I'm not going to get in to, but why set your goals on just the playoffs? Well anyway lets take a look at the status of the Fire roster.<br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 419px;"><colgroup><col span="3" style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><col style="mso-width-alt: 4910; mso-width-source: userset; width: 106pt;" width="141"><col style="mso-width-alt: 3002; mso-width-source: userset; width: 65pt;" width="86"></colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="40" style="height: 30pt; mso-height-source: userset;"><td class="xl72" height="40" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1.5pt solid; height: 30pt; width: 48pt;" width="64"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Position</span></td><td class="xl73" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1.5pt solid; width: 48pt;" width="64"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Player</span></td><td class="xl73" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1.5pt solid; width: 48pt;" width="64"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Age</span></td><td class="xl74" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1.5pt solid; width: 106pt;" width="141"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Contract Expiration</span></td><td class="xl75" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1.5pt solid; width: 65pt;" width="86"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Status</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl63" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GK</span></td><td class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Johnson</span></td><td align="right" class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl76" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dec. 2012</span></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GK</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tornaghi</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl69" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GK</span></td><td class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nolly</span></td><td align="right" class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">30</span></td><td class="xl78" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl71" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl63" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gargan</span></td><td align="right" class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">29</span></td><td class="xl76" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gibbs</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">32</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Segares</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">29</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kinney</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anibaba</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Berry</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jumper</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Friedrich</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">33</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dec. 2012</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl69" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DF</span></td><td class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Walls</span></td><td align="right" class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">22</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl71" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl63" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nyarko</span></td><td align="right" class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">26</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paladini</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">27</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pappa</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dec. 2012</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pause</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">30</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bone</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grazzini</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">31</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dec. 2012</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pardo</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">35</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dec. 2013</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alex</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Videira</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">26</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl80" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl81" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Robayo</span></td><td align="right" class="xl81" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">28</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gone any day now</span></td><td class="xl82" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #f0f0f0; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl69" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MF</span></td><td class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pineda</span></td><td align="right" class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">19</span></td><td class="xl78" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl71" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl63" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Barouch</span></td><td align="right" class="xl64" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">20</span></td><td class="xl83" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gulley</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">18</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Puppo</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">25</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">?</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International</span></td></tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.5pt;"><td class="xl66" height="19" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rolfe</span></td><td align="right" class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">29</span></td><td class="xl77" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2014</span></td><td class="xl68" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl69" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext; height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">F</span></td><td class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oduro</span></td><td align="right" class="xl70" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">26</span></td><td class="xl78" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least thru 2013</span></td><td class="xl71" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext; border-right: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-top: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domestic</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Most of these are guesses on my part with some help with the guys over at <a href="http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/" target="_blank">HTIOT</a>. For some odd reason the Fire and/or MLS do not like to release length of contracts. The question marks for some of the players contract status are the ones I could not really make a logical guess because there are different rumors out there. Okay so here we go:<br />
<ul>
<li>GK: Well we have signed Tornaghi and I'm assuming its not just a 1 year deal but keeping him around for the long run is a good thing and could become our starter for the future. Johnson's contract I have heard is up at the end of the year but the club holds an option for 2013. This i one of those situations that I can see Johnson leaving within the next 13 months on a transfer leaving Tornaghi as our starter for the future. Nolly's contract is one I have absolutely no idea. Our future looks pretty good in the GK department with the possibility of adding 1 or 2 players pending Johnson's and Nolly's future. Looking like we will have 3/3 returning for 2013.</li>
<li>DF: In the back it looks like we have a young solid core to build around but the question that remains to be answered is who is going to teach these youngins. The Fire have done well to bring in Gibbs and Friedrich to try to add experience in the center and also bringing in Gargan and Segares on the outsides. What about after this season? Friedrich I believe singed a contract just for this season as he possibly looks to go back to Europe and Gibbs will be coming off of knee surgery in 2013 so we will have to see what he has left. So in the center in the 2013 season we are looking at Gibbs, Anibaba(will be 3rd year), Berry(will be 2nd year), and Walls(no first team action so far). On the outside in 2013 we will have the incumbents Gargan and Segares, along with Jumper(will be 2nd year) who has seen limited playing time. The question mark is the eternally injured Kinney who has not seen any playing time in a couple years it seems like. Looking like we will have 7/9 returning for 2013.</li>
<li>MF: In the middle of the park it becomes less clear whats going on. We all know the Grazzini situation as he will not be back this season. Pappa has repeatedly stated he is done after this season and wants to go to Europe and there are even reports that Wigan has signed a pre contract with him. Then there's Robayo, complained about being here and not getting any playing time, who should be gone any day now. So what does that leave us? Nyarko just signed a new contract this season. Pause has his contract thru the 2013 season. Paladini should be around through 2013 maybe longer just a guess. Pardo seems to have one more season in him. Alex, we just signed this season but the rumors floating around said he only signed through the end of this season but that doesn't seem right to me, so I'm going to go with that he'll be here thru at least 2013. Pineda I have no idea when he'll start to see some first team action but he will be around for a while. Videira and Bone I also have no clue about because Bone seems to have alot of promise but gets little playing time to develop and Videira is just a reserve player nothing more. So as it stands right now heading into 2013 my best guess is we will have 7/11 MF coming back but in 2014 we could have only 3/11 of the MF that we had at the beginning of 2012. I'll go on further after I take a look at the forward position.</li>
<li>F: So at the forward position we have a little more stability in terms of the attacking half of the field. Rolfe, Oduro, Gulley, and Barouch are all still going to be here through at least the 2013 season. Puppo's status on the other hand I can't figure out. He is considered the team's DP but yet he doesn't get any playing time because of his lack of ability to hang in a such a physical league. If this organization doesn't release him after the season then there is something wrong. To me i think that we will see the 4/5 returning for both the 2013 and 2014 season.</li>
</ul>
There you have it, my guesses on the future of this club when you take a look at the roster going forward. The part that concerns me the most is the instability we may have in the midfield going into the next 2 years. What I mean is that the midfield is very important to any team because they are the link between the defense and the forwards when attacking, also they are the ones that help the defense when defending. I believe that having a stable midfield core that has played with each other for years is key because every player can get used to the others playing style and know where each other is going to be. 2013 we should be okay but it is the possibility of only having 3 of the current players for 2014 that is a bit concerning. If you look at any successful team their midfield probably have been playing together for at least 2 to 3 years with the occasional addition of 1 or 2 pieces here and there. I don't want to see player turnover because: a) we are not Toronto, and b) the key to building a successful team is to have that stability. You can't grow as a team if there is a revolving door policy with players. I hope frank and company will go ahead and find players that can replace the players that are going to be leaving with players that want to be here for a while and that can fit this system and make a solid contribution. In no way am I saying that we should sign DP's to make it better. I just want to see stability within the team and players that want to be here playing for the badge because "Tradition, Honor, Passion" is not just a slogan to be taken lightly(I'm looking at you Robayo).Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-26130382436735205712012-06-28T21:06:00.002-05:002012-06-28T21:06:13.689-05:00A Short Match Day #15 Review and Match Day #16 Preview and Is That Fish I SmellSo the Fire took on the Crew this past Sunday and won in fighting fashion. After going up 2-0 through a stunner from Pappa and a great finish from Oduro, the Fire were reduced to 10 men when Segares received a striaght red for a reckless challenge. But the Crew only managed to pull back 1 goal as Klopas' team defended like crazy and played well as a unit, including key saves from Sean Johnson, to secure a second straight 3 points at home and some distance from the spots 5-7 in the East. It was a fantastic game that included some questioning when Grazzini was subbed off with Rolfe coming on in his place. With his contract expiring at the end of this month and no news from the FO about if his option was going to be picked up, Grazzini lifted his jersey to reveal a "Thank You Chicago" shirt. What the meaning behind this was we will never know but I will talk more about it a little later.<br />
<br />
So as far as this week is concerned, The Fire travel to KC to take on SKC in a fake rivalry game. Well this is going to be one hell of a critical game and one tough game as both teams look for the 3 points. The Fire have a chance to decrease the gap between them and 3rd to 2 points if they can win. On the other hand SKC could make the gap between them and the Fire 8 points with a win. To make this harder on the Fire they will be without Segares(suspended), Puppo(injured, but who really cares?), and Grazzini(family issues, nope you read that right). So as far as the Fire are concerned it is going to be one hell of a fight for them and I can see a 1-1 draw if we are lucky because lets be honest without Grazzini controlling the middle of the park its going to be tough. Yes I hear people say "Hey lets try Rolfe in that position", well I say that might work but highly unlikely. Rolfe is a good player and we need him out on the field but I just feel he would be more helpful up top. But we will see what lineup Frank puts out there, maybe we'll get to see the Alex in the lineup but who knows.<br />
<br />
So also this week, actually today, it was announced that the club has picked up Grazzini's option that will keep him with the team until the end of the year. That's great news, but it still doesn't answer the fact that this was not addressed previously or when Grazzini came out about the situation a few weeks ago. Well since I'm not able to attend practice due to work obligations, Guillermo Rivera over at <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/fire-confidential" target="_blank">Fire Confidential </a>was able to get some quotes from Javier Leon who is Andrew Hauptman's right hand man when it comes to the team. His quotes can be found <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/fire-confidential/2012/06/fire-pick-up-grazzinis-option-but-he-wont-travel-to-kc/" target="_blank">here</a>. What I don't understand is what took so long? Leon kept mentioning Grazzini had family issues, was possibly looking at a transfer back to Argentina, the option was already done it was just that Grazzini wanted to hold off on an official announcement, and will not be traveling with the team to KC for a very important match up. Grazzini also mentioned a few weeks back that he was waiting to get everything resolved and that he wanted to stay here. All of this just does not make sense when you put it all together. The thing is also that they are looking at more transfer targets and one especially is a report that came out of Belgium saying the Fire have already agreed a transfer fee for a striker named <a href="http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/10356/Beerschot-AC/art...r-Chicago-Fire.dhtml" target="_blank">Sherjill Macdonald</a>. This move also doesn't make any sense since the only room that has been opened is two domestic slots by releasing Dube and trading Siriboe. How can the Fire add an international player with no slots available, something has to give. Will they release Puppo(not likely since he is Leon's DP), transfer Robayo back to Columbia, transfer Pappa to Europe(the thing that Pappa has said he wants to do), or even transfer Grazzini to another team? Who knows how they're going to make moves because to me it just seems like a total mess. Who knows, who knows. We will have to wait and see how the brain trust acts while this transfer window is open but as far as I know something just doesn't seem right with how the whole Grazzini situation is going down. The official reason he is not traveling to KC is that he missed training on Tuesday which doesn't make sense because he participated in full training Wednesday and Thursday. Take everything how you will but this fan is calling BS on the upper management and thinks that there should be some people in charge who know how to build a successful franchise on and off the field.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-57226674733741325232012-06-21T16:54:00.002-05:002012-06-21T16:54:33.179-05:00Match Day #14 Review, Match Day #15 Preview, and Some Talking PointsSo I'll make my review and preview quick since it has yet been another busy week. This past Sunday we saw our beloved boys in red and <strike>white</strike> blue thoroughly put a beating on NY in what i thought had to be our best performance of the season. Goals from Nyarko, Segares, and Rolfe put the game out of reach as the score line finished 3-1. There was the lapse of letting NY score on a corner but all areas of the team played well and effectively shut down NY. Nyarko scored first by nodding(yes that's right he used his head, Thierry Henry doesn't know much about that) in a perfect lob from Grazzini within the first 5 minutes. It seemed that Chicago controlled much of the game in the first half and also enjoyed the majority of the chances also. But in the 2nd half NY came out guns a blazing and was able to find an equalizer in the 55th when McCarty was able to put his head on a corner to slot it past Johnson. This seemed to wake the Fire up and after Grazzini was subbed in the 60th(some talking points about this) and Rolfe came in the Fire started to press to find a winner. Now this was something that we have not seen all season long, a sense of urgency to find the win. Normally we would have to go down a goal or 2 before the team started playing with a sense of urgency. In the 64th Oduro was slotted through and it appeared that Conde was able to clear the ball off the line but all replays show that the ball was clearly over the line. The ref was in a perfect position for the call but in my opinion I think he was scared to make the call. The Fire players were infuriated that both the linesman and the ref missed the call and it worked to the Fire's advantage because it made them seem like a sleeping giant just woke up. In the 68th minute Oduro drove the box and his attempt was pushed away right to Segares who put it into the back of the net with authority. Shortly after in the 81st Rolfe finished the day by tapping in a low cross from Nyarko into a wide open goal. I just have one question from this past Sunday, where the hell has this team been at all season? The Fire looked impressive and everyone enjoyed the game thoroughly.<br />
<br />
On to the next game. The Fire host the Crew this Saturday looking not to repeat what happened in Columbus over Memorial Day Weekend. The last time these 2 teams played only one showed up ready to play. The Fire looked horrible and to me personally it was painful to watch. Granted we were missing a few starters and we subbed one of those in at the start of the 2nd half but that should be no excuse as to why the Fire looked like crap. Well this weekend should be different, the team should be pumped up and ready to go after coming off the impressive win against NY. The only regular that was hoping to be back this weekend but instead is going to wait until the following week is Freidrich. Other than that the Fire should have a full available line up. The Crew looking to improve on a 0-0 tie with the Revs have only Orourke looking to come back from injury. I ave to say this just like last week, this is a must win game for the Fire. as the standings are now the Crew are 2 points behind the Fire with a game in hand. A win by the Crew would vault them above the Fire and put them in a good position to stay above the Fire in playoff positioning. A win by the Fire on the other hand would put some room between them and the Crew and also keep them within striking distance of NY with a game in hand. I can see the Fire pulling this one out in a hard fought game that might see a red or 2, final score 3-0 Fire with Rolfe, Nyarko, and Pardo getting on the score sheet.<br />
<br />
Well now to some talking points:<br />
<ul>
<li>Well last week it was posted that Puppo is considered a DP, well what the hell is that? Why hasn't someone been fired for spending DP money on a player that doesn't have the size or ability to play in the MLS? If Andrew is looking to save money one way would be to fire the person responsible for picking a player like that.</li>
<li>We also know by now what happened with Grazzini when he was subbed out during Sunday's game. Well all of this contract confusion and him walking into the locker room before the end of the game seems to be all a misunderstanding and that both sides are still talking about his option that the club holds. To me he needs to be resigned because we con not afford to lose our playmaker mid season. He has also earned that extension.</li>
<li>The transfer window opens up next week and it is rumored that the fire will sign someone during that window. Who they will try to sign remains to be seen. Hopefully it is that target striker that this team has been missing for years now, but who knows we have seen stranger things happen. We will just have to wait and see what happens. The Fire have also signed some mistakes and I pray to god they do not spend DP money on another Puppo.</li>
</ul>
Well that's it for this week, I'll have more next week after this weekends game. Enjoy Saturday everybody should be some gorgeous weather for a little tailgating and a Fire win.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-86011205037007163732012-06-15T16:52:00.005-05:002012-06-15T16:52:42.185-05:00Match Day #14 Preview and What The Hell Were They Smoking?So this Sunday at TP, the Fire host New York or New Jersey or In Between Redbulls in a vital Eastern Conference clash. The Fire are looking to come off the 2 week break refreshed and looking to put an end to a run of poor form. The last 5 games have seen the Fire win once and lose the other 4, thats including the depressing loss in the Open Cup to the Bucks. The worse part about those 5 games is that the Fire has looked toothless and sloppy all over the pitch. Hopefully with this 2 week break they have had the chance to tighten things up defensively and work on the attacking side of the field. The Fire seem to be healthy with the normal injuries of Gibbs and Kinney. Friedrich looks to be all set after his spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury but he has said he might wait another week to come back just to be on the safe side. The Redbulls on the other hand were hoping to get back Henry into the lineup but they have announced he is out for Sunday as well as Marquez who picked up a knock while playing for Mexico.<br />
<br />
This could be a winnable game for the Fire. The only way they can win is if they play smart, try to play without sitting back and looking to counter, and try to pressure the Redbulls. I have stressed this over and over but it seems that the Fire do not make any adjustments while the game is going. It seems that they like to try to play one style and not make any adjustments to the way the opposing team is playing. Another problem that might prevent the Fire getting a win is how the Fire's central defense pairing of Anibaba/Berry/Friedrich(depending on who starts) is able to handle Kenny Cooper who i tied for the league lead in goals so far this season. As he normally plays as a lone striker with Henry being out NY's offense will look to go through him. It is imarpitive that they limit his chances and that the outside backs can stop the wingers from providing service also. The Fire also have to finish the chances that they get. The last game against New England the Fire had chances but couldn't finish as they hit the post twice and squandered other chances. The offense has got to get going if they expect to make an appearance in the 2012 MLS Playoffs. I honestly think we might be ble to squeak out a 2-1 win here, if i'm wrong we will probably lose 3-0.<br />
<br />
Now to the "What the hell were they smoking?" segment. Go ahead and take a look at the list of designated players in the league right now <a href="http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/current-designated-players#overlay-context=content/media-resources" target="_blank">here</a>. Once you find the player that does not belong on the list you will start to wonder "What the hell were they smoking?" I'll go further into it during my match rewind after this weekend.<br />
<br />
See everybody at the game on Sunday and here is to a Fire victory.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126693285404453280.post-14743831288450550192012-06-11T07:05:00.002-05:002012-06-11T07:05:48.271-05:00So.......One thing i don't understand is how come the Fire are not mentioned in the media like the rest of the teams around MLS when it comes to serious rumors. For instance last week(or week before?) we were treated with a rumor that the Fire made an offer to Del Piero. I hae great respect for Del Piero and what he has done throughout his career, but for god's sake he is 39 years old. Another rumor that popped its head was the Fire were strongly considering making an offer to David Suazo, who I personally thought was a good player 6 years ago and up until now I thought he retired due to injuries and a lack of goal scoring form. These 2 rumors make me a bit skeptical of the Fire's ambition and goals. Its true, we need a striker that can finish because our current corps is not getting it done. And yes we haven't seen what Rolfe truly brings to the table but he is in no way our savior that we have been missing for the past 2 seasons. Oduro had a fantastic season last year and started this season with a bang but the opposing teams have adapted to his style of play and have effectively take him out games. So we need another option up top. It doesn't have to be a DP but it has to be someone that can finish.<br />
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Now most the articles that I read on MLSsoccer.com, goal.com, and other various sites that mention Chicago Fire Soccer Club plus a players name that doesn't play for the team do not make any sense. We were linked to some striker in Italy that sounded like the Italian version of Puppo which we do not need another one of those. We have been linked with the captain of Red Star Belgrade a right back, why would we spend money on a right back when we have the Gargan? Del Piero and Suazo are pretty good players to be mentioned with if it was 2005. And then when you read articles like this <a href="http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/69/transfer-zone/2012/06/05/3148339/ballacks-negotiations-with-montreal-impact-have-stalled-as" target="_blank">one</a> it makes you wonder what is going on. Why would we be linked with a player that does not fit our particular needs? And from that same article Klopas is quoted "I have never had discussions with Michael Ballack or his agent," Klopas told Goal.com. "Our priority isn't at the central midfield spot." Well why don't you eloborate a little more? I understand that team do not want to give players names that they are in negotiations with bu at least give us a little more to let us, the fan base, know that you are trying. That article was about how Montreal's negotiations with Ballack broke down and they were looking for another player. But what I like is that the GM came and said we are in a position to sign both Seedorf and Ballack if they both said yes. All we get out of the managment at Toyota Park is no we haven't talked to him and we aren't looking at midfielders. Why not a little assurances that you are trying something and you are not waiting to improve this team until its too late. Why are you just letting what Andrew said back at the town hall meeting be the words for the club?(He said he would spend money on a impact player) I guess we will have to wait and see what happens. But how about some assurances that they are trying to make the club better? Some people will say "Oh I'm Fire till I die not Fire when they win trophies". well you know what I've been there since 98 and have not missed a season and probably will not miss a season but I do not like putting up with mediocrity. "Fire till I die" for some means they will be there until the end which I feel I'm in that group to others it means that no matter how bad the team is you put you faith in the team and do not criticize the team. I can't understand why people would not want there team to be better/ Why would people be okay with mediocrity? Why would people not demand better? What we are going to be become the Cubs of the MLS?(Sorry Cubs fans) Are we just going to be a team that does not challenge every season and the fan base is going to be okay with that? The next 3 games to close out the month of June will tell alot for this club. In my opinion if they manage to get 5 or more points they will be in a good position but if they don't get any results at all than the FO will be scramling to try to fix the problems. I hope for the best but at the same time keep it in the back of my head that this season could end up like the last 2. Well there's rant of sme sort, the growing frustration of a fan that wants this team to be great and be one of the premier teams in the MLS again.Adam Mergeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15691285412961799409noreply@blogger.com0