Jata Still On Trial In France - (New Team)

After spending some time with US Le Pontet, Richard Jata has moved on to test his chances with another French squad. Apparently a deal could not be reached, but Jata was advised to stay in France and take another route. The team in question now is AC Arles of Avignon. Since Jata has been out of training for the last few months, the contract he looks to sign would be with their Semi-pro team. I was told that he would train with them for the next 4 months, and thereafter would be signed to their 2nd division team if he shows well. Jata thinks that the training he will endure in the coming months will get him ready to make a run at the AC Arles squad, but if it doesn't work out, he should be in great shape for the start of the 2010 MLS Preseason.

In other news, Jata was recently named the 2008-2009 Outstanding Male Athlete for Campbell University, an award that he is extremely honored to receive. During his final season with the Camels, Jata notched 7 game-winning goals in his last nine games and finished the year with 12 goals and 4 assists. He was also named the A-Sun Player Of The Year. Coincidentally, Jata was given the same award as a senior in high school. That year, he led the Ridgewood Rams to a 17-3-4 record and a #5 ranking in Florida. Jata led the team in scoring with 33 goals and 17 assists(83 points).

The future looks promising for Jata as long as he remains healthy. The training he will receive in France could help expand his game and make him a solid prospect in the years to come. More updates on Jata's journey overseas coming soon!

Jata Gets "THE CALL" - Destination: France

With several countries still eyeing former Campbell University midfielder Richard Jata, a team in South France looks to act first. Earlier today Jata received a call summoning him to France, IMMEDIATELY! After talking to his agent and team personnel, Jata agreed to fly out this Thursday with intentions of signing his first professional contract. All the details have not yet been finalized, but it looks like the team in question is looking to add Jata before anybody else can get a good look at him. This move could prove to be very costly for the Chicago Fire because if Jata signs, they lose every opportunity of having him back next preseason. With Blanco and McBride nearing the end of their careers, the Fire will have to look elsewhere for attacking power.

Currently Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and the United Kingdom were just some of the countries expressing interest in Jata, but it looks as if the highly talented attacker will be making the move to France. Jata currently lives in Chicago, but with the seriousness expressed by the team(soon to be released) he might just be leaving the windy city behind for good. Jata's quick departure shows that the team is extremely interested and it's possible that his first professional contract could be drawn up as soon as Friday. More updates on the way!

Here's a sneak peak of the team.........

Rookie Life: Jata Resurfaces With The Fire

Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick just took their most recent episode to a whole new level. This time they devoted an entire show to Richard Jata. A late draft pick with plenty of talent, Jata showed promising skill in the preseason, but injuries and the flu forced him to miss several key games. These missed opportunities left Chicago Fire Head Coach, Denis Hamlett, with a hard decision going into the regular season. Jata was one of the last players to be released among all MLS teams, but his story continues to live on.

Episode 16 - Jata Resurfaces With The Fire gives fans an opportunity to see what the 23 year old has been doing since moving to Chicago. Right now, Jata is happy with where he is at. He's enjoying everything Chicago has to offer, plus he's been staying in great shape. Jata's been biking all around the city, playing in a men's league and continuing to train for his next opportunity with the MLS. Whether that happens this year or next year, Jata will be there with more determination than ever before.

One quick note to leave you all with.....At the 2:20 mark in this weeks' Rookie Life, Jata is shown juggling with his left foot, but dropping the ball shortly after. Don't let this clip fool you! Right before Jata left for Furman University(on a full ride) in August of 2004, he recorded an astonishing 2,316 juggles at just 18 years of age.

Jata's Move to Chicago.....Permanent!

With pro soccer still on his mind, Richard Jata decided a permanent move to Chicago was the right move to make. Lately he's been biking and walking all over the place to get familiar with the windy city. I heard summers are great there, but Jata went there with one purpose, and one purpose only, to get in shape for next year and to learn as much as he could from the Chicago Fire Organization.

Jata's been working like a man on a mission ever since arrival. Even though he didn't make the cut, staff from the Fire Organization enjoyed his attitude and work ethic so much, that they helped him get a job working at Toyota Park. Jata has also been working the soccer camps at UIC(University of Illinois-Chicago), where Chicago Fire rookie, Baggio Husidic, played his college soccer career. Not only that, Jata's been playing full 90-minute games with the B.H. Lilly's, a men's team located in Chicago, to keep his skills fresh, his passing crisp and his killer shot on target.

For more on Richard Jata, be sure to watch Rookie Life next week. The title of the episode is, "Jata Resurfaces With The Fire." Look for it to have some new footage of Jata as he gets to know the city, and where he fits into the equation; the pro soccer equation, that is.

Rookie Life: More Valleys than Peaks

The 10th episode of Rookie Life: More Valleys than Peaks focuses on the low points experienced by a few of the players. Some struggle to finish golden opportunities, while others make mental mistakes. Richard Jata lets you know how difficult it can be when you don't make the team. People believed in his talent, but for some reason the coaches didn't see him fitting in.

After spending the last two months at home with family and friends, Jata has decided to move to Chicago to be closer to former teammate Baggio Husidic and other players on the Chicago Fire. With this move, Jata plans on reuniting with coach Dennis Hamlett in hopes of training with the team.

If you missed the 9th episode of Rookie Life click here

Jata Hits 40-yard Shot! (Happy Mother's Day)

Richard Jata was released by the Chicago Fire in March, but his natural talent and potential will not go unnoticed for much longer. I recently shot this footage of Jata playing some basketball outside of his house in Port Richey, Florida. The one thing you'll notice right off the bat is that Jata sometimes takes basketball to another level. Or should I say soccer? Take a look at the Lebron James of soccer.

Rookie Life: Highs & Lows - Episode 8

Rookie Life: Dairy of a Draft Pick (Episode 8) continues to follow the players through their first few weeks of the 2009 season. Most of them are still trying to adjust to their new teams, while Richard Jata is trying to figure out when, and if, he will get a second chance. The fight and determination are there, but finding the right system is harder than it seems. The Charleston Battery signed some players before Jata got there, making it practically impossible for them to sign him. The MLS will continue to follow Jata's story with anticipation of a triumphant return to professional soccer.

Rookie Life: The Season Begins - Episode 7

With the MLS season underway and Richard Jata still looking for a team, Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick follows him to South Carolina for his trial with the Charleston Battery. They also take a look at how the other rookies played in week one. Almost all of rookies got playing time in week one and fellow teammates and coaches commented on their perfomances. Some shined more than others, but for the most part each player had the opportunity to prove that this is where they belong.

NEW! Rookie Life: The Season Begins - Episode 7

Rookie Life: Teams Take Shape - Episode Six

A new episode of Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick came out today and it brings you some great footage as the preseason comes to an end. Some of the rookies see their playing time increase because the coach still isn't sure where they fit in. There are new player interviews, but for Richard Jata there is some unexpected news followed by a memorable confessional. For the first time you'll get to see what it's like for a player when the coach decides to let them go.

NEW! Rookie Life: Teams Take Shape - Episode Six

Do The Chicago Fire Need Richard Jata?

After a disappointing tie last night, I'm beginning to question whether or not the Chicago Fire need to make some changes. They let a 2-0 lead slip away after some late and questionable subs. Marco Pappa played a great game in place for Justin Mapp, but the defense looked lost at times. Tim ward didn't play the best of games and Thorrington played well, but lost the ball when he tried to take on opposing defenders. It looks as if the Fire are lacking some solid talent off the bench, even though the depth of their bench was heavily praised before the season even started.

Besides the fact that Chicago almost gave the game away, that isn't their only problem. Where did the Fire's fan base go? Last night only 10,000 fans showed up on a Saturday night game. Last year their attendance was near the top of the league and this year a lot has changed. The Fire still remain undefeated, which makes it even more perplexing as to why their fan base is shrinking and not growing. Bringing Richard Jata back to the team has the potential to stir up some talk among Fire fans. His draft speech has been heard around the world and people want to see what this kid can bring to the table. As it stands now, Justin Mapp, Peter Lowry, CJ Brown, Daniel Woolard and Calen Carr are all out with injuries. It looks as if the depth they used to have is running out.

Chicago has one of the best teams and best facilities in the league, but they really need to improve on their marketing and advertising. Give some tickets out during the week. Send some to the radio stations and have people call in to win them. Do some promotions at the local pubs and clubs. Visit the schools and give out some apparel. Pay more attention to the fan base by giving them what they want. Maybe the fans want Richard Jata. If that's the case, bringing him back may not be a bad idea. After all, Jata was the last remaining trialist in camp until the rosters were finalized, plus he played through most of the preseason with a groin injury. Obviously he has talent to be in the pros, otherwise he would've been sent home a lot earlier.

Should the Chicago Fire bring Richard Jata back this year?

Jata Turns Down USL-1 Offer (New Rookie Life)

After spending the last three weeks with the Charleston Battery, Richard Jata has declined an offer to stay with the team through this season. Obviously moving from the Chicago Fire to USL is a step down and Jata didn't see himself fitting into their system. The Battery already had their team established for the upcoming year and they had very little to offer in the salary department. Look for Jata to test the waters in Europe, unless the MLS comes calling first. Some countries already showing interest are Norway, Argentina, Germany and the United Kingdom.

NEW! Rookie Life: Preseason Begins - Episode Five

This episode talks briefly about the rookies getting used to their respective teams and what they're learning from the veteran players.

Rookie Life: First Impressions - Episode Four

The fourth episode of Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick follows the players as they make the move to their respective cities. Most of these rookies still had classes to take online while the preseason was just getting started. This task became even more difficult because each team travels a lot and it's hard to stay focused on your school work when you're trying to make it as a professional.

Rookie Life: First Impressions (Episode Four)

Jata Still On Trial With Charleston Battery

After spending almost two weeks with the Charleston Battery and surviving numerous cuts, Richard Jata still awaits the fate of his future in professional soccer. The USL season starts on April 11th, which gives the Charleston coach just 5 days to decide whether or not Jata is the right fit for the team. The Battery tied the Wilmington Hammerheads the other day, where fellow MLS Combine participant Calum Angus is on trial.

With the MLS season clearly underway, the chances of Jata returning to the Chicago Fire are getting slimer. If the Battery sign Jata in the next few days, the Fire will be left without his services for the entire season. This could be a big signing for the Charleston Battery and a big loss for the Fire. However, if Jata only signs a one-year contract, the Fire can still bring him back for next years' preseason.

More updates to come..........

Rookie Life: MLS SuperDraft - Episode Three

The latest episode of Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick deals with the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. Steve Zakuani was selected with the first overall pick, Sam Cronin went second, and so on, all the way down to number 58, Richard Jata. Chris Pontius, Omar Gonzalez, AJ Delegarza, Stefen Frei and Jean Alexandre share their feelings heading into draft day, but most of this episode is dedicated to Jata. It's clip time, five specifically of Jata from college; four goals and one defensive stop.

Jata has spent the last week training with the Charleston Battery at their facility. Before any contact negotiations start, the Fire will have to be notified because they have Jata's rights for two years. Recently, Andrew Dykstra signed a contract because C.J. Brown went down with an injury. If Brown's injury is season-ending and Carr can't make it back in the next four games, Jata could get called back up to play with Chicago.

I also feel that some other MLS teams will want to have a look at Jata. He played well against Kansas City in the preseason, but he never really got the chance to play center mid with the starting squad. The Fire kept him as long as they could, which hindered Jata's chances of training elsewhere. If he almost signed a contract with the Fire I'm sure he would fit into another system, one that lacks an attacking mid. I think Colorado could be a possibility as well as a number of other teams. With all of the USMNT games and extra games this year, I'm sure we will see our fair share of injuries too. At this point, anything can happen.

More updates to come.....

Rookie Life: The MLS Combine - Episode Two

The second episode of Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick takes aim at the MLS Combine. The players share their thoughts on the experience and how they felt about their performance. Some of the players thought they did good while others struggled to find their rhythm.

Richard Jata is scheduled to meet up with the Charleston Battery (USL) over the weekend. The team has a few more games left before the season starts, and even after recently signing two new players, the Battery still want Jata to come out for a look. After checking out their roster a few times, I realized that a lot of these players have already played in the MLS.

For those of you who can't wait to see more rookie footage of Jata, it won't be long. The third episode of Rookie Life will becoming out shortly. In the meantime, the MLS has personally sent Jata a video camera so that he can film his progress while apart from the Fire. If all goes well, don't be surprised to see Jata back on an MLS team by the end of the season.

Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick - Episode One

The MLS have finished its first episode of "Rookie Life" - an 11 minute video that showcases eight soccer players selected in this years' draft. It gives you the opportunity to catch some behind the scenes footage and check in on your favorite rookies. Here is a list of the players that were chosen to participate in this video:

Steve Zakuani - Seattle Sounders (1st Pick) 1:05

Sam Cronin - Toronto FC (2nd Pick) 8:19

Omar Gonzalez - LA Galaxy (3rd Pick) 6:51

Chris Pontius - D.C. United (7th Pick) 9:23

Jean Alexandre - Real Salt Lake (12th Pick) 5:40

Stefan Frei - Toronto FC (13th Pick) 4:11

AJ DeLeGarza - LA Galaxy (19th Pick) 7:29

Richard Jata - Chicago Fire (58th Pick) 10:05

At the beginning, all of the players are introduced with footage from the 2009 SuperDraft and then it highlights each of them individually. If you want to see Richard Jata, watch the beginning and then fast forward to the 10:05 mark. At the 10:43 mark, there is a short clip from Chicago's preseason game with the Kansas City Wizards. Jata pulls down a ball with his right foot and takes it towards goal. It's a brief clip, but if you watch it a few times it's pretty incredible.

"Breaking News" - Chicago Fire Final Roster

After months of training and preparation, the Fire have finally decided on their 24 man roster. Richard Jata lasted as long as he could, but in the end, Dennis Hamlett decided to stick with the guys he had last year. Jata had some great moments in training camp, but battled the last two weeks with the flu. Besides Baggio Husidic(Generation Addidas), Jata was the last of the draftees to remain in camp. As I predicted earlier, Tim Ward and Austin Washington have both signed with the team. Ward signed a Senior contract and Washington signed a Senior Developmental. Stefan Dimitrov has not yet officially been named to the roster, so there could be something holding back the paperwork.

The Dimitrov signing would push the roster to 24 and Andrew Dykstra is still in camp. It is my understanding that Calen Carr, being listed as a DL, will have to miss at least 6 games and his roster spot will have to be filled in the meantime. This being said, expect the Fire to keep Dykstra in Carr's spot until he is ready to return. After those six games are up, look for Chicago to let Dykstra go, keep him and put Carr back on the Disabled List, or keep Dykstra and let Carr go. If Busch is going to miss time with the USMNT, the Fire are going to need a backup for Nick Noble.

2009 Chicago Fire Final Roster (24 players)

1. GK - Jon Busch - S
2. GK - Nick Noble - S

3. F - Brian McBride - S
4. F - Cuauhtemoc Blanco - SI/DP
5. F - Patrick Nyarko - DI/GA
6. F - Stefan Dimitrov - S
7. F - Calen Carr - S (Disabled List - will miss at least 6 games)
8. F/M - Peter Lowry - SD

9. M/F - Chris Rolfe - S
10. M - John Thorrington - S
11. M - Marco Pappa - SI
12. M - Baggio Husidic - D/GA
13. M - Mike Banner - S
14. M - Justin Mapp - S
15. M - Logan Pause - S

16. D - C.J. Brown - S
17. D - Tim Ward - S
18. D - William Conde - SI
19. D - Gonzalo Segares - SI
20. D - Dasan Robinson - S
21. D - Bakary Soumare - S/GA
22. D - Brandon Prideaux - S
23. D - Daniel Woolard - S
24. D - Austin Washington - SD

Andrew Dykstra will occupy Calen Carr's spot on the roster for the first six games of the season. After those six games are up, the Fire will have to decide whether to keep him or let him go in favor of Calen Carr. If Carr is not ready by then, look for the Fire to keep Dykstra and put Carr back on the DL.

More to come on Jata.....

Jata Still Fighting for a Spot (Unofficial Signing)

Today the Fire arrived in Arizona for the final leg of their preseason. They will train tomorrow morning at 10am, but I'm not sure if they are still doing two-a-days. Lately, there have been talks about another signing, but nothing is official yet. I will go through the draft picks, cuts and new signings one by one to let everyone out there know where Chicago stands with regards to its roster.

As most of you already know, Stefan Dimitrov has officially signed a Senior contract with the Chicago Fire. According to the roster listed on their website, that leaves two spots left to fill.

Richard Jata

• Traveled with the team to Arizona
• Appears in Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick
• Still hasn't signed a contract

Jata has been making a name for himself ever since he arrived on the scene. His SuperDraft Speech will have a special place in history and it doesn't stop there. He's been one of just eight rookies selected to take part in Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick, which focuses on each players' first season with their respectable squad. Every other player in this MLS Special has already signed a contract. With Jata being one of the last players selected at the draft, it's not unlikely that he'll be one of the last players to sign.

Austin Washington

• Traveled with the team to Arizona
• Unofficially signed a Senior Developmental Contract

Washington seems to be doing all the right things in camp because it looks as if he'll be sticking around for another year. He has a great attitude and a good work ethic, but if the Fire have already spent two years developing him, what's the point in keeping him around. On the other hand, with a few aging defenders and others looking to Europe, he might be more useful than we think.

Andrew Dykstra

• Traveled with the team to Arizona
• GK Pool is an option - Still in the works
• Still hasn't signed a contract

With Busch possibly missing some games due to U.S. Men's National Team duties, the Fire might see it necessary to keep him as their third keeper. If Busch doesn't expect to miss time and if the goal keeper pool is legit, look for Chicago to let Dykstra go.

Tim Ward

• Traveled with the team to Arizona
• Unofficially signed a Senior Contract

A young kid with a lot of experience. He's been playing with both the first and second team, but he looks like a solid lock to sign a Senior Contract this year. Look for money and contract negotiations to make or break this deal.

David Sias

• Did not travel with the team to Arizona
• Unofficially released by the Chicago Fire

Injuries bothered David for the first half of the preseason and things haven't gotten any better. Trained with the team in California, but he never really had a chance in the first place.

Roland Paul Bebey Kingue

• Did not travel with the team to California or Arizona
• Released by the Chicago Fire

Showed promise early on in the Fire preseason, but contract negotiations may have sent him packing. I personally feel that he is too small for the MLS, but he sure can run a lot. Being offered a developmental contract may have pushed him away.

Jokull Elisabetrason

• Did not travel with the team to California or Arizona
• Released by the Chicago Fire

Also plagued with injuries for most of the preseason. Never really got to improve his stock from the combine. Good with the ball, but the Fire just couldn't see him in their future plans.

Calen Carr

• Did not travel with the team to Arizona
• Continuing treatment on his leg in Chicago
• Currently on the Disabled List

Now this is a hard one. Injury plagued year, plus he'll be out for at least another few months. He's on the DL, but I'm really not sure what that means. Will the Fire get to add an extra player by keeping him on the Disabled List?

Peter Lowry

• Did not travel with the team to California or Arizona
• Getting treatment in Chicago for an injury
  

From what I heard, Peter Lowry is not in the clear just yet. If the Fire decide to sign Andrew Dykstra and they don't want to let Jata go, look for Lowry to be on the chopping block.

"Guest Player"

• Did not travel with the team to Arizona
• Played for the University of Redlands (California)
• Played with Ross Schunk - 47th Draft Pick (Colorado)
  

Stay tuned for more updates on Richard Jata and the Chicago Fire...

Preseason Winding Down (Rookie Life Preview)

The Chicago Fire will be kicking off their season in less than two weeks and the final roster has still not been set. The team will play UC-Irvine today at 4pm PT giving the second team, the trailists and the rookies a shot at some much needed playing time. David Sias, Richard Jata, Andrew Dykstra and Austin Washington should all play a considerable amount, with hopes of increasing their current stock. I'm looking for Jata, to come out and impress after missing the last two games with the flu. He's been patiently waiting for his chance to shine and I believe that the time is now. His fitness level has been growing and growing since the start of training camp, and just recently, he ran the two mile in under 12 minutes. Chris Rolfe has been out sick, Busch and Thorrington are nursing injuries and Peter Lowry is back in Chicago, possibly doing rehab as well. With that being said, the starting lineup for tomorrow should look something like this:

GK Andrew Dykstra, D Austin Washington, D C.J. Brown, D David Sias, D Daniel Woolard, M Marco Pappa, M Richard Jata, M Baggio Husidic, M Mike Banner, F Stefan Dimitrov, F Cuauhtemoc Blanco

Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick - (Preview)

A brief video specifically made to follow MLS rookies through their first season. Richard Jata appears at the 25 second mark and he speaks again at the 52 second mark. Also appearing in the video is Jean Alexandre, Sam Cronin, AJ Delegarza, Stefan Frei, Omar Gonzalez, Chris Pontius and Steve Zakuani. Still more to come....

The team will be leaving LA for Arizona on Wednesday(3/11) in preparation for their final preseason game vs. LA Galaxy. Training prior to the game, will be done at Arizona State University. The match is set to take place on March 14th(7pm MT) at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

Chicago Fire vs. Chivas USA & Player Salaries

For those of you dying to see some video footage from the Fire's preseason match against Chivas USA, wait no more. Here's a quick little video that captured both Chicago goals from the first half. McBride's goal is really nice and it shows that his presence this year will be very crucial in Chicago's run at the MLS CUP.



An updated list of the 2009 Chicago Fire Player Salaries can be seen below. Currently it only shows 21 salaries because the final roster is slowly coming together. Not listed is Stefan Dimitrov, who officially signed last week. That leaves two open spots. One of them will probably go to Tim Ward, mostly due to the fact that he's been getting a serious amount of playing time. That leaves one spot open, but according to Roman Kashuba(Chicago Fire Examiner), there's a couple more options that some might not expect:

"My money is on Tim Ward making the final roster based on his playing time in the last couple of matches, but don’t rule out the possibility of Peter Lowry being cut in favor of Richard Jata. And don’t be too surprised to see the out-of-left-field waiver of the ageing Brandon Prideaux’s relatively expensive contract ($72K) for a bargain like Austin Washington ($12.9K)."

2009 Base Salary - 2009 Guaranteed Compensation

1. Cuauhtemoc Blanco - M ($2,769,240.00 - $2,943,702.00)
2. Brian McBride - F ($360,000.00 - $385,333.33)
3. Justin Mapp - M ($220,000.00 - $255,000.00)
4. Wilman Conde - D ($168,000.00 - $188,000.00)
5. Patrick Nyarko - F ($80,000.00 - $160,000.00)
6. Bakary Soumare - D ($105,000.00 - $138,000.00)
7. Jon Busch - GK ($105,000.00 - $106,250.00)
8. Chris Rolfe - F ($95,550.00 - $100,250.00)
9. Logan Pause - M ($95,403.00 - $97,903.00)
10. Baggio Husidic - M ($55,000.00 - $97,000.00)
11. C.J. Brown - D ($91,200.00 - $96,000.00)
12. Brandon Prideaux - D ($75,600.00 - $75,600.00)
13. Calen Carr - F ($58,410.00 - $70,910.00)
14. John Thorrington - M ($63,000.00 - $64,875.00)
15. Gonzalo Segares - D ($61,519.50 - $64,019.50)
16. Dasan Robinson - D ($46,856.25 - $46,856.25)
17. Marco Pappa - M ($42,000.00 - $42,000.00)
18. Daniel Woolard - D ($34,000.00 - $34,000.00)
19. Michael Banner - D ($34,000.00 - $34,000.00)
20. Nick Noble - GK ($34,000.00 - $34,000.00)
21. Peter Lowry - M ($20,100.00 - $20,100.00)
22. Still Open
23. Still Open
24. Still Open

* Players in Red - Do Not Affect The Salary Cap

Chicago Fire Defeat Chivas USA 2-1

Earlier this morning the Fire took care of business by beating Chivas USA 2-1. Justin Mapp started the scoring in the 19th minute, off a pass from William Conde(playing center mid). Less than 10 minutes later Chicago would add to their lead. Brian McBride scores the quote, "preseason goal of the year" assisted by Patrick Nyarko.

Halftime Score: Chicago Fire 2 - Chivas USA 0

In the 70th minute, Sacha Kljestan scored on a Penalty Kick, but it wasn't enough to comeback. This is the Fire's 6th preaseason victory, including their 6-0 win a couple days ago against a local California squad. In today's game the Chicago Fire only made two substitutions.

Final Score: Chicago Fire 2 - Chivas USA 1

This was the Chicago Fire lineup with subs:

GK Nick Noble (Andrew Dykstra 59), Gonzalo Segares, Dasan Robinson, Bakary Soumare, Tim Ward, Justin Mapp, William Conde, Logan Pause, Marco Pappa (Cuauhtemoc Blanco 59), Brian McBride, Patrick Nyarko


This was the Chivas USA lineup with subs:

Dan Kennedy (Lance Parker 45), Carey Talley, Jim Curtin, Shavar Thomas, Ante Jazic (Mariano Trujillo 53), Mike Lahoud (Justin Braun 45), Diego Scotti, Paulo Nagamura, Bojan Stepanovic (Jamie Franks 82), Sacha Kljestan, Eduardo Lillingston (Maykel Galindo 60)


Scoring Summary

Chicago(19') - Justin Mapp - Assisted by William Conde
Chicago(26') - Brian McBride - Assisted by Patrick Nyarko
Chivas USA(70') - Sacha Kljestan - PK (Unassisted)

Chicago Fire - Jata Video Clip

The other night I stumbled upon this video of Marco Pappa, Logan Pause and Richard Jata, which was made while the Chicago Fire were training in Bradenton, FL. Marco and Logan talk in the beginning, but at the 38 second mark, the camera shows Jata giving some clips and sound bites to some media personnel. I think it has something to do with the rookies and their desire to make it in the MLS.



Jata is still in the running for the 24th and final spot on the 2009 Chicago Fire roster. I believe that they have solidified 23 spots, but are leaving the last spot open until the team finishes training in California. I'm looking for Jata to get some playing time against Chivas USA on March 7th, in hopes of upping his stock before the Fire staff makes their final decision.

My Preditctions - 2009 Chicago Fire Roster

With the preseason winding down and roster compliance issues on the horizon, we will soon know all 24 players who have made the team, and eventually, which 18 will be dressing for the first game in Texas on March 21st. It's going to be very interesting to see how everything works out in the next two weeks, not just for the Chicago Fire, but for every team. I know that the coaches want their starters to be ready for the Fire's first game of the season, so I don't expect to see a lot of substitutions in the team's next two games against Chivas USA and LA Galaxy. This is going to make it a lot harder for those players fighting for the final spot because some of them may not even get to see a minute of playing time in the upcoming games. This is one of the deepest teams in the league, and with the new size rosters, it's going to be extremely hard for any rookie to make this team. San Jose, on the other hand, only has 21 players on their current roster, even after adding recent draftees Amarikwa and Ring, plus Cam Weaver and Bobby Convey. How many rookies (out of the 60 drafted) do you think will sign with the MLS this season?

My Prediction - 2009 Chicago Fire Roster (24 players)

1. GK - Jon Busch - S
2. GK - Nick Noble - S

3. F - Brian McBride - S
4. F - Cuauhtemoc Blanco - SI/DP
5. F - Patrick Nyarko - DI/GA
6. F - Stefan Dimitrov - S
7. F - Calen Carr - S
8. F/M - Peter Lowry - SD

9. M/F - Chris Rolfe - S
10. M - John Thorrington - S
11. M - Marco Pappa - SI
12. M - Baggio Husidic - D/GA
13. M - Mike Banner - S
14. M - Justin Mapp - S
15. M/D - Logan Pause - S

16. D - C.J. Brown - S
17. D - Tim Ward - S
18. D - William Conde - SI
19. D - Gonzalo Segares - SI
20. D - Dasan Robinson - S
21. D - Bakary Soumare - S/GA
22. D - Brandon Prideaux - S
23. D - Daniel Woolard - S

* * * * * (Senior Developmental/Developmental Contract) * * * * *

24. Austin Washington, Richard Jata, Andrew Dykstra or David Sias

- Most Likely
- Somewhat Likely
- Not Likely

* RELEASED - Roland Paul Bebey Kingue & Jokull Elisabetarson

Chicago Fire Return Home (Bonus Video)

The Chicago Fire returned home yesterday, where they will stay, until departing for California on March 2nd. I've been hearing some rumors about who is "in" and who is "out", but I don't want to say anything until it's official. However, if you asked me to name the 24 players who will be on the 2009 Fire roster, I could probably name 23 right now, with the final spot still up for grabs. With very little being advertised on the Fire website and En Fuego Blog, I thought I'd take a little time to talk about the lack of media coverage for several teams throughout the MLS.

It seems like there are a lot of people out there who want to know more about the players, the clubs and the recent draftees, but for some reason the MLS is slacking in the media department. I've been following the Fire website and Blog a lot this preseason, and for the most part, its been somewhat disappointing. I was looking at the Seattle Sounders website the other day, and for a team that just started this year, they really have their s**t together. The site looks great, they interview several players, show several video clips and they also have their own analyst constantly giving updates. The quality of the footage is the best I've seen yet. For a fan and a big follower of the MLS, I really hope they start putting some more effort into preseason footage down the road. Some teams are so secretive about what they are doing, but it's really not helping them gain exposure. It's also a huge turnoff to supporters. Hopefully coverage throughout the entire league picks up quickly because it's really getting annoying looking at the same updates for days and days.

While we're waiting for something new to read about, I thought I'd show you one of my favorite clips of Richard Jata from his time at Campbell. This clip is also in the Highlight Video I put together, but it shows a lot in a very little amount of time and that's why I wanted to show it on it's own. Notice his quickness, the use of his left foot and his ability to find the open player with very little effort.

Chicago Fire Defeats Morelia 3-1 In Mexico

The Fire defeated Monarcas de Morelia in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico last night 3-1. Chicago got things started in the 34th minute when Justin Mapp placed a free kick into the box where Brian McBride was waiting with that brilliant head of his, putting the Fire up 1-0 going into halftime. Morelia would eventually get on the board in the 58th minute on a PK by Sergio Blancas, after Austin Washington was called for a hand ball inside the box. Just four minutes later the Fire would regain the lead off a corner kick by Chris Rolfe. This time Washington was on the recieving end, scoring his first goal of the preseason. The game would stay that way until the 89th minute when Mike Banner placed a free kick around the wall and in, to give him his second preseason goal from distance. Richard Jata, Stefan Dimitrov, Jokull Elisabetarson, David Sias and Roland Paul Bebey Kingue did not see any playing time in last nights' match, which makes it seem like Hamlett really wants to get his starting squad playing full games together in preparation for their season opener against FC Dallas on March 21st. The team will be returning to Chicago on Thursday(February 26th) where they will stay until leaving for California on March 2nd. The Fire will play their final two preseason games against Chivas USA on March 7th, at the Home Depot Center and the LA Galaxy on March 12th in Tempe, Arizona.

This was the Lineup(with subs) for the Chicago Fire:

Nick Noble (Andrew Dykstra 45), Tim Ward, Dasan Robinson, Bakary Soumare, Gonzalo Segares (Daniel Woolard 84), Chris Rolfe (Marco Pappa 80), Logan Pause (Wilman Conde 63), Baggio Husidic (Austin Washington 45), Justin Mapp (Mike Banner 80), Patrick Nyarko (Cuauhtémoc Blanco 45), Brian McBride.

This was the Lineup(with subs) for Monarcas de Morelia:

Moisés Munoz, Enrique Perez, Mauricio Romero, Alberto Lucio, Marcos Uribino, Carlos Jiménez (Jesús Castillo 65), Ignacio Carrasco (Oscar Rojas 45), Marvin Carrera (Jorge Kalu Gastelum 45), Miguel Sabah, Ever Guzman (Sergio Blancas 45), Mario Moreno

Scoring Summary

(34') CHI - Brian McBride - Assisted by Justin Mapp
(58') MOR - Sergio Blancas - Unassisted PK
(62') CHI - Austin Washington - Assisted by Chris Rolfe
(89') CHI - Mike Banner - Unassisted

Fire Battle Against Queretaro FC Reserves!

Today the Chicago Fire took on the Queretaro FC reserve squad to make up for the game against Leon that was canceled earlier in the week. The 2nd team started the game for the Fire and went into halftime with a 2-0 lead. The starters came in to play the second half, but gave up two unanswered goals, giving the Fire their second straight preseason draw since arriving to Mexico. Richard Jata played the entire first half at right mid, which I heard worked out in his favor. The Fire will square off against Morelia on Tuesday(8pm), in what will be their final preseason match in Mexico before returning to Chicago on Thursday. More details to come....

Well, I finally found out how the second team for the Fire scored in the first half. Stefen Dimitrov found the net from a couple yards out after Patrick Nyarko slide a pass across the mouth of the goal. Nyarko is continuing to show promise by getting into spaces where he causes a lot of problems for opposing defenders. On the second goal, Nyarko ran onto a punt that bounced over the defender's head. He chipped the keeper on his first touch to give Chicago the lead going into the half. The two second half goals allowed by the first team came off a PK and a breakaway. The Fire's preseason record now stands at 3-1-2 with 12 goals scored and just 6 given up.

No Glory, No Defeat - Chicago vs. Queretaro FC

Well, I just got some news about the Fire's first game in Mexico vs. Queretaro FC. The stadium they played in is called "La Corregidora" and supposedly it seats around 40,000 people. The atmosphere was great and the game pulled in a crowd close to 15,000. From what I heard, the fans down there have been waiting eargely for the Fire's arrival. Kids are mobing the buses and it has to be a really cool experience for the rookies. Tonight's game ended in a 1-1 draw as both teams netted goals late in each half. Chicago got on the board late in the first half when John Thorrington carried the ball towards the center of the field and distributed it to Justin Mapp just outside the box on the left side of the field. Mapp went one on one with the defender beating him to the left and then cutting it back to his right foot for a great goal from about 10 yards out. The Fire went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

Jon Busch didn't play in the game at all, but Thorrington and Rolfe both played respectable minutes.

This was the lineup(with subs) for the Chicago Fire:

GK-Nick Noble (Andrew Dykstra 45), D-Tim Ward (Roland Paul Bebey Kingue 45)(David Sias 75), D-Dasan Robinson (Austin Washington 63), D-Bakary Soumare (C.J. Brown 45), D-Gonzalo Segares (Daniel Woolard 45), M-Chris Rolfe (Cuauhtémoc Blanco 55), M-Logan Pause (Jokull Elisabetarson 75), M-John Thorrington (Baggio Husidic 45), M-Justin Mapp (Mike Banner 45), F-Patrick Nyarko (Richard Jata 85), F-Brian McBride (Stefan Dimitrov 65)

Queretaro FC finally got on the board very late in the game just before stoppage time off a direct free kick. The Fire were waiting for the referee's whistle while setting up the wall, and before they knew it, a player from Queretaro FC broke free from the outside of the wall and netted a thru ball to tie the game up 1-1. With less than a minute left in the game, Jata had a chance to shoot from about 30+ yards, but instead he laid it off to another Fire player who was later denied of glory, ending the game in a 1-1 draw.

The Fire were supposed to take on Leon this Sunday, but unfortunately the game has been canceled. I guess we'll just have to wait until next Tuesday, the 24th, to see how they play against Morelia. The game will be at the same time(8pm) so I'll try to have the results of that game up late Tuesday, early Wednesday. Even though I'm enjoying some great weather here in Florida, I really wish I had the opportunity to catch one of these games in Mexico. More updates(and hopefully pictures) on the way.....

They Made It To Mexico!

I've never seen two players fighting for the same spot be so friendly to one another, but I guess that's the way it goes with rookies. Sometimes they don't fit in with the team right away so a strong bond develops. Baggio and Jata were roommates in Bradenton, toured Chicago together and now they are training partners in Mexico. Technically, Jata and Baggio aren't fighting for the exact same spot though. Baggio is a defensive center mid with good attacking qualities and Jata is an attacking center mid with good defensive qualities. Baggio already has a contract and Jata doesn't, but that's not stopping them from living it up. They both are truly enjoying this once in a lifetime experience that only a handful of players get to do each year. Free gear, free traveling expenses and free food doesn't come easy though. These two have worked their whole lives to get this far and it looks as if it is finally paying off. Hopefully Jata will make the team, but it's not going to be easy. Earlier in the week, Jata was informed that he is one of six players fighting for two spots on the final roster. He is going to need a strong showing in Mexico to prove to the coaches that he deserves a spot, and being his brother, I think that's exactly what he'll do.

The Chicago Fire will be playing three games in Queretaro, Mexico over the next 10 days. Their first game will be tomorrow at 8pm against Queretaro FC. Their second game will be against Leon on Sunday, the 22nd at noon and the last game will be on Tuesday the 24th at 8pm. In the third game, Chicago will take on Morelia, which is the team Sonny Guadarrama plays for. For those of you that don't know, Sonny and his brother Willy both played for Campbell University. However, since Jata arrived to Campbell his Sophomore year he missed out on the opportunity to play with Sonny.

I heard the weather is actually somewhat enjoyable down there right now, with the high in the upper 70's (low 80's) and the low in the 40's. This should make the night games very interesting for Jata because he's proven to be very dominate in colder climates. I guess we will just have to wait and see. Tomorrow's game will be here soon enough and I really wish I was there to see it, but I guess I can't complain since I'm in Florida and the beach is just a couple of minutes away. I'll try to have the report up tomorrow night, but if I don't get to it, look for it on Thursday. Adios Amigos!

Watch and Wait (Highlight Video)

While we wait to hear more about the Fire's preseason, I thought I'd give you guys the chance to view Richard Jata's Highlight Video(below) that I made about a month ago. It's about 10 minutes long and by the end it should give you a general idea of how talented this kid really is. He scored 32 goals total in college, but I could only get 17 on here because not all of the games were filmed. I also have a goal from the time he spent with the Carolina Dynamo. The first part of the video is just some passing and dribbling, but the video gets better and better as it goes on. The goals that took longer to find are towards the end, but take the time to watch the whole thing and let me know what you think at the end of it.

The Chicago Fire will be leaving for Mexico tomorrow and I'll try to post the results of their games as soon as possible. I'm curious to see how the team lines up in Mexico with Rolfe, Thorrington and Busch all back from training with the U.S. Men's National Team.

Preseason Game #4 - Chicago vs. Toronto FC

Today the Chicago Fire took on Toronto FC in their 4th and final preseason game at IMG in Bradenton. They played a regular game with two 45 minute halves and the Fire came out on top 1-0. Mike Banner scored the lone goal off a free kick in the 41st minute of play. Each team had some chances, but couldn't find the net. Richard Jata sat out this game to rest a tight groin, but he said that he's doing just fine and expects to be back in action when the team heads to Mexico on the 15th. Rolfe, Thorrington and Busch will also be traveling with the team to Mexico.

The starting lineup for the Fire is as follows:

GK: Nick Noble, D-Roland Paul Bebey Kingue, D-Dasan Robinson, D-CJ Brown, D-Daniel Woolard, M-Logan Pause, M-Tim Ward, M-Baggio Husidic, M-Mike Banner, F-Patrick Nyarko, F-Stefan Dimitrov

The starting lineup for Toronto FC is as follows:

GK-Sutton, D-Kenton, D-Harmse, D-Marco Velez, D-Jim Brennan, M-Ricketts, M-Robinson, M-Cronin, M-Smith, F-DeRosario, F-Barrett

7': Toronto's Chad Barrett carried the ball up the middle and took a hard shot that sailed over the cross bar. - So far, play has been even between the two sides.

9': Dwayne DeRosario took a hard shot to the leg and is taking a moment to recoup - the Fire take this opportunity to hear a few words from head coach Denis Hamlett on the sidelines

15': Mike Banner took the ball up the left side and sent a nice cross into the box, no fire players were there to finish but Nyarko sent another cross that was intercepted by Harmse

20':Johann Smith recieved a great ball from DeRo in the left corner and beat the Fire's Kingue on the endline to slip a cross into the box but the subsequent shot rolled far wide of the right post - CJ Brown is organizing his defensive line

22':Fire keeper Nick Noble tracks Barrett as he entered the box and smothered his shot to keep the game 0-0

27': Yellow card to Toronto's Ricketts for a hard tackle on Mike Banner at midfield

40': Daniel Woolard sends a ball up the field from the Fire defensive end to Dimitrov about 30 yards out. Dimitrov has a great first touch and streaks up the middle of the field, eliminating two defenders and taking a hard shot toward the left post - the shot was saved by Sutton.

41': GOAL CHICAGO - Mike Banner places a free kick just inside the left post upper 90! 1-0

44': Tim Ward one times a TFC clear from 25 yards out - the shot bounces off a TFC defender and looks like it is headed into the net - but it bounces just over the cross bar.

HALFTIME: Chicago leads Toronto 1-0

Second Half lineup is the same except GK Nick Noble is subbed for GK Adrew Dykstra

Toronto FC second half lineup is the same except:

Chad Barrett (Fuad Ibrahim 45'), Johann Smith (Gregory Richardson 45'), Greg Sutton (Brian Edwards 45')

51': Patrick Nyarko took a hard knock and came off - Brandon Prideaux is in at right back and pushed Paul Bebey Kingue up to right mid... Dimitrov and Baggio are your forwards

55': Stefan Dimitrov (Idrissa Kone 55'), Roland Paul Bebey Kingue(Austin Washington 55')

60': Fuad Ibrahim (Danny Dichio 60'), Carl Robinson(Kyle Hall 60')

65': Danny Dichio is into the match and sends a back heel pass into the box the shot from Sam Cronin toward the right post is saved by Fire keeper Andrew Dykstra

66' CJ Brown is off and Ramos Dyoub has entered the match

75': Jokull Elisabetarson enters for Baggio Husidic and Michel Moungue enters for Daniel Woolard

80': Alfonso Ripa comes in for Tim Ward

81': Dasan heads a ball forward from midfield and Kone runs onto the ball but is dragged down by two TFC defenders - there is no call on the foul just outside the box.

FINAL SCORE - Chicago Fire 1-0 Toronto FC

Preseason Game #3 & My New Best Friend

The Chicago Fire beat the Puerto Rican Islanders 1-0 yesterday in their third preseason game. McBride converted on a penalty kick after Nyarko was brought down in the 8th minute of play. The teams played two 45 minuted halves, but played an extra 20 minutes at the end so that all of the subs could get some playing time. Both teams had goals called back, but overall the Fire dominated the game.

Jata sat out to get some rest, but most likely will return to action on Monday. All of the players had Sunday off. The team will finish up at IMG with a training session tomorrow, followed by their 4th preseason game against Toronto FC on Tuesday. The team will then head back to Chicago for a few days before departing to Mexico on February 15th. I expect the team to make some cuts before their next trip, but I think all of the draft picks will stay on no matter what. David Sias and Jokull Elisabetarson have both been sitting out due to injury, but they should be ready to return to action soon.

I went down to Bradenton to see Richard and things seem to be going very well. He's rooming with Baggio Husidic and it looks like they're really getting along great. They both had nothing but good things to say about each other and I expect to see a lot out these two in the future. With the entire starting squad returning from last season, playing time will be hard to come by, but with all of the extra games in the schedule this year I think we'll get to see both of them play at some point in time. I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks, but I will bring you an update on Tuesday following their game with Toronto FC.

Preseason Game #2 - Fire vs. KC Wizards

Today the Chicago Fire took on the Kansas City Wizards in what would be their first true test after routing UCF 5-0 just a few days earlier. Instead of playing three 30-minute segments like they did in the first game, they played two 45-minute halves.

Richard Jata played the entire second half. He started at forward, but switched to right mid after the Fire gave up three unanswered goals. Jata had a good chance to score when he caught a ball sent over his head on his right foot and took it towards goal. Unfortunately, the Kansas City keeper guessed right and made a great save to deny Jata of his first preseason goal with the Fire.

This was the 1st half lineup for Chicago:

1st 45' - GK-Nick Noble, D-Brandon Prideaux(Roland Paul Bebey Kingue 33'), D-Bakary Soumare, D-Dasan Robinson, D-Gonzalo Segares, M-Marco Pappa, M-Baggio Husidic, M-Logan Pause, M-Justin Mapp, F-Patrick Nyarko, F-Brian McBride

The Fire dominated the first half and in the 38th minute their hard work finally paid off. Roland Paul Bebey Kingue served a cross from the right side to Patrick Nyarko, who headed it home for his first preseason goal. In the 40th minute Nyarko added another goal from 18 yards out to give the Fire a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

This was the 2nd half lineup for Chicago:

2nd 45' - GK-Andrew Dykstra(Tyler Kettering 60'), D-Roland Paul Bebey Kingue(Marco Calich 70'), D-Ramos Dyoub, D-CJ Brown(Igor Lozo 70'), D-Tim Ward, M-Austin Washington, M-Anton Peterlin, M-Peter Lowry(Idrissa Kone 70'), M-Michel Mongue(Alfonso Rippa 70'), F-Richard Jata, F-Stefan Dimitrov

In the 49th minute Kansas City finally got on the board when Aaron Hohlbein headed home a Kevin Souter corner kick. In the 53rd minute Graham Zusi was taken down in the box and awarded a PK. Davy Arnaud shoots left and the keeper guesses right, scoring with ease to tie the game up 2-2.

At the 60-minute mark, Fire GK Andrew Dykstra was subbed out for Tyler Kettering and just minutes later the Wizards scored again to grab the lead. Zusi played a corner kick into the box and Rauwshan McKenzie hits a well placed header just under the bar for the final goal of the game.

Idrissa Kone had an opportunity to tie the game in the closing minutes when he found himself one on one with the Wizards' goalkeeper, but was denied.

Even though Chicago lost 3-2, things aren't as bad as they might seem. They're still missing Jon Busch, Chris Rolfe and John Thorrington, all of whom are still training with the U.S. Men's National Team in California. The rest of the starters from last year only played the first 45 minutes and Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Mike Banner didn't play at all.

Kansas City Wizards 1st Half Lineup:

1st 45' - GK-Hartman, D-Leathers, D-Conrad, D-Hohlbein, D-Harrington, M-Souter, M-Beres, M-Lopez, M-Arnaud, F-Thompson, F-Wolff

Kansas City Wizards 2nd Half Lineup:

2nd 45' - GK-Pardo, D-Leathers(Myers 60'), D-McKenzie, D-Hohlbein, D-Harrington(Besler 60'), M-Beres, M-Souter(Watson 60'), Arnaud (Morsink 60'), M-Zusi, F-Thompson(Pizarro 60), F-Kraus

Scoring Summary

(38') CHI - Patrick Nyarko - assisted by Roland Paul Bebey Kingue
(40') CHI - Patrick Nyarko - unassisted
(49') KCW - Aaron Hohlbein - assisted by Kevin Souter
(53') KCW - Davy Arnoud - unassisted (PK)
(63') KCW - Rauwshan McKenzie - assisted by Graham Zusi