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Chicago add more attackers to the mix

Fire select three forwards in Tuesday's Supplemental Draft

The Fire continued to address their lack of depth up top Tuesday by selecting three attacking players in the Supplemental Draft.

Chicago drafted forward Amani Walker (UC Irvine) with the ninth overall pick, forward/midfielder Yannick Salmon (Rutgers) with the 27th selection and forward Sam Arthur (South Carolina) with the 45th pick.

“We selected three athletic players who have a knack for scoring,” Fire technical director Frank Klopas said in a statement. “Amani, Yannick and Sam have performed well at the collegiate ranks and we look forward to them joining the Chicago Fire Soccer Club.”

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...-attackers-mix

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Nery moves on


Reports from Greece and Mexico are confirming this morning that Greek club Aris have signed Chicago Fire Designated Player Nery Castillo on a six-month loan from Shakhtar Donetsk and the player is expected in Thessaloniki later today.

The move would seem to bring an end to his time in Chicago, and Fire coach Carlos de los Cobos indicates as much in this interview in which he says that Castillo “could never adjust to the soccer here.”


http://www.usatoday.com/sports/socce...47060280_x.htm

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Chicago officially seal deal with former Mexico int'l Pardo

Ex-Club América star brings wealth of veteran experience to Fire

The Chicago Fire’s rumored courtship with Pável Pardo finally came to fruition on Tuesday, as the club announced it has signed the former Mexican international to a contract for the remainder of the 2011 season.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Fire officials confirmed that Pardo has not been signed as a Designated Player.

Pardo, who turned 35 years old on Tuesday, appeared in both the 1998 and 2006 World Cups for El Tri, and logged a staggering 148 caps with the team before making his final international appearance in 2009. He also appeared with the team in the 2007 Gold Cup, when Mexico fell to the United States in the final at Soldier Field in Chicago

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...ico-intl-pardo

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Fire to Participate in 2012 Carolina Challenge Cup
Club to conclude preseason camp in Charleston, SC for second-consecutive season


CHICAGO, IL (Nov. 9, 2011) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced today the club will participate in the 2012 Carolina Challenge Cup, hosted by the United Soccer Leagues’ Charleston Battery.

Set to be played at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, SC from February 25-March 4 the Fire will rejoin the Battery, fellow MLS side and two-time defending tournament champions D.C. United and one yet-to-be named team from Major League Soccer for the ninth edition of the United States premier preseason tournament.

http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/201...-challenge-cup

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Fire goalkeeper Johnson to train with Everton
Chicago youngster to spend a week with Howard, Toffees


hicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson’s busy offseason got a little bit busier on Thursday, when the club announced that the 22-year-old keeper will train with English Premier League club Everton from Dec. 4-10.

Johnson has already spent a good deal of time in Europe this offseason, participating in the nine-day US U-23 national team camp in Germany in November.

The Fire hosted Everton in a friendly match in 2008 and used relationships built from that experience to help set up Johnson’s training stint.


http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...-train-everton

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Signed, sealed, delivered: Barouch back for Fire
Chicago acquire full rights for striker from Tigres UANL


The Chicago Fire have acquired the full rights to striker Orr Barouch, a club spokesman told MLSsoccer.com on Friday.

Per league and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 20-year-old Barouch was on loan to Chicago from Mexican side Tigres UANL for the entire 2011 season. He was used mainly as a reserve in league play, scoring two goals and registering two assists in 28 appearances, all but two of which came off the bench.

The Israeli U-21 national team forward had a larger impact in the US Open Cup and in the Reserve League, scoring three goals in three Open Cup appearances and leading the Fire Reserves with five goals.


http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...ouch-back-fire

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Fire face Real España
Men in Red to challenge Honduran side in preseason friendly


CHICAGO, IL (Dec. 20, 2011) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club, in conjunction with the Chicago Fire Juniors – Louisiana, announced Tuesday the club will take on Honduran side Real España in an international friendly at New Orleans’ Tad Gormley Stadium Saturday, Feb. 4 at 5:00 p.m. CT. The match will conclude Phase One of the Men in Red’s preseason preparation for the 2012 Major League Soccer campaign.

http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/201...ace-real-espan

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Fire team with Quaker Oats on new jersey design
Chicago sign new kit sponsor, unveil 2012 home and away shirt


The Chicago Fire finally have a new jersey sponsor, announcing on Tuesday that Chicago-based Quaker Oats will put its logo on the front of the team’s shirts in 2012.

The new partnership brings major changes to both the home and away jerseys. The home shirt will still be primarily red, though the new version will switch the color of the front stripe from white to navy blue and will feature a new navy collar.

The new away jersey is completely different than the previous version, switching colors from white to dark blue and adding thin, Chicago flag-themed horizontal stripes across the length of the shirt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7JCr...layer_embedded

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2012 Fire Quaker Jerseys in detail

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Fire sign German defender Friedrich to help backline


The Chicago Fire announced on Wednesday that they have signed German defender Arne Friedrich, who will be added to the roster pending the receipt of his P1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate. Per team and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...help-back-line

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Men On Fire
Pappa burns SKC, Johnson huge as Fire win third straight


http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter...chi/highlights

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Fire sign Dutch striker MacDonald as team's second DP


The Chicago Fire have signed Dutch striker Sherjill MacDonald as the team's second Designated Player, the club announced on Tuesday.

MacDonald joins the Fire from Belgian side Beerschot AC, where he tallied 15 times in 82 appearances for the Antwerp-based club. The 6-foot, 175-pound forward has also played professionally in the Netherlands and England, and brings international experience and a knack for goal that Chicago have been needing.


http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...eams-second-dp

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Fernandez acquisition gives Fire depth, flexibility in attack

After scoring just two goals in their five games since attacking midfielder Sebastián Grazzini left the team on a personal leave of absence, the Chicago Fire clearly needed offensive reinforcements.

They further bolstered their attack on Friday by adding their second attacking Designated Player of the week, acquiring Álvaro Fernández from the Seattle Sounders for allocation money three days after announcing the signing of Dutch striker Sherjill MacDonald

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...ibility-attack

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Red Dead Redemption

Chicago overcome early mistake to take 2-1 win over visiting TFC


http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter...tor/highlights

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Recap:
Rolfe, Friedrich power Fire to 3-1 win over Philly


CHESTER, Pa. – Paced by a Chris Rolfe brace and the first goal of the year from Arne Friedrich, the Chicago Fire scored three unanswered goals to top hosts Philadelphia Union, 3-1, at PPL Park on Sunday night.

Things looked promising for the Union when they took a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute after a long cross from Freddy Adu sailed just over the head of rookie Chandler Hoffman and bounced off Chicago defender Jalil Anibaba and into the net.

Hoffman, who was making just his second career start, celebrated like he scored, but the goal was initially credited to Adu before being changed to an own goal.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter...hi-v-chi/recap