Chicago Fire pinning playoff hopes on its defense

There once was a time when the Chicago Fire was considered the model of successful consistency in MLS. A time when the club had just two head coaches in its first nine and a half years, and compiled six trophies during that time.

Four years, four head coaches, zero trophies and a forgettable 2010 season later, the Fire heads into this season in very real danger of posting a second straight losing season for the first time in team history.

The Fire struggled badly for long stretches in 2010, while also mixing in flashes of promise, but never enough to mount a serious playoff push. If Chicago is going to improve on that disappointing year, the Fire will have to do so having lost a host of key players.

Defender Wilman Conde left for Mexico, Freddie Ljungberg took off for Scotland, Brian McBride retired and Nery Castillo went to Greece on a loan that looks more like a one-way ticket out of Chicago.

What the Fire has left is a roster with a future star in goal, and the makings of an improved defense, but a collection of spare parts in attack and no true star to lead the offense.

The closest thing Chicago has to an offensive star is Guatemalan midfielder Marco Pappa, who enjoyed a standout 2010 season. One of the more dangerous wingers in MLS, Pappa enjoyed an All-Star season even as the Fire offense struggled to find any sort of consistency.

Whether Chicago can actually threaten opposing goalkeepers this year will depend on what Uruguayan newcomers Diego Chaves and Gaston Puerari can do. Chaves looks to be the more natural striker, but Puerari has been brought in as a scorer and creator. Whether the two former Montevideo Wanderers teammates will actually thrive in MLS remains to be seen.

As many question marks as there are about the offense, the defense looks poised to be one of the better ones in the Eastern Conference. Losing Wilman Conde was a big blow, and the retirement of long-time Fire centerback C.J. Brown shouldn’t be overlooked, but the Fire did bring in Cory Gibbs and Croatian defender Josip Mikulic, while also drafting promising rookie Jalil Anibaba.

The defense should be steady, but also boosted by the player who heads into 2011 as the most exciting player on the Fire roster, young goalkeeper Sean Johnson. Only 21, Johnson emerged in his rookie season as a dynamic shot-stopper and mature goalkeeper ready to be among the league’s best. He still has some learning to do, but is one of the most exciting goalkeeper prospects in the U.S. national team pool.

The Fire will need to lean heavily on Johnson and its defense to return to the playoffs in 2011, but if Chicago struggles, there will be growing pressure on the club to part ways with De Los Cobos, who heads into the season as the MLS head coach most likely to be fired or resign first.

That uncertainty could lead to issues if the Fire starts slowly, but if newcomers Chaves and Puerari can be impact players, De Los Cobos could survive and Chicago just might avoid a second straight disappointing season.

CHICAGO FIRE

KEY LOSSES: Freddie Ljungberg, Wilman Conde, Brian McBride, Nery Castillo

NEW ARRIVALS: Cory Gibbs, Marko Maric, Josip Mikulic, Gaston Puerari, Diego Chaves, Jalil Anibaba, Jon Conway

BIGGEST QUESTION: Who will score goals for the Fire? Chicago parted ways with Collins John (a bust), loaned out Castillo (another bust) and watched McBride retire. In come a pair of unknown South Americans in Diego Chaves and Gaston Puerari to try and provide goals.

X-FACTOR: Jalil Anibaba. Super athletic defender could help the Chicago Fire's defense emerge as one of the best in the East.

OUTLOOK: The Fire will struggle to score goals, even with Pappa and the speedy Patrick Nyarko, and having a strong defense and Sean Johnson won’t be enough to get Chicago into the league’s Top Eight. Unless one of Chicago’s Uruguayans turns into a star, the Fire look doomed to be fighting for a wildcard playoff berth, if the club makes the playoffs at all.

Ives Galarcep is a senior writer for FoxSoccer.com covering Major League Soccer and the U.S. national team.