The dissolution of Major League Soccer's reserve division this season is having an effect upon the Chicago Fire.
After two regular season games, and heading into their home opener against the New York Red Bulls Sunday at Toyota Park, the Fire have at least three starters from last season who need to play themselves into shape for 90 minutes of action.
Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Chris Rolfe and Brandon Prideaux are all recovering from spring injuries and need playing time to get back into game shape to contribute for a full game.
Blanco has been bothered by a balky knee, Rolfe suffered a stomach virus and Prideaux is recovering from a hamstring injury.
In previous seasons, Fire coach Denis Hamlett would use reserve games to get players into shape, but those opportunities are now no longer available. Instead, the Fire have to squeeze exhibition games into their schedule.
"All the guys are good now," Hamlett said. "But it's just a matter of the level of sharpness. The way you get back is playing games, and we don't have reserve games to use for that. We have to find ways so these guys can get 90-minute games. It's hard to train, train, train and never get out on the field."
In the case of Blanco and Rolfe, Hamlett has given them playing time as substitutes. Blanco played 11 minutes in the 3-1 win against FC Dallas, and 20 in the 1-1 draw with D.C. United. Rolfe had 17 minutes against the Hoops and 10 against D.C.
Blanco is coming in for young speedster Marco Pappa, and Rolfe is replacing Patrick Nyarko, who has a goal and an assist as a starter. With the Fire gaining four points on the road in the first two games, Hamlett is reluctant to make changes to the first-choice team.
But Hamlett is adamant that he wants to get Blanco, in particular, more playing time.
"We want Blanco on the field," Hamlett said. "This is a guy who we know what he brings to a team in terms of competing, and he is a winner. But we want to make sure he is ready. He is working real hard and now we just have to continue pushing him. Most of our guys went through eight weeks of preseason, and he had two weeks where he didn't do anything."
Against D.C. United, Hamlett's defense was stretched by the World Cup qualifying absence of two starters, Bakary Soumare (Mali) and Gonzalo Segares (Costa Rica). Both are expected to be available to play Sunday.
In their absence, Hamlett gave a start to veteran C.J. Brown, but he suffered a quad injury and left the game after 14 minutes. Brown, the last original Fire member with the club, is now back on the shelf after spending almost all last season recovering from a variety of injuries.
The Fire played the Red Bulls three times last season and outscored them 11-3, including a 5-2 defeat on national television in the final game of the regular season. Rolfe had three goals in that game, all in the first half.
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
