Bridgeview, IL  July 11, 2009  Sometimes a vacation is all that is needed to stoke the fires of passion. If you can call Superliga a vacation, the Chicago Fire has benefited from some MLS down time, and has stoked the flames on better outcomes during extra-league play than were seen during their short losing streak leading up to the break.

So, now that the Fire has a week of resumed MLS play under their belt, they appear to be reasserting control over the East.

Still in two games Chicago's side has scored two goals, 2-0 win vs. Colorado on 7/4, with the second match being a nil-nil draw. versus Columbus Crew tonight. 

There's no question that the pre-break defensive lapse has been solved, but the club's perennial offensive under-achievement continues to expose Chicago's achilles heel.

All would-be opponents know that if they can get a goal up on the Fire, their chances are good of getting a win.

Bottom line, Chicago is still a question mark for its post season prospects. Will 2009 be another year of bursts of brilliance followed by lapses of lethargy, ramped up expectations dashed on the rocks of first round ejection? It is too soon to tell, but for now and for the year until now, The Chicago Fire looks more like its usual self than a team ready to break the mold.

There's plenty of time to tweak their play to the next level, but the question is, will the current coaching be able to take this team to its potential and beyond?

Source: Click Here