Early Sunset In The East

We're only four games into the season, and the Chicago Fire already have a must-win game on the schedule. There are already a handful of underperforming teams in the East -- last night's Toronto-Philly clash was really, really hard to watch -- and Carlos de los Cobos had better hope his can break free of that bottom half.

Unfortunately, DC United may be even more desperate for a win, having not only dropped their first three matches, but also doing so without any real hints of Attractive, Attacking Soccer (tm). Plus, they're at home, but if last week was any indication, this may be yet another year where the Fire is better on the road anyway.

Big questions for the Fire going in are whether or not Deris Umanzor is better acclimated to the squad than he was in his largely crap debut last week, and if Marco Pappa starts alongside Peter Lowry in the middle instead of Baggio Husidic, assuming John Thorrington still isn't good to go (Logan Pause is listed as out). And if Pappa does vacate his wing spot, will Justin Mapp continue to beat out Julio Martinez on the depth chart?

I'm not optimistic about our chances at RFK. The backline is way too unorganized right now, and I don't know who is in a position to step up and fix it outside of C.J. Brown, and he already seems to be doing all he can. Logan Pause being out of the lineup doesn't help, but he's hasn't looked like his normal steadying defensive presence yet this year in the two matches he played.