Chicago ended the year as potentially the best non-playoff team in MLS. &nbsp;They caught “fire” and had a winning record for the final third of the season, almost stealing the tenth playoff spot from New York. &nbsp;The same team that set the MLS record for draws in a season (which they tied with NY) gave interim head coach Frank Klopas the full time job this offseason based on their excellent finish. &nbsp;Dominic Oduro finally lived up to his promised to finish with double digit goals while newcomers Sebastian Grazzini and Pavel Pardo were veritable finds. &nbsp;Looking forward to 2012, the team looks like it could make a jump in the standings if it can carry over the momentum.
What do the Fire need to do to make the playoffs in 2012? &nbsp;Chicago is up next in our “3 Questions” series.
1. Who will Klopas bring back from his European scouting trip?
Frank Klopas made a highly-publicized <a href="http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2011/12/klopas-seeks-striker-european-scouting-trip" target="_blank">trip to Europe</a> a few weeks back to search for, in his words, a midfielder and a striker. &nbsp;He was looking for another forward to pair up front with Dominic Oduro as well as build a working relationship with La Liga’s Atletico Madrid. &nbsp;This is a critical trip, as his depth up front may be thinner than when he left. &nbsp;Diego Chaves has been in the media saying that <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ycn-10560445" target="_blank">he wants out</a> and, while he underperformed last season, he was at least a viable threat up front. &nbsp;Israeli youngster Orr Barouch was signed away from his Israeli club but he is not yet an every day performer that the team needs to make that next step. &nbsp;Patrick Nyarko is more of a wing player and not as much a compliment to Oduro. &nbsp;Kheli Dube, <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/fire/post/_/id/2304/fire-select-dube-in-re-entry-draft" target="_blank">selected in the Re-Entry Draft</a>, is depth and not a full-time starter.
The rumors have been flying about potential names, and the name(s) Klopas can come up with will be critical to this team’s success. &nbsp;If they can find another forward or CAM to fit Klopas’ system, this could be a very dangerous team.
2. Sean Johnson: will he be a better keeper for the Fire in December 2012 than he was in December 2011?
There are two parts to this question. &nbsp;The first is: will Sean Johnson be with the Fire next year? &nbsp;He’s training with Everton currently and, while the Toffees have a decent keeper <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/34158/tim-howard?cc=5901" target="_blank">you may have heard of</a>, Johnson may catch the eye of a European club looking for a new long-term solution in net. &nbsp;This is however the curse of an MLS team with young talent.
The bigger question is whether he takes the next step and becomes a dominant MLS keeper. &nbsp;Like DC’s Bill Hamid, Johnson has all of the tools to be the next great keeper but needs to improve his decision-making and leadership. &nbsp;With the call-up to the national team, he certainly will be able to train with the best America has to offer and should be a much more polished keeper this time next season. &nbsp;At least Fire fans should hope so.
They have no choice. &nbsp;Their back-up is <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/fire/post/_/id/2293/fire-sign-barouch-trade-for-gk-nolly" target="_blank">Jay Nolly</a>.
3. Can the Fire recreate the magic of August and September 2011?
Luck was a lady dating the Fire last year. &nbsp;Oduro finally began converting those chances he created, and Nyarko and Barouch grew up. &nbsp;The overseas midseason acquisitions performed as well as could be expected. &nbsp;Even the interim coach who had never been a head coach at the MLS level before made all the right moves. &nbsp;The question this offseason is can Chicago retain the magic that made that run possible. &nbsp;Can they acquire the right players without upsetting the balance of personalities?
More importantly, can they keep the joyous play they maintained last season? After their shocking 2-1 victory at DC United last year, I went to the locker room to interview Frank Klopas, and the atmosphere went beyond happy about a win. &nbsp;It was CYO level of fun, just plain joy with the game. &nbsp;This joy, this fun with the game, is hard to maintain over a season but to capture a little of it at key times will help Chicago make a run in the playoffs.

Are the Fire Playoff Bound? Three Questions for Chicago

Are the Fire Playoff Bound? Three Questions for Chicago - World Soccer Talk

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Are the Fire Playoff Bound? Three Questions for Chicago