Slim To None

Lots and lots of Internet back and forth on the Gupster (that's Fire CEO/President John Guppy to the uninitiated) and how he handled the departure of Juan Carlos Osorio, with a lot more fans (particularly over on Section 8) giving him the benefit of the doubt than I would have expected.

There's one obvious test in front of Guppy right now, and that's the hiring of a new coach. But down below the radar, I think an equally big issue is whether or not he's able to sign goalkeeper Matt Pickens to a new contract. There was early word that he might try Europe, but that's been overwhelmed by a steady stream of happy talk from the front office about it, compounded by some awkward and perhaps totally inappropriate comments Guppy made at the "State of the Team" speech last week, with Pickens sitting right next to him.

Despite the positive rhetoric, I don't think Pickens staying in Chicago is a done deal. I don't think it's even close. And I'll be really curious as to whether or not his defenders on the message boards change their tune if we get blindsided by his departure, especially if it's after the SuperDraft and we don't draft a decent GK.