Chicago Fire

Give that the new MLS season is just around the corner I decided it's high time that we finally had a clear thread of our own.

Looks like the team will be shifting for the 4-2-3-1 of last season to a 4-4-1-1 this year. Not a fan of the change but it seems to be working so far in preseason with the trophy and performances.

Also, the club will be holding a fan-vote-competition-thing for a third kit this season, much like LA did last year. Here's hoping for the return of a Chicago Flag third design.

AOTI: With that said, are you saying that Fire doesn't need a third kit?

AK: No. What I am saying is that the primary reason for creating a third kit would be to engage our fans in a unique way. Also, we need to take into account the practical considerations of the true demand for this product so we can meet the minimum requirements from adidas before we place the order. Since we just released new kits last year, we wanted to focus on our new designs and pace things appropriately to avoid flooding the market.

The most successful way to create a third kit, is for us to collaborate with our supporters, get everyone energized, and create the demand. In order to initiate this movement, in the coming weeks we will be launching a social campaign asking supporters to help us design a potential third kit, vote for their favorites, and then rally each other to make a commitment by putting a deposit down.

I'm actually from Chicago (born and raised, currently reside in CA) so this is my American team. And I just started a FIFA career mode with them as well. The 4-4-1-1 is on paper the best move but there are no longer any real stars on the team. What's the budget cap that they're currently working with?

Arne Friedrich would disagree.

Salary caps vary depending on deals struck with other MLS clubs and allocations based on squad make up. I don't believe you can find any definite, accurate number for Chicago's current budget but if you'd like to try check out wiki for a fairly reliable run-down of MLS regulations.

I personally do not like seeing Pause at fullback and have never been a fan of two banks of 4 for midfield and defense. If it works though I won't complain.

Think this might be the season for Alex to step out on his own and make a name for himself. I rate him based on what I've seen so I think he'll do quite well, but he's got to make the most of the minutes given to him.

RedOranje wrote:Arne Friedrich would disagree.

Salary caps vary depending on deals struck with other MLS clubs and allocations based on squad make up. I don't believe you can find any definite, accurate number for Chicago's current budget but if you'd like to try check out wiki for a fairly reliable run-down of MLS regulations.

I personally do not like seeing Pause at fullback and have never been a fan of two banks of 4 for midfield and defense. If it works though I won't complain.

Ah, very true. I see what you mean though about the caps. Hopefully thay can have a good season this year.

Well that didn't go to plan.

Ugh....well here's to winning that home opener then.

Mike Magee don't be playing around.

I didnt get to see the game but damn, thats a bad scoreline.

Pretty poor loss to NE, must be said. We were the better side for large parts of the game, but just couldn't finish the chances off. Reis made maybe one truly great save last night and that was on Duka. The rest we should've buried.

I saw some good things out there nonetheless and I think the good form will come, but yeah this was a smash and grab from NE, simply put.

Can't help but feel this is all a bit self-inflicted. I'm still unconvinced by the off-season overhaul and personally feel we'd have been better served following the initial plan of only making minor changes and adding depth. MacDonald needs to find some confidence and his scoring touch sooner rather than later as well, he's being paid DP money to score goals. Hopefully the team will settle in quickly and prove my concerns false, but only time will tell.

McLewis wrote:Pretty poor loss to NE, must be said. We were the better side for large parts of the game, but just couldn't finish the chances off. Reis made maybe one truly great save last night and that was on Duka. The rest we should've buried.

I saw some good things out there nonetheless and I think the good form will come, but yeah this was a smash and grab from NE, simply put.

I saw the highlights on FSN and what a bummer of a loss it was. You guys wouldn't happen to know which broadcasters cover Fire matches in SoCal would you?

What has happened to the Fire? This is quickly turning into a full blown crisis for the club.

So mentally fragile. We looked good up until the 2nd goal was conceded. That was a complete sucker punch and frankly we were out cold for the rest of the match. Chivas duly took advantage.

I've seen it happen so often with Roma. This seems like a mental issue.

It wasn't really an issue last season though... which begs the question of whether the changes caused this or it's related to the players missing from injury. If it's the former it's purely self-inflicted and if it's the latter then it suggests a real lack of other leaders in the squad outside of Friedrich and Pause.

Hopefully we can figure it out and stop the rot soon before things get too far out of hand.

Finally. Glad to get that first win under our belts... can always count on New York to bend over for us when they come to Chicago.

Another away game, another loss.

Referee had a bit of a nightmare with the red card incident but even on XI men we just didn't do enough with the ball bar a couple of early chances.

So Robbie Rogers has properly screwed us over his MLS rights and he'll almost certainly be at LA officially sooner rather than later... hopefully we can get some decent deal for his rights, though it isn't sounding promising.

Can understand his reasoning for not wanting to come back to Chicago tbh, but yeah.....puts us in an unfavorable spot.

I vented a bit in the General Section and I'll probably end up getting some stick for it. If he's being completely forthright about his motivations then I have no problem with that and respect his desire to be close to his family. However, I do have some lingering concerns over it given his pre-retirement reaction to the news that Chicago has gotten his rights. And I certainly don't believe that immediately going public with his desires was the proper path either... he should have talked with the club in private first so that a deal could be made without the MLS Commission getting involved and/or undermining Chicago's bargaining position.

I agree with what you said in the General Section about the comments he made which basically limited him the LA was pretty messed up on his part; but to me he doesn't seem like an idiot like some players and its pretty obvious to him that LA has no one Chicago would want that LA would be willing to give up. So if he really wants a move to LA those comments by him are needed because otherwise Chicago has no reason to accept the shitty deal that LA will offer.

My solution? Pick up the phone, call Chelis to see what he might offer in return for Rogers' rights, and see just how much of a factor this location thing really is to him.

I Have Mono wrote:I agree with what you said in the General Section about the comments he made which basically limited him the LA was pretty messed up on his part; but to me he doesn't seem like an idiot like some players and its pretty obvious to him that LA has no one Chicago would want that LA would be willing to give up. So if he really wants a move to LA those comments by him are needed because otherwise Chicago has no reason to accept the shitty deal that LA will offer.

That's hardly reason for me to be anymore accepting of his actions, is it? LA don't want to give up a player or money? Fine, Chicago aren't particularly enthused about giving up on Rogers either... but the entire basis of transfers in compromise between the clubs and players involved, so if LA really wanted him they'd have to make their peace with giving something or someone up that they'd otherwise not want to let go. Instead they can now offer next to nothing and Chicago will have to accept, or Garber will step in and force Chicago to accept because it'd be bad publicity to keep Rogers from returning. Nothing of this situation or what you have said make me any more inclined to feel less upset about Rogers' actions in this developing transfer saga, tbh.

schrutebucks wrote:My solution? Pick up the phone, call Chelis to see what he might offer in return for Rogers' rights, and see just how much of a factor this location thing really is to him.

I was about to include Agudelo in my solution 30 minutes ago Boston-bound.

Glad the club are working to ensure we don't get screwed over in this mess.

[Javier] Leon, who along with Fire owner Andrew Hauptman met with Rogers and his agent last week, said he understood the player’s desire to return to the game in a familiar setting but was adamant that he needs to look out for the club’s best interest in any deal that would see Rogers join the two-time defending MLS Cup champs.

“Now that the Galaxy are interested in getting his rights, we need to be able to find a solution for the value that we’d be giving up. If at this moment the Galaxy are going to say they want him, we would expect to get a similar value.

“Therefore we will speak to them and we’ll listen to what they have to say.”

http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2013/05/chicago-fire-talks-la-galaxy-over-robbie-rogers-says-president-soccer-operations-javier

Another loss then. McInerney's superb form continues as well.

We clearly play decent football, but these mental lapses that just pop up are thoroughly frustrating. I've seen it all too often with Roma though unfortunately. I'm sure you've seen it as many times with Pool as well, Red.

I dunno though. We probably should've had penalty.