Chicago Fire

Barely matters. Yallop would have used him as a CB or a wide midfielder in all likelihood, to be honest.

Motogp69 wrote:Envelopes FFS, sometimes the single entity stuff is just crazy

This is why MLS is the best league. lol. Its a game of D&D but Garber is the Dungeon Master and all the PCs at the same time.

RedOranje wrote:Barely matters. Yallop would have used him as a CB or a wide midfielder in all likelihood, to be honest.

Feel for the fire. The RR/Mike Magee trade was an amazing deal, but other than that I feel like every move and trade they've made the last few years has made them worse. MLS could really use a team in a big Market like Chicago to be better run than it currently is.

Shaun Maloney from Wigan Athletic as our final Designated Player...

So the fire went from zero to 3 dps in the offseason ?

Notbad.jpg

Can't help but feel there's little plan to them though beyond signing whoever was available. More forwards and wide attackers is not what Chicago really needs.

Yeah the backline is a bit weak.. But the Fo has been really proactive.

Defenders are cheap so when there are only three dp spots per team imo it's just a better idea to use Dps on forwards and midfielders.

Hopefully the new cba raises the cap a decent amount with an additional DP spot. Would make paying defenders big money a bit easier when necessary

Maloney will be great

Larentowicz listed as a defender on Chicago's official roster for the season (as of now) so it seems Yallop intends to permanently shift him into the backline. That leaves us with roughly 2 CM options: the newly arrived Matthew Watson and quite inexperienced Chris Ritter.

We're certainly loaded with attacking players, though the quality the some of them is questionable.

Nowhere near enough depth in midfield there. Still another month and change before the season kicks off at least so hopefully that gets addressed.

Maybe? Two of our DPs are primarily left-sided attackers; Magee is a cult hero and league MvP season before last then largely injured last season when Amarikwa stepped up, but Igbo is the final DP and only really a CF; Shipp had a break-out debut season and really deserves continued confidence while Nyarko has been a consistent contributor to the club for season upon season; 4 of our 6 midfielders are either wide or attacking in nature, excluding the two already mentioned.

Lack of depth at DM or even B2B CM is still a worry. Gotta have some steel to accompany the silk.

You think Laurentowicz is more valuable in midfield or defense?

McLewis wrote:Lack of depth at DM or even B2B CM is still a worry. Gotta have some steel to accompany the silk.

You think Laurentowicz is more valuable in midfield or defense?

Was never incredibly impressed with him at CB... always looked a lot like what he was, a CDM playing as an emergency CB, serviceable but clearly a bit uncomfortable and an easy target for opponents.


Segares has announced his retirement from playing, so that's our primary LB gone now too.

First match of the new MLS season in half an hour as a new-look Chicago Fire take on reigning champions LA Galaxy in Los Angeles.

And the novel new formation for this Chicago side trying to do all it can to shift away from the dull, record setting number of draws last season? Another flat 4-4-2...



A CDM (our best CDM/CM) at CB, a CAM in CM, and a very mediocre right side. Exciting times ahead. I wonder if we can hit 19 draws this season?

Could've been so much worse tonight...

Positive? We didn't draw

Jones had a rough night against Ishikazi, who had his way with him down that flank. Igboananike was in Gonzalez's pocket all night as well. Maloney looked ok, but will need time to gell with the team obviously. Larentowicz really doesn't convince me as a CB. Gehrig was solid and committed though.

Best player was probably Amarikwa. Very combative and worked his socks off all over to make chances.

This team will do just fine. Just needs to gell and get used to Yallop's relatively new system. 19 draws? I really don't know. Depends on what we can do with some of our bigger players back. I have to believe we'll unlock more defenses this year than we did the last.

Any idea if this Victor Perez will be available against Phillie?

I count 9 appearances for Levante this season and only 3 of those as a starter. He hasn't appeared for them in over 3 months from what I'm seeing and that was a cup match. His last league appearance was back in October.

Based on that, I'd be very surprised if he's match fit for today's game.

That is not a line-up that inspires confidence. AGAIN we're playing a CDM at CB. What is Yallop's obsession with that?

Not even surprised we're losing at home to Charlotte, to be honest. I get the feeling that the Fire have underestimated their opponents badly for this match.

Excellent win against Dallas. A true upset that was.

That win was the oasis in the desert of mediocrity from this side. I'd say I hope this starts something of a run of form, but I think it might be a misnomer unfortunately.

http://www.chicago-fire.com/post/2015/11/30/chicago-fire-soccer-club-exercises-options-four-players

The Fire has exercised options on midfielders Kingsley Bryce, Matt Polster and Harry Shipp, as well as defender Patrick Doody.

...

The Fire also declined options on nine players, including: Adailton, Jon Busch, Razvan Cocis, Greg Cochrane, Jason Johnson, Alec Kann, Jeff Larentowicz, Lovel Palmer and Chris Ritter. The loan deal for Daneil Cyrus has expired.

...

The following players are currently out of contract: Ty Harden, Mike Magee and Matthew Watson.

Another year of upheaval and transition incoming.

A new chapter begins tonight.

The first day of global dominance!
The mission to a World Cup challenge starts under Bastian Schweinsteiger's guidance!

Chicago Fire vs the I'm going to say Carson City Lumberjacks!!