The Chicago Fire have added squad depth and quality at nearly every position this off-season. Let’s take a look and see what the Men in Red are working with as they try to turn some ties into wins.
As many have already noticed during the recent Simple Invitational, Frank Yallop’s 4-3-3 formation has looked a lot more like a 4-2-3-1 this preseason. As already noted by Matthew Doyle , this effectively means that with two defensive midfielders on the pitch, the wingers are naturally inclined to drop back and support the central attacking midfielder. For the purposes of this depth chart, I will treat the two formations as one and the same, because the main difference for this Fire squad is having two defensive central midfielders behind a #10, versus having two more attack minded midfielders in front of a destroyer. In the coming weeks, we will explore the pros and cons of both formations in theory and as practiced by the 2015 Fire.
It’s Getting Deep, man… Chicago Fire 2015 Depth Chart
First note – all injured players are included in this breakdown. Mike Magee, Patrick Nyarko, and probably David Accam will be out for the home opener, so do not blindly use this list for your fantasy team.
Another note – Kingsley Bryce and Shahdon Winchester have not yet signed with the Fire but are included in this depth chart based on the amount of playing time they both received this preseason.
GK
Sean Johnson, Jon Busch, Alec Kann
Johnson is the starter in net when he is available. Jon Busch knows this and his comments during preseason have shown that he’s OK with a mentorship role. Both of these keepers could be starters for many MLS teams. Busch will probably get starts during Open Cup and when Johnson is with the USMNT. Kann may find himself in St. Louis for playing time.
LB
Joevin Jones, Greg Cochrane, Patrick Doody, Alex
Before the Simple Invitational, Jones was an unknown to most Fire fans. The W Connection product impressed in Portland and appears to have locked down the starting role at LB. Cochrane only played in left midfield during the tournament, despite being the go-to backup LB last season. Doody struggled under pressure and with the ball at his feet against the Timbers. He may end up in St. Louis. Alex has also played in this position under Yallop and may be an option in the case of injuries or mid game tactical changes.
CB
Jeff Larentowicz, Adailton, Eric Gehrig, Matt Polster, Chris Ritter
When the “Ginga Ninja” moved to center back last season, it was a comfortable shift for the veteran defensive midfielder. He will still be the captain and top choice at center back when healthy. Adailton has lined up next to him in preseason and looked much more comfortable under pressure than Baky Soumare ever did. Gehrig will challenge him for minutes, and will probably be used both at center and right back this year. Polster is listed as a defender on the Fire website, and Yallop called him a center back at the draft. Against the Timbers and Stabaek, he played as a midfielder. He and Ritter can both slide back to central defense if needed.
RB
Lovel Palmer, Eric Gehrig, Kingsley Bryce*
Lovel Palmer is the starting right back without a doubt, and was one of the first players re-signed during the offseason. He’s a fan favorite and had a solid tournament in Portland, looking dangerous on the overlap and competent in defense most of the time. Gehrig also got time on the right, and will certainly see minutes there over the course of a long season and US Open Cup. Kingsley Bryce is the wild card here. Yallop sees him as a right back, despite playing as an attacker in college. Bryce played last week at right back and right mid, and didn’t look awful on defense. If he is signed, he may get more minutes in the back as a pure right sided player, especially if Adailton or Larentowicz miss games and Gehrig is starting as a center back.
CDM
Razvan Cocis, Matt Watson, Michael Stephens, Chris Ritter, Matt Polster
All signs point to Cocis and Watson starting the season in the top spots at this position. Yallop likes Watson, and gave him ample playing time last year. Cocis has always been a first teamer since he joined the Fire last summer. Ritter has been a serviceable backup. Polster has impressed in this role in Portland, and it’s easy to imagine him anchoring a 4-3-3 in the future. But for now, expect him to be bench depth in the midfield unless he continues to impress consistently in training. Stephens is more of an attacking player but Yallop has subbed him for Cocis and Watson often during preseason and he looked good. He can play as a deep lying playmaker as well as an attacking midfielder. I think Stephens will end up winning this spot over Watson but Yallop may not give him the reins yet. Alou Diarra or Jermaine Jones would have both been regular starters in this position (sad trombone).
CAM
Shaun Maloney, Harry Shipp, Michael Stephens, Mike Magee, Alex, Colin Fernandez
Shaun Maloney is wearing the number 10 on his jersey. End of story. Stephens led his club in assists last year and Yallop has used him both in a central role and on the wings during the preseason. Shipp and Stephens both like to play centrally, which causes a bit of a dilemma for Yallop. At any given time, he will have to line up one or two of those players on the wings while the Scotsman plays centrally. Upon a return from injury, Mike Magee could also slot in centrally behind the Fire’s quicker strikers. Alex and Fernandez round out the emergency options in the # 10 role. Fernandez could be loaned to St. Louis.
LW/LM
David Accam, Mike Magee, Harry Shipp, Michael Stephens, Patrick Nyarko, Alex
This is Accam’s spot to lose. Still, all of the other players listed have either played wide left during this preseason or over the past few years. Magee may be playing on the left side when he returns, as he did for the Galaxy. Yallop has shown a tendency to use inverted wingers during this preseason –and for this reason and the sheer number of superior midfield options on this squad, Alex finds himself low on this list. Cochrane is not listed although he saw minutes at left midfield during the Simple Invitational.
RW/RM
Harry Shipp, Patrick Nyarko, Michael Stephens, Alex, Kingsley Bryce*
Shipp fits in here simply because Accam and Maloney have taken his other two preferred places on the pitch. Nyarko will surely be playing on the right wing when he returns from injury, and in the meantime, Stephens will be pushing for a starting spot everywhere in the midfield. Alex was used more on the right side than the left in Portland. In his time with the Fire, Alex has played every position besides center back, right back, and keeper. In this writer’s opinion, right wing suits him the best, giving him space to cut left onto his good foot.
ST
Kennedy Igboananike, Quincy Amarikwa, Mike Magee, Guly do Prado, Shahdon Winchester*
Igboananike has been the first choice striker during the preseason, but he has plenty of hungry goal scorers nipping at his heels. We’ve seen him partnered with Amarikwa in a 4-4-2 at times, and it will be hard to keep all of these strikers on the bench if Yallop decides to keep his 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formations. Magee and Guly can both play out wide, which will be useful if either of them want to crack the lineup regularly. Winchester impressed last week, scoring a 90th minute goal to tie Vancouver, and he may have earned a spot on the roster as forward depth. If nothing else, it’s a relief to know that the Fire’s first choice attacking sub is no longer Matt Fondy.
So what do you think? Excited for the new season? Think this list is horribly misguided? Feel free to leave your two cents in the comment section below.
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