EDITORIAL- A thought experiment for Chicago Fire fans: If I told you before the 2015 season that the Men in Red would have a losing record after 10 games, their only goal from a striker would be scored by a journeyman substitute acquired in a trade for Alex, and that yet another Designated Player forward would be struggling, would you have been preemptively calling for Frank Yallop’s head?
The answer for many fans is a resounding “Yes.” But despite their “topsy turvy” 3-5-2 start, as Yallop has called it, Chicago has somehow managed to give fans cause for hope in 2015.
Since the day he was hired as Head Coach and Director of Soccer, Yallop has promised to field an exciting, attacking squad in Chicago. As he and Technical Director Brian Bliss restructured the roster and salary cap last season, the style AND results were sorely lacking, leading to one of the most excruciating seasons in Fire history. This is no small feat, as his tenure on the bench was preceded by two different eras of spectacular mediocrity: Carlos De Los Cobos and Frank Klopas both underwhelmed with their philosophy on the field as well as their totals in the win column.
It’s safe to say the bar has been lowered significantly since Denis Hamlett led the Fire to the MLS Cup Conference Final in 2009, but last year’s record setting number of draws brought the Fire close to complete irrelevance on many levels.
And yet there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. Several times during this young season, Chicago has attacked in a free spirited manner not seen since a man named Cuauhtemoc roamed the midfield in red and white. The days of conceding 60-70% of possession and playing hopeful long balls to Dominic Oduro have been all but forgotten. The new-look Fire have dominated possession in nearly every game. New DPs, young creative players, and shrewd veteran signings have given supporters hope that all is not lost.
This attractive soccer has yet to translate to a bump in attendance over 2014. Nonetheless, the Fire’s new style of play has reignited the passions of some fans who had all but abandoned the team. The Fire have been genuinely fun and exciting to watch. They also have a losing record and sit behind expansion team Orlando City and the soap opera that is Philly, despite holding games in hand over both teams and hovering near the red line. A more worrying sign is that the main problems with the Fire are ones that have emerged over and over since 2010. Forwards are not scoring, points have been dropped with careless mistakes, and the team has yet to put together a comprehensive 90 minute performance.
So who are these Men in Red, and what should we expect from them in the next ten matches? Are they just the latest set of underachievers in Bridgeview? Are they the second coming of Blanco and Co.? The Fire’s performance over this next stretch of games will tell us a lot about who this team is.
Eight of the next 10 matches are against conference opponents. Most of the teams they’ll face are ahead of them in the standings, and almost every game is a must win. Chicago has wasted games at NYCFC and Kansas City, and at home against Real Salt Lake. Doing the same against Columbus or Orlando could be devastating to their playoff hopes. Home matches during this stretch will be no cakewalk, with DC, Seattle, Columbus, and New England coming to town. If the Fire are going to prove they’re the real deal, this is the time to do it.
Here are a few big things to watch for in the next 10 matches:
-Will any of the strikers lock down the starting spot, or will Yallop look to splash cash in July? The clock is ticking on Kennedy Igboananike. It may have already run out for Guly do Prado. Mike Magee is slated to return to action this weekend against Montreal, and he will be chomping at the bit– if he can gain some form quickly the striker position will be his for the taking. In the meantime, the July transfer window looks more and more appealing by the day. Despite Yallop saying he would not go after a striker in the summer window, he and Brian Bliss have already proven they aren’t ones to shy away from making tough decisions or changes when they feel it is necessary. The club is reportedly seeking to move Igboananike, which could mean a new face at the striker position come July.
–Can the centerbacks stay healthy? Both Jeff Larentowicz and Adailton have played with minor injuries this season, and both are on the wrong side of 30. The options if one were to go down with an injury are Eric Gehrig and Matt Polster. Both are far less experienced than the starters, although Gehrig has logged plenty of minutes on the backline this season, and Polster is performing far beyond expectations. Still, this may be a position the Fire look to bolster in July as well.
-Can Chicago win a game of 11 v 11 soccer? All three Fire wins came in a row, and all three came against teams who were down a man for much of the game. Against Philadelphia and both times against NYCFC, the Fire even appeared to struggle while at a man advantage. The most worrisome of their results this season was the 2-2 draw at Yankee Stadium, which featured a complete implosion in the second half that allowed NYCFC to control the game and eventually reward their constant pressure with a late equalizer.
–Once Accam is shut down, what’s plan B? Now that the league is figuring out how to defend David Accam, the pressure on Maloney, Shipp, and the forwards will be increased. Chicago has been over-dependent on speedsters Patrick Nyarko and Dominic Oduro in the past; is Accam merely the latest Ghanaian to be used in a one dimensional offense until he’s figured out? Chicago has many other tools at their disposal, but they haven’t been able to effectively use them yet. By far, Accam has been the most dangerous player on the field. Harry Shipp and Shaun Maloney will need to increase their production quickly and find ways to contribute to the offense consistently.
Make no mistake: this roster is much better than last year’s, and they are playing much more attractive, possession-based soccer. Time will tell if they are for real, but in a weak Eastern Conference and an expanded six-team playoff structure, they will need to pick up points more frequently than they have thusfar if they want to safely make the playoffs. There is no more time left for chemistry building, tinkering, or excuses. The race for the playoffs starts now.
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
