The 2016 Major League Soccer season kicked off last Sunday with a full slate of matches. Chicago Fire SC played two games in the first week of the season – their home opener against New York City FC was followed by a Viernes de Futbol matchup at the Citrus Bowl against Orlando City. Chicago lost 4-3 to NYCFC in the opener and drew the Lions 1-1 while playing with 10 men for nearly 70 minutes.
One point from two matches is not an ideal start to the season though it is already better than 2015’s zero points from three matches. And although the team has yet to have a lead in 180 minutes, they are showing positive signs tactically and in their mindset. As we reflect on the first two games, here are some early trends to look for going forward.
-Flexible Tactics:
Veljko Paunovic has already trotted out more formations in a week than Frank Yallop did during his whole tenure in Bridgeview. While the Fire came out in a 4-2-3-1 to start the match vs. New York, they adjusted at halftime and played a 3-5-2 to close it out. They also lined up with three center backs in Orlando, until Michael Harrington’s red card forced the team to defend with two banks of four to preserve the result.
Flexible players allow Paunovic to make in-game tactical adjustments, and it’s a good sign that he has been confident enough in a young team to make in-game adjustments early in the season. Brandon Vincent and Michael Harrington have performed well at the wingback position though Rodrigo Ramos may be the long term answer in a 3-5-2 system. He has more pace than Harrington and would offer a threat on the right wing to mirror David Accam’s runs when the forward drifts to the left wing.
-Mental Toughness:
So far, the Fire have not held a lead. But on the flip side, they have scored four “come-from-behind” goals in two matches. It’s hard to imagine last year’s team making that NYCFC match competitive, or holding Orlando to a draw while down a man. Goals in the first ten minutes of games lead to losses more often than not in 2015. Perhaps more important than statistics or score lines, Chicago seems to be passing the eyeball test right now. It was apparent last season that the team would lose confidence and composure at important times, such as late in matches or immediately after being scored on. The Yallop-led Fire mastered the art of turning wins into draws and draws into losses. Paunovic’s team seem to dig in and fight harder as soon as they go down, which is a necessary trait for a rebuilding club.
While the home opener was far from a masterpiece defensively, Chicago could have easily stopped pushing once they went down 3-1. Instead, they scored two of their own goals and constantly tested the City goal in the final third of the match. The four goals conceded were reflective of the team’s defensive lapses, but the three scored by Chicago were a silver lining considering they were put on their back foot early.
Chicago could have won the Orlando match. They had multiple golden chances to take the lead while playing with 10 men. Cyle Larin’s 4th minute goal could have sunk the team’s morale, but instead, the Fire equalized less than ten minutes later. They showed maturity in the way they defended and picked good times to counter attack through Accam and John Goosens. Both games last week showed that Paunovic has his men fighting for each other and playing with confidence.
-Defensive Chemistry and Depth:
The backline was in shambles in the first match. Joao Meira, in particular, was underwhelming against New York but was named to MLS’ team of the week after the Orlando match. Michael Harrington has had a rough couple of outings, earning both a yellow and red card and being kicked in the face in a miscommunication with Meira in the first match. Johan Kappelhof has been a bright spot on the back line, but the overall chemistry looks to be a work in progress. If Chicago can keep the defensive lineup consistent, they will eventually gel. Brandon Vincent and Rodrigo Ramos are legitimate prospects who will be playing next to seasoned European veterans for at least a season.
But with that statement comes a caveat: Last year’s defense suffered from injuries, and never quite got going. Eric Gehrig is still injured. The back line lacks depth, especially with all three healthy center backs playing significant minutes together. If Kappelhof or Meira are injured, the defense goes from promising to scary very quickly.
– Accam vs. Everybody?
David Accam has put on quite the show so far, with two goals and an assist in the first pair of matches. He has featured in the top three in MLS’ “Audi Player Index” and is quickly becoming the worst kept secret in MLS Fantasy –listed as a midfielder but lining up as a forward more often than not. His ridiculous speed was on display in the Orlando game in particular. However, with Gilberto injured, the Fire are in danger of relying too much on Accam for goals. While it’s tempting to play “route one” soccer with his speed up top, the team needs to work on their midfield chemistry and find other options for scoring.
Kennedy Igboananike needs to be a consistent scorer this season to justify his salary. Joey Calistri will get plenty of chances to prove himself before the summer transfer window opens and he would do well to take advantage of some MLS minutes in his rookie season. Goossens and Arturo Alvarez will also have to chip in a couple goals each for the team to compete this season. If Gilberto and Accam are the only two scoring threats, Chicago will be far too easy to defend against in the coming months.
-Lampson vs. Johnson:
Everyone’s talking about it, and for now, Matt Lampson appears to have the job. Paunovic stated in a press call this week that every position is up for grabs in training. If Sean Johnson can’t beat out Lampson in the eyes of this coaching staff, one has to imagine he would look for options with other clubs.
So there is plenty to watch for in the weeks ahead. Chicago has a struggling Columbus at home this Saturday. There wouldn’t be a more pleasant way for Paunovic to earn his first Fire win than beating a hated rival in front of Section 8.
Main Photo: Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images
