The Chicago Fire played their arch-rivals from Columbus to a 0-0 draw on Saturday afternoon in Bridgeview. While the game was far from entertaining, it was a positive step for Chicago to earn a clean sheet and shut down Kei Kamara (the forward had 0 shots). The Fire’s offense was anemic, however, and they were out-possessed for the third time in three matches.
Besides the obvious storylines of “clean sheet, not enough attacking depth on roster”, there are some more subtle things going on with the Fire right now that warrant discussion. Last week we discussed defensive chemistry, and that is one of the key points for the team right now. Another area of concern is the lack of creativity from the forwards.
-Jonathan Campbell and the 3-5-2
Campbell was voted Man of the Match by CSN viewers, as well as many media outlets after the Crew match. He had a solid performance and made several key tackles. One reason Campbell has been playing so well is Veljko Paunovic’s tactics. When the Fire play a 3-5-2, Campbell lines up at center back between Johan Kappelhof and Joao Meira. This allows the inexperienced defender to stay home while his veteran CB partners push up or spread wide to circulate the ball. When the Fire play with three center backs, Campbell has few offensive responsibilities, and has plenty of veteran cover if he makes a mental error. It is also easier for him to pass the ball from a deeper position and with more outlets on either side.
Nelson Rodriguez and Paunovic have spoken about finding a “core” of several young players who will make up the club’s roster for years to come. The 3-5-2 allows them to start potentially three rookie defenders (Campbell, Brandon Vincent, and Rodrigo Ramos) in lower risk situations, giving them valuable playing time. Kappelhof, Meira, and Matt Polster provide just enough security for the rookies to make a couple mistakes here and there. It’s no surprise that the team’s defensive performance has been far worse when playing with a four man backline, largely due to their inexperience and the lack of cover for the inevitable mistakes. The four man backline has exposed Vincent and Joao Meira in particular, while forcing Campbell to ride the bench at the same time. If the 3-5-2 continues to yield shutouts, it would be a wise choice to make that the team’s default formation. It then becomes the rookie defenders’ responsibility to seize their opportunities and take full advantage of the first team minutes in their first season in the league.
-Forward Pairings
If we’re being generous, the Fire have four forwards on their roster. Only Gilberto fits the mold of the classic #9. In a formation with two forwards, the starting line is a combination of Gilberto, David Accam, and Kennedy Igboananike (Joey Calistri is a bench option). All three players were on the team in 2015, but so far, they have looked a bit disjointed going forward. While the team scored three goals vs. NYCFC, one was a PK and another was a bad turnover forced by Accam deep in the New York zone. The third was a nice move from the run of play, but didn’t involve any of the forwards. It’s not a stretch to say that Chicago only look dangerous when Accam is on the field, despite having two other attacking Designated Players. They will need Gilberto to improve his hold up play and passing, and Igboananike to offer the same kind of speedy threat that Accam does.
A worrying sign in the Columbus match (without Accam) was the lack of creative ideas from the forwards. Without a true #10 on the team, the forwards must do more than simply finish plays. They need to be an integral part of the buildup play. In a 3-5-2 with defensive-minded wingbacks, the Fire have just four or five attacking minded players on the field. Poor passing and mistakes by strikers will be magnified and look very bad in this formation.
Igboananike and Gilberto combined for two shots, zero chances created, six dribbles, and a 53% passing completion rate against the Crew. That won’t cut it against anyone in MLS, let alone a defending MLS Cup finalist. With Accam on the field vs. NYCFC, Gilberto and Iggy combined for an 85% passing rate, one goal, five shots, four chances created and four dribbles. In the next few weeks, watch for the chemistry between the Fire’s forwards. This team will be much, much, better if they can get on the same page.
