PREFACE: It’s been a while since I wrote one of these. I’ve been quite busy with life-outside-soccer stuff in addition to being editor, but let’s take a look at the Chicago scene where one team is going in the right direction and one is going nowhere which is the wrong direction.
FIRE: Seven wins from 73 away matches since the start of the 2018 season (excluding the MLS-Is-Back Tournament) is a horrible record. Sunday’s loss to San Jose is the typical loss from the past five seasons where the Fire fail to convert chances and concede in ways you normally see at U12-level (please comment if I’m wrong). I’ve tweeted before that bad teams do not normally get calls and they did not get a VAR call in their favor in the second half when it appeared Judson tripped Rafael Czichos in the area. Of course, the Quakes would score a minute later to ice the match with a Brian Gutierrez goal not withstanding.
Fire head coach Ezra Hendrickson rightly pointed out that the failure to finish chances in the first half was more the reason that Fire came away with nothing (again) on the West Coast. He really needs to explore making some lineup changes.
Kacper Przybylko has gone to seed since coming to Chicago and Jhon Duran should at least be given consideration up front. Xherdan Shaqiri has not lived to his $8 million price tag as of yet and has honestly not been fully fit since the first international break. There are two ways to work this. Either bench him in favor of Brian Gutierrez so the former can work on being fully fit for the long term (as well as for the World Cup with Switzerland), or switch the formation to one where Shaqiri can be more comfortable. Right now, the 4-2-3-1 has not been the most optimal with Shaqiri in it.
After the win last Wednesday against Philadelphia, Hendrickson spoke of the need for consistency in terms of performances that led to three points against the Union. The only thing that has been consistent over the past five seasons have been losses like last Saturday, both home and away. That has to change and nine points is almost an imperative for the Fire’s next three matches–all at home. Otherwise, the next three and a half months will seem irrelevant at Soldier Field.
RED STARS: Take away the seven away wins they got in 2019, and they would still have more away wins since 2018 than the Fire (nine). Yes, they play fewer matches, but they have managed to get results more often than not. Case in point, a 3-0 away win at Gotham FC on Saturday without Alyssa Naeher and Mallory Pugh (and several other players due to injury or maternity leave). Yes, Gotham were without Midge Purce and Kristie Mewis, but the Red Stars are looking to hang with San Diego for top spot in the NWSL and perhaps set up a blockbuster matchup on July 30th at Soldier Field when the Wave visit.
One pain point this season has been the attendance which is averaging at 3,098 so far which is good for last in the league. Whether there is still fallout from the way ownership handled the Rory Dames situation, or whatever, this team deserves more support than they are currently getting and you cannot instantly use Bridgeview as an excuse. People will go the extra mile if the team is winning and the Red Stars could do with a couple thousand more fans coming to SeatGeek Stadium on Sunday against North Carolina (5pm, Paramount+).
ARLO WHITE: Arlo White made his first call of the Fire on WGN on Sunday. White has been a subject of controversy as he has also become lead announced for the LIV Golf Tour which is in direct competition with both the PGA and the DP World Tour and funded by Saudi Arabia’s “Public Investment Fund”. Saudi Arabia’s human rights record is objectionable many have accused the Saudis of “sports washing” through this and other sporting ventures such as the purchase of Newcastle United.
A Fire spokesman stated that White remains on the call this season for the Fire during the Summer as they felt it wasn’t appropriate to judge where he chose to work outside the club. White had recently been replaced by NBC after nine seasons as lead voice of their English Premier League coverage.
While we are disappointed that White has decided to take on the LIV Golf role, we also feel that any conversation about White’s status with the Fire may ultimately seem academic in the end as this will be the last season matches are broadcast on WGN-TV since all MLS matches next season will be streamed on Apple TV. White also contributes to the Fire’s Intercontinental Football podcast with Tyler Tehrens.
IN LEAGUE TWO: Chicago FC United have outscored opponents 23-1 in their last five matches–all wins and that includes a 15-1 thrashing on aggregate in a home-and-home against Chicago Dutch Lions. Last Friday, they downed Chicago City SC, 1-0, at SeatGeek Stadium. They play on Wednesday against City SC at Speer Academy.
FC United have opened a nine-point advantage and will clinch the Heartland Division with one more win. City SC are battling St. Louis Lions for the second playoff spot from the Division. Both teams are level on points, though St. Louis are ahead on goal difference. Chicago Dutch Lions are 1-9-0 on the year and are well out of contention.
