It was the kind of day Chicago Fire fans dreamed of.
A 5-1 destruction of the New York Red Bulls had the Fire in first place, had Fire fans in ecstacy thanks to some sweet revenge on former coach Juan Carlos Osorio, and had plenty of people talking about a team capable of winning an MLS Cup. That dream day was a month ago.
The Fire hasn’t won an MLS match since.
Three straight losses, including a pair of consecutive road shutout losses capped by last night’s 2-0 loss to Chivas USA, suddenly has the once-might Fire looking very vulnerable. From an offense that has mustered just one goal in three games, to a defense that has begun showing cracks, Chicago doesn’t look like the same team that was shredding opponents in May.
So what is going wrong? Is it the defense? Is it the midfield not creating chances or is it the forwards (Chad Barrett, we’re looking at you) not finishing the chances? Is all the Brian McBride talk unsettling the team as players begin wondering if they’re on the way out?
Injuries and at least one national team call-up (Gonzalo Segares) have played their parts, but you can’t help but wonder if the Fire’s problems go beyond some injuries.
What do you think is going wrong Fire fans? Is it just a slump like every team in MLS goes through? Or is it a sign of some very real issues? Share your thoughts below.
What’s wrong with Chicago?
It seems like it’s the same thing that’s always wrong with Chicago; they always seem to have poor coaching and a lot of decent players, but not enough excellent or great players. Blanco is the obvious exception. They need to trade some of their wealth of decent players for one or two more excellent players. Yes, the injuries are hurting them, but there’s more to it than that. This league needs some more coaches who are willing to shake things up a little. Right now it seems that the word of the day is caution, and the style of the day is “play to not lose”. Yuk!
nicholas s- name one person who’s scrambling for excuses…. we are all pointing out our team’s faults…. the biggest critics of the fire tend to be fire fans…. your ignorance is amazing
No sweat.
Most teams missing Conde, Marmol, and Sega, would struggle too.
Also the one target forward lineup sucks especilally when that one target forward is Chad
Barrett is worthless (USL II material)
Frankowski is even worse because the Fire is paying big money for this joker (the Fire FO is determined to sign any two bit polako to accomodate the idiots in Section8
CJ Brown should have retired.
Logan Pause has no skill what so ever.
Mapp is lazy – what you excpect from a Mississippi boy.
Herron is a joke.
They made a mess of the Conde situation – kiss his a$$ a little and get the guy to play (don’t give me any “he’s injured stuff”).
DC let Pridoux go for good reason – he sux.
Gutti should stick to fighting malaria.
Rolfe is overrated and injury prone – can you say Josh Wolfe?
Besides, Segares, Busch, Blanco, Bakary and Thorrington the Fire might as well trade the whole lot to Toronto for McBride.
And before the little teenage Section 8 twits call me a troll or Revs Sockpuppet – I was involved in Chicago futball while you were all swimming in your daddys’ balls. I have forgotten more about this game than you little chuckleheads will ever know. Most Section 8 fans are more concerned about the odds of a cross town world series than the Fire.
I love to see all the fans of sh|t teams here hating on the Fire, like it’s the only small joy they have.
sorry ; notabbott, my bad.