At this point, yes. I remember at the beginning of the 2017 season I suggested benching Niko. Then he became the Golden Boot. So basically me hating on Niko seems to be good for Niko.
If we are going to sign either (or BOTH), then letting Nikolic go would make sense. Until that day arrives...
We always want to upgrade every position, but this is MLS. Sometimes you are done at a position unless someone falls into your lap. Looking for an upgrade at striker to replace Niko is a waste of time. If Lewandowski’s agent called? Sure. Call Chicarito’s agent about next year? Great. Move Niko while the defense still suffers? You should be fired as GM.
We still need a defender- Marcelo is going to get torched by the better teams in MLS and we've already seen glimpses of this.
This^^^ It's THE mls (lol) so for those who have been paying attention for many years, there are no sure things beyond the current known commodity that is Niko. He's going to be good for 14-30 goals this season so what KNOWN commodity are you going to replace those goals with at less pay? I will wait for an answer.
They believe it will be CJ Sapong , a guy who's had one 10+ goal season in his career. I like CJ , and I believe he'll hit 14+ this season. But I think some these guys are so "stockholm'd" after a decade of Hauptman they think a team can only have one 10+ goal striker.
Then the Fire should sign another, and better, central defender. However, giving up the player who has scored 39 out of 110 goals the Fire has scored the past two seasons in order to do so is just plain stupid.
Despite having two in 2017. Accam-14 Nikolic-24 Of course, as a result, we had to get rid of Accam. We have had 2 10+ goal scorers in the same season 4 times 1999 (Razov, Wolfe) 2000 (Razov, Dema) 2003 (Razov, Ralph) 2017 (Nikolic, Accam) 2005-2010, we had 0
Yes I was pleasantly surprised about CJ Sapong's signing. Nikolic is more of a poacher than a breakaway striker and Sapong provides a quick counter attack option in a way that Accam did. The year Niko scored less the Fire had no quick counter options so defensive back lines could play higher up the field and squeeze the midfield to force more turnovers knowing they could outrun Niko most of the time. Now defenses have to sit 10-15 yards deeper to negate that overothe top ball but it alsoa puts Niko closer to the goal and allows more operating space for link up play through the middle of the park. You really need both types of strikers or a winger with speed for that. It's not apples and apples, but more like apples and pie crust?
I have hated the way that soccer moved to a lone striker or a striker and "false 9" just so that they can clog up the midfield more. Two strikers, dedicated to attacking, can pull apart defenses in a way that a midfielder joing in the attack usually doesnt. Go back and watch video of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke for Man United. They both scored a ton of goals, but often the guy who scored could thank the other one for opening up space for him. I want to continue to see Sapong and Nicolic together.
Or, even just look at CJ's goal on Sat. Nikolic runs near post and draws all the attention so Katai can calmly play the ball across the goal to CJ. One striker there and that goal is much less likely.
BOTH OF THEM, WHILE THEY "STILL" HAVE VALUE! No better time than Nico Gaitan's MOTM performance. Trade him now! No better time that Nikolic's 3 goals in 3 games. Trade him now! Maximum Value!
It's going to get real interesting everyone is healthy because one of these players will likely be on the bench: Frankowski Katai Djordje Gaitan Sapong Niko Unless Frankowski is going to replace Gutjahr...
apples and oranges contract wise but I'll let myself out so you guys can all agree with each other...
The false 9 works best if you have a great technically superior passing team like Barca who is gonna tiki-taka your way into the 6 yard box with 6 midfielders or no true striker and he's going to drop between the lines and play hold up for overlapping runs. For the rest of us mortals...yeah I like a yin/yang system.
Well, at least five of those players MUST be traded immediately, according to you! Katai is out of contract after this season. (option for 2020) Nikolic is out of contract after this season. Gaitan is out of contract after this season. (option for 2020) Djordje is out of contract after this season. (not sure about an option) Sapong is out of contract after this season. (I was surprised about this one) Get value for them ALL before their contracts run out. Hurry, hurry! By the way, it should be Djordje who goes to the bench. He should be a 60 minute or so sub for the rest of the season. Except it is not "apples and oranges," they have the same contract status, both are out of contract after the season (there is an option for Gaiton, not sure if there is for Nikolic, but I suspect there is). https://www.transfermarkt.us/chicago-fire/startseite/verein/432
Eh, get a little rotation going. He wasn't Gaitan, but he had a pretty damn good game Saturday and lots of teams at the top of the standings in this league aren't afraid to play their young players. Plus, we've got some midweek games coming up.