This ^all day long. It is very possible we will be worse than last year. Not sure why Frankowski is not playing in Europe. He’d be a good fit for a Ligue 1 or Bundesliga team. Semi excited to see what Beric can do.
Nor did I say that. This team certainly doesn't wow you on paper, but we have to see how they perform first. Last years team should have been contending for the cup if we're being honest.
+1 and no way. Last year's team wasn't near good enough defensively. That said, they easily should've made the POs. They got Pauno'd.
I think this is pretty accurate. The defense was absolutely terrible until the end of the season when it was only poor. What a wasted generation.
Oh, and all this speculation about the players? We need to remember that the coach and GM are equally untested.
If Kronholm didn't totally fall off of a cliff in those two weeks between Kiel and coming here and we could convince Basti to play in the midfield, I don't think a backline of Bornstein-Calvo-Kap-Bronico is bad. MLS average, which should have been sufficient given the amount of offensive firepower we had. Anyways, it doesn't matter anymore, because the group is totally different and dumb Pauno is thankfully gone.
Untested in MLS? Yes! I agree Wicky doesn't have much of a resume coaching senior players. But Heitz has a proven record of uncovering and developing young talent. We should have the faith that he can do the same here. The Latin American scout that N-Rod hired has done yeoman work. The fact that signings didn't happen shouldn't fall at his feet. It seems Mansueto and too many Fire supporters believed they could throw money at players and fix everything all at once. However, clubs and players have a vote in all this as well. Fortunately, Heitz has stepped in and reminded everyone; Mansueto, Fire fans, transfer targets, and their clubs that while the checkbook is wide open he won't be taken as a fool. This is exactly why Mansueto hired him. Is there anyone else in the league at his position you would rather have? We may well look back to appreciate that (save Blanco) Heitz may be the biggest acquisition the Fire have made since the inaugural season. Just like it takes a long time to turn around an ocean liner, it will take time to turn it around here.
When we've utilized a pathetic, league-bottom level of financial resources assembling the team amidst an utterly shambolic process, no we don't. This is unacceptable. Come talk to me when we're not short 4 of our 5 highest paid players.
Agreed that Heitz is a proven commodity, but any signing failures should be, at least partially, "at his feet." It is his job. However, I really do not worry too much about players we do not sign (except for that "big name" player, like Chicharito). I am still waiting to see Manseuto throw money at players. We have not really been seriously connected to any big money player. I have yet to see to a report that we even made a legit offer to Pizarro. There were rumors the Fire were "about" to make a big money offer for him, but not that they did. There is actual news that Miami is signing him. Gimenez is not a big name (and, again, there is no verification that an offer was made). Beric is not a big name. That is high praise (even if there is little competition). I hope you are right.
The rumor mill has gone quiet. The "guaranteed" players who would "make us happy" have not materialized. We "lost" three players last week, but not a peep about replacements. It is getting close to desperation time. We are severely short on Forwards, attacking midfielders, right side defenders. We have, maybe, 6 MLS starting-level players: Beric CJ Frankowski (hopefully) Medran Kappelhoff (maybe) Kronholm/Shuttleworth Bornstein should get us through at left back Calvo may be good enough to start again at CB -There should be upgrades for both. Maybe Navarro is the "future" for Bornstein. 2020 Chicago Fire FC Roster as of February 6, 2020: HEAD COACH: Raphael Wicky FORWARDS (3): Beric, Robert Collier, Eliot Sapong, CJ MIDFIELDERS (8): Azira, Micheal Bronico, Brandt Edwards, Raheen Frankowski, Przemyslaw Gutjahr, Jeremiah Herbers, Fabian Medran, Alvaro Mihailovic, Djordje DEFENDERS (7): Bornstein, Jonathan Calvo, Francisco Kappelhof, Johan Navarro, Miguel Angel Pineda, Mauricio Reynolds II, Andre Slonina, Nicholas GOALKEEPERS (4): Kronholm, Kenneth Shuttleworth, Bobby Slonina, Gabriel Sparrow, Connor
Roma stole Monchi and his incredible track record from Sevilla. Despite being allowed to make his own decisions and not heavily constrained by cash issues, he still failed. Heitz is in new territory. His past has no direct translation.
Remember when Rodriguez said the Fire were the 3rd or 4th best team in MLS last year after doing data analysis of the season. Apparently we were in the playoffs but didn't realize it.
Boy, Raheen Edwards sure went through the wringer. Transfermarket says the best correlations are USL players and Without Clubs.
Chicago Fire FC announced today that the Club has acquired defender Wyatt Omsberg from Minnesota United FC. In exchange, the Fire traded defender/midfielder Raheem Edwards to Minnesota United. An odd move. A guy who could not come close to breaking into the Minnesota team (7 games in 2 years, with 2 loan spells) for Edwards, who should be receiving a green card any time now. He was on a $57,500 salary (Edwards made $70,000), so are saving a sliver of money.