Several times a day I check to see news about a suitable Fire DP acquisition. Every day-nothing. I kinda feel like I did at high school dances way back when. A disappointed nerd.
Im wondering if we should just do a Chivas USA and declare as an expansion team. We need a home practice facility to have any credibility at all. This is the curse of the Hauptmann years (Hauptmann builds ladders in his attic)
Oh, agreed. We need to become a better destination. Next point: This makes a lot of sense. No one wants to go practice in Bridgeview.
This isn't addition by subtraction. Maybe addition by saying "f@ck math" and throwing your calculator away? Either way, I approve.
Lots of conversation, lots of ideas out there now that Hwang is (apparently) no longer an option. Ideas include play with current roster this season, use current roster and acquire “ big-name, high cost” DP striker in June (effectively no help until 2024), use current roster and acquire U22 striker when able. These solutions ignore non-striker acquisitions. Could we get an upgrade/ competitive LB now? I am fervently hoping we do not waste our DP slot for 3-4 years by acquiring a poor striker. GAM may be Black Magic but DP slots are the Invisibility Cloak. DP slots allow mammoth spending to improve a team with only a relatively small budget/salary cap hit of $651K. Max TAM slot limits spending but the budget/ salary cap is $1,000K MORE. U22 slots are also more “efficient” than max TAM acquisitions.
Hwang didn’t really excite me, especially as a DP. I’m upset that we didn’t go after Arango. No reason we couldn’t have provided a competitive bid compared to Pachuca
Several times a day I check Big Soccer to see news about: a suitable Fire DP acquisition, beer/alcohol, food, music, movies/tv, politics, and strange humor. I am only a disappointed nerd about one of those things!
Yeah, just come back after a year or two as Chicago 97 FC and call it a day would be nice. But I also think we can challenge this year and maybe even get a trophy, so it’s tough to say whether ‘credibility’ is worth more than that. Of course, I think we can challenge for a trophy every year, so don’t anyone call their bookie just yet.
ASN seems to think Haji Wright is available for transfer. He has a lot of attractive features- talent (fast, strong, good in air, etc. ), US history, young, USMNT name. After a strong showing when young, he disappeared in Europe for a few years. Now looking good in Turkey. Current salary reported to be modest. Two caveats. Is he ready to return? Can he be acquired at reasonable cost? (Turkish club throwing out $10m, “experts” saying $4m) While both of those are big questions, I think Fire should check him out if they have not yet done so.
If Wright is due for a move to a top 5 league, only stupid cash from the Fire will get him to Chicago.
I don't see him doing anything but ride the bench in a top 5 league. He is a starter/leader in second tier leagues and an Allstar in MLS.
Is $5m stupid cash for him? Is $7m? If a Turkish team is asking $10m, then $5m may be possible. Is $6m for him better than other options discussed for the Fire?
My definition of stupid cash is far exceeding market value. I don't rate him as much as some, but I hope we aim higher. This looks like a "when all else fails" kind of move.
Thanks for your response. As you say, some people may rate him higher than you do but there are some major unknowns here. It is a name I have not heard mentioned as a Fire possibility.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/2...uld-represent-a-new-path-for-the-chicago-fire Here's a story about Dean and USL. More about USL possibly becoming a bigger talent source for MLS.
It’s often hard to project which players can continue to contribute at a higher level of play. That said, there is absolute value in getting a guy who understands long road trips, waiting in airports and not being the most important team in your city—that’s the American player. USL-C absolutely can fill depth on most MLS teams.
For at least the last couple years, the Chicago Fire roster listed on the website contained various inaccuracies and several incomplete listings. Currently the roster shown is much worse than usual. I know the Fire has a lot more serious problems. However, they should realize that fans and (especially) prospective players viewing an incorrect roster immediately think the organization is incompetent and disorganized. Who should I call with my complaint?
Thank you for responses Old Coach and Bunge. I will try the social media outlet. (I am not on speaking terms with chat machines.)
every night I go to bed and think “tomorrow will be the day we sign the guy that turns it all around”