News: 2021 Roster Speculation Thread

Discussion in 'Chicago Fire' started by xtomx, Nov 12, 2020.

  1. splunge63

    splunge63 Member+

    Mar 30, 2014
    west burbs
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nice signing.
     
  2. ChiFan552

    ChiFan552 New Member

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    Dec 26, 2020
    The Fire has had the message that they are doing a youth movement, and seems that way with the most recent signings. My question is, how does everyone feel that the signings seem to be mostly international signings as of late and not continue to build within through the academy as Dallas, Philly, and and others have done? I'm not saying it's a bad thing (as long as they pan out)...but just curious if there is a preference how we are getting these young guys on the team.
     
  3. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    Until we can clean up the academy this probably makes sense.
     
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  4. ChiFan552

    ChiFan552 New Member

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    Dec 26, 2020
    What is wrong with the academy? I heard Cattenoy came in a few years ago and changed things a bit. Also heard last year's U17 academy team as really good, and good enough to sign 5 HGs last year. Just curious if you can elaborate what needs to get clean up.
     
  5. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    Oh, I’m just speculating that after a decade of Hauptman and now a change of ownership, they’ll be revamping things and until they do they will not rely on the academy as much.
     
  6. CMeszt

    CMeszt Member+

    Farewell Sweet Prince
    Jan 9, 2004
    Gentrification's Apex.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Also, no in-house USL options to give these guys minutes (and probably won't be happening until they can get a SSS). Madison and Indy were fine, but probably not as good of a setup as North Texas or NYRB2.
     
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  7. splunge63

    splunge63 Member+

    Mar 30, 2014
    west burbs
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    #182 splunge63, Jan 12, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2021
    Some general observations from a guy who isn't close to the inner workings of the Academy:

    - we've had a grand total of 2 HGP become impact players. vast majority have been bit players or busts. so, long term fans are pretty salty there.
    - given its population base, the floor for Academy teams should be good. expectations and results should be high
    - signing 5 new HGPs in a year is a shit-ton (Slonina frenzy!, lol).
    - I'm pretty comfortable that the new regime is going to cultivate the Academy well. Was that a big priority in their first year. No, and rightfully so.
    - I hope that the braintrust regards the Academy as another source of prospects, and plans to utilize it going forward. As to it becoming the primary source? No chance, IMO. But a significant conduit? Yes, eventually.
    - NRod/Cakes took a scalpel to the Academy a few years ago
     
  8. ChiFan552

    ChiFan552 New Member

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    Dec 26, 2020
    Totally agree.
    The question is, is the cost of international unknowns worth it versus the cost of cultivating homegrown talent. Look at Aliseda for example...this has been a pretty costly experiment thus far, and his talent shown so far has not been worth what he is being paid.
     
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  9. CMeszt

    CMeszt Member+

    Farewell Sweet Prince
    Jan 9, 2004
    Gentrification's Apex.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    The fact that there are two other DA clubs in the metro competing with the Fire, and those two are located closer to the traditional youth soccer hotbeds of the Chicago suburbs doesn't help things.
     
  10. splunge63

    splunge63 Member+

    Mar 30, 2014
    west burbs
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Not going to criticize the braintrust and Joe for going for it. More of the same, please. Are there going to be misses? Sure, goes with the territory. WRT Aliseda, key thing is "so far."
     
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  11. splunge63

    splunge63 Member+

    Mar 30, 2014
    west burbs
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    It doesn't, but the list of pros coming out of those 2 clubs over the past 10 years isn't voluminous. Humungous difference between good college player and MLS player (in the top 18, anyway).
     
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  12. splunge63

    splunge63 Member+

    Mar 30, 2014
    west burbs
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    #187 splunge63, Jan 12, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2021
    Circling back...it's a given that the vast majority of 17-20 yo international prospects are going to be unknowns to not only casual fans, but 95%+ of fanatics too. I'm happy that our scouting department is more than an intern with a crappy PC and Youtube.

    And then there's the issue of would you rather roll with young, "unknown" players or over the hill, name guys? Obviously, it isn't an exclusive-or, but I'm wholly in favor of a pretty heavy weighting to the kids approach.
     
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  13. juicecrewallstar

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    Mar 1, 2019
    I'm not giving up on Aliseda yet -- I think there's a chance he's a contributor

    not worth a DP spot though

    articles say he signed through 2023 -- anyone know if any of the later years are option years?
     
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  14. splunge63

    splunge63 Member+

    Mar 30, 2014
    west burbs
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    #189 splunge63, Jan 13, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2021
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  15. GHjelm

    GHjelm Member+

    Apr 23, 2008
    Batavia
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    I honestly feel like a part of real, professional organization. God bless Joe Mansueto.
     
  16. splunge63

    splunge63 Member+

    Mar 30, 2014
    west burbs
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    QFT. After all our years of suffering, it's flipping wonderful to have a committed owner with very deep pockets.
     
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  17. CMeszt

    CMeszt Member+

    Farewell Sweet Prince
    Jan 9, 2004
    Gentrification's Apex.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Agreed. I have no idea if Heitz is or isn't going to be a bust, but Mansueto's investments are refreshing.
     
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  18. splunge63

    splunge63 Member+

    Mar 30, 2014
    west burbs
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
  19. lethargytartare

    lethargytartare Member+

    Oct 2, 2000
    Magrathea, Horsehead Nebula
    Club:
    Yeovil Town FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    I've been saying for years to jags like ironyouknowwho that the problem with Andy's cheapness (insolvency?) wasn't a lack of DPs, it was the lack of investment in everything else - the areas that don't have a freaking salary cap are where the owner can make a difference. Any MLS team can finagle an extra DP.
     
  20. krolpolski

    krolpolski Member+

  21. Fanaddict

    Fanaddict Member+

    Mar 9, 2000
    streamwood IL USA
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    xtomx repped this.
  22. CMeszt

    CMeszt Member+

    Farewell Sweet Prince
    Jan 9, 2004
    Gentrification's Apex.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    College soccer didn't even happen this year. The talent well from the draft gets drier every year but this especially looks to be true this time around.
     
  23. pena pirata

    pena pirata Member+

    Sep 28, 2013
    Batavia
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Crap shoot.
     
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  24. xtomx

    xtomx Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    2021-Crap shoot squared
     
  25. Fanaddict

    Fanaddict Member+

    Mar 9, 2000
    streamwood IL USA
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In all sports the not so smart organizations always call drafts crap shoots the smart ones don't, they pick the right guys that can help.
     
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