Still a shit ton of holes to fill. As of right now I am expecting the team to regress to it's mean this season.
Assuming Schweinsteiger re-signs and Accam isn't shipped out, I predict similar results to last year. There would actually be some consistency for once, but we clearly need some upgrades to challenge for anything. Now if we also sign Quintero and a good Keeper (Casillas or whoever), then we'd be contenders.
If they don't come up with the attacking mid and/or another consistent goal scorer then we have no hope for improvement. I am willing to give them until the first game to come up with those. We shall see.
More holes than swiss cheese. Are they fillable? Yes. Will Cakes let NRod make quality acquisitions (i.e. spend)? I highly doubt it. I'm in the same boat as you, wait and see.
Mathew Doyle retweeted that Gustavo Scarpa, a number 10 playing in Brazil is available on a free transfer and would be what the Fire need - I agree!
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018...olution-s-lee-nguyen-requests-offseason-trade The sources said that New England are reluctant to move the playmaker and that it’s no sure thing that he’ll be traded or transferred by the Revolution, who open camp on January 22. The sources did say that Chicago are among the teams that have spoken to New England about a potential deal for Nguyen, who has a guaranteed contract in 2018 and two club option years in 2019 and 2020.
Jiggs requested I refrain from soiling his pristine draft page so any discussion should continue here. As I just reported on my Periscope: Sources tell me Chicago Fire have agreed in principle to a trade sending HG rights for Cam Lindley to Orlando City in exchange for Rafa Ramos and allocation money. #MLS #OCSC #cf97— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) January 13, 2018 Paul Tenorio @PaulTenorio As I just reported on my Periscope: Sources tell me Chicago Fire have agreed in principle to a trade sending HG rights for Cam Lindley to Orlando City in exchange for Rafa Ramos and allocation money. #MLS #OCSC #cf97 12:34 PM - 13 Jan 2018 The festering pus of the Andell era oozes into sight. #HauptmanOut #cf97— Trancendental Willy (@SkywayWilly) January 13, 2018 Skyway Willy @SkywayWilly The festering pus of the Andell era oozes into sight. #HauptmanOut #cf97 12:50 PM - Jan 13, 2018
Sucks about Lindley , but at least they got something out of it . Ramos seems to have an injury bug , but has shown to be a capable MLS RB when healthy. Supposedly Gutman IS signing a HG contract so the Fire will have depth on both sides of defense . Still thin at CB unless they've decided Bastian (if signs) will be dropping back in that role.
Maybe the GAM/TAM is the star of this deal and Ramos was a throw in. I wouldn't mind so much if the pipeline was strong, but it's not. Ex-Chicago Fire Academy captain Lindley will blossom with Kreis & Klejstan and the Chicago Fire will still be a bunch of mercenaries.
I think the gutting of the academy has a lot to do with this. I remember talking to a kid over at the Adidas store in Aurora, he told me that Sunderland was the best coach he ever played for and that it was stupid of the Fire to let him walk away and that it would have an adverse effect on the players in the academy. Also getting rid of all of the coaches, like Sega, that embodied what the Fire used to hold true didn't help either.
Weird, I had a classmate in the academy and he was telling me how everyone hated Sunderland. Said the team won in spite of him. On the other hand, everyone loved Sega and Pause. Thought they were the best.