Pre-match: DECISION DAY Fire v. New Engerland 10.18 5:00 PM (note start time) Apple TV thingy

Well, for the first time since 2013, the Fire actually have something to play for on Decision Day.

As you might remember, ALL the Fire had to do was not lose against New York in 2013 and they were in the playoffs. Instead, they lost the match (badly, 5-2, Magee opened the scoring in the 6th minute, and the floodgates opened) and Montreal pipped the Fire into the playoffs on the second tie breaker, depriving us of watching MLS MVP Mike Magee in the playoffs.
It cost Frank Klopas his job as Fire coach (and he was subsequently hired by Montreal less than two months later. Conspiracy?!? Nah, we were rational and didn't actually believe in conspiracies back in the halcyon days of 2013).

Okay, we all have been feverishly playing with the scenarios, EVEN Racoon on Tuesday! Since there was a thread started last night (thanks @schroncar for starting it) discussing the various permutations involving the playoffs. That saves me an hour of researching and writing this Preview, as I attempt to "do the math" (not my strong suit, anyway).

I won't rehash all of it, but I will say one thing;

THE FIRE MUST WIN TONIGHT!

Yes, the Fire are win the playoffs regardless, but avoiding the Play In Playoff match would be a huge help. They do need quite a bit of help to overcome Orlando and/or Nashville, but a win is essential.

Fortunately, the Fire are playing New England, a team that are not terrible, but a team that has very little going for them at the moment. They are rudderless, lack motivation and are basically just useless right now. That said, can they muster up anything to try to play "spoiler" for the Fire's last gasp move up the table (goddamn that last minute penalty by Toronto still hurts).

Despite how much the Fire have sucked at everything for the past 10+ years, we STILL have a winning record versus the Revolution, just barely. The Fire have won 28, drawn 21 and lost 25.

Of course, the Fire have been very, very good on the road this season (something I don't think we have ever said before this year), and did head East to kick New England's ass in the US Open Cup 3-1 in the Spring (in Rhode Island). The Fire also smacked the bastards from outside of beantown in August at Bridgeview, winning 3-2.

I do not see ANY reason why the Fire cannot bitch slap them again this afternoon/evening.

The Revolution have no head coach, as Matt Reis' mother, no, wait, Caleb Porter was sacked after the shellacking the Fire put on them last month (okay, it was a week later, after New England failed to beat Toronto, but still).

As is usually the case, Carles Gil leads the Revs with 10 goals and 13 assists. Sending him out of the match early in a "Cook County Taxi" would pretty much ensure a Fire win (NOT that I am advocating for injuring another player, but I wouldn't shed a tear if something happened to him on the pitch).
Next is Leo Campana with a spectacular 7 goals and 1 assist.

Beyond that, the Revolutions are pretty useless.

The Fire are relatively healthy (except for Franco's rash decision and subsequent serious injury)
Chicago Fire FC

• OUT: Leonardo Barroso (lower body)
• OUT: André Franco (lower body)
• OUT: Chris Mueller (not due to injury)
• OUT: Viktor Radojević (lower body)

New England Revolution

• OUT: Ignatius Ganago (calf)
• QUESTIONABLE: Ilay Feingold (ankle)
• QUESTIONABLE: Matt Polster (rib) [yes, he still had a job]
• Brayan Ceballos (NE) - Suspended: Yellow Card Accumulation
  • October 18 vs. CHI
  • Peyton Miller (NE) - Suspended: Red Card - Violent Conduct
  • October 18 vs. CHI

If the Fire score tonight, they will equal their all time goal total (from the great 2000 team) with 67 goals. I think the Fire smash that record tonight!

With a goal tonight, our lovely, precious Phillip Zinckernagel can become the Fire's first ever 15/15 player. He gets that milestone tonight.

With a goal tonight, Cuypers would have 18 goals on the season, I believe that would be tied for second most in a single, with Ante Razov in 2000 (Note, Magee had 21 in 2013, but 6 were while he was with LAG). I don't see him catching up to Nikolic's 24 from 2017, though.
Wouldn't that be something if Cuypers scored 7 tonight?!?

My ALWAYS ACCURATE Prediction?

Fire win 3-1 or 4-1, making am emphatic statement going into the playoffs.
Cuypers, Zinckernagel, Gutierrez all make it onto the score sheet.

 

By the way, since New England are bereft of ideas the "theme" for the match is:



What a sad ass promotional poster (and a sad ass promotion).
I will say I was in Boston once in the 1990's and had a heck of a fun time.

 

Cause it's
DECISION DAY!
That's why.

Really, so Apple could have the West Coast matches start earlier than normal.

I imagine they lose much of the Eastern half of the country having the West Coast matches start at 9:30. Of course, most of the West Coast teams suck, so nobody around here wants to watch anyway.

 

Well, I appreciate it as my better half snagged free tickets to her theater for a performance tonight and I have to go. It starts at 7:30 pm (CDT), so can I can watch the Fire match and then head to the theater. I really don't want to go, but I will do my "duty" and head over there.

If the match was at 7PM Central, I would stay to watch the match and she might be made at me! (actually, she doesn't get mad about these things).

 

Well, I had to take the dog to the doggie emergency room, as she broke another toenail and won't let me near it.

Well, as far as emergencies go, this is pretty far down the scale, but she will probably be here for hours. Waiting for the triage to tell me how long it will be.

 

Thanks.
It turned out be a bit of nothing.
Just the toenail and not the toe. Vet removed it and she was back home in an hour or so.
No anesthetic or pain meds or anything.

Doggie is pretty fortunate this time.

 

Gutierrez on the bench! A bit surprised by this, but okay.
Pineda on the bench.

That said, it is a damned decent bench.

 

I have had two surgeries on my big toe.
I was moving Christmas trees and dropped a 12' Scotch pain on my toe.
Didn't break the bone but, worse, I smashed the plate under the nail. Once it grew back, it started to grow sideways through the side of my toe. It took two surgeries to fix it. Had the "big shoe" for a few weeks.

 

Especially with no insurance!
First surgery was a bit of a hack.

Once I had insurance, I had it fixed properly.

 

He signed a long term contract last year, through 2028, I think.

Confirmed by capology and transfermarktl.
https://www.capology.com/club/chicago-fire/salaries/2025/
https://www.transfermarkt.us/chicago-fire-fc/vertragsende/verein/432/vertragsendeJahr/2028

 

5:00 and the annoying season Passhole music still going on now.

Wait! Here we go. Random pictures, but no Fire players. Two pictures of Messi.

 

9 wins
41 goals scored
for the Fire on the road.

After tonight?
10 wins
45 goals scored.