Pre-match: Fire v. The Worst Team in Ohio (Columbus) 3.7.26 6:30 Apple TV

Discussion in 'Chicago Fire' started by xtomx, Mar 6, 2026.

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What happens on Saturday Night in this "Massive" match!?!

  1. Fire win and show that last year's "road warrior" status was no fluke.

    6 vote(s)
    42.9%
  2. Fire draw.

    2 vote(s)
    14.3%
  3. Fire lose to an inferior team in an inferior city.

    5 vote(s)
    35.7%
  4. Something Stupid HAPPENS!!!

    11 vote(s)
    78.6%
  5. Malört (always a good option)!

    9 vote(s)
    64.3%
  6. Rubber Dick!

    7 vote(s)
    50.0%
  7. The Fire had the groundbreaking for the new stadium! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

    8 vote(s)
    57.1%
  8. Why are all pictures of groundbreaking ceremonies so cringeworthy? See above

    8 vote(s)
    57.1%
  9. Well, for not better or for worse, we are at war with Iran. No idea why we are, but we are.

    7 vote(s)
    50.0%
  10. It gives me a horrible empty feeling. especially as it engulfs the entire region.

    6 vote(s)
    42.9%
  11. Really, we are in a very, very precarious and dangerous time and we need remain aware.

    10 vote(s)
    71.4%
  12. Come on, Chicago Fire, make us happy, just for two hours. We Need & Deserve it!

    9 vote(s)
    64.3%
  13. Win or lose, it will be great to just turn our brains off regarding the horror that is the world!

    5 vote(s)
    35.7%
  14. I will be at the match. Road trip to Columbus is always fun, even if that city sucks.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  15. I will be at a bar or watch party, watching on a big screen

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  16. I will be at a bar, watching on my phone

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  17. I will be watching at home, as is my wont

    9 vote(s)
    64.3%
  18. I will be on Big Soccer, cheering (and/or bitching) and making snarky comments throughout the match

    8 vote(s)
    57.1%
  19. I have better things to do with my Saturday night.

    2 vote(s)
    14.3%
  20. I am sleeping in and will not be up at 9:30 in Korea.

    1 vote(s)
    7.1%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    If you’re using an iPhone, you can go into your keyboard -> text replacement settings and create a shortcut. From there, you can create your own replacements.

    For example, you could have the phone automatically change znk -> Zinckernagel.

    This is how I made my phone change the word “shrug” to this: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
     
  2. loonixxx

    loonixxx Member+

    Chicago Red Stars
    Aug 28, 2004
    Soccer Limbo
    Club:
    Jagiellonia Bialystok SSA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    NNNNNNNNNEEEEEERRRRRRRDDDDDD
     
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  3. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
     
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  4. goldclover

    goldclover Member+

    Mar 25, 2010
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Well..it is early in the season...but..I think Berhalter got a steal in getting MBokazi. If not for injuries he has assembled a very good team which is fun to watch despite our laments for missed opportunities. Nor do we have one of those 'superstars' everyone has heard of. Just a good crop of good players that Berhalter seems to have working and Fighting for each other and to win. They never give up...The team can be better yes...(A certain striker starting with an L for instance)...but I have not had as much fun watching the fire for years.
     
  5. overlap_old_coach

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    May 2, 2022
    5 YC in 13min…
    MVP
     
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  6. loonixxx

    loonixxx Member+

    Chicago Red Stars
    Aug 28, 2004
    Soccer Limbo
    Club:
    Jagiellonia Bialystok SSA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    There seems to be a lot more "support" around the field from what I've seen so far this season compared to last. Starting 1-1-1 is perfectly fine. I'm more worried about injuries at the moment.
     
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  7. overlap_old_coach

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    May 2, 2022
    Was wondering about that…

    Moving MVP (Zinck) to the 10 doesn’t replace what Guti brought to the team, and neither is Saletros’ play…the midline to box drive, alacrity!, ball movement, force defensive adjustments is missing thus far. Not sure if it’s what GGG wants, but the compressed into half the field standing around rondo slow build is not generating the volume of final third opportunities we were getting last season.

    It’s not just Guti’s 8/10 play being gone, I think it’s also the removal of the Zinck/MVP wing movement that removed any double guarding on Cuypers and created more shooting chances for Zinck.

    And where you started…Saletros isn’t a 1-2 movement guy and he seems to like a slower pace of play….again, is GGG asking him to be 3/4 a 6 and 1/4 an 8? Or is that just his style?

    Then there is Lod…he seems like a decent quality player that doesn’t know where/how he fits in yet…and we keep changing formation and who plays where. Almost like he’s playing in a pickup game and looking for moments.

    And to the other half of your point…needing a Franco to replace Guti and someone to work with Zinck and Bamba…Lod and Saletros haven’t found it yet and it’s not clear they will.

    It’s not broken to the point it won’t improve, but the offense ain’t clicking like it was…
     
  8. lurak

    lurak Member+

    Aug 24, 2007
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    I'm kind of souring on Saletros already. I just don't know what GGG is asking of the double pivot. Mauri has played great, Dje has played great, Saletros has not. I'm guessing that Saletros probably helps solidify the defense and maintain possession, but the offense seems to be slow and methodical all of the time.

    I'd like to see Oregel back in for a spell to see if he can bring in more dynamic ball movement going forward.
     
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  9. Pennsylvania Dave

    Jul 31, 2012
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    This is exactly where I am. Oragel was very good at pinging long balls forward in line breaking passes and no one is doing that from the 8 currently. I think Dje and Pineda are more number sixes who provide solid defensive cover for the back line and Oragel is more attacking minded. I know Saletros is supposed to be that but I'm not really seeing it so far and wondering why Oragel is getting the high hard one rotting on the bench. I hope he's keeping a good attitude because when his number comes up I think he might be the answer to the problem.
     
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  10. I mentioned in the Roster thread Poreba should get a look there too. He'd bust a nut to get on the field in any position & just because he scored a lot of goals doesn't mean he can't play the CM position.
     
  11. overlap_old_coach

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    May 2, 2022
    In general I’d like to see us get back to dual 8s instead of dual 6s, especially with 3CB…have the 10th player play box to box

    Not having the starting LB & RB is a bummer but I believe we still have the depth to play 4-3-3

    I think we got away from it because of Davilla’s inconsistency and now GGG is stuck tweaking the adjustment….go back to the 4-3-3!!!
     
  12. plezercruz

    plezercruz Member+

    Sep 20, 2004
    I'm one of those weirdos who posts from about 30 different devices depending on what's closest.

    Pete (carries 3 phones and 2 are androids)
     
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  13. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Carry three phones?
    Are you a spy or a criminal?

    Wait, please, don't answer that! Those are the same thing most of the time.
     
    harrylee773, schroncar and plezercruz repped this.
  14. plezercruz

    plezercruz Member+

    Sep 20, 2004
    Well I have my own personal phone. My job will let me use my own phone for work, but they reserve the right to wipe it whenever they want, so that's a no. So I have to have a work phone the company pays for, and that's the iPhone. The third phone is a European band model for when I go visit my family and I just keep it and stay in touch with that. It mostly runs WhatsApp and gets more messages than the other two phones combined.

    Pete (probably doesn't need to carry all three, but still does)
     
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  15. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    #215 xtomx, Mar 9, 2026
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2026
    So? A spy, then. Got it! ;)

    Your secret is safe with us.
     
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