What about “backup” striker? Or backup winger? Or backup goalie? Agree Fire better situated than prior years but still a few problem areas.
Senior roster (20) 1 ST Cuypers. 3,667,000e, 3,588,044, 803,125 2 ST Barlow-YE. 250,000amort, 380,000, 380,000 <move to supplemental roster and upgrade 3 AM Bamba. 2,000,000, 5,581,806, 803,125 4 AM Zinck. 872,950, 1,631,290, 1,803,125 5 AM Gutierrez -0- , 950,425, 200,000 6 AM Mueller. 500,000amort, 400,000, 400,000 7 AM MHS. amort., 427,500, 427,500 <read rumor he may want return to EU? X. CM Acosta-PB. -0- , 1,628,477, 1,628,477 <need to free up this cash 8 CM Franco-YE. 1,650,000, 697,083, 1,197,083 <sign and list on IR? 9 CM Pineda. -0-, 475,169, 475,169 10 CM D’Avilla. 4,000,000, 660,490, 150,000 X Kouame-YE. 2,100,000, 693,755, 1,393,755<need to free up this cash 11 Saletros CM ??? Low to mid TAM 1,393,755?<recent add 12 WB Gutman. -0- , 600,000, 600,000 13 WB Barroso. 1,437,800, 345,500, 150,000 14 WB Radojevic 1,500,000, 307,000, 150,000 15 CB Elliott-YE. -0-, 1,008,537, 1,008,537 16 CB Waterman. 500,000, 555,400, 805,400 17 CB Rogers. 174,590, 143,000, 230,295 18 GK Brady. -0- , 348,329, 348,329 Spots #2 upgrade 2nd ST - Hugo insurance that is a persistent threat to score #8 Franco IR backfill CM - Barroso like WB but also good in the middle #19 - CB DP - build the wall #20 - AM TAM that is comfortable to in multiple positions Not sure which is harder to find…a CB worthy of a DP tag or two competent ‘utility’ types, but this would achieve playoff level depth across the formation. Still have to do the math, but this would be my first thoughts.
Schoncar, with all due respect, your response just made me smile. F------ Gal really put me in a sh---- mood over the weekend but it's obvious the Fire are in a good place. Long live GGG's Midas scouting touch!
note to readers- see original posting #257 dated 10-29 in Fire Budget Resources thread for more information, including explanatory notes. Important to remember the assumptions used and the inherent limitations. Some of this is just my opinion.
FIFA release date for 2026 World Cup is May 25. Waterman Will be gone starting then, maybe sooner as he plays for Canada, not sure on return date. Sweden unlikely to go to WorldCup so Saletros ( if acquired)will not be gone. Loss of Waterman would make 3 CB formation difficult. Probably moot because early indications are a pause by MLS during World Cup.
Even if you are not a fan of Matt Doyle, you should read his article posted today includes his take on the Fire’s season and path forward. Lots of pertinent comments, IMO.
We found that CB in Waterman and that CM in Franco. Unfortunately we need to find the next CM and unfortunately it’s not Guti.
I have to agree, Guti doesn’t have the teeth to be a central mid, he’s a great player but we need a beast and Guti is not it
Guti is a talented player looking for a position for both club & country. For his sake, I hope he finds the right fit for his abilities whether its here, or elsewhere.
I'm confident it can still be here, in that GGG's preferred 4-3-3 is a great fit for him...and the switch to the 5-2-3 (3-4-3) was purely because of the team bleeding goals and being unable to handle the high press. Add a DP or TAM CB next to Elliot and either get D'je to make decisions twice as fast or bring in a CDM that can own/reliably manage the space in front of the line (simply replace the MaxTAM FA we signed to do that, but has been riding the bench). This line up would eat! ...................Cuypers .....Bamba....................Zinck ..............Guti.........Franco ..................TamCDM Gutman....Elliot..DP....Barroso .....................Brady
Franco gone for much/all of 2026 (if option exercised). Replace w/ highTAM or DP player. Too soon to make judgement on YaYa’s ceiling. Would think DP better used some other position than CB.
If the Fire think Dje is the "man" next year: ………...........Cuypers ...........Bamba......Zink ...Gutman..Dje..Anton..Barroso .......DP......Waterman...Elliott If the Fire think Dje needs a little more experience: ....................... Cuypers ..........Bamba....................Zink .................Guti........Anton .....................Berg(DP) ..Gutman..Elliott..Waterman.. Barroso
I see GGG using your second formation (4-3-3) but with YaYa at DM. He missed preseason last year. Going through preseason with Elliott and Waterman should produce some growth and improve his consistency. Hold off on the DP at CB until YaYa’s ceiling is better known and Cupps has another 1/2 season to continue his rapid development. I am anticipating the 3CB alignment will be used some but not be the primary one. If it becomes the formation of choice, the demands on the CM and the third CB become greater and needs change.
The tougher the decision is between 5-2-3 and 4-3-3 is for ggg, the tougher the time other teams have dealing with the Fire.
I see GGG going with 3-4-3 next year. Now this would be the "cat's pajamas": .............................Cuypers ......................Bamba......Zink ... Gutman..Berg(TAM)..Anton.. Barroso ... Elliott...Manuel Akanji(DP)..Waterman Akanji is on loan at Inter Milan for $1M from Man City. City contract up in 2027. Only 30 years old. Swiss international. Shaq is going to get in his ear and convince him to play in Chicago. Lets go you men in red!
Patrick rumors were floating at mid-year, before DaVilla play had improved much. Berg was valued at $3-6 million by various sources with 5-6m looking about right. He was said to have $2-3million salary . Not sure how he can be a TAM at these prices Plus, and more important, seller seemed determined to at least $12m. and Berg was said to believe he should be paid $5m per year. Not sure how much of this true. I have not seen any further mention of him, have you?
Also not sure why Fire would pay the demanded acquisition fee and player salary and use the DP tag at this time for another DM, given D’Avilla potential and other Fire needs.
I like Dje and his potential. If he keeps improving he could be a monster. But the shelf life of nine of our eleven starters looks pretty short. Fire were leaking a lot of goals. Why take a chance on potential AGAIN to fix this problem. Get an experienced DP defensive mid and a TAM CB. Fire got lucky and struck gold with their front three. Don't waste it. Use that DP spot a stud DM and go for it!
I see a lot of people asking for a striker depth upgrade from Barlow who by all measure is a great locker room guy and fine to press in the late stages of the match but doesn't score that often. I guess lost in all the shuffle people seem to forget that Fire II's striker David Poreba was MLS Next golden boot winner last year with 18 goals and was awarded a first team contract before suffering an NCL (ACL?) injury in preseason requiring surgery and did eventually come back to play several Fire 2 matches. Also Fire II's striker Jason Shokalook was THIS year's MLS Next golden boot winner with 20 goals in 22 matches. It seems likely that one or both of those guys should have the moxy to make the transition from Next Pro to MLS as a depth striker and probably should get 10 minutes here and 20 minutes there to see if something sticks? Both these guys are already at the club. Poreba https://www.mlsnextpro.com/news/chi...reba-wins-2024-mls-next-pro-golden-boot-award Shokalook https://www.mlsnextpro.com/news/mls...-golden-boot-and-playmaker-of-the-year-awards
Being able to run both is helpful, but I don't think it's that difficult of a decision...if the 4+DM can work it through a high press (and not bleed goals) the 4-3-3 should provide more offense. This is a really good point. I'll add, GGG has stated he is committed to building the bridge between the academy, Fire2, and the senior team. And why sign a guy like Josef Martinez to sit while workhorse Cuypers plays 2800 min! Only answer is 'in case of an unfortunate injury' I can get behind resigning Barlow (hit fits in a lot of ways) and using any additionally monies that would have been used on a 2nd ST on the CB & CDM strengthening.