Rumor: News/Rumor: 2026 Chicago Fire Roster Speculation

Discussion in 'Chicago Fire' started by willydonc, Aug 17, 2025.

  1. xtomx

    xtomx Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Take that shit to the Optimism Thread, my friend! :whistling:;)
     
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  2. go fire

    go fire Member

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    Oct 8, 2023
    Against lower to mid table teams.
    .......... Bamba....Cuypers.....Zink........
    .........Anton....Berg....Dje/Oregel........
    ..........................Brady.........................
    ..Gutman..Elliott..Waterman..Barroso..
    Against top tier teams.
    .........................Cuypers.....................
    ................Bamba..........Zink..............
    ..Gutman.....Berg.....Anton... Barroso...
    ..........TLD......Waterman... Elliott..........
    ...........................Brady...........................
    And I'm not saying the Fire should get Berg but a veteran DP defensive midfielder is needed now. Cuypers, Zink and Bamba might not have the quality or health for much longer so don't waste this opportunity on "potential" prospects. Get a veteran stud at #6.
     
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  3. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    Pogba could dominate a midfield.
     
  4. xtomx

    xtomx Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Pogba will be playing in Miami in February.

    Busquets is retiring after today's match. He will be replaced by Pogba (assuming Monaco does not want Pogba)
     
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  5. goldclover

    goldclover Member+

    Mar 25, 2010
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Anyone know this guy Kylian Mbappé? I think I'd take a flyer on that guy...hehe
     
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  6. milicz

    milicz Member+

    Dec 2, 2001
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    Poland
    Can someone explain what TLB stands for. I watched the video that purports to explain it and it didn't explain it at all
     
  7. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The Fire Roster could look like this on 1-1-26:
    GK- Brady, Gal, Fire II
    LB- Gutman, Radojevic
    CB- Elliott, Waterman, Mbokazi, Cupps, Rogers
    RB- Barroso, Dean, Reynolds
    DM- D’Avilla, Pineda
    CM- Saletros, Oregel
    CAM-New DP, Poreba
    LW- Bamba, Mueller, Glasgow
    ST- Cuypers, New TAM
    RW- Zinck, MHS

    19 Senior Roster, 6 Supplemental
    3 DP (Cuypers, Bamba, New CAM) 4 TAM (Elliott, Franco, Saletros, Zinck)
    3 U22 (D’Avilla, Mbokazi, Radojevic, untag-Barroso)
    Guti= sold. Franco= injured. Acosta= departed.

    This would be a substantial upgrade over recent years. Resources Available should be sufficient for this roster. Good group to start season.
    By mid-season transfer window, after more time on the field, coaches will have a better idea of player abilities and further team needs.
     
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  8. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Little fuzzy but apparently refers to Tractor, Loader, Backhoe (TLB) combo picture they show and indicates his defensive abilities, I guess.
    Another nickname for him is Roadblock.
     
  9. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    5 TAM - almost forgot new backup ST
     
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  10. overlap_old_coach

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    May 2, 2022
    I agree...if Franco can return to form by September (Oregel would likely have to play the first 20games) this would be fun to watch.
    ........Bamba....Cuypers.....Zinck
    ..............Saletros.......Franco
    ..........................DP6
    Gutman..Mbokazi..Elliott..Barroso
    .........................Brady


    If GGG doesn't think Franco will be a meaningful piece until 2027, then I could see an argument for a 10...but I would not be as confident about our defense.
    ........Bamba....Cuypers.....Zinck
    ..............Saletros........DP10
    ........................D'avilla
    Gutman..Mbokazi..Elliott..Barroso
    .........................Brady
     
  11. Boltz, Borso, & S. Williams are all supplemental roster players.
     
  12. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    The gap between the first and second divisions, much less our academy and the first team, is simply too large to be useful. It’s the problem the league should be solving, not switching the schedule to have a better chance to sign foreign players.

    MLS teams need to be able to control the minutes their players get in lower divisions to help those players grow.
     
  13. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Absolutely. Did not mean to denigrate them in any way. Valuable contributions can occur from unexpected players ( thinkOregel).
    I started out to just list a 2 deep roster, kinda changed my mind in midstream and kinda cobbled it up. Also neglected to mention Franco. Thank you.
     
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  14. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good point.How to get development minutes for young Supplemental players with potential is a problem. Loans to USL?
     
  15. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    We don’t control USL teams so a loan doesn’t mean minutes. Regional leagues with direct control may be the only way.
     
  16. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Lots of things we cannot control but still can benefit from. USL may be the best, affordable and relatively available solution.
     
  17. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    But it’s basically useless so you shouldn’t label it as a solution. It’s only a solution if it solves a problem.
     
  18. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    The schedule change is a solution looking for a problem. Addressing the gap in development is the problem that needs a solution.
     
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  19. harrylee773

    harrylee773 Member+

    Jul 28, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The problems the schedule change solved were aligning with the international calendar to prevent overlap with national team windows, and allow new signings to begin play as soon as their old contract ends without extending their season. Fixing it did not prevent the league from trying to solve the problem with the gap in development, the two have nothing to do with each other. If the league saw the development gap as problem that needed solving there’s nothing stopping them from working to solve it.
     
  20. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    That’s absolute codswallop. MLS could have avoided national team windows if they wanted. They simply didn’t.
     
  21. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Useless is somebody not thinking before responding.
    You want a team the Fire controls with a level of play between Fire I and Fire II so Supplemental Roster players can get minutes and develop. We have one- Lugano.
     
  22. overlap_old_coach

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    May 2, 2022
    Lots of chatter about Leeds receiving multiple offers for Mo Salah and based on his comments in the press he appears ready to move on.

    If we somehow pull that off:eek:
    .......................Cuypers
    .......Bamba........Zinck..........MO
    ..............Saletros.......Franco
    Gutman..Mbokazi..Elliott...Barroso
    .........................Brady
     
  23. xtomx

    xtomx Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Wow, what a coup for Leeds! :eek::confused:

    There is no f'n way in hell Mo Salah would come to Chicago. If he leaves Liverpool (by way of Leeds?!?) he is going to Saudi Arabia or, perhaps, a team like PSG. I suspect Barcelona might have an interest (allowing Lewandowski to join the Fire ;)).

    Again, we would have to cough up €40,000,000 for Salah. Not going to happen.

    Note, I would be thrilled to be wrong.
     
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  24. TyrusRose

    TyrusRose Member+

    chicago fire
    North Korea
    Jun 17, 2019
    Really doubt PSG go for him, as they've changed their transfer policy after Mbappe left. Though I fully agree, he will be Saudi bound if he chases the money. They're going to offer double/triple what any MLS team could offer.
     
  25. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    That’s ********ing stupid.
     

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