Their own stadium. Too bad there isn't someplace where they are the main tenant's that they could play. Someplace that doesn't seem like a cavernous, empty, pseudo fortress.
A captain. He could be in any of these positions. I just think that the team really needs a true leader. Calvo ain't it.
That’s apparently the opposite of the truth. What qualities are you looking for in a captain that he doesn’t show?
These are just for starters. Being one of the better (or best) players on the team.-Calvo ain't it. Being a player who does not routinely make boneheaded plays-Calvo ain't it. Being a player who demonstrates passion, but steadiness. -Calvo ain't it. Being a player with a track record of success.-Calvo ain't it. Being a player who inspires others to be their best.-Calvo ain't it. Being a player with a vision for the team and the way the team play. -Calvo has never exhibited that. Being a player who can be a vocal leader on and off the field. -Calvo ain't it. There is not a single player on the team who appears to be a leader. The closest seems to be Kappelhoff, but I don't think he has it. That might be longevity more than anything else. Nowak was a leader. If not Nowak, Kubik could have easily been captain. McCarty had those qualities. Even Armas had most of those qualities. Calvo is a mediocre player, seems to be a bit of a hot head, and does not really bring any of the qualities of leadership to the table.
Fire praise captain Francisco Calvo’s leadership qualities Calvo’s personality is valued by coach Raphael Wicky and the Fire. https://www.google.com/amp/s/chicag...-praise-francisco-calvos-leadership-qualities
I can't answer the positional questions because I haven't watched a single Fire game this season. I don't say that with any false pride like those people who proudly proclaim they've never seen Star Wars. Rather, it's just commentary on how the team has slowly lost me for a number of years. The majority of the Hauptman years were hard, but if I squinted my eyes, I could imagine it was 2008 again or 1998 if I had 4 beers. The rebrand hurt me. The inability to go to the stadium this year was hard too. I don't recognize the team, the colors, the players, none of it. The team needs an identity. What remained of '98 was flushed away and replaced with.. what? A blue-clad losing soccer team playing football? This team just feels entirely forgettable and absent a soul.
CJ is a good example, as well. I was trying to remember the Fire captains through history off the top of my head and missed CJ. I would toss in both Larentowitz and, perhaps, Jesse Marsch as their careers progressed. Blanco, to a point. Certainly on the field with his determination and skill. Bastian, and, probably the best of all of them from a leadership perspective- Pardo, are the types of players who could really "lead" this team. Calvo is not that type of player. Even "Captain backpass," Chicago Fire 'Legend' Logan Pause showed more leadership than Calvo.
Admittedly I've only caught a handful of games this year. But from what I've seen it seems the biggest needs are defense and keeper.
Pretty much what I was thinking. Dax and Nowak were also the examples I was thinking of in terms of being a captain (as well as CJ and even Pause). In fact, just to compare the least impactful player out of all the Fire's captains to Calvo, Pause was vocal as the leader. He may not have done much on the pitch with the ball at his feet, but he did all he could to direct traffic, maintain morale, and protected his teammates when calls were made. You can see Calvo doing a bit of that, but also Pause felt like the leader in postgame pressers, same with guys like Larentowicz and Dax. That lack of identity and feeling that the team has no direction comes from that lack of a leader. Calvo might be able to lead his defensive line, but it doesn't feel like he's doing anything for the whole team. He's not helping to instill an identity and a culture.While Pause wasn't exactly instilling his own culture, he learned from past leaders like CJ and Blanco and helped maintain the culture they created. We need someone who can lead the attack on an emotional front and Calvo just doesn't fill me with confidence that he can do that. Sapong, if given the chance, felt like the kind of guy who could take that role but unfortunately he's been pushed so far down the lineup that it doesn't matter.
The captain is supposed to make boneheaded plays, be "responsible" for a disproportionate number of goals (compared to other defenders on the team) and lead the team in red cards, apparently.
Spot on. #1 priority to me is an upgrade at CB. Calvo is the king of boneheaded plays. Need to shore up set piece D. Far too many lapses there.
We lost and got a striker. Not necessarily a step up so at best this is kind of a wash. Sapong’s production was good and will be tough to replace.
Red jerseys, a proper logo without a crown, no yellow, and a city flag away kit. Some sort of Schweinsteiger type midfielder would be nice to have again.
CB, by a country mile (unless Teran is actually ready). Then, a good attacking mid. Finally, f*ck NRod!