2014 Season Preview - Chicago Fire

Hello everybody and welcome to Super Soccer Ian. I’m going to be noting three tips about the Chicago Fire that would help them improve and make the playoffs next season. This is the second of the series, in case you missed the one about Chivas, click here.

1. The start of the season was slow for the Fire until Mike Magee arrived. When he did, their attacking was absolutely incredible. He became one of the Golden Boot Award candidates, but lost to Camilo Sanvezzo by a goal. I think that they should have a brighter start to 2014 season now that Magee should start at the beginning of the 2014 season. 
2. The Fire’s defense improved over the course of the season. Bakary Soumaré joined the Fire during the season, and he has provided a strong presence in the back. At the beginning of the season, the team conceded a lot of goals. By the middle of the season, they started to score goals, rather than concede. I think that goalkeeper Sean Johnson is very important to the team because they concede most of their goals when he is absent. I think that the Fire may need one more strong defender so that their defense won’t concede quite as many goals, even with the absence of Sean Johnson. 
3. The Fire’s midfield was good this season, and the team tallied 39 assists in the 2013 season, finishing in 12th place with assists. I think that Jeff Larentowicz, Dilly Duka, and Joel Lindpere were very important presences in the midfield role. Mike Magee has also done well in the forward position, previously being a midfielder for the LA Galaxy. I think that their midfield doesn’t currently need any additions, since their midfield was excellent last season. 

Those are my three tips for how the Chicago Fire can improve next season. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Fire in the playoffs of 2014. We’ll see what Frank Yallop can do next season. Next time, I’ll have a three tips page on the Columbus Crew.