THOUGHTS ON THE FIRE: Five points out of a possible 12 from four home matches is not likely going to cut it for the Fire if they are to show signs of improvement from last season. the match against Vancouver should have been winnable, but much like the home opener against Orlando, it had to take some luck just to get a point late. Eight goals from six matches is also not signs of significant improvement
Make no mistake, there is a lot of talent on the pitch for the Chicago Fire and they are not beset by a rash of injuries to top players save for Przemyslaw Frankowski.
The charge on Veljko Paunovic is that he is coaching like he’s is in a tournament and that there has been no set style of play. Indeed, the Fire played a more defensive posture against Red Bulls while they tried to attack a bunkering Vancouver side, but could not make the most of their possession and chances.
That no one is certain what long-term strategy is for the Fire, if there is one at all, is very disconcerting and will not be conducive to progress after such a wretched season in 2018. It needs to be better against Colorado on Saturday (noon CT, ESPN+).
THOUGHTS ON THE RED STARS: The Red Stars will say otherwise since they were ahead for a majority of the match against North Carolina, but getting a point at the defending champions is a positive start for the season. Yes, they spent most of that match defending against the Courage at home—something most teams will be doing at WakeMed Soccer Park—but you saw the flashes of brilliance including Sam Kerr’s goal and they could have just as easily left with all three points.
North Carolina could have done the same, but for a stellar back four for most of the night and saves by Alyssa Naeher. It took some brilliant skill by Crystal Dunn to finally get the Courage on the board.
Next up is the home opener against Portland and the chance to build on an encouraging start (2:30pm, Yahoo! Sports).
MORE THOUGHTS ON THE FIRE’S ATTENDANCE WOES: The announced crowd was 10,634 on Friday night against Vancouver. It hardly looked like there were that many. Their average attendance is 10,881 after four matches and it’s good for 23rd place in MLS. The only reason it’s not bottom is because Portland is yet to play in their expanded Providence Park yet.
As I have said previously, most of it falls at the feet of the Fire itself for failing to make going to games an event on top of the mismanagement of the club over the past several years. Bridgeview is not completely blameless and chief among their faults was that it took way too long to develop around the stadium after making haste to attract the team back in 2006 and thinking the development will build itself.
Anyone who thinks the problem is Bridgeview itself is not seeing the whole picture and I honestly feel not many in the soccer community has seen the whole picture for some time.
That this team is currently averaging less at the gate than New Mexico United has to be cause for alarm at MLS headquarters. The Fire would be the first time to leave a soccer-specific stadium were they to get out of their lease with Bridgeview and there needs to be a longer-term solution to building a new stadium within the city. Elliott Lewis of medium.com has offered some ideas where in the city, but as I said in a earlier piece, the Fire’s attendance woes go way beyond Bridgeview.
