This is one in a series of team previews preparing fans for the 2023 MLS season. Check out the full list; teams will be revealed in predicted order of finish from Feb. 10-24.
What Chicago Fire FC did last year
They did Chicago Fire things. There were absolutely no surprises from a team that has made the playoffs exactly two whole times since 2010. TWO. WHOLE. TIMES.
They’re so predictable at this point that they followed my patented Chicago Fire Process to a T. Let’s review.
I can see it → Oh, no → Oh, yikes, no → Well, maybe → Nope → But let’s just… → Oh, ok immediate no on that → But what if they tweak this → This looks better! → OH NO. THEY GOT ME AGAIN → No. → I’m not falling for that → No, forever. → Offseason → I can see it.
We’re back at the beginning now. There’s just one problem. I can’t even really see it this time. After yet another season missing the playoffs and just generally looking underwhelming, there’s absolutely no reason to expect anything from this group.
Key additions
Goalkeeper Jeff Gal (free from Degerfors IF), forward Maren Haile-Selassie (loan from FC Lugano), defender Arnaud Souquet (transfer from Montpellier HSC).
Key departures
Defender Jonathan Bornstein (out of contract), forward Jhon Durán (transfer to Aston Villa), Gaga Slonina (transfer to Chelsea)
Making the case for Chicago Fire FC
Ah man, I didn’t know we’d have to actually make a case for this team. These things are meant to try us, I guess. Let’s take a deep breath and envision a world where this all works out for Chicago.
I’d imagine it looks something like a Year Two Bump of some kind under head coach Ezra Hendrickson thanks to a Year Two Bump from Xherdan Shaqiri who puts in an MVP-caliber season with a little help from winger Chris Mueller and the addition of a DP-caliber no. 9 at some point. Crazier things have happened.
But in a stacked Eastern Conference, Chicago are the odds-on favorites to bring up the rear. They’ve earned it through over a decade-plus of consistency and an offseason that’s lacked major signings.
Players to watch
We love Chris Mueller in this house and still consider him an above-average winger. You’ll also be familiar with Xherdan Shaqiri, of course. And then there’s … uh … well, I mean some people are relatively high on defensive midfielder Federico Navarro? Or I guess Young DP winger Jairo Torres could put it together this year after a terrible first season?
Man, after losing Jhon Duran to Aston Villa for a record fee this offseason and sending goalkeeper Gaga Slonina off to the Chelsea loan army, there just aren’t that many folks worth keeping an eye on. Maybe Slonina’s replacement, another USYNT kid named Chris Brady, will be the next young star in Chicago?
A nerdy tidbit
Per American Soccer Analysis, Chicago finished 13th in the league in expected points last season. That’s well ahead of multiple playoff teams, including Austin FC, FC Dallas and Orlando City. A little more luck and they could have been in the postseason. It’s honestly the single best reason to believe in the Fire to get it together this year.
A fun tidbit
You have made the playoffs just two fewer times than Chicago Fire FC since 2010.
Projected finish
15th in the East
Solid underlying numbers aside last year, it’s hard to see this team having much if any upside. They’ll need a handful of breakout years to climb the ladder in a deep conference. It’s not that it can’t happen, it’s just that you could have made a lot of money betting against the first for the last dozen years.