Chicago Fire: 3 Key Takeaways from Toronto FC

Toronto FC outplayed the Chicago Fire in a 3-1 win on Friday night. The Chicago Fire were dismantled by Giovinco and Victor Vasquez.

The Chicago Fire fell 1-3 to Toronto FC Friday night. Here are three takeaways for Fire fans:

A Tale of Two Strikers

Michael de Leeuw and Nemanja Nikolic, two normally very good soccer players, are not meshing well at the moment in this 4-3-3 system. MDL tends to run inside thus crowding Niko’s workspace, rather than keeping to the touchlines. They seem to slip into each other’s space far too much,  and it’s greatly impacting both player’s ability to get involved in matches.

Pauno should forget the MDL-on-the-wing experiment, only referring to it in emergencies. MDL needs to be pushed back to Striker. Let Lucho Solignac, Daniel Johnson, and Arturo Alvarez sort out the right wing question. David Accam starts on the left. The added benefit of doing so will allow MDL to push Niko in a competition for starting striker.

Not Much Ado about Harrington

Michael Harrington held down the right back role this long, somewhat inexplicably, and nobody really sees why it would change. The Fire have relegated themselves to the fact that right back has become business as usual, even after the howler that was this match.

Toronto’s first two goals were a result of Harrington’s poor marking. A yard of space allotted all the time Giovinco needed to convert from the 18 for the first goal. The second goal came from another Harrington defensive breakdown, this time on a Toronto corner kick.

Harrington’s defensive woes aren’t his only issues. His lack of pace is terribly apparent, and a 74% completed pass rate suggests far too many of his passes seemed to end in giveaways.

What’s worse perhaps is that left back Brandon Vincent didn’t show all that much better. According to the stats at whoscored.com, Brandon earned a 5.92 while Harrington was rated 6.34.

The Young and the Bava

Jorge Bava turns 36 years old in August but he already plays like he’s 40. He goes to ground like a choking ghost. It’s like he floats downward rather than dives. He’s a solid shot stopper, and any shots fired at him are sure to be saved, but that’s about it. It’s the shots everywhere else that worry me. Bava’s age and lack of key goalkeeping abilities were on full display in Toronto, and that’s hardly the first time we’ve seen it this season.

Goalies are trending younger according to Matthew Doyle:

"As it stands, 13 of the 22 starting ‘keepers in MLS this year are under the age of 30, and just three – Tim Howard, Nick Rimando and Jorge Bava – are age 35 or older. Globally, the MLS ‘keeper pool skews young."

There is a reason for this trend, Nelson Rodriguez. Please look into it.

The Chicago Fire need to admit their mistakes and make a deal for a starting goalie or a RB now.  Goalie seems the easier position to remedy cheaply inside MLS.

If Nelson Rodriguez is serious about playoff contention this is a move they have to make, ASAP. There isn’t an MLS starting caliber goalie playing on this team. With Bava in net, the Fire must defend perfectly every game. It’s a metaphorical glass house. A good goalie and/or a RB would change that glass to brick.

Next: MLS Power Rankings: Week 7

The Chicago Fire have the assets for trading. Matt Polster continues to sit unused. And a number of recent surges in performances from bench players could make other players expendable. As it is, any deals will have to be made before the MLS Transfer Window closes on May 8th.

The going rumor is that the Front Office lack the funds to attract a proper player after Basti coming on, but perhaps Nelson Rodriguez has a trick or two up his sleeve. After the performance we saw on Friday, he has to do something.