The Chicago Fire earned their first point of the 2020 season against the New England Revolution. Here are three takeaways from a Week 2 full of hope.
There have been so many changes within the Chicago Fire over the past six months or so. Some have suffered from poor optics, but many have been overwhelmingly positive. And the early-season form, despite still lacking a victory, is testament to the growth that the organization has made behind the scenes.
While still a ways away from the home opener, the Chicago Fire traveled to Gillette Stadium to square up against the New England Revolution. Both teams were coming into this game with a bit of a face-lift compared to recent iterations, but quality was quickly dismissed. The match was filled with errors, missed chances, and a midfield battle that lacked much action at either end. Come full-time, the Fire came away with a precious draw, which is nothing to be scoffed at when playing your second road game in two weeks.
So, here are three takeaways from the Chicago Fire’s first point of the season.
3. Strange Fabian Herbers role
While I could join my colleague Adnan Basic in heaping praise on a certain homegrown prospect, I find it much more interesting to look at an enigma: Fabian Herbers. Herbers was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Union with the sixth overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. He wasn’t necessarily outstanding for them, but he was a solid role player, which is a good return for a draft pick. Last season, he was traded to the Chicago Fire before the start of the season for a second-round draft pick.
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Herbers was largely considered as a versatile attacking player, capable of playing across the midfield but with an offensive focus. But since joining the Fire, he has played centrally, with usual central midfielder, Djordje Mihailovic, pushed out to the wing. The jury is still out on whether this has been a smart move or not.
Herbers is in a weird limbo. His passing isn’t terrible, but it isn’t particular effective either. He disappears in matches but is also a consistent presence in the heart of the team. He gets into good opportunities but then fails to convert them. And he then pulls of a crucial goal-line block.
With the Fire’s major signings now ready and available, he most certainly isn’t going to be in the starting XI. But the question to consider here is: Will he be in the squad and what role might he play throughout the season? And from all observations thus far, there is no obvious answer.