Chicago Fire: 3 things to watch for in MLS return
By Adnan Bašić
2. What formation will Wicky utilize?
With all these new players at his disposal, Chicago Fire head coach Raphael Wicky now has a selection headache to deal with. The first decision he has to make might be the toughest.
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Team selection all begins with the formation, and Wicky has to figure out which one will be best suited for the Men In Red. In the two games played before the break, the Fire mostly utilized a 4-1-4-1 formation, with a back four and one defensive midfielder with two attacking midfielders in front of him. It allowed the team to create up the middle and on the wings, but it did provide vulnerability in defensive areas.
However, towards the end of the Revolution match, Wicky changed things up. When he brought on Gimenez, he shifted the team to a 3-5-2 formation with Mauricio Pineda dropping into the backline. The decision paid off as the Men In Red immediately looked more cohesive and were able to eventually equalize as a result.
Now, Wicky will have to pick one of the two formations. With the players he now has to choose from, it’s likely that he will stick with the 3-5-2 that got them the result against New England. But with time to experiment in training, Wicky might have something up his sleeve.