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Tim Hotze

Tim is MenInRed97's Managing Editor and a co-host of The Bonfire podcast. He has been with MIR97 since launch in 2023 and is a MLS roster rule nerd and has tasted all 31 flavors of allocation money.

𝕏 Bluesky Chicago, IL
Two soccer players jostle for the ball during a game

Fire at D.C.: Tactics and Starting XI

In the main match preview, I noted that D.C. has the second longest active playoff drought in the league, after the Fire, and in trying to get back to the postseason, they essentially pursued opposite strategies: The Fire made more changes to the squad, particularly at the top end,

A Colmubus Crew player anglesf or the ball against Chicago Fire players Fabian Herbers and Mauricio Pineda during a soccer ga

Fire vs Columbus: Tactics and Starting XI

After the loss in St. Louis, Frank Klopas and Xherdan Shaqiri both mentioned that it was still “early” in the season, causing me to do a bit of math. With two matches coming up that week, if the Fire won both, they’d have to be a slightly-better-than-average MLS team

two soccer players josttle for the ball during an MLS game

Fire vs Charlotte: Tactics and Starting XI

The Fire are back home for the first of two matches this week. Looking for just their third win of the season – and first in more than a month – the team’s first midweek match of the season comes against Charlotte, a team that has been humming under new Head

Chicago Fire soccer player Arnaud Souqeut advances the ball during a soccer game against St. Louis City FC

Fire at St. Louis City: Tactics and Starting XI

After a three match homestand that was rendered distinctly anhedonic for hometown fans by the Fire’s inability to score a goal during the stretch, the team is back on the road to face their nearest – and newest – MLS neighbor in St. Louis City, a developing rival that the team

Two soccer players go for the ball during a rainy soccer game

Fire vs. New England: Tactics and Starting XI

Before the start of the Fire’s current three-game homestand, I wrote that the team should be looking for seven points out of the three: Although five would likely put the team high enough in the standings to be in one of the playoff spots, given the homefield advantage, the

Nothing Doing: Chicago Fire 0-0 Atlanta United

Nothing Doing: Chicago Fire 0-0 Atlanta United

The Fire faced Atlanta United for the second time in the past month, looking for their first goal in 192 minutes of competitive play, having been shutout in Atlanta on Easter and two of the three games since, needing a win in the second match of a three game homestand

Two soccer players jostle for the ball during a game

Fire at Atlanta: Tactics and Starting XI

The phrase “must-win” is a cliché but with Atlanta winless in their last three – since their 3-0 thrashing of the Fire – and with the Fire looking to bounce back from their worst home loss in seven years – tonight’s matchup is as close to a “must win” game as possible

Real Bad: Chicago Fire 0, Real Salt Lake 4

Real Bad: Chicago Fire 0, Real Salt Lake 4

The Fire hosted Real Salt Lake, looking to begin a three-game homestand on the right foot. A week earlier, they were unable to capitalize on being up a man for more than a half, settling for a goalless draw in New York against the Red Bulls. Instead, the Fire were