Columns
The Messi Cure: Kid Gloves Come off
Normally, last night the general soccer-viewing public in the United States would have been tuned in to watch the Women’s National Team start their World Cup campaign against Vietnam, but, almost predictably, Don Garber had alternate plans. The League’s Cup kicked off – for the first time in its
The Messi Problem: A Rising Empire and a Drowned City
Major League Soccer roster rules weren’t as complex back in 2000, but there was still a salary cap and limits to international players. Some bigger players were even allocated to teams like Piotr Nowak originally was when he signed with the league. But in 2000, the Fire were allocated
A Mid-Season Evaluation of the Fire's Midfield
It may be early to discuss it, but as the Fire inch closer and closer to the potential postseason, before we know it, clubs will begin preparing their squads for the 2024 Major League Soccer campaign. The Fire are in a unique position as a new sporting director and head
Kamara’s Second All-Star Nod Shines Mirror On League’s Progress
The month is July. After his team stumbled through a rough patch in May and early June, Kei Kamara helped it find its form and start to look like a true competitor. They go into the All-Star break with eight wins, and Kamara earns an MLS All-Star nod. Controversy erupts,
The Magic If
Oh hi! I’m Jiggly. And it’s a Tuesday. The Fire have won three games at home, and I have three main topics. After last week’s going a bit long, I want to make these a bit shorter. I appreciate those who liked it and hope it does
Every Night is Star Wars Night
Oh hi! I’m Jiggly. And it’s a Tuesday. I am currently in pain still after running the Malort 5k on Saturday morning with no real prep or stretching. I’m fine with Malort, it really just tastes like cough syrup, it’s the fact that I’m short
Thor in a Fire Kit
Oh hi! I’m Jiggly. And it’s a Tuesday. It’s interesting how the entire landscape of sports media can change overnight. From the newspaper, to the radio, then somehow back to the newspaper again. From broadcast to online. Anyway, Twitter is acting up again and this time the
Jiggly on a Tuesday
Oh hi! I’m Jiggly. Welcome to my new weekly column here at MenInRed97, where I’ll be coming in with various thoughts about the Chicago Fire, soccer, and other things of that sort. We’ve been giving you guys some great logical analysis and reporting, but clearly, what everyone
Playoff Math: What The Fire Need From the 2nd Half of Their Season
Last Saturday’s loss to the Columbus Crew marked the halfway point for the Fire’s MLS season, leaving the team with 17 points in 17 games, tied with the mark they held at the midway point of last year’s campaign. The team enters a much-needed break in their
Tradition, Honor, Passion: Frank Klopas is providing something the Chicago Fire lacked
“It's simple. When we get in these positions, we have to fight. The mentality has to be better. And it's all about competing. It's all about fighting for the badge…” Those were the words of ex-Fire Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson following the team’s
The Chicago Fire’s showdown with St. Louis is one you won’t want to miss
The past few days have been a whirlwind for the Chicago Fire; on Monday, they parted ways with head coach Ezra Hendrickson, on Tuesday, they defeated St. Louis in a U.S. Open Cup round of 32 tie, and now, they’re preparing for a marquee rematch at Soldier Field
Double Take: Lineup Choices Against St. Louis CITY
I don’t know if new interim Head Coach Frank Klopas or anyone else on the Fire coaching staff has a copy of Theory of Games and Economic Behavior, the seminal work by John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern which laid out an approach for the rigorous study of zero-sum
The 8 Million Dollar Question: Is there still hope for Xherdan Shaqiri in Chicago?
Fifteen months ago, the Fire unveiled Xherdan Shaqiri as the crown jewel of what then seemed like a stellar offseason. Shaqiri’s signing made international headlines and sent shockwaves around Major League Soccer. With an $8 million annual salary, he was, at the time, the highest-paid player in MLS history
Kei Kamara is providing exactly what the Chicago Fire needed
The Chicago Fire’s home locker room at Soldier Field can either be a fun place to be or a very depressing one. It all depends on the outcome of the match prior, and fortunately, it was quite pleasant this past Saturday. Kei Kamara wasn’t the first player to
10 Dilemmas: Shaqiri, Gutiérrez, or both?
Last weekend in Miami, just as the Chicago Fire seemed to be stumbling to yet another disappointing collapse, 19-year-old attacking midfielder Brian Gutiérrez was the man who stepped up in the biggest moment. Upon receiving a pass from fellow homegrown Javier Casas, Gutiérrez charged forward with the ball and attracted