I know I have been slacking off for those who actually read my musings. Lets just say work, responsibilities at home, and a much needed vacation have prevented me from dedicating as much time that I need to write on a consistent basis. I know I also missed a big chunk of the season but I'm back and should hopefully have some more time to dedicate to this thing. So lets get started.
The last game I mentioned was way back when the Fire travelled to Philly to take on the Union on August 12th. Since then here are the results that I have missed writing about: 2-1 home win vs. the Revs, 4-2 away loss vs. DC, 3-1 home win vs. Houston, 2-2 home draw vs. Santos Laguna(friendly), and then a 2-1 away win vs. TFC on Wednesday. So in that stretch the Fire were able to go 3-1-1(including the Santos friendly) and put themselves in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference and only 3 points of first. The team has been playing well, despite the ugly 4-2 loss to DC, and the new acquisitions have been working together great so far. As shown in the game Wednesday, the primary attacking foursome of Macdonald, Rolfe, Fernandez, and Nyarko looked were having fun out there and connecting passing combinations that we haven't seen for sometime from this team. Overall in the month that I had missed we look like we are over that midseason slump as well as the chance to make the playoffs after missing out the past couple seasons.
The next 3 games that the Fire play should be an indication of the team's strengths and weaknesses and should be able to tell us fans where in the Eastern Conference. First up on Saturday we have the the Impact coming to town. Now this Montreal team is very different from the one that we had tied earlier this season, but on the other hand so is the Fire. Montreal look to have added depth that has made their defense stronger, their midfield has been good, and the addition of Di Vaio up top has helped them start to produce on a more consistent basis. A week later the Crew come to town and their additions also up top have been tearing up opposing defenses. Higuain and Arrieta have been providing that offensive spark that they have been missing and shouldn't be taken lightly. To finish up the month we travel to Kansas City to face SKC in a game that couldn't potentially see the top 2 teams in the east battling it out.
Now with these games the Fire should go in with the mentality that they are must win games. All 3 teams that they face are still in the playoff race and all 3 games could determine where the Fire finish in terms of playoff positioning or dare I say not make the playoffs(mathematically it still could happen but chances are not likely). If Chicago is able to win the next 3 games it would solidify a playoff spot as well as a chance to finish 1st in the east and a chance at the Supporters Shield, which is something this team has not been mentioned in the same breath with for some time now. We will have to see how the team plays starting with Saturday night. I'm hoping for the best that we have a good finish to the month but if we don't there is still October. I will have more after this weekend and in the future.
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