Toronto FC vs Chicago Fire: Will It Be a Hot Time In The City?
Ah the Gil old days.
Toronto FC vs Chicago Fire ~ BMO Field ~ 7:30pm ET ~ TSN4
Time for the Great Lakes Derby! Grab some sausage from Abe Froman, say danke schoen to the weather gods and make sure you’ve got your gummy bears cause here come the Fire! Ah the Chicago Fire; forever part of TFC history and legend as the lucky team that Danny Dichio scored Toronto’s first ever goal against. One of the original clubs that has a passionate – yet of late bitter and dwindling – fanbase, and a club that has not done well the last couple of years. Current owners of one of the worst road records in the league having lost their last five games on the road and with an away winless streak reaching back almost two years, well they’ve earned the ‘Tire Fire’ nickname rather easily.
This would seem like great news for TFC fans – a team limping their way into BMO Field, somewhat bereft of scoring and much of a spark. But this of course is still TFC and we are often the cure for what ails your broken team; did I mention that Nick LaBrocca plays for the Fire now? Gear yourself up for some epic free kicks from that man – TFC players please take note. Now the Fire have had a nice little spate of positivity – even though they let Gil go (now the wolves will get him!) – most of their players are healthy, they’ve won their last couple games and they’ve got a couple of very good players in David Accam and Kennedy Igboananike. Both players have yet to really take off this year, but it wouldn’t take much for either of them to get hot.
Contrast with Toronto; the team is still dealing with massive injury issues – don’t expect Jozy today – a less than productive Seba and a transfer window that they may or may not participate in. It’s a weird time for TFC; one minute we’re all laughter and giggles (Voyageurs Cup!), the next we’re only able to get a draw against a limping Sounders side.
Expect a similar team to last weekend’s game with a slightly less adventurous backline; as in there will be a back four instead of a back three; if only to give Bono extra protection. It’s a toss-up between Mark Bloom and Steven Beitashour; only because Bloom looked rather rusty to start against Seattle but came along as the game progressed and Beitashour hasn’t had much rest this season and this seems a logical game to sit him. Delgado and Chapman had a very solid game in the midfield so that seems a likely pairing if Vanney wants to give Cheyrou a rest before they head out onto the road. Then the rest of the midfield with Oso and either Endoh or Babouli really. I’m hoping that Jordan Hamilton gets the start with Seba – his confidence is growing and we’re already seeing the benefits of the extra minutes in his game.
This should be a good game for TFC; yes they’re a bit undermanned but these players are more than capable in putting together a good performance. The key quite honestly is finding a way for Seba to score – his frustration is growing with every game and it’s difficult to watch a player that had so much fun last year (albeit that was before MLS teams figured him out) to be visibly upset during games with, well just about everything. Come on Seba, you can do it. I made a rather lofty 3-0 prediction on the podcast but you know what, I’m sticking with it.
July 9, 2016
If Seba doesn’t score…EVERYONE run for the hills!
The hack-a -Seba is still rampant and with Toledo ready to lay waste to Seattle and LA and Elfath is back in action with his voodoo in KC tomorrow, we have Petrescu. I have had a good regard for Silviu, so we will see what treatment Giovinco gets. Still, my family have their bags packs and emergency rations and water are loaded in the family wagon, just in case we have evacuate the 50 km radius of BMO Field at game’s end.