1. What should Chicago Fire fans expect?

I said at the beginning that I would get to the preseason games and if you read my last article, you’ll know how bad the Chicago Fire’s game against Colorado was. Their next game against Toronto FC wasn’t broadcast, but while the world wasn’t watching, their performance improved. In their final preseason match, they faced off against the LA Galaxy and surprisingly held their own. I don’t think either team played their complete first team, but the defense held their own against Chicharito and Cristian Pavon, which is not to be overlooked.

The problem going into this first match — and even the first month of this season more generally — is that the team hasn’t actually come together yet, and I don’t even mean in terms of gelling together in the way they play, I mean literally most of the team’s newest signings won’t be available against Seattle on Sunday. The starting XI for the season opener will look fairly different from what the starting XI will be by mid-April.

And even once the new players are welcomed into the line-up, it will take time for this team to come together. It was an excuse that was brought up back in the days of Frank Yallop, but with how late some of the bigger signings were, there will be growing pains early in the season. Then there’s the fact that, while exciting for the fanbase itself, these new signings aren’t making a lot of noise to the rest of the league, leaving the Fire near the bottom of everyone’s predictions.

This coming season might get rough, but fans shouldn’t despair about it just yet. Things can change. But maybe don’t expect too much in March.