Frank Yallop has a vision.
The Chicago Fire head coach wants to play an attacking-minded style. He wants goals. That’s why he brought in the likes of David Accam, Shaun Maloney, Kennedy Igboananike, Joevin Jones
and Guly do Prado in the offseason and Jason Johnson in April. And despite having a tough time getting everyone fit at the time same, Yallop’s mindset hasn’t changed.
“When we’ve got everyone on the field, for sure,” Yallop said when asked if he still envisions his side as a consistent attacking threat. “We’ve got some real dangerous attacking-style players that haven’t played in the last three or four weeks. That’s been a little frustrating. We created enough chances in [the Seattle] game to score more than one goal. Seattle had their moments, but just for us, we missed some good chances. Getting to those moments or those spots is part of it, and the really tough part is finishing the play off.”
#CHIvSEA Match Stats and OPTA Chalkboard
The Fire continue to lead the league in shots per game (14.7) but would like to have converted on more than 19 of those opportunities. Even the side's most clinical finishers have had moments they'd like to have back, including a Mike Magee header Saturday that the Fire striker lost in the lights.
“I almost jumped off the seat expecting to see it hit the back of the net,” Yallop said. “Mike doesn’t miss those.”
Yallop remains hopeful that his vision will come together when the roster comes together as well. Shaun Maloney remains out with a back injury, though Monday marked “his first day with the ball with his boots on,” Yallop said. David Accam continues to recover from a hamstring injury, and Guly do Prado suffered a slight knock to his ankle against Seattle, but both are hopeful to be available for selection Wednesday. Joevin Jones, meanwhile, remains on international duty having helped his Trinidad & Tobago side earn a spot in the Gold Cup knockout rounds.
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The return of Magee and Patrick Nyarko has helped, but Yallop continues to be cautious when working them back into the lineup. Both got their first MLS starts since coming back from injury, but Nyarko came off after 65 minutes and Magee after 70. Putting too much on them too soon remains a concern for the technical staff.
“We’ve got to make sure that we don’t send these guys back to the treatment table, because it is a vigorous, tough, hard spot,” Yallop said. “It’s a lot running. It takes a lot out of your body. It takes you a while to recover from a 90-minute match.”
With four games in the next two weeks, off days are less about training and more about regeneration and rejuvenation. The list of options remains shorter than Yallop would like, so everyone has to be ready to contribute.
It shows in someone like Jason Johnson, who struggled for playing time with Houston only to arrive in Chicago and score two goals in 187 minutes on the pitch. Regardless of who is in the match, Yallop wants to see an attacking mentality and a finishing ability that puts the crowd on its feet, like Johnson did Saturday.
"I see the team as a team that the fans want to come watch,” Yallop said. “Once we get everyone on the field, it will be that.”
—Luke Srodulski
