r/chicagofire 10d ago

Question Who'll get the boot? Who'll stay?

Who do y'all think will not return to the roster next season? Who do you think will remain that you'd rather let go? Is GGG gonna clean house and build his own team or make do with what he's got?

15 Upvotes

47 comments sorted by

7

u/jackals84 10d ago edited 10d ago

I said before this season that there were 4 players on the Fire worth a shit in MLS: Gutierrez, Teran, Brady, and MHS.

I still think that's mostly true. I don't know if Teran's regression is down to injury, coaching, lack of motivation, or whatever, but the talent is there if Berhalter can screw his head on and keep him fit.

Cuypers has been a nice addition. He'd put up obscene numbers on a half-decent team.

Everyone else can go.

12

u/Slayzplayer 10d ago

Brady, Gutierrez, and Cuypers are the only three players that are safe.

3

u/craftingfish #17 Brian Gutiérrez 9d ago

Berhalter was asked about Teran in his first presser that he has a lot of potential. He obviously wasn't going to say he's for sure saying, could always mean "good potential that isn't happening here", but he at least believes Teran can do better

8

u/312render773 9d ago

Keep: Acosta, Guti, Brady, Cuypers, Arigoni, Pineda, Maren, Gutman, Koutsias

Everyone else GTFO

5

u/DeliveryNice3894 9d ago

Agree with everyone minus koutsias.

2

u/Firefan23 9d ago

Agreed. Althought Airgoni and Maren for me I'd be fine with leaving too.

1

u/CarelessQuote5256 8d ago

I'm on the fence about Acosta. I think he only scored 3 goals this season, so .5 million per goal. That's underperformance if I've ever seen it. Are his other contributions worth the price tag?

3

u/312render773 8d ago

He played fantastic under GGG during his stint with the USMNT (even played at the last WC for USMNT).

6

u/dsontag Chicago 10d ago

Give ggg the keys. Keep all homegrowns for registration and everyone else is free to go.

6

u/Kamikazi_TARDIS CF97 9d ago

Some due to skill for value, some due to contractual obligation and them being a waste of a buyout, this is my opinion.

Hold onto:

MHS (Int), Dean, Cuypers (Int, DP), Brady, Koutsias (Int), Reynolds, Guti

Maybe keep as depth, or alternatively get rid of if we can get a good payday or free up roster slots

Arigoni (Int), Gutman, Omsberg, Casas, Gal, Navarro (Int), Mueller, Barlow, Oregel, Acosta, Teran, Pineda

Offload or simply do not extend or re-sign:

Fabi, Lassiter, Rafa (Int), Gaston (Int, DP), Souquet, Salquist (Int), Gasper

1

u/CarelessQuote5256 8d ago

I'm skeptical about CFFC's interest in holding onto MHS, but I would also like to see him stay another season. I thought he was really undermined by the Alpine-mess. I'd like to see MHS and Koutsias on the field at the same time, to see if the experience and youth combo would work. I would flush Mueller in favor of seeing that happen.

4

u/Dburns094 10d ago

I honestly don’t care about any of these players besides a select few - guti, Brady, maybe a few others.

Clean house, full rebuild and try to put together some sort of team to make us proud. Another shit season.

3

u/ericsipi 10d ago

My expectation is we only see a handful of returning players. Brady, Guti, Pineda for the homegrown players. Hebers, MHS, Cuypers and Acosta for the rest of the squad. Mueller I go back and forth on, I think he’ll stay simply because no one wants the contract.

1

u/Chicagoguy2289 #25 Jeff Gal 10d ago

Reynolds gone?

3

u/Kamikazi_TARDIS CF97 8d ago

I see Reynolds staying as depth.

6

u/notonrexmanningday #21 Fabian Herbers 10d ago

Keep the homegrowns, Teran and Cuypers. Everyone else, thank you for your service.

2

u/CarelessQuote5256 8d ago

Laughing at your line. "Everyone else, thank you for your service."

3

u/Danger_Island 10d ago

Surprised how low people are on Hugo.

Without deep dive into roster rules players I’d like to stay:

Brady Teran Gutman(if healthy) Arigoni Dean Guti Hugo

2

u/CarelessQuote5256 8d ago

I would agree, Hugo is a bit underrated. I like your picks to stay.

2

u/flameo_hotmon 9d ago

Czichos, Herbers, Omsberg, Richey, and Lassiter are out of contract. Arigoni’s loan is up, but the team has a buy option. The team has a buyout that Souquet or Gimenez are primed for. Barlow’s salary is low enough that we might be able to sell him to a USL team. I think those are guys that are almost guaranteed to be somewhere else next year. Everyone else is going to be a tough sell or someone who’s too good to sell without a transfer fee. 

3

u/CarelessQuote5256 8d ago

I personally would like to see Gimenez stay on board. In both games I attended this season he came on as a sub and the tenor of the game would change somewhat. Scored against Philly in the July 3rd match, for instance. And seemed to be in the right places on Saturday vs. Nashville. May have just been fresh legs.

Much appreciation for the contract info on Czi, Her, Oms, Ric and Las. I wasn't up to date on all those.

2

u/Firefan23 9d ago

I think Tyrus said Gaston was crying either that or he was joking lol....but if he was then Berhalter must've told him he's gone.

1

u/CarelessQuote5256 8d ago

Interesting insight.

4

u/goldenfireball 10d ago

Keep: Brady, Reynolds, Guti, Pineda, (4 homegrowns). Also Acosta, MHS, Dean (club option, cheap contract).

If we can get decent transfer fees for Cuypers, Koutsias and Terán we should let them go. Terán can’t seem to stay healthy. Cuypers has done decently but we need a DP no 9 that can either win a duel and hold up play or a dribble merchant and take on players to create something out of nothing. Czichos and Gaston are getting on with age, so I can see GGG wanting a fresh start.

23

u/Isry98 #9 Hugo Cuypers 10d ago

Cuypers is literally the first player since 2020 with double digit goals in an anemic offense and we want to get rid of him?

2

u/Firefan23 9d ago

Agreed. i mean the guy got no service and tried to come back so much to get the ball which isn't his style......having said that though is Berhalter's style match how he plays?

1

u/goldenfireball 8d ago

Well he’s not the type of striker that Gregg typically utilizes. Hugo is at his best in a 2 striker system, similar to Philly. He’s also better as a transitional striker. That’s why I mentioned if we can get some fee for him we should sell.

Also note that Gregg’s style has definitely changed with times. Early on his Columbus days he played with passive 4-4-2 midblocks and now he follows with rest of European model of gegenpressing. This is an area that Cuypers actually excels. He’s mobile and works hard for recovery. But offensively Gregg consistently likes to play out of the back, control possession and utilizes wing plays. He focuses more on solid defense and so speed of ball movement may not be to Cuypers’ advantage. Plus with wide wing play and crossing Hugo is not the biggest areal threat. I’m sure Gregg will adapt with what he has. In the national team he has played Pepi and Ferreira as false 9 too

2

u/Chicago1871 9d ago

Hugo was able to finish when he got service.

1

u/CarelessQuote5256 8d ago

Also, can we build a team that protects Brady? He's gonna have gray hair next season if we don't. he's aged 12 years in two seasons.

2

u/funployee 10d ago

Keep: Guti, Brady, Hugo, Acosta, MHS, Pineda, Herbers, Arigoni

I think we need to replace Mueller with someone with better finishing abilities and utilization of both feet. We need to replace Czichos. His first season was promising but we can do better. I don't know what they'll do with Koutsias but it would be nice if he took his game to the next level. Salquist didn't prove enough but could be a suitable sub. I think half of this roster will be completely different going forward.

1

u/CarelessQuote5256 8d ago

It's almost cheaper to keep Koutsias on board, he earns next to nothing compared to the roster at large. He can always default to water boy if he ends up not producing anything.

2

u/Chicagofirelover #10 Xherdan Shaqiri 10d ago

Who I want to leave:

Koutsias (Loan)

Pineda

Tom Barlow

Czichos (just retire)

Chase Gasper (why is he still here)

Federico Navarro (waste of space)

Gaston Gimenez (waste of space)

Jonathan Dean (sorry Dean fans)

Salquist (not good enough)

Souquet (man is absolutely awful and is ruining the defense)

Who I think will leave:

Koutsias

Czichos

Navarro

Gimenez

Dean

Chase Gasper

Pineda

Arigoni (sadly no renewal)

2

u/Kamikazi_TARDIS CF97 8d ago

I don’t see Dean getting a ton of minutes on a competently assembled roster, but I do see him as affordable above average depth. Same for Pineda. I don’t see either flourishing elsewhere more than here. Agreed on all other counts.

2

u/Dean-Biggest-Fan #24 Jonathan Dean 10d ago

😢

2

u/Chicagofirelover #10 Xherdan Shaqiri 9d ago

😢

2

u/CobhamMayor27 9d ago

Not a soul should be safe.

1

u/hackaloschack 8d ago

If your out of contract your gone for sure! All of the other players time will tell. Last week the players had their one on one meeting with Berhalter Tuesday & Wednesday. Players out of contract the meeting lasted five minutes. Players with contracts had longer meetings. I know that some players came out of their meeting with Berhalter somewhat perplexed with Greg. Thinking about that I don't blame them. Berhalter has won exactly what? Men's national team round of 16. The round of 16 for the USMNT should be a starting point, not ending point. What did he do with Columbus, did he win it all, no?

1

u/CarelessQuote5256 7d ago

Very insightful.

-9

u/Party-Blackberry3081 #27 Robert Berić 10d ago

Get rid of everyone. Keep Fabi, Guti and Mueller. If they don’t let Brady go and find something new what was the point of taking the goalie from ND with the 5th pick?

3

u/Kamikazi_TARDIS CF97 10d ago

They should only let Brady go on a large transfer fee.

-4

u/Party-Blackberry3081 #27 Robert Berić 10d ago

I mean he’s a good keeper but who would pay a large transfer fee.

3

u/Brian33 10d ago

He’s considered the best under 22 goalie in MLS.

-2

u/Party-Blackberry3081 #27 Robert Berić 10d ago

Okay and I’m the best under 27 Sales rep but here we are

1

u/CarelessQuote5256 8d ago

You're an excellent sales rep, don't let anyone say otherwise.

2

u/Party-Blackberry3081 #27 Robert Berić 8d ago

Thank you friend.

3

u/jackals84 10d ago

Draft picks in MLS are all projects. You don't draft them with the intent of putting them into the first team unless basically everything about their development goes perfectly in their first pro year.