Feed the Fire: A Chicago Fire Podcast

Hey, soccer fans! The MLS Cup Playoffs are underway, and Nick breaks down all the matchups from the first round to the final. Do you agree with his assessment and his picks? Stay tuned as he recaps the wild card match-ups - truly wild affairs between Atlanta & Montreal and Vancouver & Portland - and looks ahead at the first round. In the second half, Nick reads Paul Tenorio's article in Th...

Hey, soccer fans! The Chicago Fire's 2024 MLS season is mercifully over. After another embarassing 3-0 loss, this time to fellow bottom-dweller Nashville SC, the Men in Red can now look to their off-season. Our host, too, looks at the future when he recaps the press conference introducing Gregg Berhalter as Director of Sport and Head Coach. Hear about the Berhalther and Mansueto's vision for the t...

Hey, soccer fans! The season is nearly over, and Decision Day is upon us. The Chicago Fire host Nashville SC in the final match of the season to help determine who is the worst team of the Eastern Conference (Inter Miami defeating New England would help the Fire out, too.) We know that Nashville likes to play through Mukhtar and to Surridge, so the question is whether the Men in Red keep them in c...

Hey, soccer fans! It's official: Berhalter In! The former USMNT and Columbus Crew manager is the Chicago Fire's next Director of Football and Head Coach. In this episiode, Nick gives you all his reactions to the news, how he thinks the role will play out, and whether the early criticism of the hire is warranted. In the second half, Nick looks at non-coaching headlines from the Men in Red and answe...

Hey, soccer fans! Another match, another loss for the Chicago Fire. Even after being eliminated from the playoffs the week prior, this was still a disappointment. The players and coaches didn't seem to care, and the scoreline belies the continued issues on both offense and defense for the Fire. Tune in as Nick breaks down the goals, stats, and observations from this match. In the second half, we t...

Hey, soccer fans! It's all over - the Chicago Fire have been officially eliminated from the MLS Cup Playoffs this season. Despite a 1-1 draw, the Fire will be watching the playoffs for the seventh straight year - practically a mathematical impossibility. Tune in as Nick gives you his match impressions, breaks down the goals and the stats, and gives you things to watch for in the last two matches o...

Hey, soccer fans! Nick is back after a week off and a trip to San Diego. It was nice of the Chicago Fire to not do anything while he was away. In this episode, we discuss the latest coaching candidates for MLS teams - including Gregg Berhalter to the Chicago Fire - the playoff race, the MVP conversation, and the trophy matches from last night. Stay tuned to the end to get caught up with all the he...

Hey, soccer fans! It's happy podcast! The Chicago Fire finally get a win, the struggling strikers finally get their goals, and Fire fans once again are teased by the possibility of making the playoffs. Stay tuned to hear how the Men in Red got the win, with a special focus on the play of Greek striker Georgios Koutsias and his potential future with the club. In the second half, Nick charts the Men...

Hey, soccer fans! We're back for another week of wondering if the Fire can change their fortunes from week to week. Next up, the playoff bound Red Bulls of New York. Though they played to a scoreless draw earlier in the season, this next meeting looks to have goals in store - with a struggling Fire defense and palyers returning from international duty. Tune in to hear the stars and strategies and...

Hey, soccer fans! Does it feel like we've seen this before? It's because we have! The Chicago Fire do the same thing every week, and every week the wonder why they can't win a game. Once again, the Men in Red come out flat, concede early, and then are forced to try to break down a defensive-minded opponent. Don't let the possession numbers fool you, the Fire were not in control of this game at any...

Hey, soccer fans! This weekend, the Chicago Fire welcome another struggling Eastern Conference team in DC United. In this episode, Nick highlights the top players from DC and how the Men in Red should approach the game from a tactical standpoint. The Fire could win, the Fire should win, but they'll need to come out fast and shut down Christian Benteke before they actually win. In the second half o...

Hey, soccer fans! The Chicago Fire marketing team called it the hottest night of the summer, I call it an embarrassment. The Men in Red looked to put up a fight against Inter Miami, but an own-goal by Tobias Salquist quickly changed the mood, and the home team was never really in the game after that. Tune in for our host's commentary of the goals, the statistics, and the impact of this match on th...

Hey, soccer fans! Don't call it a comeback? Yes, it was absolutely a comeback for the Chicago Fire in New York! Both teams should be ashamed of how they played during this match, but the visiting Men in Red, take home a point from Citi Field and NYCFC after a late goal by Hugo Cuypers and a stoppage time winner from the PK spot by Brian Gutierrez. Tune in as Nick breaks down the plays, the stats,...

Hey, soccer fans! There's no place like home - and Nick is back home from vacation to Greece to recap all the Chicago Fire news from the summer transfer window. Most notably, Xerdan Shaqiri parts ways with the Men in Red and returns home to sign with FC Basel in Switzerland. Nick looks back on the tenure of the "Swiss Magician" in Chicago and what it meant for the club. Also, we explore...

Hey, soccer fans! In this special episode, Nick gives a brief history of the US Open Cup - the oldest soccer tournament in the United States, and one of the oldest in the world. He gives you the general history, the qualification and tournament process, and highlights the winningest teams and players with the most goals. He also discusses the recent controversy surrounding Major League Soccer's de...

Hey, soccer fans! The Chicago Fire are out of Leagues Cup and have a couple weeks off to relax, rest, and get healthy before a mad sprint to try to make the MLS Cup Playoffs. In this episode, we look at their remaining schedule, how they stack up in the standings, and if there are any transfers out there that could bolster their ranks this summer. Make sure you like & subscribe, rate & rev...

Hey, soccer fans! The Chicago Fire were eliminated from Leagues Cup 2024 after losing to Toluca 3-1 at Seat Geek Stadium in Bridgeview. Despite the poor result and poor performance, there were a few positive takeaways from this "mid-season pre-season." Our host breaks down what he saw and shares a few personal stories along the way. In the second half of the show, Nick gives his thoughts...

Hey, soccer fans! We're back with more Chicago Fire talk as we recap the Men in Red's loss to Sporting KC in their Leagues Cup opener. The Fire went ahead on a sweet strike by Koutsias, only to be beat by Castellanos and Agada of Kansas City later in the match. We analyze what the match can tell us about the remainder of the Chicago Fire's season. In the second half, Nick reads his favorite quotes...

Hey, soccer fans! Nick is back with a quick, unscripted episode commenting on all the action from around the American soccer landscape. He gives his thoughts on MLS All-Star Week, looks ahead to the Leagues Cup, reacts to Matt Doyle's comments on the Chicago Fire, and touches on the United States' Olympic soccer schedule. Make sure you like & subscribe, rate & review, and keep growing the...

Hey, soccer fans! The Chicago Fire took a trip to South Beach to face a Messi-less Inter Miami team but could not come back with a win. The Men in Red continue to play lethargic, uninspiring soccer, and fall to the Herons 2-1. Our host does not hold back in his criticism of the players and coaching staff, and gives his live reactions to Manager Frank Klopas' post-game comments. In the second half...

Hey, soccer fans! The Chicago Fire pulled off an improbable win against league leading FC Cincinnati during their midweek matchup. Despite a decent start, the Men in Red looked lethargic at times, reminiscent of recent sub-par performances. But a bad back-pass from Kip Keller led to a Hugo Cuypers fast break, and the Belgian DP was able to slide a pass to Brian Gutierrez who scored from 6 yards ou...

Hey, soccer fans! Over the weekend, the Chicago Fire participated in another match. They went through the motions of a starting lineup, and their opponent - New York City FC - seemed perfectly content to also "mail it in." The result was a boring 90min of scoreless soccer. Tune in as Nick gives his reactions to the play, the players, and the stats. In the second half of the show, he prev...

Hey, soccer fans! Forget about the last match, the Fire are back in action this weekend against New York City FC. Your Men in Red take on the Pigeons from the blue side of New York in a match where the home team is desperate for points and the away team is trying to push toward the top of the Eastern Conference table. Listen in as Nick and special guest Anthony discuss the upcoming match and give...

Hey, soccer fans! Ever think Simon & Garfunkel would apply to Major League Soccer? Well, Chicago Fire fans understand the darkness the club is in currently. They Fire have now lost to the worst team in both conferences, recently falling 1-0 in an uninspiring and lazy game in San Jose. The Earthquakes were the worst defensive team in the league, and the Fire - through a combination of lazy play...

Hey, Fire fans! Can you believe that win against the Union? If I hadn't watched it myself, I might not believe it either. With a sleepy start to the match, trading first half goals, and some sloppy defensive play, the Fire looked to squander another opportunity against the struggling Philadelphia Union. However, energy from second half subs, a Union team that dropped into a defensive shell, and so...