MenInRed97

Matt, Alan and Parker emerge from a World Cup induced haze to talk about the World Cup. Good job boys, that's progress. As the 2026 edition of the tournament approaches the half way point, are you picking Spain or France to take it all? Or maybe someone else? Will the Golden Boot come to MLS via Messi, or will Mbappé going to run away with it?  Parker plays back the predictions the crew made b...

Special guest Tom Bogert — now an official friend of the pod — joins John and Tim as Robert Lewandowski's move to the Chicago Fire moves frum rumor to official. Tom and Tim talk about what they know — with a deal all but confirmed but no ink on paper as of the time of recording. The trio then discuss what Lewandowski's signing would mean for the Fire, both on and off the pitch: What does L...

If it feels like it's been a while, well, it has. Friend of the pod Joe Chatz makes it worth the wait, however, as he joins John and Tim to talk about all that's happened since last time, starting with Hugo Cuypers and Mbekezeli Mbokazi's first XI All-Star nods. After that, they switch focus to USMNT's friendly against Germany and find things to like even though the game ended in a...

Matt Shableman is joined by Alan, the Pole with the Goal, the Sax in the Section, Królikowski, special guest Nick Poteres of Glass House Soccer and Matt's very own groomsman and guiding light, Eray, to talk about a soccer club that is not playing competitive soccer right now. But that doesn't stop the guys from dreaming up a scheme to grab a Championship in 2026. Maybe Ted Lasso was onto s...

The Fire closed the first half of their season on a high note, getting a hard-fought 2-1 win over visiting Toronto FC. Before getting into that, though, John and Tim get struck with World Cup fever and ask if Poch is even bothering to phone it in with the USMNT. When they actually get down to the game at hand, the hosts find a lot to like from a gritty performance. From Robin Lod's improved fo...

With the World Cup looming, John and Tim talk about the Berhalter's public statements around Lewandowski.  After beating a single quote from Gregg to death, John wonders why Tim brought up Lupe Fiasco before the pair finally put two and two together and remember that there's a game on Saturday. With the Fire set to face Toronto, the duo talk about what they want to see from the Men in Red...

The Fire earned their second road win, sweeping the home-and-away series against CF Montréal. So obviously John and Tim spend the better part of half an hour talking about everything that they didn't like. In between finding nits to pick, though, they took time to shout out a great performance by Chris Brady and the quiet excellence of Philip Zinckernagel, all while wondering if Hugo Cuypers&#...

The Fire had their first come-from-behind win in a 3-1 victory over D.C. United as torrential rain fell on Audi Field. John and Tim break down what they liked, and what they didn't from an effort in D.C. that got the result but somehow left a lot to be desired. There's also news from The 78, as the Fire's new home has a name. Tim really, really pushes for us to all call McDonald's...

The Fire put together an uninspiring performance against the New York Red Bulls and suffered their third consecutive home defeat across all comps as a result. John and Tim talk about what went wrong against the Baby Bulls before getting a discussion about how much change is warranted with a game against D.C. United coming up midweek. As John looks for glass to break and an alarm to pull, Tim talks...

Matt returns with Alan and Daniel react to YOUR takes LIVE! Is Hugo Cuypers going to top Nikolic's single season goal scoring record? Can the Fire stay about D.C. United? Mbokazi has committed mistakes recently that set the Fire back, is he a generational talent anyway? We heard your Hot Takes too! Dean has to GO! Lewandowski can stay in Spain! The Midfield is the problem! Recorded LIVE 05/07/...

The Fire face off against a Red Bull New York side featuring a plethora young American prospects headed up by new coach Michael Bradley in Soldier Field in an Eastern Conference clash. John is joined by Alex Campbell of CHGO Sports to break down the project being undertaken in New York and how the Fire can take advantage this weekend as they look for breathing room near the top of the Eastern Conf...

The Fire's rematch against Cincinnati had everything you could ask for — goals, penalties, red cards and shots galore — as long as you didn't ask for a win for the Fire. John and Tim hash out what went wrong and call out a couple young players for especially rough performances before asking how long it'd be before Berhalter remembered that he make substitutes. They also find a minute b...

The Fire went to SeatGeek for the first time in 2026 as they hosted St. Louis City and walked out feeling upset with an early exit in the Cup. John and Tim have a mostly civilized discussion about  squad rotation as they talk over what went wrong in Bridgeview. Then they forget everything Coach Ted Lasso taught them about goldfish as they let the discussion flow from Wednesday's disappointing...

It took a while for them to get started, but by the end, the Fire smoked Sporting Kansas City 5-0. John and Tim break down the first five goal win in front of home fans for the Fire this decade, and talk about what they liked about a game that saw four goal contributions from Maren and a brace of braces from Hugo and Zinck... but they've got one eye on this Wednesday's Open Cup matchup aga...

The Fire set to host Sporting Kansas City, a team featuring familiar faces in Raphaël Wicky and Justin Reynolds on Saturday. That's not all that's familiar about this year's SKC team: Like the Fire in so many years past, they're on the outside of the postseason looking in, as everything seems to have gone wrong in Kansas City, with little hope on the horizon. The Fire, meanwhile, a...

Hugo Cuypers came back into the Fire's lineup and made an immediate impact as he got involved in all three goals for the Fire in Cincinnati. Hugo the Selfless Striker may be the King of Queen City, but it's not all hearts for the Fire as the team can't hold a late two goal lead, settling for a 3-3 draw. John and Tim talk about what went wrong late in Cincinnati, as well the elite seaso...

In U.S. Open Cup action Jason Shokalook gets a brace in his first team debut to send the Fire past Detroit City 2-1 as one of four players getting their first start for the first team — but Detroit's Darren Smith made it interesting.  John and Tim talk the Fire's performance, focusing on the four first-time starters for the Men In Red. Then they switch focus to what's next as they brea...

John and Tim look back at the Fire's win over the Five Stripes of Atlanta and Maren Haile-Selassie's highly productive match. Gregg Berhalter will take his side to Hamtranck, Michigan to open Chicago's 2026 US Open Cup campaign on Tuesday, April 14th. When Hugo Cuypers returns from injury, will Robin Lod have shown enough to keep his spot over Maren? Fire end weekend 2nd in the Eastern...

The Fire are back at home as they take on Atlanta United, a team that's trying to go back to the future, reuniting Miguel Almirón and Tata Martino. So far, it hasn't gone great, and Tata's out for this one after a red card received during a mass confrontation during last week's loss to the Crew. John and Tim chat about why that is as well as what to expect from the Fire after their second win in a...

Zinck scores the Fire's fastest goal in team history and Brady's acrobatic saves push keep the clean sheet — giving he Fire their second-ever win against a Nashville side that came to town undefeated and atop the Supporters Shield standings. And all of that without Hugo Cuypers in a game where a still-recuperating Jack Elliott was thrust into the XI at the last minute John and Tim talk about anoth...

John and Tim invite Kyndra De St. Aubin from Apple TV to The Bonfire ahead of Chicago Fire's matchup against Nashville SC. The game, coming off the international break, will be the Fire's sternest test yet as they host the current Supporters Shield leaders at Soldier Field. Can Gregg Berhalter wash away the team's worst defeat in team history with a result at Soldier Field?

It's the end of March and the season hasn't gone exactly how GGG and the Fire have planned. Is All-Star performer Philip Zinkernagel headed to the bench? Mbekezeli Mbokazi came to Chicago with all of South Africa behind him, has he lived up to that kind of hype? Lod came in to compliment Franco like Brian Gutiérrez, has he filled the hole? Live call-ins are back! Recorded LIVE March 26th,...

The Fire go to Philadelphia — the team that won the Supporters Shield last year and ended their season — and walk away with 3 points after a gritty team effort. John and Tim break down a strong team performance where Hugo Cuypers bags his fourth goal in as many appearances and Bamba bags another. They talk about Viktor Radojeviç's first serious minutes with the Fire and the maturation of the squad...

John and Tim invite Apple TV's Danny Higginbotham to The Bonfire ahead of Chicago Fire's matchup against the Philadelphia Union. Saturday's game is a playoff rematch against two teams who find themselves lower on the table than they would have expected. Can the Fire use their fluid and speedy offense to unlock Philp Zinkernagel? Mbekezeli Mbokazi will look to continue to build his resu...

John and Tim gather around The Bonfire after the Fire drop 3 points to DC United in a come-from-behind loss at home. A handful of first teamers started in the Fire II win over Chattanooga FC. GGG and the Fire continue to struggle with Guti-Franco sized hole in the midfield. Philip Zinkernagel does a lot but the offense isn't finding the back of net during the run of play.