BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – It's no secret Chicago are experiencing some offensive woes, but those looking for head coach Carlos de los Cobos to switch the Fire’s formation for Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Union could very well be left disappointed.
Despite the fact that his team has scored just one goal in their last four games in all competitions, de los Cobos hinted on Wednesday that he’ll stick with the five-midfielder formation he’s used for the majority of the season.
“I think it’s possible we play with five midfielders,” de los Cobos said after Wednesday’s training session. “Some players are improving, like Justin Mapp and Mike Banner… and I think that’s good because we have strength in our midfield, [which will help us] control the game.”
Banner would be a somewhat controversial inclusion in the Fire’s starting 11. The 25-year-old midfielder started the Fire’s last league match (last Thursday against FC Dallas) and didn’t have his best game, missing an absolute sitter against the Hoops.
“Mike is a making a very big effort,” de los Cobos said about his midfielder.
When asked if playing with five midfielders has hindered the Fire’s ability to finish off chances, de los Cobos said finishing is something the team works on because he’s worried about their blown chances.
“I don’t want to repeat [this] all the time, but it’s necessary to say [that] every week we work [on finishing] because I am worried about it,” admitted the head coach. “The finishing is a talent personal in the player. [A player] can improve, and my job is to work [on] this, but some [things are] very difficult to change in players. Maybe we can improve but, for that reason, big finishers [are] very difficult to find.”
