Chicago Fire interim head coach Brian Bliss took time out from celebrating his 50th birthday Monday to speak with media members following his first two matches on the bench for the Men In Red. With time for just two training sessions before his debut, Bliss had limited opportunities to instill deep-rooted change, but still found ways to make his imprint on Chicago’s tactical approach.
Perhaps most notable from Chicago’s trip to Montreal and Toronto was the absence of Harry Shipp -- who until Saturday ranked as the club's 2015 minutes leader -- from the field of play for all but seven minutes of game action. For Bliss, the decision stemmed from a desire to keep true wingers on the flanks for both outings.
“Harry’s a good player, he’s not particularly built for wide play, although we’ve stuck him out there, and that’s the nature of it, what you would say trying to get your best guys out there, you shoehorn some guys into some positions,” Bliss said. “Teams that are quite adept at running on the flanks, we tend to get outnumbered when Harry flips inside and he can’t recover to the flanks. We went with what I would say ‘natural wide guys’ so it turns into 2-versus-2 in the flanks as opposed to 2-versus-1-and-a-half. Harry’s more suited to be inside, maybe underneath a guy like Gilberto.”
It was in that underneath role where Bliss slotted the veteran Mike Magee Saturday at BMO Field, and although opportunities for link-up play were sporadic in the first 45 minutes, Magee provided the one-touch pass to spring Gilberto for his second goal. Although Magee may not have seen as much of the ball as he would have liked, WhoScored.com shows that Magee finished the match with a 100 percent pass accuracy and led all players in the game with three key passes.
It was the kind of play Bliss feels is critical when the likes of David Accam, Patrick Nyarko, Gilberto and Kennedy Igboananike are relying primarily on their speed and head-on attacking styles.
“One of the challenges we had in Toronto being on the road and in the second game [in four days] would be trying to maintain a little bit of the ball,” Bliss said. “That’s why I dropped Magee in underneath Gilberto, because he’s got good passing sense and is more of a possession player rather than a turn-and-sprint.”
Bliss also preferred Homegrown rookie Patrick Doody to Joevin Jones at left back in both matches, an effort to bring more defensive-mindedness to the position away from home and an acknowledgement of Jones’ ability to exert his influence from an area further up the pitch.
“After Joevin’s come back from the Gold Cup, it’s no secret he hasn’t been in his top form like he was prior, so I figured I’d try to give him a break and put him in the lineup as a sub in a couple other places where we know he can play,” Bliss said. “I thought he did OK in the Toronto game and gave us some plays that led to some stuff. [Doody’s] done fine, he got some games in St. Louis and improved and I didn’t have any hesitations about dropping him in over there.”
Returning to the comforts of Toyota Park may mean a shift in philosophy or personnel for Bliss, but regardless of whom he selects Saturday vs. New England, he’s confident that he’ll see the best from his side in terms of attitude and effort.
“The guys seem to be willing, good-spirited, up for the challenge,” Bliss said. “Sometimes in this situation you’ve got a lot of finger-pointing and divisiveness in the locker room, and that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
OF NOTE:
• Bliss indicated that a groin issue that sidelined center back Ty Harden in Toronto is likely to keep him out again Saturday, while Patrick Nyarko -- who assisted on both of Gilberto’s goals at BMO Field -- suffered a knock in the match but is on pace to be available on the weekend.
ACADEMY UPDATE:
The Chicago Fire Academy teams went 1-1-1 over the weekend, hosting Shattuck-Saint Mary's at Toyota Park on Saturday, Sept. 26. The U-18s recorded a shutout in a 0-0 draw.
Sebastian Padua and Vitalis Takawira tallied but the U-16s fell 3-2 to the side from Minnesota.
In the final match of the day, the young U-14 side defeated Shattuck-St. Mary's 5-1, courtesy of goals from Diego Mendoza, Uriel Rojo, Nicholas Slonina and a Andre Reynolds brace.
Next up the Fire Academy sides host the Chicago Magic on the Toyota Park Turf Field on Sunday, Oct. 4.
AND FINALLY, BIRTHDAY WISHES FOR BRIAN BLISS:
