10 Dilemmas: Shaqiri, Gutiérrez, or both?

Last weekend in Miami, just as the Chicago Fire seemed to be stumbling to yet another disappointing collapse, 19-year-old attacking midfielder Brian Gutiérrez was the man who stepped up in the biggest moment. Upon receiving a pass from fellow homegrown Javier Casas, Gutiérrez charged forward with the ball and attracted Miami’s entire reeling defense in his direction. This allowed him to set up the crucial assist for a wide-open Kei Kamara, who tucked the ball past the goalkeeper at the near post.

This game-winning sequence was the highlight of Guti’s season to date, but it is far from his only impressive moment. In the Chicago Fire’s last two games, the team has put up a total of six goals, which is especially impressive considering the team’s highest earner, DP Xherdan Shaqiri, hasn’t been available. Guti has been involved in five of the six goals, including three assists, all whilst playing centrally as the #10 underneath the striker, and was voted as the fans' man of the match in both of the Fire’s last two outings.

Gutiérrez’s tremendous form in the middle of the attack even dates back to last season, such as against FC Cincinnati in the penultimate match, when he notched a goal and added two assists from the central role. When taking that game into account, it produces a staggering statistic; in the last three matches for which Shaqiri hasn’t been available, and Gutiérrez has started in his place, the Fire have scored nine goals, Guti has scored once, recorded five assists, and was involved in creating two more.

Based on recent performances, it seems like a no-brainer that the homegrown should keep the starting job in his natural position. When Shaqiri returns, if he were to make his way into the lineup, it makes sense that he might be deployed as an inverted right winger, a position he played for years with big clubs in Europe like Liverpool and Bayern München and with Switzerland at last year’s World Cup. It gets the best out of Gutiérrez, who has been the team’s most impressive attacker this season and still gets Shaqiri on the field. In the past, Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson has dismissed this arrangement, referring to it as "Shaq's position", but he now appears more open to it.

"It's a possibility," Ezra told the media today in his weekly press conference. "We're just happy that the team is playing well, we're doing the things that we need to do to finally put the ball in the back of the net, and we're going to continue in that way. Once Shaq gets back, we'll determine what is the best way to move forward."

"When Shaq is here, he'll play," he noted earlier in the call, addressing questions that he would have to earn his spot back in the lineup. "Brian has come in and played really well in the #10 position, but with the experience and quality that Shaq brings to the team, that's not something that two games should unseat him of. There's a little but of respect that goes towards that. We're a much better team with Shaq than we are without."

There are, of course, reasons not to put Shaqiri on the right wing. Under Ezra, the Fire defends in a 4-4-2 shape, with the #10 (typically Shaqiri) staying high and sitting closer to the striker in a relatively free role. Meanwhile, the wide positions are much more disciplined and do much more defensive work. Putting Shaqiri on the right would require him to do much more running and roam less freely when the opposing team has the ball, a role that may not suit him as well given his tendencies over the past year. While Guti has been more effective in the 4-2-3-1 when attacking, the defensive shape may be what was holding Ezra back from pushing Shaqiri to the wing.

While Shaqiri isn't the best fit for a wide midfielder in the defensive 4-4-2, it's definitely something he's capable of playing, and it would put the Fire's brightest young attacking star in his favorite position, where he has been most comfortable and efficient. Without Shaqiri, the trio of Chris Mueller, Brian Gutiérrez, and Maren Haile-Selassie has been extremely effective, and while that attacking set has already formed good chemistry and has been putting goals in the back of the net, it's impossible to dismiss the quality and experience that the Swiss DP brings, whatever his role is on the field. It is a promising sign that Ezra could be willing to try a different arrangement in the attack, and once Shaqiri returns, whether that be this Saturday or in the coming weeks, we could see the debut of an attacking system that fans have been calling for since last season. It's worth trying, even if it requires a tweak to the defensive shape.

How can the Fire get the best out of their two most talented attackers? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!