2024 Chicago Fire Roster Preview Part 4: Forwards
MIR97's preview of different positions and players on the field continues. With the beginning of the MLS season just around the corner, the final piece to look at are the attackers.
Having somewhat lacked efficiency in the final third, the Fire will be looking to be a real threat this year when it comes to the attack. Averaging just under 1.15 goals a game, many fans have been questioning whether change in the attack is the missing piece. Thankfully, with a lot of new additions to the squad, there is a lot to look forward to.
Tom Barlow
Height: 6’2 DOB: July 8, 1995 (28) Foot: Right
2023 Stats
Games Played: 43 Starts: 28 Minutes: 2487
Goals: 5 Assists: 3
History with the Fire: His time at the Fire has not been long considering he joined just nine days after the 2023 season concluded.
2023 Recap: Last season was one of the best in his career so far, scoring important goals in the playoffs against Charlotte and Cincinnati. His goal against Cincinnati would have been enough to tie up the series in round one were it not for a late equalizer that led to a defeat in penalties.
Key Question: Will his form from the end of last season carry on, and will his experience and time in MLS help the team bounce back from a disappointing run? Although he might not be the main man, having a backup striker of such a high caliber can only help.
2024 Projection: Although he will not be the starter up top, it is likely that he will improve from, or be right around, his numbers last season.
Victor Bezerra
Height: 6’2 DOB: Feb 5, 2000 (24) Foot: Right
2023 Stats (Fire II)
Games Played: 10 Starts: 7 Minutes: 457
Goals: 3 Assists: 1
History with the Fire: Bezerra joined the Fire in late 2021 after a successful college career with the Indiana Hoosiers. Being from Chicago and having played for the Fire Academy when he was younger, he has more of a personal connection with the club than many of the other players on the roster. Bezerra previously made five appearances in 2022.
2023 Recap: Bezerra spent 330 days injured and missed 37 games, so 2023 was a tough year for him. Regardless of injury, Bezerra managed to average a goal contribution every 114 minutes for Fire II, despite only starting 7 games.
Key Question: How good will Bezerra be this year? As we know, it won’t be easy for him to get substantial minutes this year considering the new signings in his position. That being said, we can expect a version of him that will be in good shape and very close to fully recovering from his injury.
2024 Projection: Bezerra is unlikely to see the field in MLS this season, but he should get opportunities with Fire II to earn a first team renaissance and a new contract.
Hugo Cuypers
Height: 6’1 DOB: Feb 7, 1997 (27) Foot: Right
2023 Stats
Games Played: 60 Starts: 54 Minutes: 5160
Goals: 32 Assists: 15
History with the Fire: Hugo Cuypers is the most expensive signing in franchise history and the third most expensive in MLS history with a $14 million price tag. He has just joined the squad after acquiring his visa and is expected to be ready before the start of the season this weekend.
2023 Recap: Cuypers' 2023 season for Gent in the Belgian Pro League was one to remember, adding 47 goal contributions in 54 starts across all competitions, and averaging a mind-blowing 100 minutes a week throughout the entire calendar year. He played in six different competitions last year, including the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Key Question: Cuypers' goals and objectives should be very high for the coming season when considering his recent form. One of the many questions that could be asked about the upcoming season is the following: Can he become one of the best players in MLS?
2024 Projection: It might be a little too soon to make a prediction but, taking everything into account and assuming everything goes to plan, Cuypers should be amongst the top five goalscorers in Major League Soccer. More specifically, to the Fire, this is the player that can put the team on his back when it comes to reaching the playoffs and ending with a good overall record.
Maren Haile-Selassie
Height: 5’9 DOB: Mar 13, 1999 (24) Foot: Right
2023 Stats
Games Played: 39 Starts: 26 Minutes: 2366
Goals: 7 Assists: 3
History with the Fire: Haile-Selassie was loaned to the Fire from sister-club Lugano in January of 2023. He played the entire 2023 MLS season for the Fire on loan until his clause was bought out at the end of the season making his signing permanent.
2023 Recap: Starting the most games for the Fire last season out of all of the attackers on the roster, he is one of the few familiar faces in this attack full of newcomers. Totaling 10 goal contributions in a little over twice the starts, his numbers are above average for a winger.
Key Question: Can Haile-Selassie establish himself as a main contributor to this dominant attack, or will he still need time to adapt? Since arriving from Lugano, he has been slowly improving, looking especially sharp this preseason. One thing that is looking certain is that he will be competing for a spot in the starting lineup, but it remains to be seen whether he will be playing on the right or left wing.
2024 Projection: The young Swiss winger has all the potential to make a name for himself this season in Major League Soccer; the only question is how big of a name and how much of an effect he can have on the Fire during this comeback season.
Georgios Koutsias
Height: 5’9 DOB: Feb 8, 2004 (20) Foot: Right
2023 Stats
Games Played: 33 Starts: 15 Minutes: 1198
Goals: 3 Assists: 1
History with the Fire: Having been at the Fire now for just under a year, Koutsias was signed on a permanent deal at the beginning of last season from PAOK Salonika. In the time he has been at Chicago, he has played in most games but has not made a significant impact yet.
2023 Recap: With three goals and one assist in 33 games, his numbers last year were underwhelming. Having been a teenager and playing in MLS, however, it certainly was not bad for a first season.
Key Question: With Cuypers and possibly Tom Barlow ahead of him in his position, will he be able to get the minutes he needs to continue his development? This question is hard to answer at the moment. He had been getting a lot of playing time during the preseason, but this is because Cuypers had not been training with the team. Once Cuyper joins the squad, it will be easier to determine how the season will shape out for Koutsias.
2024 Projection: What is important to remember is the fact that Koutsias has just turned 20. With a lot of time and career ahead, he must continue his development and gain experience through playing time. It looks like it won’t be as easy to get minutes this season with the arrival of Cuypers, but only time will tell.
Chris Mueller
Height: 5’7 DOB: Aug 29, 1996 (27) Foot: Right
2023 Stats
Games Played: 11 Starts: 8 Minutes: 753
Goals: 2 Assists: 1
History with the Fire: Mueller has been a Fire player since May of 2022, making this his third season playing at Chicago, but it could be his first full year. Having only registered six goals so far in his time with the team, the biggest challenge for the following season is staying healthy. He has been out for a total of 288 days in the last two years from hip injuries, missing a total of 30 games in the process.
2023 Recap: His 2023 season was cut short due to injuries, but the time he was active went very well, with 3 goal contributions in 10 games.
Key Question: Will he be able to stay healthy throughout the season, or might some of his past injuries come back to haunt him? During his time at Orlando City, Mueller scored 22 goals, assisting another 20 for a total of 42 goal contributions throughout three seasons as a winger, proving just how good he really is.
2024 Projection: Assuming he can stay healthy, nothing will stop him from being a consistent starter and a reliable outlet for goals and assists.
Missael Rodríguez
Height: 5’9 DOB: Feb 9, 2003 (21) Foot: Right
2023 Stats (Fire II)
Games Played: 20 (2 first team) Starts: 10 (0 first team) Minutes: 1215 (26 first team)
Goals: 2 (0 first team) Assists: 1 (0 first team)
History with the Fire: A homegrown who has been playing for the Fire academy for many years, Rodríguez finally had the chance to debut with the first team last season. Getting a few minutes both in the Open Cup and in MLS, he will be looking to get more protagonism this year.
2023 Recap: Missa's season was a tough one managing time and minutes between the first and second teams. Being called up to the squad as many times as he did was more of a curse than a blessing considering he was always on the bench without much of a realistic possibility of getting in.
Key Question: Still young and with a lot of time ahead, is it the best idea to stay at the Fire as things stand? With the team looking to bounce back from season after season of desperation, the attack is looking extremely strong leaving players like Rodríguez and Bezerra in a tough position.
2024 Projection: No matter where he ends up playing, Rodríguez should improve from last season. Whether he decides to stay at the Fire, plays more minutes with Fire II, or decides to leave, he still has a lot of potential left to capitalize on.
