Spencer Richey in line for 2024 debut after Open Cup cameo
When the Chicago Fire take on the New England Revolution this weekend, there will be one glaring change from previous matches this season. Chris Brady, the star homegrown goalkeeper, will not be between the posts, and instead, 31-year-old MLS veteran Spencer Richey will start.
Brady will instead be in France with the U.S. U-23 team, who are preparing for the Olympics later this year. The 20-year-old had initially been snubbed from the roster, much like his club teammate Brian Gutiérrez, but was added as an injury replacement for former teammate Gaga Slonina.
Richey has appeared for the Fire just six times across the last two seasons. He received four starts in 2023, all when Brady was injured. He did appear in the U.S. Open Cup and once in the Leagues Cup, but was by no means a regular.
This Saturday’s game will be Richey’s first in MLS this year. However, it won’t be his first competitive game of 2024. On Wednesday, he was handed a start in the Open Cup for Chicago Fire II as they dismantled local amateur club Chicago City, 6-0. He played 45 minutes to gain match sharpness and prepare for Saturday, though he only faced one shot and made just 12 touches before being replaced by 16-year-old academy goalie Patrick Los.
“It's not always easy for those positions,” Klopas says of the goalkeeping vacancy. “Sometimes, they also need opportunities to play and get their rhythm, and that's why I think our second team here becomes really handy in moments like this. Whether it's Spencer or Jeff (Gal), they are able throughout the season to get minutes and make sure that they are always ready to step in and perform.”
Though regular minutes have been hard to come by since leaving FC Cincinnati in 2020, Richey has typically been fairly reliable when called upon. Among others, he started in a 3-2 road win over Cincy in 2022 and the season opener against NYCFC in 2023, and while he represents a clear downgrade on Brady, Richey has an experienced pair of hands.
While Brady and Richey are different types of goalkeepers, that shouldn’t affect too much when it comes to playing out of the back. Center back Tobias Salquist, who made his first two MLS starts in the last two weeks, expressed faith in Richey even if there will be a small adjustment.
“On the pitch, it's a lot of times about the connection,” Salquist said. “Both are great goalkeepers, so it really doesn't make a big difference. You just have to know, we train with them every day. You just have to know what they want and what we want. It's all about communication.”
With Richey coming into the XI, third-string keeper Jeff Gal, who is yet to debut in Chicago, will likely take his place on the bench. SuperDraft pick Bryan Dowd is also an option, but he is coming back from an injury that kept him out of most of preseason, and he sat on the bench in MLS Next Pro last weekend behind the aforementioned 16-year-old Los. Once restored to full fitness, Dowd will likely be the go-to #1 for Fire II, with Los providing backup and receiving opportunities where possible.
