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Tim Hotze

Tim is MenInRed97's Managing Editor and a co-host of The Bonfire podcast. He has been with MIR97 since launch in 2023 and is a MLS roster rule nerd and has tasted all 31 flavors of allocation money.

𝕏 Bluesky Chicago, IL
Fire Roster Update: Berhalter Starts to Rework Fire Squad

Fire Roster Update: Berhalter Starts to Rework Fire Squad

Less than two weeks into the MLS offseason, Gregg Berhalter’s plans for the Fire have begun to take shape. Having announced roster decisions early, giving the team some both salary and roster space, the Fire managed to secure Jack Elliott, one of the top free agents available this offseason,

Fire II advanced after a tense shootout.

What to Expect for Fire II with Gregg Berhalter

Tasked with overhauling a roster that finished 28th out of 29 teams in MLS, it would have been understandable if Gregg Berhalter, Gregg Broughton and the team’s sporting department focused their attention during MLS’s short offseason on reworking the first team, leaving Fire II, the team’s reserve

January 18, 2024. Chicago Fire FC players training during 2024 preseason at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. Photo by Emily Burn

Fire, Fire II announce additional coaching and roster moves

The Chicago Fire announced a number of additional changes as the team continues to rebuild under Director of Football Gregg Berhalter and Sporting Director Gregg Broughton. The moves give the new front office further flexibility and also additional gaps to fill with just 12 weeks until the start of the

Close in shot of Gregg Blackburn, wearing a jacket and blue shirt on a training pitch.

Fire bring on Gregg Broughton as sporting director

The Fire announced that Gregg Broughton, most recently director of football for the Blackburn Rovers in England, has been brought on as sporting director. The move is the second front office hire for the team in less than a week after announcing Michael Stephens’s appointment as head of recruitment

Fire II playoff run ends in Columbus loss

Fire II playoff run ends in Columbus loss

Fire II hosted their second-ever home playoff game at SeatGeek looking to advance to their first-ever Eastern Conference final in the team’s third season as they hosted Crew 2. The team battled, but ultimately fell short, conceding a 3-2 decision to Columbus in a match that saw the Ohio

Mansueto: Fire "active" in search for stadium solution

Mansueto: Fire "active" in search for stadium solution

As the Fire introduced Gregg Berhalter as Director of Football and Head Coach, team owner Joe Mansueto was asked about the team’s stadium future roughly five years after the team announced it was returning to Soldier Field, its original home, after nearly a decade and a half at what

Chicago Fire II qualify for playoffs

Chicago Fire II qualify for playoffs

For the second year in a row, the Fire II have reached the postseason, thanks to their 2-1 win over the first-place Philadelphia Union II, behind goals from Peter Soudan and Omari Glasgow alongside strong goaltending from Patrick Los, particularly in the second half as the game got scrappy. The

Falling short: Charlotte 4, Chicago 3

Falling short: Charlotte 4, Chicago 3

For the first time this season, the Fire ended up on the wrong side of a 4-3 scoreline. Previously, they’d experienced it in comeback wins over Montréal – the team’s first of the season – and Philadelphia, in a game that felt like it could have been the galvanizing match

Fire at Charlotte: Tactics and Starting XI

Fire at Charlotte: Tactics and Starting XI

The Fire face Charlotte, the team that, for all intents and purposes, pushed past the team into the playoffs last year in the team’s last home game of the season. Hosting Charlotte three days after the Fire’s 4-1 win over Miami, the Fire had 40 points to Charlotte’

Sep 14, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Fire FC forward Tom Barlow (12) celebrates with Chicago Fire FC midfielder Mare

Four Fire Storylines to Watch for the Rest of 2024

With the Fire officially eliminated from postseason contention, in a macro sense, the season is over. That isn’t to say that there are no stakes for the team in the final weeks of the season. Here are some storylines for both the team and individual players to keep an

Drawn Out: Chicago 1, Toronto 1

Drawn Out: Chicago 1, Toronto 1

Bridgeview, Ill. — Toronto and the Fire both had a singular aim going into their match at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday night – get a win, and three points. As has happened all too often for both teams this season they didn’t find the result they wanted, as both teams played

Fire at Toronto: Tactics and Starting XI

Fire at Toronto: Tactics and Starting XI

The Fire are set to host Toronto FC at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. The last time these two teams met, the Fire walked away with a 4-1 victory and their first road win of the season. With the Fire's playoff hopes dim but not extinguished and Toronto'