There’s a feeling of lightness you get when you release yourself from the obligation of caring.

In the past week the Fire played two of the worst teams in the league at home. Their results were one loss and one draw. There are only so many conclusions you can draw from that; perhaps the most obvious one is that the Fire are indeed one of the worst teams in the league.

In between those two matches, Fire GM Nelson Rodriguez held a media roundtable and told reporters, in so many words, that Everything Is Fine.

There’s only so many conclusions one can draw from that roundtable. Mine is that no one in a decision-making capacity at the Chicago Fire Soccer Club actually gives a shit about results on the pitch. They don’t win because it’s just not a priority for them.

Honestly, I’m grateful for this past week. The club, through their relentless ineptitude, have given me space to release myself from the obligation of caring about them this season. They don’t give a shit, and their not giving a shit gives me permission to not give a shit. It feels very freeing.

Without this week, I would’ve gone into tomorrow’s clash in Philadelphia, looked at the opposition’s place in the Eastern Conference standings, looked at our own record, and broken out in hives. As it is, I feel light as air. The results don’t matter for the club, so they shouldn’t matter for the rest of us. It’s great.

By ‘A Softer World’

Chicago Fire all-time MLS record vs Philadelphia: 8W-5D-9L, 34 GF / 35 GA, 29 pts out of 66

Chicago Fire away MLS record vs Philadelphia: 2W-2D-6L, 15 GF / 20 GA, 8 pts out of 30

Previously on…

A win and a draw in quick back-to-back matches against Orlando, followed by a 4-0 beatdown from RSL. So, they’re not exactly in top shape right now.

Suggested Lineup

Kronholm; Gutjahr, Marcelo, Kappelhof, Bronico; Mihailovic, McCarty; Katai, Gaitán, Frankowski; Sapong

I dunno, man. I don’t like this. Not least because there’s no Mo Adams. But this is the best I can come up with.

Keys To The Match

Accept That Nothing Is Permanent: We’re all going to die and one day the planet herself will burn and crumble to ash and no one will be around to remember who we were and what we did. So, hey, puts this whole “getting a result on the road” thing in perspective, right?

Pray: Nothing else this team is doing seems to be working.

IDK Score Goals Or Something: Or don’t, whatever, nothing matters anymore.

How To Watch

Television: N/A

Streaming: ESPN+

Final Thoughts

This won’t go well, but it doesn’t matter anymore. My prediction: 3-1 Philly.

---

Do you think the Fire can turn it around against the Union? Let us know in the comments below!