BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Competition for places is one of the key ingredients for getting the best out of players in any sport, and Frank Yallop is certainly employing that tactic with his revamped 2015 Chicago Fire roster.
Yallop’s 2014 squad in his first year at the helm of the Fire was undermined by a lack of starting quality beyond the best 14 or 15 players, but that lack of depth was something he addressed with purpose during the offseason: The Fire were one of the most active teams since the end of last season, bringing in 15 new players while parting ways with 18.
It’s led to intense competition throughout the squad this year for a place in Yallop’s starting plans. And that intensity has transferred into results, with the Fire now 2-3-0 and still above the red line in the Eastern Conference despite not playing the last two weekends heading into Friday's home match against New York City FC (8 pm ET; UDN, available in English via SAP).
One example of that competition is veteran outside back Lovel Palmer, who started 29 of his 30 appearances last season, losing his place in the starting lineup following the immediate and impressive impact made by fullbacks Eric Gehrig and Joevin Jones – both of whom were offseason acquisitions.
“Everyone wants to be on the field,” Gehrig, 27, told MLSsoccer.com. “Obviously, there’s only 11 spots on the field, and that’s up to Frank, but competition is always good. It keeps you sharp as a player, keeps pushing you on and makes you want to get better and better and prove yourself to the gaffer that you’re the one that he should be picking.”
Palmer started the season-opening defeat to the LA Galaxy at right back, with Gehrig in the center. He then played the next three games at left back, with Gehrig on the right, before moving to the bench for the Fire’s 3-2 victory April 4 over Toronto FC last time out.
“It can only affect me in a positive way because as a professional it’s about being on the pitch and doing the right things to make the team win,” Palmer, 29, said about losing his place in the team. “The coach feels that it’s a better choice to leave me out, but he has his plans for me, he has his plans for the team.
“Whatever he thinks is best I just have to come out on the pitch every single day and work hard in practice hoping to get back in the starting line-up or whenever he calls on me. I know I’m ready to impact in a positive way.”
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For Yallop, it’s all about creating a “fight” among his group.
“As I’ve said to Lovel, he’s done nothing wrong,” Yallop told reporters on a conference call last week. “He’s played pretty well this season, like all our players, but it’s just a coach’s choice, if you like. I felt that JJ left back and Eric right back at this point is what I wanted to go with. Lovel has trained very well the last week, got his head up, he’s ready to go and ready to fight for his spot.”
For Gehrig, a native of nearby Harvey, Ill., turning out for the team he supported as a boy has been a dream come true after spending the first four years in the league with Columbus Crew SC.
“It’s everything to me,” Gehrig said. “Every day I wake up it’s amazing. I’ve said it a thousand times: this is the club I grew up for, this is where my heart’s at. It means the world that Frank and the staff brought me over. I love the group of guys, and of course we’re nobody without the fans, so I’m glad they are sticking with us after a trying time to start the season. But we’re feeling their love as of late. We’re in it together.”
Shane Murray covers the Chicago Fire for MLSsoccer.com.
