:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/assets/583405/sounders-fire_0409.png)
The first thing our astute readers will probably notice is that we don't have the Chicago Fire in a 3-5-2 formation. For all the hype around that formation, and I'll admit that I spent a fair amount of time talking to people this week about it, they haven't really played with three backs all that much this season. As Seattle Sounders coach Sigi Schmid pointed out, the Fire played a 3-5-2 for part of their first game but haven't really been that devoted to playing that way.
Part of the reason is that playing the 3-5-2 is really dependent on having certain personnel, namely center back Josip Mikulic, who won't be traveling this week. Hot Time in Old Town, SB Nation's Chicago Fire blog, says that likely means a much more standard 4-4-2. Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed, but maybe Carlos de los Cobos will prove us wrong.
On the Sounders' side, we're expect Sigi to go with a lineup very similar to the one he used last week. The one exception is we suspect Jhon Kennedy Hurtado will reclaim his starting spot at center back. Patrick Ianni didn't really do much to win the job, anyway, and we've suspected all along that Sig is just being cautious. Two weeks off seems sufficient.
Somewhat unrelated, I'd love for any feedback you have on the new look of the match cards. The injury report is, admittedly, a bit out of date as Friday's report has not been released at the time of publication. Is there something you'd like to see that you aren't seeing?
Printer-friendly version: sounders 0409