MLS betting tip: Chicago Fire- Columbus Crew
Aug 23, 2018
MLS: Chicago Fire- Columbus Crew
We have taken on Fire in two very recent starts and ahead of a trip to Montreal last weekend I wrote ...........
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We opposed Chicago Fire at home to NYRB last weekend............
Fire are anything but (on fire !) and have lost six in a row, conceding 17 goals ( 2+ in each) in the process, they also played a US Open Cup game in Philadelphia in midweek and lost that 3-0. Nine players played in both that and the loss in Salt Lake last weekend ( 4,600km round trip) and the mood and confidence levels must be low and in tandem with energy and performance ! There are notes on a recent NYRB performance at the foot of this email, they won that 2-0 and twice since, either side of a loss at home to a very erratic Columbus Crew who wobble between poor and great ! This should be right up Red Bulls' street they have had six days to prepare, will be fresh to press hard and looking for revenge for a 2-1 early season home loss to Fire, but encouraged by a 4-0 win here on their last visit, lengthy injury list for Fire and I really cannot see beyond a fairly emphatic win for the visitors.
It was a game of few chances, but fewer still for Fire, one on target, four inside the box. They might be better today after a free midweek, but confidence levels are low and they face a hungry Montreal Impact who have played at a good level since May, starting the season 3-0-10, going 6-3-3 subsequently. Last month I previewed their home game with San Jose where my notes included .......
Notes on Impact's last two home starts are included within the preview of last week's meeting with Colorado which are reproduced below the "good luck" sign off in full. They won that 2-1, but came unstuck in midweek losing 3-0 away to NYCFC. No shame in that defeat and there were some positives for them to take from the game and there were very few chances for City in the opening hour. Now Impact are back home and after facing one of the best in MLS, meet a team at the opposite end of the spectrum. Earthquakes are without a win in nine, have conceded a Western Division high 37 goals and have tried to incorporate a new, more open style which just doesn't play to their strengths/personnel. The main supporters blog made their feelings clear this week..........
Jesse Fioranelli’s biggest mistake is backing Mika Stahre. Dom Kinnear and Chris Leitch were fired for far less than what Mika Stahre has produced, yet Jesse Fioranelli continues to support the Swedish manager who appears to be in way over his head to lead the team. The Quakes were a one-and-done U.S. Open Cup team, have managed just two wins all season (both against the same team), and are on pace to finish last in the league. Stahre’s tactics are indiscernible and the defense is not even USL quality.
They then went on to list all that was wrong, but you get the picture. Montreal to return to winning ways.
Impact won that 2-0, they have played four times since, three draws (two on the road) , losing at home to Atlanta United , possibly the best team in MLS so no shame in that and had 7 attempts on target in that and the other result was a 1-1 draw here with fast improving DCU where they hit the woodwork three times, is it me or are teams "better" at hitting the post and bar nowadays ! Montreal are still holding on to 6th and that final post season spot but have a tough run of upcoming fixtures and desperately need to get back to winning ways and Fire feel like ideal opponents.
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They lost that 2-1, their 8th defeat in a row, it was a game of few chances and low quality and the mood within the Chicago camp was summed up on one of their main blogs when the writer said "I don't give a **** any more ! " Not very supportive, but reflects the frustration in and around the club, the desperation was further highlighted by the 3-4-2-1 formation with only one central defender on the right, playing alongside a left back and Bastian Schweinsteiger ! After tonight Fire do not play for 24 days, if those issues are going to be worked out, or eased if not resolved, it feels more likely to be then, as opposed to over the last four days since the trip to Montreal.
All current form and stats suggest that Fire are the worst team in MLS , they are giving up 4.0 attempts (1.8 on target) more per game than Columbus Crew, the visitors are also producing 4.1 more per game, infact, the Crew numbers are not dissimilar to NYRB who are only two places, but 10 points ahead in 2nd place in the strong Eastern Conference. Similar apart from conversion rate and they simply have not been ruthless enough in front of goal and only two teams in MLS have scored fewer, despite Crew's lofty standing. Their last five starts have seen them win three, including away to NYRB where they actually scored three, they lost the other two, on the road to Atlanta and NYCFC, they are the top three teams in the East, they beat one, created 30 chances in the other two and as goal shy as they are, obviously have ability and potential. This time 12 months ago they were in exactly the same position 4th-5th and went into the post season in 5th, but beat Atlanta, NYCFC over two legs, then lost narrowly to Toronto in the Championship game. So we know they can make a charge from here on in and are capable of competing with the best. They have a game in hand on NYCFC whom they trail by 9 points, but host next week, so could close that to three by winning both and that should be their immediate target.
The two teams have met twice this season, Fire won the previous meeting here in Chicago 1-0, but Columbus totally dominated all stat categories, they won the return 3-0 a few weeks later and across the two games also hit the woodwork FIVE times. Chicago have clearly gome backwards since and if Crew can just retain a little more focus in front of goal they should win this.
1.5 units Columbus Crew -0.5 ball 2.24 asian line/Sportmarket.
Good Luck.
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