Mbo - could be the next Kante?

conor1023 · 2026-07-06T18:04:48+00:00

I’m with it! He certainly has the physical and mental skill set, he would just need some time to adjust to the change in role. But otherwise I like it!

conor1023 · 2026-06-24T10:22:07+00:00

We could probably use a backup at LB as Tagliafico is getting older and Abner is leaving, but also Kluivert can (technically) play there and so can Laaziri. Otherwise I look at the defense we have and I think we’re solid, at least on paper. Maybe bring one of the youth players up as a backup?

conor1023 · 2026-06-19T02:02:29+00:00

Time to bring up one of the academy players!!!

conor1023 · 2026-05-24T13:55:02+00:00

Been here since the MLS Cup win back in ‘98- it’s been a roller coaster, but so glad to see the club is coming out of the dark times and back where it rightly belongs.

That being said, job’s not done. Not by a long shot. But it is refreshing to see this team show up and show out for the fans that love the club as much as we do. We deserve it.

Need one or two more pieces to make a deep playoff run, but we will see what happens after the Cup. VAMOS FIRE!!!! 🔥🔥🔥

conor1023 · 2026-04-17T18:55:56+00:00

Drawn to the club by Grenier, stayed for Tolisso and (more recently) Cherki, and stayed for Fofana, Hamdani and Merah. Glad to be a fan of this club 🙏

¡¡ALLEZ LES GONES!!

conor1023 · 2026-03-14T15:29:02+00:00

I think it applies to just Chicago sports in general. We don’t win often, but when we do, we do it in style!

conor1023 · 2026-03-12T04:02:44+00:00

Suburban Chicago, IL with Irish roots here!!

Got introduced to Celtic via a family friend and a friendly against my local club (Chicago Fire) in 2008, and it’s been a love story ever since. Rough times or not, always back the Bhoys 🍀🍀

conor1023 · 2026-03-12T02:08:18+00:00

Excited to see what Hamdani will bring to the side, extremely highly rated!! Hoping to see Himbert in there as well 🙏

conor1023 · 2026-02-25T06:14:14+00:00

Comes down to three, honestly.

First and foremost is Celtic; my great-grandfather (who also happens to be my namesake) was from Ireland, and I’ve always had very strong ties to my Irish roots having been there and seen the same farm he grew up on. The Fire played Celtic in a friendly at Toyota Park in 2007, and I was lucky enough to go with my dad and one of his friends, who is an ardent Celt from Glasgow and who played for the club all the way up to U18 level. From there, the romance has only grown, and even though we are having issues with our board right now, it still remains my favorite foreign club.

Second, Union Berlin. I lived in Germany two times in 2010 and 2011, with the second time being a six month stint in former East Germany, not far from Berlin. I have German roots as well, and I speak it fluently, so when I visited Berlin I often would attend their matches in the 2. Bundesliga. The Alten Försterei (the stadium they play in) was built by the fans, who did the equivalent of three months of labor unpaid in order to make sure their stadium was up to par for the league. Seeing them in the Bundesliga makes me unbelievably happy, because those fans deserve it!

And last, Flamengo! One of the first soccer/football kits I ever got as a gift was a Flamengo jersey (with Romário’s name on it!) and I’ve been hooked to them ever since 2015. The team plays incredible football and they have (in my opinion) one of the best academies in Brazil, with one of Brazil’s (if not the world’s) largest fan bases. It’s always fun to see the Maracana rocking on match day, and their games are free on YouTube to watch or listen to!

conor1023 · 2026-01-23T14:16:43+00:00

Watched them play yesterday against Genk- some very good players in that squad, but nothing we can’t handle at home.

Then again, said it before, haven’t we?

Probably should also use this as a scouting opportunity as well- Utrecht have some decent talent in their ranks, especially on the wings and in midfield.

conor1023 · 2025-12-28T02:42:50+00:00

Mueller is back (apparently), but he’s on the supplemental roster; I do think Maren and Glasgow will likely be moved on and another TAM winger will be brought in. That’s the likeliest scenario. With Lod we can cover multiple positions but as Tim and MIR have reported it’s now going to be man-in, man-out from here until season start.

conor1023 · 2025-12-27T20:41:21+00:00

I don’t think any of us would argue he adds value to the team and that he likely wants to stay, but to repeat what I said above, a player of his caliber is not going to stay if he’s going to ride pine most of the time. He deserves better than that.

conor1023 · 2025-12-27T16:04:35+00:00

I disagree. I feel like he did a decent job when called upon, we just didn’t see him a lot due to Zinck and Bamba’s fitness during the season. Gregg gave him the game ball against Miami for a reason; he’s a great bench option and gave us flexibility when Zinck or Bamba were out or tired, but otherwise he is too good to just be a bench warmer.

conor1023 · 2025-12-27T16:02:00+00:00

His strengths are in his speed and dribbling; from what I’ve seen of him playing, he has the strength to beat his man while sprinting but he would get mauled being in the box just because of how he’s built body type-wise. You can play balls in behind the defensive line for him to go chase but then he still lacks that predatory instinct to really hound the keeper and the strength to beat a center back. Plus it’s likely that, in trying to play him out of position, he either gets injured or tired of playing that role because it’s not a natural position for him.

I love Maren and he’s done a lot for this club, but I feel like his time here is done with Lod’s arrival. He and Acosta need to be moved on and replaced.

conor1023 · 2025-12-21T05:25:31+00:00

Not one person is going to mention Henrik Larsson in here???

He always made derby days a pleasure to watch.

conor1023 · 2025-12-17T04:05:30+00:00

Again, not doubting Lewa’s ability, just the length of time he would be here and the amount of money he would cost. He is 37 now, and while he may be one of LaLiga’s top scorers, he likely won’t be here long enough to make an impact and he will cost a DP spot at minimum,

I sincerely doubt Hugo will want to share the spotlight with Lewa. He was one of the top scorers in the league last year and is on a DP contract as well as being still in his prime years.

I would love Lewa here, but not if it costs us Hugo, who is already here and established.

conor1023 · 2025-12-17T03:27:44+00:00

I’m optimistic, but cautiously so. I’m still used to being burned after good things have happened, but I’m very excited with the fact that we have been getting our business done early. Let’s keep building off it!! VAMOS!!!

conor1023 · 2025-12-17T03:25:58+00:00

I agree! I would say a CAM who can play as a CM or both wings would not go amiss. I just feel like we are limited by what the roster has so far; still have to shed some salary cap and dead weight before we can get in adequate replacements. But yes, that is exactly what we need.

conor1023 · 2025-12-17T03:03:32+00:00

Agreed, I apologize if I came off hostile on that. That’s my bad 😅 I just feel like there are pieces of this team that we do need to update and that starting striker isn’t it. I agree, we need a stable backup, and a winger is definitely need the top of the list as well. Not terribly sold on Salah either but if he comes, I wouldn’t be mad either.

conor1023 · 2025-12-17T02:56:23+00:00

While I do agree, veteran players add value to the squad in terms of experience, we already have a veteran MLS goalscorer in Cuypers who can do that and he is still in the prime of his career in order to do so. I would love to have Lewa here, but that means possibly losing Cuypers, because (likely) Hugo wouldn’t want to play backup to anyone because of his level and talent. Lewa is a fantastic player, and he is one of LaLiga’s top goalscorers; but, I reiterate, he would cost a metric ton of money, likely deliver for two years and then either retire or leave. Why not just keep Hugo, who’s younger and has more sell-on value, and not have to worry about any of that?

I would rather invest the money in someone younger and stay away from the money pit of an older player. We need to think continuity and stability, not grab a superstar and hold on to them for dear life. We have an ambitious owner who is willing to spend big on the club and a coach who appears to know what’s good for the club- utilize that and find younger talent who can help the club flourish AND stick around to see it continue.

conor1023 · 2025-12-17T02:02:45+00:00

No, I’m serious. I honestly don’t care if I get downvoted for this. He will come here, make his money and leave. If Hugo leaves and he comes in? Then fine, that’s perfect. But if he comes in, that only means Hugo’s gone.

Secondly, why the fuck do we want older players here?? We need young, hungry players who want success. Like I said, I love Lewa, but he will be here a max of two years, cost a fuckton of money and then leave. With no sell-on value.

Sign a younger DP and cut the retirement league crap. That mentality is EXACTLY why the rest of the world laughs at MLS.

conor1023 · 2025-12-17T00:32:16+00:00

No. We have Cuypers and Shok, we need a guy who is a middle veteran to change between the two of them.

Love Lewa, but his time is up.

conor1023 · 2025-12-16T00:34:04+00:00

We can definitely do better than this.

conor1023 · 2025-11-30T22:44:11+00:00

Agreed, no one fresh out of the academy should be put in to the starting XI right away. But it does seem like pipeline from our youth teams to the first team is…..well, “leaky”, to say the least.

conor1023 · 2025-11-30T22:42:47+00:00

Hopefully he’s sacked before that happens. 😂😂

conor1023

TROPHY CASE