The Chicago Fire were in desperate need of a spark as they opened the season with seven defeats from 10 games. It arrived in the form of Mike Magee.
The signing of Magee from the LA Galaxy has transformed the club’s form but the real impact has been in his capacity to turn draws into wins. The Fire had recorded seven draws in 11 games but have registered seven wins and just two draws in the 11 fixtures since then. Magee was also prolific in firing Chicago to the semi-finals of the US Open Cup. His impact has been profound.
The consensus is that Magee has single handedly dragged Chicago Fire into the Eastern play-off places, but how true is that hypothesis? Are the Fire preparing for a post-season by the virtue of just one man? Is that a fair assessment?
Magee is one of the frontrunners for the league’s Most Valuable Player award, along with Robbie Keane, Diego Valeri and Marco Di Vaio. But what marks him out against those three players is his importance to his team. Of course, the aforementioned trio are all integral to their respective clubs, but they are surrounded by similarly equipped players. Can you say the same of Chicago?
Taking into account the 10 games he played for the Los Angeles Galaxy before making the switch to his hometown club Magee boasts an impressive record of 20 goals in just 31 appearances this season.
This scoring record is a result of a pro-active attitude in front of goal, with Magee averaging the most shots per game in the league, along with Vancouver’s Camilo and Montreal’s Di Vaio (3.6 per game).
But the mark of a great player is the effect he has on others around him and Magee has undoubtedly improved his Chicago teammates. He boasts the sixth best key passes per game average in MLS, with 2.7 per game – an impressive feat considering his role as an outright striker – contributing three assists in the process.
The signing of Joel Lindpere has given Chicago a creative hub on the left side of midfield, with the Estonian leading the Fire’s assists column with seven from 17 starts.
Dilly Duka, Jeff Larentowicz and Patrick Nyarko have all played a small part in Chicago’s resurgence, but nobody can claim to be as big a factor as Magee.
By the measure of match ratings Magee has only been bettered this season by Ike Opara, Robbie Keane and Aurelien Collin. Nyarko is the only other Chicago Fire player to make the WhoScored top 50.
Magee gives Chicago a cutting edge they were lacking in the first half of the season. However, the Fire’s overall play hasn’t improved much, averaging the second lowest share of possession in the league, with 44.6%. Only Chivas USA have averaged a lower percentage.
Furthermore the Chicago Fire average the lowest pass success rate in MLS, with only 72.7% of passes reaching their intended destination. Magee has little to work with.
But his influence on the Fire frontline is profound. Magee’s signing has seen Chicago rise to the top of the league’s shots on goal column, with 14.8 per game and shots on target per game column, with 5.3 per game.
The 29-year old has become his side’s talisman on and off the field. When Chicago fell to a dismal 2-1 defeat against Sporting Kansas City he was straight with his words. “I can’t remember a time in the second half where, during the run of play, we had three players in our attacking box,” Magee fumed. “It’s a joke. It’s unacceptable. It makes me sick.”
Only a point separates the Fire from sixth position, and play-off oblivion, as five teams compete for three spots still up for grabs in the East. The Fire face a tough final game of the regular season, travelling to the Big Apple to face the New York Red Bulls who are chasing the Supporters’ Shield title. Chicago will have to rely on the man they call ‘Magic Mike’ one more time.
Are Chicago Fire really a one man team and where would they be without Magee this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
