Know Your Foe with Alex Campbell

Alex is a contributor to the SB Nation site Hot Time in Old Town where he primarily covers the Chicago Red Stars and occasionally the Chicago Fire. He is also a recent play-by-play broadcaster for the Concordia University Chicago Cougars across a variety of sports. In his free time, he also hosts a podcast focusing on Chicago soccer, SoccerCast Chicago.

The Red Stars sit in the middle of the table, how would you assess there performance so far?

It’s been really inconsistent. Up front, they’re overly reliant on Mallory Pugh to create chances and score goals. She’s been fantastic, but the team needs more from Kealia Watt in terms of goal contributions. Defensively, they’re usual solidity has often been interrupted by uncharacteristic mistakes. It also hasn’t helped that the defensive lineup has changed so frequently. The next month or so, with several players missing at the Olympics, will be an enormous test.

The Red Stars don’t have any major honors in the NWSL yet. What are the chances this year to win a first trophy?

Low, to be honest. I don’t see them contending for the shield for which I think Portland are still the favorites. Add in Orlando’s impressive start and OL Reign likely making a charge up the table now that they’ve fully assembled their all star team and I can’t see the Red Stars improving enough, especially losing so much to Tokyo on defense, to make a push.

I think it’s going to be a fight for them to make the playoffs, and obviously anything is possible once that happens. Maybe the Red Stars have everyone back and healthy for that run, maybe they sign another attacker at some point, and maybe they make a run. The tougher task might be qualifying for the postseason rather than winning the Cup once they get there.

The Red Stars will be participating in the Women’s Cup in Louisville this summer with the chance to play either Bayern Munich or PSG. Is the fan base talking about this, or is it too early?

I think there’s certainly some excitement for the chance to watch the Red Stars face European competition. For Chicago fans, NWSL away days aren’t very practical because there hasn’t been another team within driving distance. Louisville’s addition to the league (and to a lesser extent Utah’s move to Kansas City) changes that, and the chance to not only see an NWSL match but some of Europe’s best is an opportunity I hope a lot of fans are able to take advantage of.

What kind of reception do you think Yuki Nagasato and Savannah McCaskill will get from fans in Chicago?

Yuki will always be a fan favorite here no matter what, and I’d imagine she’s excited to be back this weekend too. I’m sure she’ll be loudly cheered if/when her name is called for the starting lineups, and likewise if she is subbed on/off. It’s going to be very conflicting I think for fans if she scores.

Savannah doesn’t hold the same stature as Yuki but was certainly well liked during her time in Chicago, and I’d expect a very positive reception as well though not on the scale or volume of what Yuki is likely to be greeted with.

Who should Racing fans keep a special lookout for in Saturday’s match?

It has to be Mal Pugh. Lousiville have given up more good chances to opposing attackers than any team in the league so far this year, and the Red Stars need a boost. This is the sort of game Pugh will be looking to control and take over. Expect Morgan Gautrat to return to the starting lineup as well and try to control things in midfield. She’s playing her best soccer right now probably since 2015.

Has the stadium opened for full attendance yet? What has attendance been like?

So that first question is oddly hard to answer. SeatGeek Stadium is not in Chicago, so it’s not part of the very clear communication from the city that has seen Wrigley Field open to full capacity, with Guaranteed Rate Field following suit this weekend and Soldier Field on July 3rd. SeatGeek Stadium has a capacity of 20,000, so any sort of existing capacity limit would likely not be noticed.

The home attendance has averaged just over 3,000 in three home games this year. That’s lower than they’d like, but conflicts with the Cubs, White Sox and Fire on nice summer days can make it difficult to draw not only casual fans but some soccer fans as well.

Thanks again to Alex! Follow him on Twitter @alex_s_campbell or visit his website: alexcampbellsports.com.