Wow, in HD one can really see the sun damage on John Harkes's face. Need more make-up, John.
I love Toyota Park by the way. Great stadium. Nice views everywhere, and the brickwork is sweet.
Bretos, A. Lalas and Twellman discussing the USA loss. Twellman has an excellent point about the youth of the USA team not matching Mexico's talent with young players. Duh. I could have said that back in 2005, when Mexico won the U17 World Cup.
1 - Dane Richards on an early run. Fire snuff it out.
3 - What a joke. Commentators talking about how the Fire miss Brian McBride. McBride was fine, but who the Fire really miss is Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Blanco made the team go.
5 - I nominate Eric Wynalda for the Fire coaching vacancy, by the way.
6 - Does anyone else hate Henry's beard as much as I do? I hate it like I hated Ronaldo's horrible 2002 haircut. Ugh.
7 - Richards helps the Bulls get a corner. It's taken well, but no one from NY is able to connect.
12 - Commentators snark slightly on Charlie Davies' goal total. Also, notice how all the studio hosts believe Bradley is staying in charge of the USA team. .
14 Cuesta gets a yellow for tackle on Joel Lindpere. DeRosario takes a crappy freekick.
15 - Oduro gets in deep, Keel cuts off his cross.
17 - Barouch misses from the top of the box for the Fire. Too high.
19 Fire getting more of the ball than New York, who don't look like the top team in the East at present. I know, technically, the Union are tops in the East, too.
21 - Johnson with a nice save on Richards. Gives up the corner, but the Fire eventually clear.
23 - Can anyone in the booth give Harkes a crippling blow to his voicebox? Twellman or Lalas would have better insight. Harkes is the master of the painfully obvious. Plus, he's not funny. At all.
24 - FAIL - FAIL! The All-Spanish commentary on the Gold Cup trophy ceremony is a fallacy. There was English spoken. Howard was wrong, just as wrong as he was four times in the USA v Mexico game. The MLS announcers should make the truth clear. Be honest, Harkes. I know it's hard.
26 - Johnson with another nice save, this one low.
27 - Fire on the counter, but Oduro blows it with a lame pass and promptly chastises himself like a four-year old, pounding his fists on the grass of the field.
30 - Blah, blah, the announcers have forgotten about the game going on in front of them and are wondering on -air if John Rooney will room with his brother. Please.
31 - Those concerned about the match, I'm here for you. Red Bulls passing the ball aimlessly in their half of the field.
32 - Barouch with a header to the corner - missed it, but not by much. Kid's got talent.
34 - Richards with a great wing run and a wasted cross right to Johnson. If Richards could ever learn to cross, he'd be a beast. He'd be in Europe, not MLS. But right now, every cross is a roll of the die. So he's in MLS.
37 - Stone doesn't want to claim credit for coining "Bouna-time"? Can't blame him.
38 - Cuesta, already on a yellow, is tempting fate by getting another foul.
39 - Now the announcers are telling the story of Mike Magee playing the majority of the Galaxy match as a goalkeeper. Highlights or it didn't happen.
40 - GOAL! Cuesta with a horrible clearance - right into Lindpere, who catches up to the ball and hits a nice angle to the corner. Not only does Cuesta gift Lindpere the ball, but in shock, he doesn't close down in time, allowing the shot. 1-0 Red Bulls.
42 - Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, but Lindpere is also persistent and opportunistic. Good qualities in MLS, where shaky moments happen.
45 - Fire pout their way to halftime. You can always tell a young team - they act like more possession and chances should count for something in soccer. It's all about the finishing and the scoreboard, boys.
Halftime - Lalas thinks Bob's USA coaching is fine. Twellman finds more criticism with the move for Bornstein after Cherundolo's injury. Then they segue, really awkwardly, to the Women's World Cup.
Considering he let four goals in last night - the AllState commercials with Tim Howard are really annoying. I want to yell at the screen, "Forget about being cool! Watch for Barrera! You should have had that shot!"
Hm, Hope Solo goes from being ostracized in 2007 to being the main feature in the ESPN halftime report. Meanwhile, where is former USA women's coach Greg Ryan?
46 - Announcers discuss whether Henry is disinterested in this match. It's the beard, I think. It makes him look like he's given up on life and caring about anything.
49 - Bogus call. Nyarko wasn't faking, he just stepped on the NY player's leg. Of course he went down. He lost his footing.
53 - The Fire go close with a freekick.
55 - De Rosario tries to defy the law of physics and put a shot on goal from an impossible angle.
57 - GOAL! Pappa is the Pappa! Marco with an outside shot beats Coundoul. Coundoul misjudged the pace of the ball and didn't so much punch as barely nudged the ball, and it continued on its merry path to the back of the net. 1-1 All square.
58 - Bouna Time! for a bad flub, that is.
60 - Hi to all the folks who got here because Dodger writer Dylan Hernandez got bored at the airport and mentioned my blog on his Twitter. How 'bout them Dodgers this year? Who hates McCourt like I hate Henry's beard?
64 - Magee needs to make a triumphant return to the Red Bulls as their new goalkeeper.
66 - Pappa is injured. This is not good for the Fire.
68 - Pappa's fine now. Just overshot a cross.
69 - Pappa test Coundoul with a shot, but Bouna has this one. The Red Bulls look tired. This game is ripe for the Fire.
70 - Corben Bone is on for Baggio Husidic. Mendes, a Red Bull lifer, goes to ground trying to make something happen in the box. Nothing doing.
72 - Keel is clearly trying to make Henry feel better about that horrible beard by sporting really bad hair and an atrocious headband.
75 - Ballouchy, Henry and Lindpere work together to earn a corner and Keel gets a free header. The bad hair probably contributed to his bad miss.
77 - The Fire supporters still sounding energetic. If the players look tired - well, have you ever played in Chicago in the summer? Brutal. Life-sapping humidity.
78 - Teemu Tainio with a yellow card foul on Pappa.
80 - Hans Backe has fallen asleep. Or at least, that's the best reason I can come up with for New York not having a single sub yet.
81 - Nice save by Coundoul. Now he's down on the ground though. He didn't land well from that dive.
83 - Meanwhile, Chicago has just made its third sub. Pappa comes out, probably because he played Gold Cup and is still fatigued.
85 - Bouna Time - aka craziness - in the box as he clears the ball off a Fire player, but it doesn't result in a goal.
87 - Fire pressing late for the win, but one can't tell as the announcers gab about random Gold Cup and points in the table.
88 - Chaves is a mini-Pappa, but nowhere near as effective. You need to believe, Diego!
90+ Fire closing in as time runs down.
Mike Jones makes his MLS debut for New York. Oduro tries to be the hero, ignores Chaves and goes over the bar.
Fulltime - It's a draw. Tired match from both sides. Not MLS at its best by far. Plus, we never got Magee in goal highlights. I feel cheated.
Showing posts with label Fire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fire. Show all posts
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Chicago/Galaxy running blog
Last year, Chicago destroyed LA's playoff hopes in the final game of the year. This year, they could pretty much kill the Galaxy off - a little earlier this time around.
LD talks about doing "internal work". Sounds like colonics or something. LD gives a nod to Hispanic Heritage month, saying those were his soccer teammates when he was growing up. Foudy points out that the Galaxy will lose players in an upcoming game for international duty.
LD also does a bumper blurb in Spanish. "Arriba Galaxy" he says. He won't be hearing much of that tonight, frankly.
Galaxy - Wicks, Jazic, Franklin, Roberts, Klein, Becks, Vanney, Lewis, Donovan, Gordon, Buddle
Fire - Busch, Segares, Conde, Soumare, Prideaux, Rolfe, Pause, Mapp, Thorington, Blanco, McBride
Foudy thinks Blanco is going to have to step up to turn the Fire around. Stone points out that McBride doesn't really seem to have helped the Fire much since he joined them.
Kickoff!
1- Nice crowd. Not a big surprise, but still nice to see.
2 - Klein takes ball away from Mapp.
3 - Fire throw. Blanco seems really on tonight. Franklin fouls and give up a free kick to the Fire.
4 - Blanco takes it - hits it right to Wicks. Not Blanco's usual cannon shot.
7 - Blanco lays ball off, Mapp takes a shot. Way over.
8 - Gordon fouls Pause in midfield.
9 - Wicks saves a Rolfe shot!
10 - Chicago corner - Soumare header - Jazic clears off the line!
12 - Becks with a good volley pass, but Busch beats Buddle to the ball.
13 - GOAL! Rolfe! He got the ball poked away from him twice, but he got it back both times and sneaks the ball in far post. He shot through Troy Roberts' legs, and that seemed to throw Wicks off. 1-0 Fire.
26 - Corner for LA - Becks takes it. Galaxy get a throw out of it.
27 - It gets served into the box, but the header is way wide. Goal kick.
30 - Gordon with a low shot, but not fast enough to threaten Busch.
32 - Yikes. Harkes just said, "Beckerman" No.
34 - The crowd is building up momentum with Spanish chants.
35 - GOAL! Lewis! LD to Klein, whose low cross reaches the box, where Lewis gets a foot in front of Rolfe to poke the ball towards goal. 1-1
36 - Becks is grimacing like crazy. I think his ankle is hurt again. the announcers ignore it.
SAVE! Wicks. Blanco served the ball in, but Wicks made the save.
37 - Corner kick ends up with a shot over the bar by the Fire.
40 - Beckham to Buddle - who shoots just wide.
44 - Wicks punches a ball out, Thorrington serves it back in. Blanco is down after colliding with Wicks. He barreled right into him.
Blanco heads toward the sideline.
45 + He's back now - just got called for offside.
Halftime - the Galaxy fought back after the Fire went up early. It really depends who has the legs in the second half for the win, I think.
I can't believe Mauricio Cienfuegos isn't on ESPN's influential Hispanic players poll.
50 - Chicago is coming in hard and the Galaxy are scrambling to hold them off.
51 - Either LA will surprise the Fire on a counter or the Fire will get the goal they are pressing for right now.
52 - Wicks catches a tipped ball from Troy Roberts. Becks gets booed as he sets up for a corner. Over the bar. The Galaxy get another corner. It pops out and Becks serves it back in - Gordon heads wide.
54 - Harkes gushes over what Bruce Arena has brought to the Galaxy. Are we looking at the same team?
57 - GOAL! Blanco! On the counter on an outlet pass - Wicks mistimed coming out, collided with Roberts and couldn't get the ball. The home fans go crazy. 2-1 Fire.
59 - GOAL! Rolfe! A pass snuck through to Rolfe - though it looked offside to me, but the linesman keeps the flag down. Wicks gets a hand to it, but that doesn't stop the ball and it continues into the goal. 3-1 Fire.
63 - Even though the Fire were pushing hard for a goal, they actually scored on counter chance, not the the pressing opportunities.
66 - LA FK - right to the hands of Busch.
69 - Donovan missed a scoring chance near post. Nice feed from Klein.
71 - Another chance wasted - Lewis pass - LD tried to volley it but his touch was off.
78 - Even Harkes mentions Cien as influential - why isn't he on the poll, Harkey?
80 - Corner for LA. Various player have a chance at it, but a whistle blows - handball on Roberts.
86 - Jordan creates a corner kick chance. Becks takes it and Franklin gets a header on it. It's not a good one, though, and the ball goes wide.
Final whistle
Well, this was always going to be a tough game to win, but now the Galaxy are looking at having to win out to try to make the playoffs. That's nearly impossible, especially with all their internationals missing for another game.
LD talks about doing "internal work". Sounds like colonics or something. LD gives a nod to Hispanic Heritage month, saying those were his soccer teammates when he was growing up. Foudy points out that the Galaxy will lose players in an upcoming game for international duty.
LD also does a bumper blurb in Spanish. "Arriba Galaxy" he says. He won't be hearing much of that tonight, frankly.
Galaxy - Wicks, Jazic, Franklin, Roberts, Klein, Becks, Vanney, Lewis, Donovan, Gordon, Buddle
Fire - Busch, Segares, Conde, Soumare, Prideaux, Rolfe, Pause, Mapp, Thorington, Blanco, McBride
Foudy thinks Blanco is going to have to step up to turn the Fire around. Stone points out that McBride doesn't really seem to have helped the Fire much since he joined them.
Kickoff!
1- Nice crowd. Not a big surprise, but still nice to see.
2 - Klein takes ball away from Mapp.
3 - Fire throw. Blanco seems really on tonight. Franklin fouls and give up a free kick to the Fire.
4 - Blanco takes it - hits it right to Wicks. Not Blanco's usual cannon shot.
7 - Blanco lays ball off, Mapp takes a shot. Way over.
8 - Gordon fouls Pause in midfield.
9 - Wicks saves a Rolfe shot!
10 - Chicago corner - Soumare header - Jazic clears off the line!
12 - Becks with a good volley pass, but Busch beats Buddle to the ball.
13 - GOAL! Rolfe! He got the ball poked away from him twice, but he got it back both times and sneaks the ball in far post. He shot through Troy Roberts' legs, and that seemed to throw Wicks off. 1-0 Fire.
26 - Corner for LA - Becks takes it. Galaxy get a throw out of it.
27 - It gets served into the box, but the header is way wide. Goal kick.
30 - Gordon with a low shot, but not fast enough to threaten Busch.
32 - Yikes. Harkes just said, "Beckerman" No.
34 - The crowd is building up momentum with Spanish chants.
35 - GOAL! Lewis! LD to Klein, whose low cross reaches the box, where Lewis gets a foot in front of Rolfe to poke the ball towards goal. 1-1
36 - Becks is grimacing like crazy. I think his ankle is hurt again. the announcers ignore it.
SAVE! Wicks. Blanco served the ball in, but Wicks made the save.
37 - Corner kick ends up with a shot over the bar by the Fire.
40 - Beckham to Buddle - who shoots just wide.
44 - Wicks punches a ball out, Thorrington serves it back in. Blanco is down after colliding with Wicks. He barreled right into him.
Blanco heads toward the sideline.
45 + He's back now - just got called for offside.
Halftime - the Galaxy fought back after the Fire went up early. It really depends who has the legs in the second half for the win, I think.
I can't believe Mauricio Cienfuegos isn't on ESPN's influential Hispanic players poll.
50 - Chicago is coming in hard and the Galaxy are scrambling to hold them off.
51 - Either LA will surprise the Fire on a counter or the Fire will get the goal they are pressing for right now.
52 - Wicks catches a tipped ball from Troy Roberts. Becks gets booed as he sets up for a corner. Over the bar. The Galaxy get another corner. It pops out and Becks serves it back in - Gordon heads wide.
54 - Harkes gushes over what Bruce Arena has brought to the Galaxy. Are we looking at the same team?
57 - GOAL! Blanco! On the counter on an outlet pass - Wicks mistimed coming out, collided with Roberts and couldn't get the ball. The home fans go crazy. 2-1 Fire.
59 - GOAL! Rolfe! A pass snuck through to Rolfe - though it looked offside to me, but the linesman keeps the flag down. Wicks gets a hand to it, but that doesn't stop the ball and it continues into the goal. 3-1 Fire.
63 - Even though the Fire were pushing hard for a goal, they actually scored on counter chance, not the the pressing opportunities.
66 - LA FK - right to the hands of Busch.
69 - Donovan missed a scoring chance near post. Nice feed from Klein.
71 - Another chance wasted - Lewis pass - LD tried to volley it but his touch was off.
78 - Even Harkes mentions Cien as influential - why isn't he on the poll, Harkey?
80 - Corner for LA. Various player have a chance at it, but a whistle blows - handball on Roberts.
86 - Jordan creates a corner kick chance. Becks takes it and Franklin gets a header on it. It's not a good one, though, and the ball goes wide.
Final whistle
Well, this was always going to be a tough game to win, but now the Galaxy are looking at having to win out to try to make the playoffs. That's nearly impossible, especially with all their internationals missing for another game.
Friday, August 22, 2008
McTough
Eddie Lewis was passing through the Galaxy locker room, his head stitched up from where he'd sustained a cut in the match versus Guatemala. Back in the pressbox, one of the reporters brought up Eddie's age and wondered about his durability in the rough and tumble world of MLS. I pointed out that Brian McBride was older.
"Yes, but he's McBride!" someone responded in exasperation, as if that explained everything.
Actually, I did bring up the age of both McBride and Cuauhtemoc Blanco to their coach, Denis Hamlett. I was trying to ask if it was a concern or affected team strategy in any way. Hamlett cut off my query halfway through.
"Did you see the Mexico game?" he asked impatiently. "Did you see what happened when Cuauhtemoc got into the game? He lifted his team. That's what a player like him can do."
Hamlett went on to explain that McBride was a similar sort, in his ability to make a difference and compete hard for his team.
"Yes, but he's McBride!" someone responded in exasperation, as if that explained everything.
Actually, I did bring up the age of both McBride and Cuauhtemoc Blanco to their coach, Denis Hamlett. I was trying to ask if it was a concern or affected team strategy in any way. Hamlett cut off my query halfway through.
"Did you see the Mexico game?" he asked impatiently. "Did you see what happened when Cuauhtemoc got into the game? He lifted his team. That's what a player like him can do."
Hamlett went on to explain that McBride was a similar sort, in his ability to make a difference and compete hard for his team.
My little gamer, reactor
"Gamers" are what sports people call game articles. They're a pretty straightforward report of the game itself.
The post-match press conferences are also termed "pressers". It's a bit of a race to file a gamer before running downstairs to catch the presser. It may be exciting for fans to watch stoppage time goals that change the match outcome, but there's always a couple of frazzled reporters hoping that doesn't happen.
Post game reaction articles, well, they focus mostly on players' thoughts on the match.
The post-match press conferences are also termed "pressers". It's a bit of a race to file a gamer before running downstairs to catch the presser. It may be exciting for fans to watch stoppage time goals that change the match outcome, but there's always a couple of frazzled reporters hoping that doesn't happen.
Post game reaction articles, well, they focus mostly on players' thoughts on the match.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Denis dishes on new addition
I asked Hamlett how relieved he was to be done with the protracted negotiations to bring Brian McBride to the team. "You have no idea," he answered with a look that said twice as much as his words. He had only nice things to say about McBride, though.
Galaxy/Fire
Well, the intermittent blogging night begins. Andrea is at the match but unfortunately I am not. Family matters came up and I had to take care of some stuff. Anyway, we'll try and blog on the match as much as possible.
For now though a couple of interesting tidbits as none of the big three will be in action tonight.
No David Beckham.
No Landon Donovan.
No Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
For now though a couple of interesting tidbits as none of the big three will be in action tonight.
No David Beckham.
No Landon Donovan.
No Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
Better chance of playing - Cuau or LD?
They both played Wednesday, both a manageable distance away and both will be at Home Depot Center tonight.
But who stands a better chance of playing - Chicago's Cuauhtemoc Blanco or the Galaxy's Landon Donovan?
We know David Beckham won't be there. He's off in China for the Olympics closing ceremony.
Blanco played the final 20 minutes for Mexico. Donovan played the entire game in Guatemala.
The Galaxy need Donovan more than the Fire needs Blanco, considering who else will and won't play (Brian McBride debuted on the weekend for Chicago). Eddie Lewis took a nasty knock on Wednesday as well and he may not play because of it.
But does that mean new coach Bruce Arena will be desperate and throw Donovan into the fray from the start? Or will he save him as a second-half substitute? Or does he not even dress?
Conversely, does Blanco not start because of his game action and travel to LA? Does Chicago not risk Blanco? Does he start? Play the final 45 minute? Not play at all?
If I'm a betting man, I take Blanco to start and come out during the second half if Chicago has the lead and I take Landon to play the final 20-30 minutes in Bruce Arena's debut. But I've been wrong before. Like for instance this morning I made some coffee and I thought it was going to taste like crap but it came out pretty good. So that's one strike against me already...
But who stands a better chance of playing - Chicago's Cuauhtemoc Blanco or the Galaxy's Landon Donovan?
We know David Beckham won't be there. He's off in China for the Olympics closing ceremony.
Blanco played the final 20 minutes for Mexico. Donovan played the entire game in Guatemala.
The Galaxy need Donovan more than the Fire needs Blanco, considering who else will and won't play (Brian McBride debuted on the weekend for Chicago). Eddie Lewis took a nasty knock on Wednesday as well and he may not play because of it.
But does that mean new coach Bruce Arena will be desperate and throw Donovan into the fray from the start? Or will he save him as a second-half substitute? Or does he not even dress?
Conversely, does Blanco not start because of his game action and travel to LA? Does Chicago not risk Blanco? Does he start? Play the final 45 minute? Not play at all?
If I'm a betting man, I take Blanco to start and come out during the second half if Chicago has the lead and I take Landon to play the final 20-30 minutes in Bruce Arena's debut. But I've been wrong before. Like for instance this morning I made some coffee and I thought it was going to taste like crap but it came out pretty good. So that's one strike against me already...
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Previewing Primetime again
The Galaxy face the Fire.
As Luis mentioned before, this match gets spicier with the new additions to both teams - McBride and Arena (though of course, Arena won't play, though he might be a better goalkeeper than Steve Cronin. Actually, probably not, considering that in the one game Arena played for the U.S. national team, he couldn't get a shut out, either.)
As Luis mentioned before, this match gets spicier with the new additions to both teams - McBride and Arena (though of course, Arena won't play, though he might be a better goalkeeper than Steve Cronin. Actually, probably not, considering that in the one game Arena played for the U.S. national team, he couldn't get a shut out, either.)
Friday, July 25, 2008
McTrade finally happens
The news broke last night during the broadcast and now it's all over the web. Chad Barrett for Brian McBride.
It's like trading two shiny new quarters for an old 10-dollar bill.
Barrett would be pretty good if it weren't for one thing: his inability to finish. Being as he's a forward and his job is to finish, that's kind of a big issue. Had McBride been in Barrett's position to finish the chances that were served up to him on silver platters, Chicago might have a win or three more in their win column.
As it stands, Chicago is in good position to make the playoffs. With McBride, though, you've got to think that the Fire is second behind New England in terms of MLS Cup favorites, with Columbus a distant third.
Of course, it will be strange to see Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Brian McBride on the same side. That might take some getting used to.
So does McBride instantly become one of the league's best three forwards? The best forward, period?
Good thing for us out here at HDC is that McBride's first game with the Fire might be against the Galaxy on Aug. 21. So we've got that to look forward to.
It's like trading two shiny new quarters for an old 10-dollar bill.
Barrett would be pretty good if it weren't for one thing: his inability to finish. Being as he's a forward and his job is to finish, that's kind of a big issue. Had McBride been in Barrett's position to finish the chances that were served up to him on silver platters, Chicago might have a win or three more in their win column.
As it stands, Chicago is in good position to make the playoffs. With McBride, though, you've got to think that the Fire is second behind New England in terms of MLS Cup favorites, with Columbus a distant third.
Of course, it will be strange to see Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Brian McBride on the same side. That might take some getting used to.
So does McBride instantly become one of the league's best three forwards? The best forward, period?
Good thing for us out here at HDC is that McBride's first game with the Fire might be against the Galaxy on Aug. 21. So we've got that to look forward to.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Fire/Chivas USA running blog
"Mexico, lindo y querido!" the unofficial anthem of Chivas USA is being sung by a guy with pink shoes and a woman wearing an armband bandage.
This game is not a sell-out, but they are putting people in the upper deck, which is very good for Chivas USA on a Thursday night. There are a considerable number of Blanco Fire jerseys here. Most of them are the home version.
Chicago: Busch, Prideaux, Brown, Soumare, Guiteirrez, Thorrington, Blanco, Pause, Mapp, Barrett, Rolfe.
Chivas USA: Guzan, Tally, Burling, Suarez, Mendoza, Klejestan, Marsch, Nagamura, Wicky, Braun, Razov.
No one on either team gets a bigger cheer than Blanco during the intros.
1 - Temo! Temo! The crowd is chanting for Blanco at kickoff.
2 - Trivia - who is the shortest starting goalkeeper in MLS?
3 - Barret feeds Rolfe, but Rolfe gets no mustard on the shot and Guzan catches easily. Going the other way, Kljestan lets loose with a shot. This one is harder, but Busch parries it and the Chicago defense clears.
4 - Blanco to Mapp to Barrett, who only has to touch it into net, but somehow manages to put it side. He's horrified, and he should be. Bad.
6 - Corner for Fire. Chivas USA clear. Blanco gets it back, but no one gets on to his pass into the box and Guzan catches.
8 - Braun is big. There aren't many guys who can make CJ Brown look small. Corner for Chivas USA. Wicky takes it short, then it's crossed in. Everyone misses it, the ball drops, players kick wildly and the ref calls a foul. Goal kick.
10 - Kljestan gets called for standing still while Thorrington goes high for a header and keels over Sacha's back.
11- Chicago pass the ball around near the arc, don't get shot off.
12 - Chicago with a long run of possession, but no shot. Ball finally goes out for goal kick.
15 - Wicky with a shot just outside the box - it's wide. Barely.
16 - CK Chivas USA - Razov takes it, Braun misses the header, but Marsch collects it next to far post. Problem is, he's facing the wrong way. He half-turns to get the shot off, but he doesn't put enough angle on it and it flies across the goal instead of in. Chicago are able to clear.
19 - CDCUSA with the good stint of possession now. Fire pinned back in their half. Marsch has ball in box, for some reason crosses instead of shoots. Fire clear - barely.
21 - Gutierrez shoulders Razov off the ball, takes it toward midfield, gets fouled hard.
22 - Chivas USA freekick off a Rolfe foul. Kljestan has to wait because players are shoving in the box. Header attempt by Talley is caught by Busch, but was offside anyway.
25 - Fire free throw deep, but the Chivas USA defense soon breaks up the play.
26 - GOAL! Klejestan takes a touch pass from Razov into the box, has Gutierrez on his shoulder, but holds him off and slides his shot past Busch far post. Then he runs over to the corner flag and celebrates by kneeling down and parodying Blanco's gun stance. Cheeky! 1-0 Chivas USA.
30 - Nagamura fouls Blanco - who goes down for a bit.
32 - GOAL! Nice interplay by Chivas USA - Mendoza to Razov, who chases down the ball on the left of the box and knocks in a dead-straight cross in front of goal for a sliding Braun to push past Busch.
34 - Nagamura sees yellow for a foul on Mapp. Fire FK comes to nothing.
36 - WOW! Barrett on a breakaway, beats Guzan coming out of the area for the ball, has the whole goal, but misjudged the angle. Wide, and on the outside side netting. He's more horrified than he was with his first miss. He should be. Yikes.
40 - Razov and Braun nearly connect again, but this time, Braun leans in for a header and just misses it.
43 - Suarez karate-kicks a Blanco pass to keep it out of the area, but Blanco just gets it back and dribbles in this time, then dumps off a pass that Guzan is able to collect just before Rolfe.
44 - Blanco knocks another pass in for Rolfe - Guzan goes down again, just snatching the ball off his foot.
45 + Red card! Nagamura is sent off for his second yellow - a foul that sent Barrett tumbling. Blanco lines up the FK - he doesn't wallop it, though, sending a soft chip over the defense to Prideaux, whose header attempt pops over the crossbar.
Halftime: Well, if Barrett can't score, he can at least affect the game by helping the Fire get a man advantage. Course, it didn't really help the Fire in their last game with a man advantage - they lost to DC.
48 - The pressbox is debating the merits of the second yellow to Nags. They are split.
49 - Wicky is out for Bornstien, a move neither Luis or I like.
51 - The Fire thave more possession, but Chivas USA are playing smart defense and countering when they can.
53 - A whole section of yellow-clad America fans have banded together to stand and cheer Blanco on.
55 - Besides Blanco, the incisive passes to open up the Chivas USA defense are missing from the Fire players.
57 - I wonder if Bob Bradley is reconsidering calling in Barrett - perhaps thinking about Braun instead. Seriously, it might be that callups were a distraction, because the Fire trio called in haven't looked good tonight. Thorrington, Rolfe, Barrett. Thorrington gets a yellow.
60 - The Fire don't look like they have a man up. Gutierrez sends in a cross that Guzan catches easily.
63 - Brown lays out Kljestan, no call.
64 - Blanco gets yellow for dissent.
65 - Blanco tries to cross off a Mapp pass, but it hits Marsch's hand. FK for Fire - ball gets cleared for Thorrington to take a crack at it, but his shot is wide.
67 - Razov goes out for Atiba Harris.
68 - Rolfe comes out for Frankowski.
69 - Blanco backheel sets up Thorrington, who gets fouled, FK taken fast, but the shot goes outside side netting.
70 - Corner kick, Chivas USA. It's cleared, though Chivas USA regain possession for a bit in the corner to kill time. Crowd is doing the wave.
73 - Andy Herron (replaced Prideaux) heads the ball over the goal. He's gained weight.
75 - "If he's not missing goals, he's blocking them." Luis says about Barrett, who just got in the way of Herron's shot. Ball bounces off Barrett's back.
77 - Brown leaves, handing off armband to Pause - Nyarko comes in. Corner drops the ball right in front of goal, but somehow Chivas USA escape danger again.
78 - Sueno! Jorge Flores replaces Justin Braun.
80 - Flores beats the defense of Blanco to start a breakaway.
81 - Thorrington is still running, at least, chasing down a pass that was meant for Flores. FK goes to Busch.
83 - the Fire are stuck on the edge of the box, where the defense line is set. They can't seem to over come that. Chivas counter results in a Harris shot right to Busch.
85 - Bornstein takes a shot near the top of the arc. It's wide.
86 - Kljestan comes in on goal, only Thorrington chasing. Thorrington slips in the box. Busch all alone stones Sacha's shot, starts counter going other way. Chivas USA's defense snuffs that, though.
88 - Harris in the box slips cross past Busch - Thorrington clears - barely misses an own goal. Corner for Chivas USA - they're taking their time with it. Thorrington in frustration kicks ball toward boards.
89 - Gutierrez gets a yellow for foul on Harris.
90 + Fire with a last-gasp corner. It's cleared.
Blanco passes in to Barrett. Guess he's a sucker for punishment. Barrett pops header wide. Another corner. Herron puts header barely wide, after Guzan was beaten.
Final whistle. Blanco is having a chat with the ref.
This game is not a sell-out, but they are putting people in the upper deck, which is very good for Chivas USA on a Thursday night. There are a considerable number of Blanco Fire jerseys here. Most of them are the home version.
Chicago: Busch, Prideaux, Brown, Soumare, Guiteirrez, Thorrington, Blanco, Pause, Mapp, Barrett, Rolfe.
Chivas USA: Guzan, Tally, Burling, Suarez, Mendoza, Klejestan, Marsch, Nagamura, Wicky, Braun, Razov.
No one on either team gets a bigger cheer than Blanco during the intros.
1 - Temo! Temo! The crowd is chanting for Blanco at kickoff.
2 - Trivia - who is the shortest starting goalkeeper in MLS?
3 - Barret feeds Rolfe, but Rolfe gets no mustard on the shot and Guzan catches easily. Going the other way, Kljestan lets loose with a shot. This one is harder, but Busch parries it and the Chicago defense clears.
4 - Blanco to Mapp to Barrett, who only has to touch it into net, but somehow manages to put it side. He's horrified, and he should be. Bad.
6 - Corner for Fire. Chivas USA clear. Blanco gets it back, but no one gets on to his pass into the box and Guzan catches.
8 - Braun is big. There aren't many guys who can make CJ Brown look small. Corner for Chivas USA. Wicky takes it short, then it's crossed in. Everyone misses it, the ball drops, players kick wildly and the ref calls a foul. Goal kick.
10 - Kljestan gets called for standing still while Thorrington goes high for a header and keels over Sacha's back.
11- Chicago pass the ball around near the arc, don't get shot off.
12 - Chicago with a long run of possession, but no shot. Ball finally goes out for goal kick.
15 - Wicky with a shot just outside the box - it's wide. Barely.
16 - CK Chivas USA - Razov takes it, Braun misses the header, but Marsch collects it next to far post. Problem is, he's facing the wrong way. He half-turns to get the shot off, but he doesn't put enough angle on it and it flies across the goal instead of in. Chicago are able to clear.
19 - CDCUSA with the good stint of possession now. Fire pinned back in their half. Marsch has ball in box, for some reason crosses instead of shoots. Fire clear - barely.
21 - Gutierrez shoulders Razov off the ball, takes it toward midfield, gets fouled hard.
22 - Chivas USA freekick off a Rolfe foul. Kljestan has to wait because players are shoving in the box. Header attempt by Talley is caught by Busch, but was offside anyway.
25 - Fire free throw deep, but the Chivas USA defense soon breaks up the play.
26 - GOAL! Klejestan takes a touch pass from Razov into the box, has Gutierrez on his shoulder, but holds him off and slides his shot past Busch far post. Then he runs over to the corner flag and celebrates by kneeling down and parodying Blanco's gun stance. Cheeky! 1-0 Chivas USA.
30 - Nagamura fouls Blanco - who goes down for a bit.
32 - GOAL! Nice interplay by Chivas USA - Mendoza to Razov, who chases down the ball on the left of the box and knocks in a dead-straight cross in front of goal for a sliding Braun to push past Busch.
34 - Nagamura sees yellow for a foul on Mapp. Fire FK comes to nothing.
36 - WOW! Barrett on a breakaway, beats Guzan coming out of the area for the ball, has the whole goal, but misjudged the angle. Wide, and on the outside side netting. He's more horrified than he was with his first miss. He should be. Yikes.
40 - Razov and Braun nearly connect again, but this time, Braun leans in for a header and just misses it.
43 - Suarez karate-kicks a Blanco pass to keep it out of the area, but Blanco just gets it back and dribbles in this time, then dumps off a pass that Guzan is able to collect just before Rolfe.
44 - Blanco knocks another pass in for Rolfe - Guzan goes down again, just snatching the ball off his foot.
45 + Red card! Nagamura is sent off for his second yellow - a foul that sent Barrett tumbling. Blanco lines up the FK - he doesn't wallop it, though, sending a soft chip over the defense to Prideaux, whose header attempt pops over the crossbar.
Halftime: Well, if Barrett can't score, he can at least affect the game by helping the Fire get a man advantage. Course, it didn't really help the Fire in their last game with a man advantage - they lost to DC.
48 - The pressbox is debating the merits of the second yellow to Nags. They are split.
49 - Wicky is out for Bornstien, a move neither Luis or I like.
51 - The Fire thave more possession, but Chivas USA are playing smart defense and countering when they can.
53 - A whole section of yellow-clad America fans have banded together to stand and cheer Blanco on.
55 - Besides Blanco, the incisive passes to open up the Chivas USA defense are missing from the Fire players.
57 - I wonder if Bob Bradley is reconsidering calling in Barrett - perhaps thinking about Braun instead. Seriously, it might be that callups were a distraction, because the Fire trio called in haven't looked good tonight. Thorrington, Rolfe, Barrett. Thorrington gets a yellow.
60 - The Fire don't look like they have a man up. Gutierrez sends in a cross that Guzan catches easily.
63 - Brown lays out Kljestan, no call.
64 - Blanco gets yellow for dissent.
65 - Blanco tries to cross off a Mapp pass, but it hits Marsch's hand. FK for Fire - ball gets cleared for Thorrington to take a crack at it, but his shot is wide.
67 - Razov goes out for Atiba Harris.
68 - Rolfe comes out for Frankowski.
69 - Blanco backheel sets up Thorrington, who gets fouled, FK taken fast, but the shot goes outside side netting.
70 - Corner kick, Chivas USA. It's cleared, though Chivas USA regain possession for a bit in the corner to kill time. Crowd is doing the wave.
73 - Andy Herron (replaced Prideaux) heads the ball over the goal. He's gained weight.
75 - "If he's not missing goals, he's blocking them." Luis says about Barrett, who just got in the way of Herron's shot. Ball bounces off Barrett's back.
77 - Brown leaves, handing off armband to Pause - Nyarko comes in. Corner drops the ball right in front of goal, but somehow Chivas USA escape danger again.
78 - Sueno! Jorge Flores replaces Justin Braun.
80 - Flores beats the defense of Blanco to start a breakaway.
81 - Thorrington is still running, at least, chasing down a pass that was meant for Flores. FK goes to Busch.
83 - the Fire are stuck on the edge of the box, where the defense line is set. They can't seem to over come that. Chivas counter results in a Harris shot right to Busch.
85 - Bornstein takes a shot near the top of the arc. It's wide.
86 - Kljestan comes in on goal, only Thorrington chasing. Thorrington slips in the box. Busch all alone stones Sacha's shot, starts counter going other way. Chivas USA's defense snuffs that, though.
88 - Harris in the box slips cross past Busch - Thorrington clears - barely misses an own goal. Corner for Chivas USA - they're taking their time with it. Thorrington in frustration kicks ball toward boards.
89 - Gutierrez gets a yellow for foul on Harris.
90 + Fire with a last-gasp corner. It's cleared.
Blanco passes in to Barrett. Guess he's a sucker for punishment. Barrett pops header wide. Another corner. Herron puts header barely wide, after Guzan was beaten.
Final whistle. Blanco is having a chat with the ref.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
What am I bid?
So the word is that McBride is making his triumphant MLS return to Chicago (anyone want to start complaining about how MLS always bends the rules for the Fire?)
Back when Donovan returned to the league from Germany, the Galaxy traded Carlos Ruiz, their best player at the time, to Dallas for the right to sign Donovan.
Blanco is indisputably Chicago's best player now.
Who sees a Blanco trade? I don't, but I've been wrong before.
TFC is tops in the allocation order - what should TFC ask of the Fire in return for the rights to McBride? Where would the Fire get another DP slot from? Perhaps a different MLS team will be involved.
If I were TFC, I'd ask for Chris Rolfe, Justin Mapp, Bakary Soumare and Gonzalo Segares, or a combination of those, since four players for one McBride might be a bit much. Problem is, if the rights to McBride and a DP slot are separate deals, that's not going to leave Chicago much to bargain with without gutting their team, which is playing excellently thus far.
Perhaps the deal to bring McBride in is contingent on next year, though, leaving the Fire intact for now. It would be easier to integrate new contributors in the offseason. However, last year, it was Blanco's midseason contribution which helped the Fire push through to the playoffs.
What should TFC ask for? What should the Fire be willing to give up? What is McBride worth?
Back when Donovan returned to the league from Germany, the Galaxy traded Carlos Ruiz, their best player at the time, to Dallas for the right to sign Donovan.
Blanco is indisputably Chicago's best player now.
Who sees a Blanco trade? I don't, but I've been wrong before.
TFC is tops in the allocation order - what should TFC ask of the Fire in return for the rights to McBride? Where would the Fire get another DP slot from? Perhaps a different MLS team will be involved.
If I were TFC, I'd ask for Chris Rolfe, Justin Mapp, Bakary Soumare and Gonzalo Segares, or a combination of those, since four players for one McBride might be a bit much. Problem is, if the rights to McBride and a DP slot are separate deals, that's not going to leave Chicago much to bargain with without gutting their team, which is playing excellently thus far.
Perhaps the deal to bring McBride in is contingent on next year, though, leaving the Fire intact for now. It would be easier to integrate new contributors in the offseason. However, last year, it was Blanco's midseason contribution which helped the Fire push through to the playoffs.
What should TFC ask for? What should the Fire be willing to give up? What is McBride worth?
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Luster's off the game
As I was watching the Chicago Fire tear apart a terrible New York side, I thought 'I can't wait until Chicago plays at the Galaxy.'
Turns out, I don't need to get ahead of myself. Instead of Cuauhtemoc Blanco versus Becks and Landon, it's going to be Cuauhtemoc Blanco versus Chris Klein and Edson Buddle. Chicago plays at LA on Aug. 21. On Aug. 20, the U.S. will play its first of six semifinal World Cup qualifying matches, if the U.S. gets past Barbados. The same day, England will play the Czech Republic. And at the rate we're going, Blanco may somehow earn a spot back on Mexico.
Suddenly, I can wait.
Turns out, I don't need to get ahead of myself. Instead of Cuauhtemoc Blanco versus Becks and Landon, it's going to be Cuauhtemoc Blanco versus Chris Klein and Edson Buddle. Chicago plays at LA on Aug. 21. On Aug. 20, the U.S. will play its first of six semifinal World Cup qualifying matches, if the U.S. gets past Barbados. The same day, England will play the Czech Republic. And at the rate we're going, Blanco may somehow earn a spot back on Mexico.
Suddenly, I can wait.
Red Bull NY/Chicago Fire
Well, Chad Barrett already scored, but I was having brunch.
31 - Announcers talking about Juan Pablo Angel's back problem.
33 - Usually I harp on English announcers for not talking about the game, but this time, the Spanish-speaking ones have gone off on a long tangent about FC Dallas firing Steve Morrow. They're not talking about the game at all.
34 - Rolfe to Barret, but the give and go doesn't go.
36 - NY, according to the announcers, cannot penetrate, cannot probe, cannot test the Fire with the non-threatening way they're playing right now.
38 - Jon Busch leaps to punch the ball and comes down on top of his defender, Bakary.
39 - NY FK, Reyna takes, Sassano's shirt gets torn, Parke looks like he reaches it, but his header is wide. The announcers ding the ref.
40 - Danleigh Borman one-times a pass over the bar. Nice volley try.
45 - Announcers discussing the Osorio soap opera.
Halftime - Chicago winning the grudge matchup between the two teams.
31 - Announcers talking about Juan Pablo Angel's back problem.
33 - Usually I harp on English announcers for not talking about the game, but this time, the Spanish-speaking ones have gone off on a long tangent about FC Dallas firing Steve Morrow. They're not talking about the game at all.
34 - Rolfe to Barret, but the give and go doesn't go.
36 - NY, according to the announcers, cannot penetrate, cannot probe, cannot test the Fire with the non-threatening way they're playing right now.
38 - Jon Busch leaps to punch the ball and comes down on top of his defender, Bakary.
39 - NY FK, Reyna takes, Sassano's shirt gets torn, Parke looks like he reaches it, but his header is wide. The announcers ding the ref.
40 - Danleigh Borman one-times a pass over the bar. Nice volley try.
45 - Announcers discussing the Osorio soap opera.
Halftime - Chicago winning the grudge matchup between the two teams.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
DC United/Chicago Fire running blog
Ya'll ready for some soccer? Here's my score call, before the game starts. 2-1 Fire, Goals by Blanco and Rolfe, DC goal by Moreno. Predictions welcome and accepted up to kickoff.
The pregame is covering all the basics of the MLS season so far. Not earthshattering, but a good review. Crew surprising, DC and Houston disappointing. Foudy brings up a point I think is too often overlooked - teams without international callups have an advantage during the season. They can continue relatively undisturbed. Is Tim Howard the only USMNT-eligible player in England not in danger of relegation? Oh, right, Spector.
Foudy and I are simpatico tonight - she scoffs at Kreis' punishment for criticizing the refs of MLS. Granted, I made fun of Kreis himself for even bothering to complain, but the one-game suspension goes to far. Fine the fellow, sure, but the suspension makes the league seem really over-sensitive and thin-skinned.
Olsen! Methinks if the surgery doesn't take, Olsen could take over as DC coach if Soehn doesn't right the ship.
It certainly didn't take VW long to jump into their sponsorship - I've heard them mentioned at least 20 times and the game hasn't even started yet.
Blanco is taking a style cue from Taylor Twellman - his shirt is kind of tight. Marcello Gallardo isn't even going to play tonight. Groin injury.
Thorrington reps the South Bay in his player intro - which technically isn't even a home town - its an area.
Pedro Gomez is in the midst of the Barra Brava, but Dellacamera cuts off his fervent description of the experience to start covering the game.
I guess it was just Cuauh's warm-up top that was tight. His Fire jersey looks fine.
Streamers! Lovely! That looks great, because they're in the stands, not on the field.
1- Ugh, could the announcers actually call the game a little? There's so much commentary around it, but they haven't said anything about the play.
3- Moreno and Soumare tangle up. Morenro gets the foul, Santinto Quaranta takes it, hits it far too low to be effective.
5 - Chicago look calm in the back - DC clearly doesn't have that confidence. How could they after how many they've given up?
6 - Cuauh is down, Quaranta stepped on him when Cuauh was executing a sitspin with the ball.
8 Fire with good play, Prideaux to Barrett, Rolfe ready to in front of goal, but Barrett's weak cross is cut off.
9- Franco Neill gets fouled, Luciano Emilio takes FK, into the wall, Fire recover the ball.
10 - Chicago FK. It's about 50 yards away, but Zach Wells looks nervous anyway. He catches the easy header from Barrett, though.
14 - Announcers discussing the field conditions for the past minute. Dull.
16 Simms rockets a shot from about 30 yards out. It's wide, but Busch dives for it anyway.
17 - Prideaux changes his shoes, going for the longer cleats - o00h, Fire attack, Rolfe, knocks it to Thorrington, who slips badly.
18 - DC corner - way over everybody.
20 - Emilio with a quick turn, shot, over the bar. His scoring touch has deserted him.
21 - Burch with a good run and cross into the box, but the Fire "D" clears.
22 - Neill with another DC high shot.
23 - Mapp with a 40-yard run on a counter, but Wells gets down to collect the low shot.
24 - DC FK deep in Fire territory. He serves it into the box, but the Fire clear.
26 - Chicago corner kick. Side netting.
27 - Gonzalo Segares fights through a tackle and takes an outside shot, perhaps hoping the rain will make the ball slip through the hands of Zach. No luck. Wells collects.
30 - Ha, ha! Burch gets a yellow. Blanco, working the ball out of the back, gets the ball to safety with a nifty backpass. Burch, perhaps thinking he was sure to have a play on a pass, bangs right into Cuauh very late, knocking him down. No emotional control there.
34 - DC with a play in the box - offsides. Burch helped build that up, though, and sent in a good cross, so props there.
35 - Rolfe fouled by Dyachenko, and he's talking to the ref about it, clearly unhappy about something. He probably is lobbying for persistent infringement.
37 - Blanco passes to Barrett, who has to turn back to collect the ball, which gives the DC defense more time, Barrett's shot deflects off a defender, our to Moreno, who sets off on a counter.
39 - GOAL! Justin Mapp! Rolfe with a run up the right, serves a good cross high to Barrett, who nails a knockdown header to a streaking Mapp, who knocks it straight into goal from the top of the box. 1-0 Chicago.
41 - Thorrington down - Simms gets a yellow for basically running over him there.
43 - DC players look pissed and desperate. Not a good look. Quaranta serves in a decent cross, but there is no way that Neill is going to beat Soumare to a high ball.
45 - Gomez has some gossip on a frustrated Wilman Conde. Apparently the Fire refuse to trade him to an East Coast team. The Galaxy could use him, I suppose, but they probably don't have the salary cap room.
Halftime - DC had more possession, but didn't really look dangerous, while the Fire worked the road team counter perfectly.
49 - Soehn must have said something spicy - DC look a lot more energetic, but the Fire are holding strong.
51 - Dyachenko with a low shot - Busch, little shorty that he is, gets down well for it.
54 - The DC songs are really good - nice and loud. I'd give them singing over TFC. Barrett's shot in the box saved well by Wells. Very good job there by Zach.
56 - Fire starting to get the upper hand now.
57 - Wells again saves well from a close-range Barrett shot. Foul on the ensuing corner, DC ball.
58 - Segares in the box, beats Wells, just wide.
61 - Corner for DC - Busch catches it.
62 - GOAL! Blanco! Luis and his prediction are looking great. Thorrington with a nice penetrating pass to Cuauh, who collects in stride, drifts out and then hammers a ball that bends into the top corner past a diving Wells. Sweet goal, a bit similar to Beckham's first this weekend, but on the other side of the field. 2-0 Fire.
64 - Seriously, that goal was coming. Wells could only make ridiculous saves for so long, while the DC midfield was getting run roughshod.
65 - Francis "Grandpa" Doe on for DC. Andy Herron coming in for the Fire.
67 - Neill runs for a ball in the box, manages to get it, lays it back for Emilio, who futzes around instead of shooting and loses the ball. Crowd is getting on his case, rightly.
68 - FK for DC, Burch shoots towards goal - there's a reason there isn't a Bend it like Burch.
69 - A mess in front of the DC goal nearly results in an own goal.
73 - Mapp out for Woolard. "Woolly Bully" hasn't seen much action this season, but he's on the field now.
74 - Yellow to Brain Namoff. I'd almost believe a couple of DC guys are willing to get carded out to get away from the misery of this game. It's not the scoreline that is as painful as how harmless DC has looked.
75 - Moreno falls into another oldie-who-is-a-goodie, Gutierrez. Diego is down and in pain, Moreno might have accidently stepped on his broken wrist.
77 - DC corner, Emilio heads it nowhere in particular and it goes out.
79 - Emilio loses the ball in the midfield - it's an egregious move because Peralta worked hard to win the ball from Blanco before that.
82 - Even if a Fire player gets beat, the shape of their defense stays solid, and DC is not coordinatng well enough to overcome that.
84 - Doe fights for a ball in the box, lays off for Neill, who has shoots into a defender. Corner for DC - it leads to another corner. Fire sub in Stephen King for Rolfe before it's taken.
86 - Crossbar! Off the corner. Oh, that's poor from ESPN. No replay on a crossbar shot? Super Lame. Moreno on the header.
88 - Simms with another outside shot, Busch dives, but it's wide.
90 - DC are looking at least as inept at the Galaxy ever did last season. Another corner chance comes to nothing for them.
90 + - I can hear Thorrington from here - "Fucking jerk!" He's responding to Dyachenko's late and hard tackle on Logan Pause. Pause looks ok, though, and Namoff shoves Thorrington off Dyachenko.
Blanco looses Herron on a counter, who beats his defender and is alone on goal, Wells has come out fast and slide tackles the ball to safety.
Luis has the prophet's touch! 2-0 it is. DC hasn't stopped the pain. Chicago is number one in the league right now.
"We concentrated for 90 minutes. We're in good shape physically and mentally, and every game, we're playing better," says Blanco. Pedro Gomez translates that a little more liberally, but close enough.
The pregame is covering all the basics of the MLS season so far. Not earthshattering, but a good review. Crew surprising, DC and Houston disappointing. Foudy brings up a point I think is too often overlooked - teams without international callups have an advantage during the season. They can continue relatively undisturbed. Is Tim Howard the only USMNT-eligible player in England not in danger of relegation? Oh, right, Spector.
Foudy and I are simpatico tonight - she scoffs at Kreis' punishment for criticizing the refs of MLS. Granted, I made fun of Kreis himself for even bothering to complain, but the one-game suspension goes to far. Fine the fellow, sure, but the suspension makes the league seem really over-sensitive and thin-skinned.
Olsen! Methinks if the surgery doesn't take, Olsen could take over as DC coach if Soehn doesn't right the ship.
It certainly didn't take VW long to jump into their sponsorship - I've heard them mentioned at least 20 times and the game hasn't even started yet.
Blanco is taking a style cue from Taylor Twellman - his shirt is kind of tight. Marcello Gallardo isn't even going to play tonight. Groin injury.
Thorrington reps the South Bay in his player intro - which technically isn't even a home town - its an area.
Pedro Gomez is in the midst of the Barra Brava, but Dellacamera cuts off his fervent description of the experience to start covering the game.
I guess it was just Cuauh's warm-up top that was tight. His Fire jersey looks fine.
Streamers! Lovely! That looks great, because they're in the stands, not on the field.
1- Ugh, could the announcers actually call the game a little? There's so much commentary around it, but they haven't said anything about the play.
3- Moreno and Soumare tangle up. Morenro gets the foul, Santinto Quaranta takes it, hits it far too low to be effective.
5 - Chicago look calm in the back - DC clearly doesn't have that confidence. How could they after how many they've given up?
6 - Cuauh is down, Quaranta stepped on him when Cuauh was executing a sitspin with the ball.
8 Fire with good play, Prideaux to Barrett, Rolfe ready to in front of goal, but Barrett's weak cross is cut off.
9- Franco Neill gets fouled, Luciano Emilio takes FK, into the wall, Fire recover the ball.
10 - Chicago FK. It's about 50 yards away, but Zach Wells looks nervous anyway. He catches the easy header from Barrett, though.
14 - Announcers discussing the field conditions for the past minute. Dull.
16 Simms rockets a shot from about 30 yards out. It's wide, but Busch dives for it anyway.
17 - Prideaux changes his shoes, going for the longer cleats - o00h, Fire attack, Rolfe, knocks it to Thorrington, who slips badly.
18 - DC corner - way over everybody.
20 - Emilio with a quick turn, shot, over the bar. His scoring touch has deserted him.
21 - Burch with a good run and cross into the box, but the Fire "D" clears.
22 - Neill with another DC high shot.
23 - Mapp with a 40-yard run on a counter, but Wells gets down to collect the low shot.
24 - DC FK deep in Fire territory. He serves it into the box, but the Fire clear.
26 - Chicago corner kick. Side netting.
27 - Gonzalo Segares fights through a tackle and takes an outside shot, perhaps hoping the rain will make the ball slip through the hands of Zach. No luck. Wells collects.
30 - Ha, ha! Burch gets a yellow. Blanco, working the ball out of the back, gets the ball to safety with a nifty backpass. Burch, perhaps thinking he was sure to have a play on a pass, bangs right into Cuauh very late, knocking him down. No emotional control there.
34 - DC with a play in the box - offsides. Burch helped build that up, though, and sent in a good cross, so props there.
35 - Rolfe fouled by Dyachenko, and he's talking to the ref about it, clearly unhappy about something. He probably is lobbying for persistent infringement.
37 - Blanco passes to Barrett, who has to turn back to collect the ball, which gives the DC defense more time, Barrett's shot deflects off a defender, our to Moreno, who sets off on a counter.
39 - GOAL! Justin Mapp! Rolfe with a run up the right, serves a good cross high to Barrett, who nails a knockdown header to a streaking Mapp, who knocks it straight into goal from the top of the box. 1-0 Chicago.
41 - Thorrington down - Simms gets a yellow for basically running over him there.
43 - DC players look pissed and desperate. Not a good look. Quaranta serves in a decent cross, but there is no way that Neill is going to beat Soumare to a high ball.
45 - Gomez has some gossip on a frustrated Wilman Conde. Apparently the Fire refuse to trade him to an East Coast team. The Galaxy could use him, I suppose, but they probably don't have the salary cap room.
Halftime - DC had more possession, but didn't really look dangerous, while the Fire worked the road team counter perfectly.
49 - Soehn must have said something spicy - DC look a lot more energetic, but the Fire are holding strong.
51 - Dyachenko with a low shot - Busch, little shorty that he is, gets down well for it.
54 - The DC songs are really good - nice and loud. I'd give them singing over TFC. Barrett's shot in the box saved well by Wells. Very good job there by Zach.
56 - Fire starting to get the upper hand now.
57 - Wells again saves well from a close-range Barrett shot. Foul on the ensuing corner, DC ball.
58 - Segares in the box, beats Wells, just wide.
61 - Corner for DC - Busch catches it.
62 - GOAL! Blanco! Luis and his prediction are looking great. Thorrington with a nice penetrating pass to Cuauh, who collects in stride, drifts out and then hammers a ball that bends into the top corner past a diving Wells. Sweet goal, a bit similar to Beckham's first this weekend, but on the other side of the field. 2-0 Fire.
64 - Seriously, that goal was coming. Wells could only make ridiculous saves for so long, while the DC midfield was getting run roughshod.
65 - Francis "Grandpa" Doe on for DC. Andy Herron coming in for the Fire.
67 - Neill runs for a ball in the box, manages to get it, lays it back for Emilio, who futzes around instead of shooting and loses the ball. Crowd is getting on his case, rightly.
68 - FK for DC, Burch shoots towards goal - there's a reason there isn't a Bend it like Burch.
69 - A mess in front of the DC goal nearly results in an own goal.
73 - Mapp out for Woolard. "Woolly Bully" hasn't seen much action this season, but he's on the field now.
74 - Yellow to Brain Namoff. I'd almost believe a couple of DC guys are willing to get carded out to get away from the misery of this game. It's not the scoreline that is as painful as how harmless DC has looked.
75 - Moreno falls into another oldie-who-is-a-goodie, Gutierrez. Diego is down and in pain, Moreno might have accidently stepped on his broken wrist.
77 - DC corner, Emilio heads it nowhere in particular and it goes out.
79 - Emilio loses the ball in the midfield - it's an egregious move because Peralta worked hard to win the ball from Blanco before that.
82 - Even if a Fire player gets beat, the shape of their defense stays solid, and DC is not coordinatng well enough to overcome that.
84 - Doe fights for a ball in the box, lays off for Neill, who has shoots into a defender. Corner for DC - it leads to another corner. Fire sub in Stephen King for Rolfe before it's taken.
86 - Crossbar! Off the corner. Oh, that's poor from ESPN. No replay on a crossbar shot? Super Lame. Moreno on the header.
88 - Simms with another outside shot, Busch dives, but it's wide.
90 - DC are looking at least as inept at the Galaxy ever did last season. Another corner chance comes to nothing for them.
90 + - I can hear Thorrington from here - "Fucking jerk!" He's responding to Dyachenko's late and hard tackle on Logan Pause. Pause looks ok, though, and Namoff shoves Thorrington off Dyachenko.
Blanco looses Herron on a counter, who beats his defender and is alone on goal, Wells has come out fast and slide tackles the ball to safety.
Luis has the prophet's touch! 2-0 it is. DC hasn't stopped the pain. Chicago is number one in the league right now.
"We concentrated for 90 minutes. We're in good shape physically and mentally, and every game, we're playing better," says Blanco. Pedro Gomez translates that a little more liberally, but close enough.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Leon in charge of Blanco
John Guppy is out as general manager of the Chicago Fire and Javier Leon, who used to be C.E.O and general manager of Chivas USA, has stepped in, at least temporarily.
It's a bit ironic, considering that Leon was crucial to the start of Chivas USA, whose parent team in Guadalajara is considered the eternal rival of Club America, where Cuauhtemoc Blanco was a huge star, that Leon is at least nominally the boss of Blanco now.
Leon is bilingual, passionate about soccer and a nice guy. I've interviewed him a few times and always thought he was a bit more mellow than Antonio Cue, who seemed more stressed with every loss in that first year of the club. Yet when the club improved, Leon moved on in 2007, or was pushed out. Or maybe just nudged.
It's a bit ironic, considering that Leon was crucial to the start of Chivas USA, whose parent team in Guadalajara is considered the eternal rival of Club America, where Cuauhtemoc Blanco was a huge star, that Leon is at least nominally the boss of Blanco now.
Leon is bilingual, passionate about soccer and a nice guy. I've interviewed him a few times and always thought he was a bit more mellow than Antonio Cue, who seemed more stressed with every loss in that first year of the club. Yet when the club improved, Leon moved on in 2007, or was pushed out. Or maybe just nudged.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Not goodbye at all
I love video mockery as much as anyone, but like the second comment on the YouTube page of this Fire fan's gloating clip show of the victory over the Revs alludes to, the Bocelli song isn't about goodbye. Perhaps people decided to do the English version as a goodbye lyric because the song sounds a bit melancholy, but the words in Italian are basically, "I will leave with you - I'll go wherever you go, we'll travel oceans together. . ." It's a really mushy song that gets played at weddings in Italy a lot, I've been told.
See, I know this, because I was at a party in college where an Italian guy was finishing up his study exchange and going back to Parma, his hometown. I'd had just enough to drink that I thought it would be a good idea to serenade him with what I believed was an appropriate song, "Con te partiro". He laughed. "You don't know what you're singing, do you?" Then he explained the lyrics to me. I'm pretty much sticking to songs where I understand all the words now.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Not to be outdone
Awaiting me upon my return from the Rocky Mountain State was a box with all 14 MLS clubs' media guides. Andrea's previous post about media guides was missing the Fire, but I must have gotten a later batch of media guides since mine was complete.Anyway, here's the Fire's media guide cover.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Road goal
The only team to score a road goal on the opening weekend in MLS - barring some last-minute heroics for Chivas USA - was the Chicago Fire. Cuauhtemoc Blanco buried a stoppage-time equalizer as the Fire escaped Salt Lake with a point in a 1-1 draw.
Afterward, RSL coach Kreis admitted that Blanco made a special play, but also took a swipe at the Fire's best player.
It was about one special player who made one special play and didn't do really anything else the entire game - except run around and whine.
ADD: Papi scored! Chivas USA pulled out a 1-1 tie as Maykel Galindo scored in the 84th minute at FC Dallas. That makes two road goals in the five games played this weekend.
Afterward, RSL coach Kreis admitted that Blanco made a special play, but also took a swipe at the Fire's best player.
It was about one special player who made one special play and didn't do really anything else the entire game - except run around and whine.
ADD: Papi scored! Chivas USA pulled out a 1-1 tie as Maykel Galindo scored in the 84th minute at FC Dallas. That makes two road goals in the five games played this weekend.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
It's not that easy
A few people commented that if Ty Harden really wanted to play for Seattle, he could just request a trade instead of taking a year off. Apparently, that's what Wilman Conde did, but the Chicago Fire haven't let him go. There are probably all sorts of reasons. For example, what organization wants to strengthen a conference rival, especially when they barely made the playoffs last year? Suffice it to say, it's not as simple as "Ask and you shall receive".
By the way, I'm not saying it should be, either. It's true that many players are accomodated, but it almost always is when it doesn't inconvenience the trading team very much, and it rarely happens intraconference.
By the way, I'm not saying it should be, either. It's true that many players are accomodated, but it almost always is when it doesn't inconvenience the trading team very much, and it rarely happens intraconference.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Rolfe answers
Sometimes when I cover stories, I take a bit of a chance and talk to a lesser-known player before a match because I think he might break out in the game and then I'll have some exclusive quotes on hand to use in an article. Freelance writers have to angle for any advantage they can get.
Anyway, I interviewed Chris Rolfe with that in mind the day before the Sweden game. Since I was on vacation during almost the entire camp, I couldn't really tell who had been training well, but I like Rolfe's playing style and thought he finished the MLS season pretty well. So I picked him out to ask a few questions.
Chris didn't have a good game against Sweden, though, so I didn't really use the interview for anything. I've posted the audio here thinking some Fire fans might enjoy it. My apologies for being so low-energy in my interviewing style. I was really tired and jetlagged.
Anyway, I interviewed Chris Rolfe with that in mind the day before the Sweden game. Since I was on vacation during almost the entire camp, I couldn't really tell who had been training well, but I like Rolfe's playing style and thought he finished the MLS season pretty well. So I picked him out to ask a few questions.
Chris didn't have a good game against Sweden, though, so I didn't really use the interview for anything. I've posted the audio here thinking some Fire fans might enjoy it. My apologies for being so low-energy in my interviewing style. I was really tired and jetlagged.
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