Ooooooh boy. The Impact comes to town on Sunday. They've given us the most trouble so far, barring the season opener vs Puerto Rico. Both of our matches against them have been 2-1 wins for the men in Orange. Expectations from this grudge match?
I hope we kick their "derrieres." (get it?) On a side note: Does anyone else, besides me, feel insulted that these sore losers have mailed it in during their last season in D2? Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for them to be going to MLS, but they've done nothing to show the rest of the league that they intend to leave on a high note. I think it's a sad statement on the entire organization, really.
I think they are leaving on a high note, for the Impact. I'm not aware of any questionable conduct on the part of the Impact this season, which a change from at least the past two years. Their players haven't attacked one another, the refs, or any other team or its fans; no other team's staff have had to intervene to keep the Impact from hurting anyone. Nor am I aware of any Montreal player spitting on anyone this season. In other words, they're playing much like the entire rest of the league - not nearly MLS-caliber performance (or even 2010 Montreal Impact performance, which was quite solid), but they play in a way I can respect. Much as I dislike seeing USMNT players dive even when it gets results (since I'd rather defeat over dishonor), I regard transitioning from poor sportsmanship and strong play to the opposite as a step in the right direction. I'm reserving judgement until the season ends with their record still unblemished, but as the judgement I was all too happy to rush to before it began involved them still being that horrible I'm pretty sure that's halfway to being a vote of confidence in them.
The point I was going for was simply that they don't seem to care how well they perform anymore. And that is disappointing to their loyal fans and insulting to the rest of the league. Maybe the team's thuggish behavior of the past was a manifestation of more serious issues within the organization, and now, the players just can't be bothered. Not the best way to enter the "MLS chapter" of the team's history.
A lot of the fans don't seem to care either, honestly. Which also annoys me. The players not caring is just baffling. You'd expect a few of them to make the jump to MLS (but not as first-stringers) with the team, and the only way to be one of those few is to play like you give a damn. The rest, they're about to be on the job market and they're not playing in a way that would make any coach want them.
Kill the fathermuckers! I really, really, really hate these classless clowns. Even my wife hates them and she attends maybe 2-3 games every season. Disgraceful little priks. I want to see a thorough a$$whopping. At least a 3-0 to the mighty Railhawks. They will do it for the 5000+ fans in the stands and for the TSF. Pumped!!!!
MTL fan here. There's a lot wrong in montreal right now, much of it is the cause of Nick DeSantes, the "technical director" that all of the players and former coach hate (as well as the dedicate fans). He micromanages things and constantly reminds players (and the now former coach) they probably won't be here next year. The result is you have a lot of players who are still in "try outs" mode rather than "team mode." That never works, not for 6 months straight anyways. Nothing constructive comes from this guy who is best buddies with Joey and therefore pretty untouchable. He is the one in charge of recruiting and rosters and he is not satisfied with the performance of the players (and can't motivate players) so he trots out retired Eddie Sebrango last night. What does that say about your abilities? If you sit near him at the game, feel free to yell at him and make fun of him. Things like "Lucky your friends with Uncle Joey or you'd be out of a job a long time ago" would work. "in over your head" would be another. Also have your videocamera ready. There's a 40% chance he'll lose his shit right in front of you. If you start insulting him, it goes up to 70%.
Oh, we remember last year, he was involved in this little bit. Earned him a 6 game suspension and lost him 1500. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4987Rl8mC7s"]YouTube - Montreal Impact disgrace in Carolina‏[/ame]
It sounds like this man is a cancer on the club. Maybe, if you're lucky, he'll suck so bad as an interim coach that Uncle Joey will dismiss him before MLS preparations begin in earnest. Then the Impact can make a fresh start to the new league. The fans, at least, should make a stand to have him removed before it gets even worse. Wouldn't it be sweet irony if he gets a "pink slip" instead of the players he seems to torment?
Since only a few players will likely be retained for the MLS season, we should yell: "who's going to play in the MLS?" or "MLS - Montreal's Losing Season!" or "MLS team - most laughable soccer!" Maybe not very good, but it's a start anyway.
Or how their own fans want their coach gone. But hey, maybe the same could work on Bob Bradley. We can only hope.
That's horrible. I still mostly think of him as the one member of the coaching staff that actively participated in the violence against the referees last year. Even if he were good for your organization in other ways, that should've cost him his job for this season - and it sounds like in every other way he's terrible too. Good to know. The supporters' section is on the far side of the field from the benches, but the chants are sometimes intelligible at that distance anyhow.
Work in progress. Started last match vs. PRI with UM02 displaying two anti-NDS banners, along with 2-3 chants. One of the banners in the kop (at about 00:29), white letters on black banner, says "NDS DÉGAGE" (Nick De Santis GTFO, basically): [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aJZT2eUNzA"]YouTube - Faits saillants / Highlights - Puerto Rico @ IMPACT - June 29 juin 2011‏[/ame]
This is very encouraging info. Keep up the pressure and keep us posted, if you can. It'd be cool if we (RailHawks fans) put up the identical sign behind the Impact bench this Sunday. Despite the differences between fan groups, I think it's in EVERYBODY's interest to oust people like NDS from our sport. People like him are cancerous to our nascent league.
Geez...didn't figure there'd be support elsewhere. Okay, so put your high school French to good use and chant out (clapping at the same time helps): "De Santis Démission" "De Santis Démission". Repeat to your heart's content. It's "De Santis Resign",
I feel weird about getting along with Montreal supporters. We should be cheering De Santis if their fans don't like him