2014 Matchday #5: Fire v Union, April 5, 2014 p/d/p (R)

1-0 Union (Jack Mac 34')

 

Tie.

We go up 2-0 only to let two in at 88' and 93'.

 

3 - 1. Chicago will get beat all day in the midfield but sneak a counter in.

 

Looking forward to seeing how Bakary "Chester Park" Slowmare handles Vintensity. Or doesn't.

 

I drive myself crazy every week. I want to think this team is changed, and a better team than before. But every week I find myself voting loss. I have zero confidence or faith in this team. I love my team but I expect a goal in the 75+ every week. I was utterly shocked vs New England.

 

2-1 win. Slowmare gets beat twice doing his part to help break the Curse of the One Goal Cap.

 

im interested to see if edu plays tonight against mexico. Hopefully he is avail for this one in chicago. I will be in attendance for this one, so i fully expect a 1-1 draw.

 

Looking at the Chicago boards, they expect a win and don't think the Union will make playoffs. I think the Union might draw this one but I don't disagree with the second point.

 

Just vote yes. you can beat yourself into a positive attitude

 

coincidentally the Fire receive red cards in the 86' and 91' minutes

 

edu may not be available, and looks like maidana picked up a knock last match, so we may be in for a different lineup this week. may be a good thing

 

I've been reading more and more the use of stats in soccer, following the trend in baseball and hockey to apply more advanced statistics to get a better understanding of player performance. Sometimes, I think we get too caught up in heat maps and analytics and lose sight of what actually happened. To wit, I've read a number of times how the Union have "outshot" their opponents, both in terms of on target and a shot that ends up in the River End (hey Antoine!). Sounds like we're really taking it to the opposition and as mentioned here and elsewhere, only a matter of time before those "start to fall in for the U".

The issue is, I can't remember (to paraphrase FIFA) really "working the keeper". Perkins' save on Edu's rocket qualifies. Opposing keepers have been credited with 13 saves out of our 54 shots (4 goals and a couple of blocks for the on target ones) with that shot toal making the U 4th in the league. When you look at SOG as a % of total shots, the Union are 11th in THE MLS. So, finishing is an issue, but not just in terms of accuracy, but in quality. Outside of Edu's blast, I'm struggling to remember a shot a keeper struggled to save. Feel the rest were dribbled into their gloves. When you think of the 1 Goal Streak, the Union would predictably continue to struggle to finish without putting more shots on frame and shots that are dangerous. I'm not sure how to fix that, but another striker on at the same time seems an idea to consider.

Until then, tough to predict wins.

 

I'll of course be at the game. The fact that Chicago has yet to win this season scares me. No team has been better at getting teams out of slumps than the Union.

 

KILL!!!


1-o win
everyone sing...
1-nil, to the Blue and Gold
1-nil, to the Blue and Gold
1-nil, to the Blue and Gold
1-nil, to the Blue and Gold

 

theres some grade a stuff going on in the chicago game thread https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/game-5-fire-vs-philadelphia-4-5-14-4-00pm-my50.2002587/

i just popped over to be neighborly and someone called me an asshole and another told me to die in a (proper noun capital F ) Fire

 

Hell yeah. @ericlfd, wear that one like a badge of honor.

Edit: Nice comeback btw.

 

second page is quality also haha

 

It's no surprise that they are a little iffy on city/state borders given where they planted Toyota Park.

 

Don't mind the ramblings of the Thousand Beavis Army. The most annoying supporter song in existence, bar none.