Just read that Beckham has not played in Chicago since 2008. Now as a season ticket holder i'd be going no matter what to this game. And considering last season LA brought no one of note and still beat us i'm glad i'll get to see Donovan and Keane and others. But I think Beckham is the main attraction here and the reason this game sold out and I think that it's unfortunate people won't get to see what they wanted. Hopefully the people will still come out and will support the Fire and show support for them continuously and not just for this game. The way we're playing I think we win this game.
Starting line up (via twitter) ----------------Johnson-------------- Anibaba-Friedrich-Berry-Segares ----------Pause------Pardo---------- ---Nyarko------Rolfe-------Pappa-- ----------------Oduro---------------- Almost identical to the last two games...gotta be some tired legs...
Was hoping this would be my first home game of the year but at least the beer is cheaper from my fridge. Come on, Fire, let's keep up the momentum!
Without Grazzini the Fire are back to where they were at the start of last year -- no one can hold the ball in midfield. Pause is awful. This is depressing.
Fire have looked good the last two matches, also without Grazzini, so I don't think the blame can really be put on him. I think the difference is that Rolfe has looked poor today. Bad touch, caught in possession too often.
Full disclosure: I realize that this comes from somebody who doesn't want it to be a penalty, and that it would be controversy either way, but I feel like if you aren't sure the ball is in the box, you should default to where the player is. He was a good 6-8 inches out of the box. Seems likely the ball would have been as well
Not buying it. Fire was outshot 13 to 6 and only had 39% of possession against Houston. Fire was outshot 27 to 10 and only had 38% of possession against KC. This team will struggle mightily without Grazzini.
No, all 3 games without Grazzini they've looked really dull on offsense - I had put that down to playing on the road in the heat in KC and Houston, but they haven't really created many chances, and only scored one goal. And they're really just starting to look like the CLDC-era Fire. Just no idea on offense but to try to play hopeful balls to the wingers. I hated watching the CLDC-era, and it's no surprise that the results and the style of play changed when Grazzini came -- he completely changed the team, now without him, they've reverted back. It's as simple as that. Rolfe just cannot do what he did. And how has Klopas not figured out by now that without a Blanco or Grazzini in the lineup, there is no place for Logan Pause on the field, because he's actually a pretty terrible soccer player. This is a proven fact.
Fire outshot 13-11 but only had 41% of possession against NYRB Fire was outshot 15-9 and only had 48% of possession against NE Fire was outshot 21-9 and only had 40% of possession against Col (albeit with a red card) Fact is, we are a counter attacking team, with or without Grazzini, don't expect us to dominate either of those stats.
