Official Chicago Fire @ DC United PRE Match Thread

[Knave]

----------------------------------------------
...
Chicago Fire @ DC United
...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/brl/WiltSarachan.jpg
...
Hey Peter! It's upside down.
...
----------------------------------------------

- Stuff You Need To Know -

• Date & Time :: Saturday, April 9 @ 7:30pm EST
• Television :: Live on HDNet
• Audio Webcast :: MLSNet.com (http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/sights/), WMET (http://wmet1160.com), WACA (Spanish) (http://www.radioamerica.net/)
• Broadband Video Webcast :: None
• PBP AIM Chatroom :: BigSoccerDCU :: Directions Here (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=2238175#post2238175)
• Referee Analysis Thread

Items in gray will be updated as information becomes available.

- Notes and Ramblings -

The remainder of our busy schedule ...

April 9 - Chicago
April 13 - @ UNAM Pumas
April 15 - @ Columbus Crew

--------------------------------
No Flames - No Trolls
--------------------------------
--------------------------------

[DutchFootballRulez]

Oy. To Mexico City and back in 3 days. Fantasmagorical I must say. I think this schedule DICTATES that Guppy is just a sub vs. Pumas, and starts vs. the Crew.

[ursula]

Just trying to guess the starting lineup is....difficult. How about:

-----------------Rimando
---Stokes-------Petke-----Prideaux
------------------Simms
Quaranta--------Gomez-----Gros
-----------------Adu
-----------Moreno------Walker


I have no idea really.

I would like one day like to see both Adu and Gomez in the midfield together.

I think it would be neat-o to rest petke some day but I can't see a defense of Stokes-Boswell-Prideaux yet. (Thinking Namoff is still hurt.) But just watch Nowak do just that.

[DutchFootballRulez]

I think Guppy and Moreno or Gomez sit, in order to rest them for the trip to Mexico. Or dare I say, it rest Olsen, Gomez, and Guppy for Simms, Adu, and Quaranta.

[bigredfutbol]

Just trying to guess the starting lineup is....difficult. How about:

-----------------Rimando
---Stokes-------Petke-----Prideaux
------------------Simms
Quaranta--------Gomez-----Gros
-----------------Adu
-----------Moreno------Walker


I have no idea really.

I would like one day like to see both Adu and Gomez in the midfield together.

I think it would be neat-o to rest petke some day but I can't see a defense of Stokes-Boswell-Prideaux yet. (Thinking Namoff is still hurt.) But just watch Nowak do just that.


Why Simms? Nothing against him, but Carroll doesn't strike my as one of the players who'll need rest the most. IMHO.

[ursula]

Hey Benjamin- are you sure that the game is on Direct kick? I can't find it either on my DISH listings for saturday (but they don't have anything listed there yet) nor on the MLSnet.com listings (which just has it on HD net and two other games on DK).

[ursula]

Why Simms? Nothing against him, but Carroll doesn't strike my as one of the players who'll need rest the most. IMHO.


Just throwing darts at a board, really.

[Knave]

Hey Benjamin- are you sure that the game is on Direct kick? I can't find it either on my DISH listings for saturday (but they don't have anything listed there yet) nor on the MLSnet.com listings (which just has it on HD net and two other games on DK).
I thought I read that it was picked up by a Chicago station.

But on second look, you might be right. That'd suck.

[gnat]

I think Guppy and Moreno or Gomez sit, in order to rest them for the trip to Mexico. Or dare I say, it rest Olsen, Gomez, and Guppy for Simms, Adu, and Quaranta.
I really like this idea. Chicago looked like crap last week, and even if we continue on our slighty-off trend I think we can handle them. Q1 could use more minutes (at least if we can't trade him for something useful, but I digress :rolleyes: ) and it would be good for Adu to play most/all of a game at A-mid.

Unless someone did some serious b!tch-slapping in the Fire locker room last Sat, i'll be shocked if we don't come away with at least one point and expect we'll see three.

-dave

[ursula]

I thought I read that it was picked up by a Chicago station.

But on second look, you might be right. That'd suck.

I see the Fire board has a thread on it (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=186418) but there's conflicting info there too. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. I have hope.

[Knave]

Actually, I think it's on DirectKick because it's listed here: http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/sights/

You only have video there if it's on DirectKick.

...

Anyway, I wanted to pick a bone with you. How can you leave Boswell out of the lineup? You're suggesting we play:

Left to right: Prideaux --- Petke --- Stokes

Why? At this point Boswell has given nobody any reason to bench him. Are you worried about him tiring out? I don't think that's an issue. First, he's young. He can handle it. Second, far more critical than him wearing out right now is maintaining his confidence. He's had a very good run of play lately. Let him keep that going.

If you ask me I'd go with something like this.

Left to right: Petke --- Boswell --- Stokes

Isn't that what we played agains Pumas? I see no reason to change that now. And I also think Stokes should be rewarded for his improved performance against Pumas.

And all that is assuming Namoff is still out with injury.

[Hedbal]

I would keep Petke outside where he plays his best. He had a monster game tonight. MOTM in my mind. Boswell is as cool as a cucumber. With Namoff still day to day, and Prideaux recovering from the flu, I would keep them sitting and go with tonight's back line.

[Big BBW]

I don't know about you guys, but next wednesday's game is MUCH, MUCH more meaningful then this saturday's opener. You can't deny that our boys left it ALL on the field tonight. With all the games we have been playing, plus having JUST started the season and add the fact that we will be playing in high altitutde, I would rest as many of our starters as possible for this saturday's home opener. I would much rather be 1-1 in MLS and have a better chance of beating PUMAS, then be 2-0 in MLS and have our players too exhausted to compete next wednesday.

Some of you might say, "they're professionals and are supposed to be able to withstand such challenges", but lets be real here, if the U.S. team, who trained in high altitude and all had atleast a week between games, could not get it done, then I highly doubt our boys will enter Wednesday's match physically prepared if they play Saturday.

Just my two cents.

[ursula]

Actually, I think it's on DirectKick because it's listed here: http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/sights/

You only have video there if it's on DirectKick.

...

Anyway, I wanted to pick a bone with you. How can you leave Boswell out of the lineup? You're suggesting we play:

Left to right: Prideaux --- Petke --- Stokes

Why? At this point Boswell has given nobody any reason to bench him. Are you worried about him tiring out? I don't think that's an issue. First, he's young. He can handle it. Second, far more critical than him wearing out right now is maintaining his confidence. He's had a very good run of play lately. Let him keep that going.

If you ask me I'd go with something like this.

Left to right: Petke --- Boswell --- Stokes

Isn't that what we played agains Pumas? I see no reason to change that now. And I also think Stokes should be rewarded for his improved performance against Pumas.

And all that is assuming Namoff is still out with injury.


lol. I really was throwing darts at a board when I picked the lineup. At the time I had no idea why Nowak would start Stokes over Prideaux leaving two rank rookies (practically) to assist Petke. Now I know Prideaux had the flu and it makes more sense. And I agree with you to have Stokes play again vs Chicago and see if he can build on this performance.


And I hope that's right about the DK. (praying madly)

[gnat]

Some of you might say, "they're professionals and are supposed to be able to withstand such challenges", but lets be real here, if the U.S. team, who trained in high altitude and all had atleast a week between games, could not get it done, then I highly doubt our boys will enter Wednesday's match physically prepared if they play Saturday.
I wouldn't say that, but I would say that the USA/MEX game was on a whole different level than the Pumas/DCU game will be. Yes it will be played at Azteca and yes it will be high altitude, but I think the similarities end there.

1) Key players for the USA were out or not playing like they gave a damn.
2) Azteca was FULL of fans wanting to support their country and hurl "niceties" at the USA. (i'm not saying there won't be anyone there, but it won't be sold out and the fans won't be wanting our blood quite as badly).
3) Pumas aren't pissed at us for knocking them out of the WC.
4) Pumas don't have the record in Azteca that the MEX team does.

All that said, I in no way think it will be an easy game for us and believe we should rest as many players as possible. I just don't put any stock in the "if the USA had such a hard time ..." view.

I have high hopes for Saturday, but am being realistic about Wed (though i'll still be pissed if we don't advance).

Bring on the "baby blues" :) (can anyone tell me WTF powder blue has to do with "fire"? I know we have a bunch of red teams, but we didn't exactly need another blue one either...)

-dave

[BBBulldog]

2) Azteca was FULL of fans wanting to support their country and hurl "niceties" at the USA. (i'm not saying there won't be anyone there, but it won't be sold out and the fans won't be wanting our blood quite as badly).

I bet it will be far more intense support than Mex-US (I thought that one was sort of lukewarm). National teams support usually gets pretty watered down.

can anyone tell me WTF powder blue has to do with "fire"?

City of Chicago color

[SABuffalo786]

Is it at Azteca? I thought they were having it at Pumas' Olympic stadium.


As far as Saturday's match goes, eh, I dunno.

I mean, I know it's the home opener and everything, but after all the glamor and excitement of tonight, it's hard to get up for just another league game.

This international competition thing really has me buzzing. Now I know what the English are talking about when they get all misty eyed about those "European Nights"

Hey, this is all new to me. I only started following United in 2001. I wasn't there for the glorious ascenion to the hemispherical throne in 98.

I'd gladly trade in a horrible streak in MLS if it means we can beat Pumas on Wednesday.


My avatar text was meant as a tounge in cheek sort of thing, but I'm really starting to wonder if we are in fact above all this Major League Soccer business. :D

[Sanguine]

1) Key players for the USA were out or not playing like they gave a damn.
2) Azteca was FULL of fans wanting to support their country and hurl "niceties" at the USA. (i'm not saying there won't be anyone there, but it won't be sold out and the fans won't be wanting our blood quite as badly).
3) Pumas aren't pissed at us for knocking them out of the WC.
4) Pumas don't have the record in Azteca that the MEX team does.


and the real key - Pumas don't play at Azteca. ;) but they do play in Mexico City, so the altitude and smog are still big factors.

[kebzach]

Bring on the "baby blues" :) (can anyone tell me WTF powder blue has to do with "fire"? I know we have a bunch of red teams, but we didn't exactly need another blue one either...)

-dave

Those uniforms are based on the city of Chicago flag-- Carolina Blue and White are the city flag's main colors.

As a Fire fan, I think the uniforms suck. But others seem to like them because they get too worked up over things like uniform colors.

[bigRYAN]

Just trying to guess the starting lineup is....difficult. How about:

-----------------Rimando
---Stokes-------Petke-----Prideaux
------------------Simms
Quaranta--------Gomez-----Gros
-----------------Adu
-----------Moreno------Walker


I have no idea really.



I hope Nowak uses this game as an opportunity to rest player b4 the next match in Mexico.

I would use the following line up

Perkins

Merritt Stokes Arena Pridaeux (not sure who plays where in the back)


Quaranta Simms Adu Van Sicklen

Walker Quintanilla

I am going w/ four back because you may need four w/ the youth.