Official Chicago Fire @ DC United PRE Match Thread

[Knave]

----------------------------------------------
Chicago Fire @ DC United
----------------------------------------------
http://www.falklandvets.co.uk/images/BassetPupsmall.jpg

"This picture has nothing to do with the match!"
...
----------------------------------------------


- Stuff You Need To Know -

• Date & Time :: Sunday, October 15 @ 5:00pm EDT
• Television :: ESPN2
• Radio :: WACA, WMET (http://wmet1160.com/)
• Audio Webcast :: MLSLive.tv
• Broadband Video Webcast :: MLSLive.tv
• PBP AIM Chatroom :: BigSoccerDCU

- Notes and Ramblings -

• If we don't ********ing win this ********ing game ...

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

[URwormfood]

These nasty sheep-f\/ckers must die!!!

~worm~

[AMERICANS SC]

I want to see the following headline on Monday : "The Night Chicago Died".

[jackrock]

Somebody needs to put CJ Brown on his ass. I hate that guy. Donnet and Adu get our goals.

[liverbird]

Simple: Piss on the Fire

[jgildea8]

It would be nice if we only had to worry about rest right now, but we have monkeys to get off our back and momentum to build.
Piss on the Fire indeed.

[GUTuna]

Getting a win Sunday also guarantees that New England will get the second seed and homefield advantage versus the Fire. If we want to give New England the best possible chance to knock of Chicago, we want to put some effort into this match.

And I agree with everyone that's saying that getting a win Sunday will do a lot for our mental state going into the playoffs. Last year it only took two games to become complacent. I can see one key win turn it on for us again.

[Riz]

Somebody needs to put CJ Brown on his ass.

I'll second this.

Piss on the Fahr.

[jackrock]

Getting a win Sunday also guarantees that New England will get the second seed and homefield advantage versus the Fire.

.


I never thought the first round "home field advantage" was much of an advantage. 2 legs, home and away, does it really matter where you play first?
Having said that ill go with you that anything that would help us avoid chi in the playoffs would be a good thing.

[GUTuna]

does it really matter where you play first?


No, it's not a huge advantage. But with no away goals rule, the higher seeded team gets to host the "mini-game" overtime after the second match if the teams are tied on aggregate. And Chicago plays really well at home.

[JRstriker12]

With the slump that we've been in over the last few weeks, do you think Nowak will bring out the reserves?

Unless Chicago brings out all thier reserves and plans on thugging it up on the field, I think it might be a good idea with we bring out the starters and try to get a win and some momentum going into the playoffs.

Either way, we need a W against the Fire.

JR

[dcuvabeach]

REFEREE: Baldomero Toledo

[dsheon]

The only time Jaime has played exceptionally well in the second half of the season is when he came off the bench with 35 minutes left.

I see no reason to change that strategy. He may feel otherwise, but for whatever reason, he's been reduced to a mini-game player.

[ZoomZip]

With the slump that we've been in over the last few weeks, do you think Nowak will bring out the reserves?

Unless Chicago brings out all thier reserves and plans on thugging it up on the field, I think it might be a good idea with we bring out the starters and try to get a win and some momentum going into the playoffs.

Either way, we need a W against the Fire.

JR

Okay, I think this entire "we need a win" Sunday theory is bunk. Well argued, and well-intentioned, but not persuasive. Does anyone really think that a W on Sunday is really going to mean that much, especially if New England has already made that game meaningless to the Fire? That somehow one win is going to erase the last two months? That DC will suddenly regain the swagger they had and forget the missed chances against New England, RSL, Chicago, Houston, etc...?

I don't. One win in a potentially meaningless game is, well, meaningless. However, I do believe that two playoff wins in the opening round could mean momentum, and that resting key players and keeping them away from potential injuries helps.

In other words, there is no momentum that can really be gained, even if we were to hang 5 on Chicago. The theoretical benefit of momentum must be exchanged for some demonstratable benefit of resting our stars. Moreno played better after rest. Christian served his suspension and came back sharper. Let's have that moving into the final games.

[Knave]

Does anyone really think that a W on Sunday is really going to mean that much ...
It will mean we don't enter the playoffs with me curled up in a fetal position on the floor, clutching my bottle of Knob Creek, and pleading to the soccer gods that they might have mercy on our playoff soul.

[GrillMaster]

First, Rochambeau the assholes before heading in a corner goal.
Second, let the RFK turf god remind Armas of his 2002 injury.
Third, rip any fire-clad head from its moorings.
Fourth, take a dump in the neck cavity from step 3.
Fifth, have a drink.
Sixth, finish the six-pack.
Seventh, piss on the fire.

Attitude check on sunday, boyzzzzz!

GM

[Martin Fischer]

First, Rochambeau the assholes before heading in a corner goal.
Second, let the RFK turf god remind Armas of his 2002 injury.
Third, rip any fire-clad head from its moorings.
Fourth, take a dump in the neck cavity from step 3.
Fifth, have a drink.
Sixth, finish the six-pack.
Seventh, piss on the fire.

Attitude check on sunday, boyzzzzz!

GM

Wasn't the last time you guys brought your "attitude" was when Donovan came to town? Great job.

[JRstriker12]

It will mean we don't enter the playoffs with me curled up in a fetal position on the floor, clutching my bottle of Knob Creek, and pleading to the soccer gods that they might have mercy on our playoff soul.

The we need a win rational may be bunk, but I hope we get a win for Knave's sake.

Anyway, it would be good to end the regular season on a high note and get a little bit of confidence back.

[revelation]

First, Rochambeau the assholes before heading in a corner goal.
Second, let the RFK turf god remind Armas of his 2002 injury.
Third, rip any fire-clad head from its moorings.
Fourth, take a dump in the neck cavity from step 3.
Fifth, have a drink.
Sixth, finish the six-pack.
Seventh, piss on the fire.

Attitude check on sunday, boyzzzzz!

GM

I am Revelation and I believe in this message!

DC United needs to walk into this game with the intensity and desire to make Chicago pay for their sins. The Fire are coming here to thug it up because they know they'll get away with it. DC United needs to put the goals in early and often so that Nowak can pull Gomez and Jaime before they are beaten to a pulp.

[JoeW]

Quite simply, I think Chicago will want this match more than we will--a result helps them significantly. In our case, besides providing us a little mojo and giving Knave respite, not much happens.

For me, a win would be nice. What I'd prefer to see (regardless of the result) would be:
--Eskandarian scores a good goal. Not a brilliant goal, just one that shows he's getting his finishing touch back and can contribute on the field.
--no red or yellows for retaliation. Chicago fouls us hard. We tend to reciprocate. You know what the conventional wisdom is about what happens when you reciprocate--you're the one who gets carded (see: Erpen, Facundo v. Wolyniec, John).
--the ability to generate chances that don't involve Gomez. A big part of Chicago's game involves taking Gomez out. They mark him, deny him space, tackle him hard and foul him off the ball. If we can generate chances while bypassing Gomez, that punishes Chicago (and NE too) for their pre-occupation on Christian. It also nullifies their tactics.
--quick transitions and/or good long balls played out of the back (especially by Erpen and Boswell) that lead to chances. Chicago likes to clog midfield and slow us up. Quick, 1-touch ball nullifies this tactic. Smart transitions out of the back to the forwards punishes this tactic.

I'm not expecting Nowak to show his plans for Chicago (should we face them in the playoffs). But I want us in good form. A win doesn't mean good form. Any and or all of the above and I'll be happy.