I would like to hear it from Cristian Gomez as to what he thought of the atmosphere of RFK and what level it was at compared to some of the Argentinian games he's played in. I love reading that kind of stuff even if its just a, "yeah, it was like the Bombonera... well... half of the Bombonera..."...
It was nice, but it was no Bombonera (even a regular season game). I can't imagine what a Boca-River game would be like. When I went to see Boca-Lanus, it was the best sports atmosphere I have ever been to, including RFK Saturday night.
The problem for us who regularly show up at United games is that we'll be measuring every match against Saturday's...and they aren't all gonna be like that.
No, but if you keep reminding the quiet-siders near you, perhaps they will become acquainted with passionate support like they showed Sat. night. GM
River-Boca was on over weekend, we have to drink a lot more milk to grow to that madness. It's one of few matches featuring teams I don't root for that I want to see in person before I die. You can't really compare MLS to Argentinian club football, that's top percentage of world as far as support goes. His last club was Arsenal, here's few pics of La banda del Beto, Arsenal's hinchada (and remember that's not one of big clubs)
PS If you want to compare it to atmosphere of Boca, River, Racing, Independiente etc just go to http://www.barra-bravas.com.ar/ and look into Primera Division. If you want to compare us at least a bit then go into Primera D pictures (nothing wrong with that, I usually look for practical ideas in pictures of small groups cos we can pull that off Imagine how many times you'd hear hey can you sit down in front with all the huge flags, smoke, balloons, overhead flags that stretch for half stadium, people all over each other
Not sure of what he may think of RFK but ill tell you what I think of him. After the game me and fellow Nortenos waited after the game buy the gate were the players parked there cars.While the players would drive by with there cars coming out we cheered them on.Only Gomez and fellow bros who stayed out there know was the only one who came to us before he went to his truck and with his family he came to us to thank us personaly.Even the little girl with him I think his daughter even banged on the drum.He didnt have a nice car like some of the other players and from the way he has been playing, United i hope pay him well come next season he deserves it
I was in Santiago, Chile last week and got to attend the classico universario between the University of Chile and Catholic University. I sat in the U of C section and it was total madness! Something like being in the Barra times about 500 but with a Maximum-Security prison vibe thrown in. I've never seen so much chain link, barbed wire and metal spike-topped fencing before. The riot police were a nice touch. But Holy Crap can those fans lay down some awesome chants - and the whistling! I've never heard such a thing. It was out of this world. I can only imagine what Boca-River would be like after that. I was so busy watching the fans I almost forgot to watch the game.
Anyone who's watched much European or South American soccer knows that we have a long, long way to go before we compare. Watching the clip of DaMarcus Beasley's Champions' League goal for PSV Eindhoven last week, I can't imagine how good it must feel for him to go from the type of crowd support in MLS to the levels of crowd support there. But that's not meant as disrespect for us. Because anyone who's watched U.S. soccer over the last decade and a half or so and can remember how things used to be knows how incredibly far we've come in that time. We may have a long way to go; but we've come pretty damned far in a fairly short period of time.
At the end of the Spanish Radio broadcast (before the trophy presentation) they interview Gomez. I dont have time to translate now but you can listen to the feed off MLSnet .com and if you know spanish, perhaps can throw up a translation. Mostly they ask him about the goal, though.
I'd say DC is actually one of the few places that actually has room to go down. not that we'll let it!
Being a big River fan and passing up a match between River and Independiente for next week, I can tell you that the atmosphere at RFK was nothing to be ashamed of. Christian was interviewed on Univision and was stoked after the game. (IMHO, his goal was one of the best live goals I've ever seen) If you look at the replay of his goal, there are two huge Argentinian banners next to the Barra that rock right after his goal. He's happy to be here and so am I. He's the reason Jaime can be Jaime in my book. btw, I've been to the Bonbonera and we have a LOOOOONG way to go to match those locos.
Exactly. I still don't think he has been 100% since being sick, so hopefully he will be able to get completely fit this week and take over the game on Sunday.
i don't think the point is to measure up to the argentinian clubs...face it we have a long way to go before any of mls clubs can sniff at the standard of boca, river or independiente....the point is that as the BEST team in MLS we showed that we have the BEST support....if the best team in MLS had crap support then soccer in general would be a lost cause here....but the showing on saturday is one of the seeds that will produce the future packed houses in the future for MLS....each person that went to that game will have that memory and will pass it down to their loved ones who'll at least give MLS a chance due to the respect of the impression the game left on you guys...i bet you gomez thought that this group of fans provided a larger than normal turnout for an important game and screamed out its lungs for its beloved team to win....this was a professional crowd for a professional game and i'm pretty sure gomez will be happy to get his paycheck on time knowing that he plays the game for a crowd that cares
I just got an email from Gomez, translated through Babelfish: "He was so convite to play in front of the great ventilators in RFK Saturday. The demonstration such passion and helps. It is amazing truth and easily the best crowd of this country. East master country. I have taste that the checks are opportune also. It is a great relevación to play sometimes in front of the ventilators that do not threaten their life, during the game. And those are the homemade ventilators. Joy of the passion of soccer. Nevertheless, joy having not to avoid the concrete rock showers whereas it plays soccer. It is a safe place to play in RFK. There is very small occasion that the stage will take the fire. Also, it is far better for the lungs not to play in a cloud of the pungent smoke. The God Blesses, Christian"
Tim, you need to pace yourself as I repeatedly come up with this "You must spread some yada yada yada TEConnor".
And God bless Babelfish!!! East Master Country and great ventilators... sweet Jesus we have new banners. If this email is true though I can see he is happy to be playing for a passive crowd that is not putting people's lives at risk. I have seen the human avalanches of the Bombonera, I have seen the enormous amounts of fireworks, smoke, and flying objects onto the field. DC must have been a small taste of what an English style of crowd is like for Gomez... lively, boisterous, and festive but not out of control like it can get in Argentina. It is an interesting insight about how safe he feels playing in the US as compared to Argentina.
Speaking as one of the ventilators at the game, I'd say that the atmosphere at RFK was terrific - Gomez may be used to more madness, but he also said its nice to not have to worry about rocks and smoke bombs - As for size of RFK's lower bowl crowd of 21K and most USA SSS sizes, MLS is not as big as the biggest clubs in Argentina, Brazil or the big countries in Europe - But we are on a par with the lower clubs - I found these stadium sizes in the Argentina league - (the link is probably a few years old - I can't imagine Arsenal is as big as River or Boca - probably around 30K) - And Bayern Leverkeusen (a top-flight club in Germany) has a stadium of only 22K !!! I think the madness will get better in SSS's Also - I kinda stunk that the players weren't ushered around for autographs after the game - But Gomez was excited enough to throw his warm-up jacket to someone lucky John L A Proud Ventilator of DC United RIVER PLATE (A.V. Liberti): 76.687 RACING CLUB (President Perón): 64.161 BOCA JUNIORS (La Bombonera): 60.245 INDEPENDIENTE (De La Doble Visera De Cem.): 57.901 VÉLEZ SARSFIELD (José Amalfitani): 49.747 TALLERES DE CORDOBA (Chateau Carreras): 48.878 BELGRANO DE CORDOBA (Chateau Carreras): 48.878 DE CORDOBA (Chateau Carreras): 48.878 HURACÁN (Tomas Aldolfo Duco): 48.314 ROSARIO CENTRAL (El Gigante De Arroyito): 41.654 SAN LORENZO (Pedro Bidegian): 40.000 BANFIELD (Banfield): 34.551 QUILMES ATLETICO CLUB (Estadio Centenario): 32.000 NEWELL’S OLD BOYS (Coloso del Parque): 42.000 ARGENTINOS JUNIORS (Atlanta Stadium): 31.100 DEPORTIVO ESPAÑOL (Nueva España): 31.000 PLATENSE (Ciudad De Vicente López): 31.000 LANÚS (Lanús): 30.500 COLÓN DE SANTA FE (Brigadier López): 30.000 ESTUDIANTES (Luis Jorge Hirschi): 28.000 FERROCARRIL OESTE (Arq.Ricardo Etcheverry): 24.268 GIMNASIA JUJUY (23 De Agosto): 23.000 UNIÓN DE SANTA FE (15 De Abril): 22.300 CHACARITA JUNIORS (Gutierrez): 21.000 GIMNASIA LP (El Bosque): 20.461 HURACÁN DE CORRIENTES (Beron De Astrada): 15.700