I don't believe in the traffic excuses. I live in the city close to O'Hare and I make it to all Red Stars games in Lisle and most Fire games on the South Side. If you want to go, you will go. It's all about how much passion you have. IMO. But then you're talking to a guy who some years ago left right after Thanksgiving dinner from Chicago and drove all the way to Chapel Hill, NC to watch UNC and Santa Clara play in an NCAA tournament game and then drove back. So....
Of course I would love to see that happen. I am the one that suggested it in the first place, after all. I just think at this point in time, if they were wanting to have one ready for next season it would be far enough along in the process to actually announce it and not just allude to big things coming. From what I could tell from the article that was posted about the new Northwestern athletics facilities, it's not exactly going to be any bigger than the current one. This is the picture of "new" stadium: This is the current stadium: I'm having a hard time finding the differences to the soccer stadium.
I was just expressing my opinion about my personal circumstances as an out of town STH, not looking for validation re: Chicago traffic excuses. I hope whatever the team might work out will be to their benefit in increasing support from their local community. Both the options you listed, sound like encouraging upgrades in that regard. Probably Evanston is a better public transit option than either Lisle or Bridgeview.
http://chicagoredstars.com/red-stars-select-brittany-bock-off-nwsl-waiver-wire/ I have been wanting to see Brittany Bock play for her home town professional team for a long time. The Red Stars have acquired her from Waivers. I hope she decides to play next season. Bock has many fans in the Chicago area including her family. Brittany Bock is one of the best women soccer players to come out of the Chicago area. Unfortunately she has had some injury issues in the past few years. If she can allow herself to heal, then get into shape before spring, she will be a GREAT asset to the Red Stars. With Chalupny contemplating retiring, CRS needs a tough, holding mid. Bock can fill that roll. A healthy Brittany Bock can be one of the best players in NWSL and definatley a big help for the Red Stars. I hope she decides to make her Chicago-local fans happy to see her play in her hometown team next season.
Who's on your protected list. This is mine. I think Leon will get picked then they can protect Dalton so she doesn't get picked to be Orlandos back up. Gilliland Johnston DiBernardo Hemmings Johnson Huerta Press Colaprico Hoy
Why would Chicago protect Johnson and Press unless it does not trust Orlando? If Orlando did back out of its agreements to pick Harris and Klingenberg, not a good way for it to start relationships with the league and other teams.
I don't think it was a firm agreement so anything can happen. I think mostly only keepers are save because it is a sure bet they will select Harris. For the second player selected, that player is 100% being sent to Portland so they kinda have final say on that. I personally do not think Parsons actually NEED Kling as they do have Catley but she and HAO are most likely the 2 field players to be left unprotected and Portland thinks Kling has a higher upside than HAO. I guess what I'm saying is Portland doesn't need Kling so if Chicago or any other team fall for this bait, they will be left with egg on their face.
My guess is the Morgan deal is done and its just a matter of which USWNT player Portland will get. If they are OK with Kling at the minimum, they will sure jump on the chance to get Press or Johnston instead.
Good list, but I am not sure that Leon would get picked and Dalton is safe. We already don't have a back-up keeper to my knowledge, so losing Dalton would be catastrophic. If I wanted to be sure Dalton is safe, would swap her out for Hemmings on this list.
Me too! I rate them both - I rate the whole back line including Michelle Lomicki over our Kiwi whose standard of play is pretty baffling. I put some of this on myself as she is captain for NZ and they are a pretty good squad so could be I just have a screw loose in her regard and don't appreciate her properly. The other player that is not on the list that I would very much regret leaving is Alyssa Mautz. She is a ton of fun to watch - a pretty electric player. Again I would put her on the field over Leon any day.
I completed a fairly lengthy survey for the Red Stars on Friday. Among many questions there was a request to rate your likelihood of attending games at the following venues: Benedictine Toyota Park Northwestern U Univ of Chicago LaSalle Univ
It's not like Portland to give up a player like Morgan without a done deal. So I'll go out on a limb and say that Klingenberg will be available to Orlando and they will take her and send her to Portland as part of the Morgan deal. If Orlando doesn't, then they don't get Morgan. Catley plays on the outside left like Klingenberg, but I'm imagining one of them playing left back and the other left mid (both of them can play either position) and the two of them overlapping, and I'm really happy.
So you are telling me Portland will turn down the option of Press or Johnston if it presented itself?
Only difference was Mautz over Hemmings, which I kind of figured would happen. I know Mautz doesn't want to play anywhere else and I don't think Hemmings does either. I think she had a really good season so I hope she doesn't get picked.