We are the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs. What a shame. This team, the organization and us fans deserve more. Much more. The Chicago Red Stars cannot afford not be a winner next season. The organization must do whatever it takes to ensure a consistent winner. Otherwise the disappointment with fans will gow and the support that they have worked so hard to get will evaporate. Now. On to Wednesday's game. We have a chance to be spoilers now and win our next two games. I would love nothing more then to be the cause of Washington or Philly not making the playoffs. I haven't looked at all the mathematical posibilites and frankly I don't care. Play like you have nothing to lose. Because honestly, we don't.
As a fan, I really don't care if we win either of these upcoming games or not. Right now, it's all about next year. Since we now have nothing to lose, I'd love to see Namazi take charge of this team and sit the deadweight on the bench for the next two games. No more Cristiane, no more Casey. Let them watch the players who WANT to be out there. I know we're as deep as a petri dish right now, but damn the torpedoes and play our bench players. Put Whitworth in goal. Let's see who wants to be on this team next year because we already know some players who don't.
I agree, ratdog. I would like to see Whitworth in goal. The one game she did play, we ended up winning. I don't mind seeing Casey Nogueira. She is still young and can be shaped into a good roll player and has a rocket shot. But Cristiane, I've seen enough in 2 years. Every time I see her try to dribble through 2 or 3 people and then do some fancy, left footed, useless, roll over the ball, makes me want to pull my hair out. Oh, I forget, the final touch by Cristiane is a far-wide or way over the crossbar shot.
Now MRAD, you are forgetting the record number of posts hit too... I disagree about Casey. I think she's had enough time to show she wants to be on the field. The knock against has always been the same...fantastic skills, doesn't want to do all the little things that the great ones do. Yet she's always played because of her bullet shot and control on the ball. So what is the downside for her to improve? It was the same story with Carli last year. Maybe some time on the bench is the only thing that will get through to her? I am soooooooo tempted to get in my car and make the drive. If I leave in the next 30 minutes I could still make it! Agh...being responsible has never been this hard before!
Do it! Do it! When there's snow on the ground in a couple months and you miss watching the game, you will regret not coming. So get in your car and start driving!
I have class at 5:30 (Eastern time) which I wouldn't feel too bad about missing! But I have to teach tomorrow and want to be at the College by 9 at the latest (which means getting up at 7 to get ready and the hour drive). If I go, I won't get home until about 2:30 at the very earliest (and that's if I drive 85 the whole way). Gah! And I know it's probably going to be a small crowd so I feel even worse about missing...if they were still in the playoff chase I would do it...but I just can't. Sometimes I hate being the grown up in the room!!!
Supposedly, Boquete is starting so at least you'll get a glimpse of her. Looked good in the W-League final.
only 2.2K people showed up, some good plays, our offense looked good at the end of the game, but missed many chances.
Well I was pleasantly surprised to watch the red stars pretty much dominate that game and win. Not much of a crowd but I didn't expect much on a Wednesday with the suburban kids back at school. Every time they play this well I just think why couldn't they do that every time.
I thought Boquete was a refreshing new look for this team last night. I like her. She seems deceivingly fast. She makes runs off the ball not only to get open but to draw defenders away so that her teammates can have space or get open. She made a beautiful pass to Casey Nogueira that if Casey had gotten to it a second earlier may have scored. I love the way she finds her teammates and makes precise passes on the run. What a difference from Cristiane. With Boquete there is very little useless ball dribbling, rolling of the ball and touches. From what I saw last night everything has a purpose. Great addition to the team and hope we resign her. Whitney Engen again shows her worth. Saved us several times last night. Engen is my CRS Most Valuable Player for 2010. She should be on the Rookie of the Year list for WPS.
Casey still should have scored on that breakaway. Of course, she wasn't the only one to blow a great chance. But yeah, Boquete did play very well last night.
Last night's game was very fun. Plus I think it might have been the first time I've seen them win at home, and I've gone to every game I could make since the league opened! I was starting to think my presence was cursing the team. Last night made it seem like we're finally getting a glimpse of what the Red Stars could be next year. Dalmy's shot was amazing. I like her more and more. Boquete -- Wow, I completely get the hype! Cristiane off the bench meant that Cristiane was really working in her 20+ minutes. Vanderbergh subbed in and showed real hustle again. We had several good saves in goal. The only change I would have made was subbing Noguiera out earlier. Or maybe using her as a sub like Cristiane to make her value her minutes more. She was a non-factor and never really hustled. The Red Stars had some problems getting the ball out of the midfield, but even that was improving throughout the game. Plus they dominated the possession game. I'm looking forward to more improvement on Sunday and keeping my fingers crossed for next year!
Interesting. I thought Nogueira had one of her best games as a CRS. And it was her service that Boquete turned into the net.
Damn...missed a win. I didn't even get to watch the webcast. Hope they can end the year with two wins. Have they ever won two in a row? I don't remember. For those who watched, someone said that the Stars dominated the possesion in the midfield. Did Lori Lindsay play? What about Formiga?
Red Stars: Loyden (GK), Dalmy, Engen, Markgraf, Spilger, Formiga, Carney (Cristiane, 57), Rapinoe (Vandenbergh, 73), Chapman, Boquete, Nogueira (Reiser, 84). Independence: V. Henderson (GK), Falk, Lindsey (Sanderson, 64), Buczkowski, Larsson (Lohman, 46), Rodriguez, Seger, Krzysik, K. Henderson (Adams, 70), DiMartino, Magnusdottir. Yes the red stars dominated most of the game. phil did get a few breakaways but were denied. Formiga played well. She had a couple of near miss assists. She always seems to be working hard.
It was a very nice game to watch. Good weather. The new kid, Vero was impressive and Dalmy scored with a blistering rocket from outside the box that curled into the upper left corner. Val Henderson didn't even blink.