Taking a break from the ridiculous MLS schedule, the Fire head into the quarterfinals of a competition that they actually have a decent chance of winning-the US Open Cup. As we all know, the Fire were "Kings of the Cup" in the first years, with US Open Cups in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006, runners up in 2004 and 2011. Since then, not much. While the Fire have sucked out loud in MLS this season (and for the past 15 years), the Fire have been good in the US Open Cup this season. At this point, the Fire have as many wins (3) in the US Open Cup as we have in the entire MLS season. Houston have one US Open Cup, in 2018, the same year that the Fire last made it to the semi-final. The Fire have an awful overall record against Houston, with a total record of 8-8-12 (WDL) against the bastards from Eastern Texas. This is the first meeting of the teams in the US Open Cup. The game is supposedly on the CBS "Golazo" Network (whateverthehell that is), but it does not appear on the website yet: https://www.cbssports.com/watch/cbs-sports-golazo-network I actually don't know much about the "Dynamo" of Houston this season. I don't think I have seen a single minute of a Houston match. This season, Houston has 18 points from 15 matches, not much better than the Fire's 17 points from 16 matches. The one thing that bodes well for tonight is that Houston are winless on the road in MLS this season, and this is their first away match in the US Open Cup. In recent seasons, Houston has been almost, but not quite, as pathetic as the Fire. Houston has made the playoffs once since 2013 (2018). For 2023, I do not recognize a single Houston player, other than Héctor Herrara. Leading scorer is French attacking midfielder Amine Bassi. They do have three DPs including long time Mexico International Héctor Herrera (3 goals, 4 assists in MLS play), along with Paraguay international Sebastián Ferreira and the wonderfully monikered Teenage Hadebe. A Zimbabwe international, the 27 year old Teenage has had an interesting career, playing at Kaiser Chiefs, played in Turkey, and, keeping with the poultry theme, a Zimbabwean team called "Chicken Inn FC." According to Wikipedia, in 2017 (the most recent year listed), Chicken Inn had two players who have the first name of Innocent, two players with the first name of Pride, a player named Guide, a Divine and an Elvis. Sadly, the Chicken Inn website is "under construction." Even transfermarkt has little information about what should be a famous club, although ESPN has a bit of information. This season, Chicken Inn are third in the league after 12 matches. I found a team sheet for a game from June 3rd and the roster included players named Whata (as in "whata player!"), Genius, and Pride. The opponents had players named Chelsea, Valentine, Prince, Gift, Pride, Principe, Fungai and, of course, Kelvin. Okay, I have spent way too much time down the "rabbit hole" that is Chicken Inn (or is that spending too much time in the "Coop" of Chicken Inn?). Back to the Fire v. Houston. As of this week, Houston are 19th in the "power ranking" and have given up 9 goals in the past two games (6-2 loss to Van. and 3-0 loss to St. Louis). The Fire are 26th, following the loss to No. 1 Cincinnati. Of course, the Fire will dominate and win. This is a given. The Fire MUST win. Losing, while always an option, would pretty much ruin the season, at least until our promised DP9 arrives next month! I expect a close to full time squad for the Fire tonight, with some of the regulars who were held out against "The Gar..." nope, I can't use that idiotic nickname for Cincinnati, back in the squad. Talking about Houston, the second worst major city (next to Atlanta, of course) makes me a bit ill and I need some hand sanitizer. Fire 2-0. Shaqiri (finally) scores as does somebody else, I'll go with Brian Gutierrez scoring the second. Sadly, I won't be able to watch as I have an event at the theater were my partner works at 6:30. I will try to catch it later.
JFC I don’t know why this is surprising, insulting, hilarious, and depressing to read, but it is all of those at once. I will have to save my worst cities in the US and why rant for the politics thread, and another day, but I’ll say for my money Houston is worser than Atlanta on the basis of it being in Texas, which has other horrible cities, and it coming close to eclipsing Chicago in population - not by organic growth or resembling a city at all, but by simply annexing the hell out of the surrounding areas and turning the metro area into strip mall heaven, where every frontage road offers the opportunity to buy a firearm, fill your Ford F7340250 at a Valero, and enjoy the famous Texan cuisine on offering at Chili’s. I wish Texas would secede, just to see it try to defend itself on its own from any foreign threats. Their governor is a giant pile of spitfire roasted dog shit in a suit, and just an awful human being who deserves no peace in a just society. So yeah, Houston sucks just a little bit more than Atlanta, obviously that can change over time but until then ******** them and their stupid ass “Dynamo”, which is somehow dumber and than their original name. Like, they went from one incorrect form of posery with 1836 Houston (hint- if you’re going to try to incorporate a year into your team name it should be the year of your team’s founding you doofuses), to another incorrect form of posery (if you’re stealing the name “Dynamo” from other teams worldwide it should precede the team name dipshits) and both suck. I say we win 2-0, both goals by Shaq, one from the run of the play, one from a PK. I’ll be watching from my coach, not even $10 seats can entice me to try to find a way out to damn Bridgeview on a Tuesday night.
I was hoping and planning on going, but I just spent a fortune on fixing myself from a Sunday accident that allowed me to see what my ankle looks like underneath the skin (BodyWorks is accurate!), and I don't fancy hobbling through everything until I'm not screaming in pain trying to heal and sleep at the same time. But the game is listed on Golazo (if you have Paramount+, it's there) and I just heard Benny Olsen say that he's expecting us to be in a 5 back formation. So I will be watching and elevating my ankle.
Fair enough and if I am objectively looking at things, I probably think Houston is worse than Atlanta, for many of the reasons that you state. However, I will keep my irrational dislike of Atlanta at the top of the list. Third worst is Dallas. Perhaps my dislike of Texas is split between between Houston and Dallas, where I can concentrate on the awfulness of Atlanta. Oh, and Atlanta's fans are insufferable beyond belief.
Come on y'all! I'm bringing a German coworker tonight that is just in town for the week. He's a TSV1860 supporter and is up for doing the slog from downtown!
Funny that I never looked this up, but I live slightly closer to Soldier Field now than I do to SeatGeek (14 miles to SF v. 16 miles to SG) but it is almost a straight shot to SeatGeek since I’m right off of Harlem Ave. If hell exists, you can’t tell me it could be any worse than 16 miles in a car down Harlem Ave (I think last time I spent much of the trip on Cumberland to avoid that fate but still- no thank you). The beauty of Soldier Field is not that it’s a puny two miles closer, but instead all of the options that do not involve sitting in traffic, whether in a car or on a bus, to get there. That said, they could be playing this game at the park across the street from my house tonight and I question whether I’d actually get off of the couch to watch it. This is 100% correct, but to be fair, I’m sure Houston’s fans would be insufferable too if they had any.
Thanks for the tip since I will be at my son’s baseball game instead of enjoying traffic on Harlem with cheap seats. I should make the game on Saturday.
It’s always weird when you find someone from the internet in real life but I think did just that: https://www.theonion.com/man-s-only-remaining-source-of-pleasure-is-being-mad-in-1850501308
Watching the Cincy vs Pittsburgh game. Cincy scored in the 54thish minute but COMPLETELY offsides but no call and no VAR. Pittsburgh lost all their strikers and captain to cheap shots. It's not lopsided I will say that. 1-0 currently at minute 60 Cincy with 3 yellows, Pittsburgh with 1 but it should have been red because the dude literally NFL tackled Acosta in the first half..
Think I found the match on YouTube- nothing happening yet but says it will start in 6 mins. Saw the lineup but not sure if the formation will be a 3-4-2-1 with M Navarro and MHS as Wingbacks or a 4-2-3-1 with MHS as RW and Gutierrez as LW. Anyone know ? Update- false alarm! Nothing on YouTube!
My sons are in the section just right of the right post as you are looking at it from the penalty spot. I'm on my couch but it was a long day working on the house only to have the HVAC condenser fan crap out at 4:00. I saw it coming last summer and ordered parts so I went and swapped out the fan motor and solenoid and it's back to a cool 69 degrees! Go Fire!