The team is 2nd in MLS in goals scored despite the fact that Ante Razov and Jesse Marsch haven't played a single game yet. Andy Williams has 2 goals and an assist and Orlando Perez (who was MIA and on milk cartons last year) has a goal and an assist and was named MLS Player of the Week. The team no longer has stars such as Josh Wolff, Peter Nowak and Dema Kovalenko, but yet Chicago still continues to do well. Would we have done as well (or better) with Dave Sarachan at the helm (and not parting with Faria at the same time)?
Jesus H Christ. Get your facts straight. Perez has 1 goal, no assists. Perez started playing for Chicago after Bradley traded for him. Williams has 1 goal. But then, maybe you would rather have him than Guevara. The Fire is 1-0-2, we are 1-1-1. That's a difference of one point. You are right, Bradley sucks!
What in the world do you mean? I'll be back later tonight for your response - just gotta rush out now and pick up my Kansas City Royals World Series tickets.
Bob Bradley...most winningest coach in MLS history. bite your tongue! and please, don't speculate after 3 games, or you're bound to get flamed nimrod.
Three of those goals came from outside the 18 against a clearly out of it Fat Tony on Saturday night. You can choose to believe Sarachan suddenly turned Andy Williams and Orlando Perez into long-range threats if you want, but I'm guessing the Fire just caught Meola on an off night.
I'm not sure how to take quotes from previous posts, but the following was said by Beowulf 'Perez has 1 goal, no assists. ' --- I think Perez got the assist on Williams goal on Saturday evening.
CHI - Orlando Perez 1 (unassisted) 53 CHI - Andy Williams 1 (unassisted) 65 CHI - Damani Ralph 1 (Andy Williams 1) 70 http://www.mlsnet.com/games/03/tracker.php?gamename=04262003_CHIKC&version=tracker
Since Sarachan has never been a head coach in the MLS, the only way well find out who is better is over the next few seasons. I think we made the right choice in going with a proven great coach. But I think Sarachan is going to be a real good one.
I don't know why so many people are amazed that the Fire can still play. Their lineup is still stacked. More importantly, Wolff and Nowak bare played over the past year and half. Realistically speaking, they were never on the team. The only loss is Dema, but I guess Williams goes in for him. Also, they get Armas back. Crucial in the center for that team. They also get a durable forward in Faria. Highlight the word durable. I'm not surprised that they are doing well. It's going to be a real tough race in teh east, with Columbus better then everyone else, and the other 4 teams chasing each other.
Although this thread is obviously just an attempt to get people riled, I'll point out that the Metros have played their first three games against the top two teams in MLS, the Galaxy and Columbus.
Your team is fortunate to have Bradley--he's a great coach. As for the argument that maybe Sarachan should have been hired, that's an unreasonable questions. 1. You needed a coach with the credibility to take on Sakiewicz. That wasn't Sarachan (a life-long assistant). If you'd hired Sarachan, you'd probably still have Andy Williams as your A-mid. You might have made the deal with Hudson to trade the second pick in the draft (Ricardo Clark) for the rest of United's picks (b/c you had so many holes to fill). And clearly you're better off having taken Clark and going with Guevara. 2. Sarachan inherited a lot of talent. Bradley did not. Sarachan/Wilt faced a cap challenge and had to dump players but most of them were either minor contributors (Daniv) or guys who didn't play much last year. Chicago has little depth but has a solid first 11 players. On the otherhand, the Metros roster pretty much had to be redone. I actually think the Metros will have more tough times this year (depth could be better and so on) but separate from whether you agree with that opinion or not, Bradley has made wise choices. 3. The Metros are still coming together as a team, missed Guevara at the begining and have been good defensively and not so good on attack. But that will change. Chicago completely bunkered against DCU, I believe they tied NE at home despite a man advantage, and trailed by 2 against KC only to win on 3 long bombs (they still count as goals but that ain't an offense when you count on scoring by blasting away from outside). I think the real test for Sarachan will be next year. At that point, we'll see how much his youngsters have improved (if at all) and he'll put his imprint on the roster. Right now, much of that team is still Bob Bradley's Bunch (Thornton, Curtin, Brown, Whitfield, Bocanegra, Armas, Marsch, Razov, DMB).
'Twelve minutes later Perez played in integral part in midfielder Andy Williams’ equalizing goal when he threaded a pass through two defenders that found Williams, who turned from 20 yards out a slotted a shot past Meola to tie the match. ' The preceding is from the announcement on the chicago fire official website announcing that Perez was named MLS Player of the Week. Don't mean to beat a dead horse...but it's difficult to believe that MLS official scorers didn't award Perez an official assist on the Williamas goal. I've watched the goal 5 or so times on video and he had THE pass leading to the goal...wierd.
Re: Re: Chicago Fire Undefeated Without Bradley There's obviously a conflict here. This is from the Fire site: Also, this is from the same site that Beowulf posted: Perez mentioned himself about getting his first three points that night. After watching the goal, I think the assist was there.
From Soccer America's e-mail newsletter: "New guidelines have been drawn up to limit assists, both secondary and primary, to 'the player(s) whose pass(es) contribute significantly and directly to the scoring of a goal or the creation or development of the scoring sequence. An assist shall only be awarded when it is determined that the passes involved in any scoring sequence required a reasonable amount of skill, vision and accuracy...' "Orlando Perez was originally given an assist for a short ball to Andy Williams, who then burst past defender Nick Garcia and drilled a low shot into the net from outside the penalty area. MLS determined that by veering past Garcia, Williams changed the flow of the play and thus created the opportunity on his own. Decision: unassisted goal."
Haig that was very good, thank you for posting that. I belive the Metros management made a great choice in hiring Bradley, it was a steal. On a rare occasion i have to congratulate them on a good move. Maybe the new ownership has something to do with it.
Their coach knew a good player when he saw one available meaning Andy Williams. People on this board can't see a good player. Players you can win with are quick, have a good touch, and have some field vision. He has even more qualities then that. Yeah I know Metros could not keep him because of the salery cap Give him the league minium and give him a bullshiite job for another 80 thousand with a company that is connected to the club in a silent way. Does he care who gives him the money? He just cares about the money. I guess I just see things in a simple way. I don't like complicated, and I definately don't like people giving me reasons why we can't do something. Those people you don't need. I just like people who get things done.
Anybody know how much money Bradley gets? We seem to pay good coaches a half a mil a year. No salary cap on coaches with us evidently.
Wow, the quest for senility continues, eh? If you think the following words: "quick, have a good touch, and have some field vision" describe Andy Williams, then you are crazy. Andy never was a true number ten, he held onto the ball way to long and rarely played a solid, crisp pass. He always starts off well for a team and then quickly wears out his welcome. Gueverra is a much better player then Williams, more versatile, more unselfish. At this point, I think Richie is just making adverse points on these boards for shites and giggles.
No I am not crazy and I know what to look for in players. He can also beat people one on one at times. I scouted players for all levels of play. I look for quickness, touch and vision. Those qualities get a player anotgher look. He has all that I am amazed you can't see it. Gueverra is a very good player he has some of this. His main thing that I see is he seems to be very hard to disposess. Very hard to take the ball away from him. Do you realize that Valderama was very hard to take the ball away from did you ever notice that? Does it matter that Gueverra is better then Williams. Have both guys you have a better team. Even if he does not start you have depth which is something we do not have, and it is something that you need to win championships. Throw him out on the flank he would have helped us, put him in the middle he would have helped us at times. What are we looking to do? We are looking to win championships and play well doing it.
Thanks for the revised 'assist' info Haig. Although I agree with the new way of evaluating an assist, it seems to lessen the value of all previous assist statistics, at least in my mind.