Crew must win, or the Metros miss the playoffs. Crew tie tomorrow, Fire and Metros are tied for 8th on the table, and Fire advance on head-to-head. Crew loss tomorrow, Fire jump Metros for 8th place.
go fire. the metros don't deserve it. This will cause them to make changes that need to be made. Like OZ gone along with a few others. This team had the biggest chances to secure their spot in the play-offs and blew all three. Its like they didn't even try to win these games, like they wanted to lose
This Metros team is a disgrace! I hope Chicago beats the Crew today. The Metros need a total makeover, starting w/ a new coach. Also I think Petke would be good trade bait. The only players I would definatley keep are 1)Andy Williams 2)Steve Jolley 3)Nelson Akwari 4)Brad Davis. Even Clint Mathis should be ashamed, his work ethic is not what it was when he emerged as America's best strike two years ago. Mathis seems complacent to hang around the box and wait for a perfect ball. With Ramos gone we can afford a quality international defender in place of Petke( And I don't mean another Colombian). The Metros best interest is served by missing the playoffs, afterall what does a 2 game sweep by LA or SanJose accomplish anyway?
No. I was at the match with among one of the largest group of supporters to hit the road. It was clear to me the players cared about the match, but it was equally clear they were not up to the challenge. We had the chances to score, but couldn't produce. Shots were just off target, timing was off a hair, and by the second half it was clear the players would do whatever they could to keep Grafer away from the ball. In situations where they would have passed to Timmy, they looked for other options. We all wondered why Davis and Akwari didn't start. Bad enough not having Clint and Timmy, but we still didn't field what could have been our strongest lineup based on what we've seen in the last month. The goals got passed Grafer by mere inches, but he was pretty shaky on the ball all night. Timmy might have stopped both the pk and the second goal, and that would have changed the game completely. Too often we relied on long balls over the midfield, trying to reach Diallo and Faria. This tactic became predictable and no problem of the Revs. Was this according to OZ or did the players just resort to this because they couldn't handel the Rev's pressure in midfield? The level of play in the league might have passed the abilities of a number of our players this season. I'm sure they cared about the game and the result, but if you aren't up to the level of play that doesn't solve the problem.
If the Crew win or tie, we're playing LA--we get creamed and OZ gets dumped. If the Crew lose, we start the offseason a week earlier, avoid a home match on a baseball diamond, and OZ gets dumped.
http://www.mlsnet.com/special/mlscup/02/media/playoff_scenarios.pdf Check the link above - if the Crew/Fire tie ... Fire end up tied with the Metros for 8th place ... and the Fire hold the first tiebreaker (head to head 3-1-0 this year vs the Metros). Sounds like any way this goes, Oz gets dumped and that may NOT be a bad thing
The only reason I'm rooting for a Columbus win tomorrow... ...is so we get the one game in Newark. If we were still going to be at Giants Stadiun for the playoffs I would just want the season to end, but I want a playoff run just because I enjoy the concept of not having to trek all the way out to the Swamp for a game...
35' Still 0-0 A tie benefits both teams. Columbus would win the East and Chicago would be in as #8 seed. Metros, of course, would be out.
Chicago DOES have the run of play. Consistent pressure on the Crew third of the field, Busch has been strong back there (save on his goalline off a freekick), but Crew out of sync offensively.
Yea...sounded like "Fist the Busch" made 4-5 superhuman saves in a row. Then again that's a hometown announcer
That's also Chicago's luck lately: hitting the posts and giving up the late goal. We'll see if that holds or if they just play for the tie.
Busch has been very strong in goal for the Crew. The only reason they are tied at the half right now.
Just a note, I think the Chicago radio station is much better than the one from Columbus. http://www.radioshoppingshow.com/wbig1280/sports/sportsFire.cgi
That's b/c the normal PBP radio guy (Dwight Burgess) is doing the local TV telecast today, with <shudder> Bill McDermott doing color commentary. The backup guy isn't nearly as good as Burgess.
"oh man...what are they doing...someone has to get those streamers and ballons of the field. This is rediculous. Why isn't anyone getting those off the field!" "And an interesting thing here in Chicago, the clock counts up. We'll see how that works out...won't we.