The season is winding down rapidly, probably not rapidly enough for most of us. After the Dave Baldwin special, which went so well last week, the Fire continue their homestand with a rematch of the 1998 MLS Cup (No, I can't let go. Really, it's all we have now) As stated, the Bears play on Sunday, so the game has been moved to the suburbs. Nothing like being the bastard children of Soldier Field. The Fire and DC United, two once great franchises that have fallen...hard. DC United are 11th in the East, tied with Atlanta, but out of playoff content because of some "tie breaker" nonsense. The Fire, of course, are sitting comfortably at the bottom of the East, tied with Nashville (yes, even New England, despite two games in hand, are above us now), but not dead last due to either goals scored or goal differential, don't remember (and don't care to look up) which one. DC United are led by long time EPL (which sucks) player and lifetime Belgian Christian Benteke. He currently tops the goal scoring race with 17 goals from only 23 matches (less than 2000 minutes played0. He also had 5 assists. Most surprisingly, he has 17 goals from only 33 shots on target, which is a damned good strike rate. He has 17 of DC United's 41 goals scored. Next up are slew of player with 3 goals. The moral to the story, stop Benteke and you will likely stop DC United. DC United's defense is WORSE than the Fire's, which is astounding. They have given up a whopping 55 goals from their 27 matches (third worst in the league). They have a -14 Goal differential, on par with the Fire's -15, after last week's debacle. Will we be able to add to those stats? Probably, one way or another. Frankly, other than Benteke, I don't even know who is on DC United these days and, considering how bad they are, it seems like they don't know, either. That's right, their other Designated Player is former Polish international Mateusz Klich. Why can't we get a Polish international these days? They are supported by Chilian Martin Rodriguez and Colombian forward Cristian Dájome. Driving the offense is Jared Stroud, who has 10 assists on the season. In weird MLS roster rules, he is 28 and has been an MLS player for five years but is on the "Supplemental" roster. There is so much going on this weekend I wonder how many people will make the trip to Bridgeview on Saturday. Of course, because the Fire cannot do anything normal, the top announcement on the Fire's ticket page is about the New York Red Bulls match on the 14th and not this match. After clicking "I agree" to something with Ticketmaster (that will probably come back to bite me in the ass), there appear to be quite a few seats available from the Fire, not to mention tickets on the secondary market. Somebody has decided to sell four tickets in section 209, Row 3 for $1,500.00 apiece. Hey, is Messi playing in the match? Seats a row in front of those can be had for 20 bucks. So, what's going to happen? Sadly for some, we don't have a defender who would be able to "take out" Benteke, or even mark him. That said, a concerted effort by the team will stop him and the Fire WILL WIN THE MATCH 3-1 Fire. (or not, who really cares, anymore?)
Are we the only team that plays in an NFL stadium that gets kicked out because of a football team? I don't think Atlanta or Seattle does but it may be do to having real grass rather than turf.
We are. Then again, those teams are owned by the NFL squads, who own the stadiums. The Bears don't even like the stadium they rent, but they have all the juice. Fire=Red-Headed stepchild.
I’ll be at the Evanston Folk Music Festival with what I can only imagine will be a bunch of middle aged hippies. I was at the Messi game already- I thought the season was over?
Let's go Fire! (trying to come up with some enthusiasm) I picked my better half at O'Hare last night and we are Chicago today, but skipping the match. That sums up my level of enthusiasm at the moment. On the other hand, we are also skipping Peter Hook at the Riveria tonight, so maybe I have no enthusiasm at all.
Like f***s, one's life has a limited number of enthusiams to give and they're running down too fast to waste.
Yep, heading to dinner with friends and the drinks with more friends. I'll try to catch some of the match in between.
At times more and more lately I find myself, as the Jethro Tull song goes, Living in the Past. As such, I am taking myself back to 1998 this evening. Go Fire and DC ya later, or whatever we chanted in the day.
My kids are both away at college and my wife is on a girls trip... Guess I'll go to this (very winnable) game, at a soccer specific stadium, on a beautiful night
I see the Fire still haven’t figured out how to play out of the back or win the second ball when they go direct. Acosta and Gimenez are so deep that Cuypers and MHS are on an island.
********ing Shaqiri floating out on the wing blocking the overlapping runs and confusing Guti. ********!
Maybe the Fire should move to a 3-5-2. Sub out Souquet for Barlow, push MHS to the right wing where he belongs. Slide Guti in the middle with Gutman pushed forward.
I forgot how good the games are here. I am close enough to spit at a player. Pete (is also tempted to)