Any lipreaders out there who could gather what it was Bob Bradley was muttering after that play? I think it would have been great if he'd gotten a Yellow Card (or Joe Cannon's take down of DMB earlier) in the All-Star Game.
I never watched an All-Star Game that was so frustrating to watch. It definitely improved in the second half and seemed like everyone had a good times though. Some thoughts: POPE, CRACK A SMILE! DEMA SHOULD HAVE GOT A RED CARD! EL DIABLO RULES!
Yeah, he couldn't believe that one either. It would have been nice to see how many more guys DMB got around if it weren't for Dema's slide tackle FROM BEHIND.
go to yahoo sports and click on the photos in the mls section. nice pic of bocanegra kneeing mcbride in the back
Well, I guess we all know why Chicago always has injury problems now -- Dema hacks them all in practice. If he had done that to someone from another team, I'd have said he was a cheater. Since he did it to his most talented teammate, I'll now say he's just freaking insane.
Ruiz and Twellman got raw deals. They were the 2 voted in by the players, fans, coaches, and media... yet they played under 30 minutes (of which a third was in sweltering heat, a third in a torrential dowpour, and a third on an absolutely soaked field) while Kreis and Graziani got full 45s. Kreis and Graz should've waited till about 60' to come in, or should've been removed with 10 minutes to go. You can say it doesn't matter, and granted it was a difficult situation to handle, but I believe those 2 players deserved greater respect and recognition for their phenominal seasons.
Graziani was terrible. His usual complaining, hand gestures, and laziness were even noticeable in an All-Star Game. Would have much rather seen more of Twellman and I think everyone would agree.
A couple thoughts: 1) Yes, Dema is an idiot. In a perverse way though, I enjoyed the DMB tackle in that, compared with the last few All-Star games-Somebody cared. I'll take this year, even if the whole game was like the 1st half, over last year's farce. 2)Paulina Rubio. Craptacular. 3) It's a shame that players like Maissoneuve and Burns got more field time than Twellman and Ruiz. 4)Next year, find a relatively open spot on the calendar (not too close to Euro and Mexico seasons) and bring in a national team to play the MLS players. MLS vs. Costa Rica, or Uruguay, S. Korea, Scotland whoever. Or MLS vs a MFL all-star team. Something where the game is competitive. Anything but another 7-6 type game.
Caption: Unlike his Fire teammate Dema Kovalenko, Bocanegra knows who is and isn't on his MLS club team.
riiiiight. A national team that's played together before who know how many times vs. a MLS all-star team who's been together for 48 hours. good one.
After watching the second half, I now understand why New England won't make the playoffs, despite having the MLS Leading Scorer.
I loved that too. Way to make the point on National tv that sports shouldn't be played on fake grass. Good work josh!
Fair enough Kebzach. My point was that the East-West games have been nigh unto unwatchable. I'm not saying bring in Brazil. An MFL or K-League 11, given that next year is in LA. Anyway, the MLS team would be made up of a lot of Nat. Pool players (Donovan, McBride, Beasley, Pope, Maestroenni, Bocanegra, Ralston, Klein, Agoos, Wolff + Mathis if healthy, etc... this year) in any given year, as the MLS seems to want to focus on the young American player. Misguided perhaps, but I'll take that over the San Jose sports bra farce of 01.
What?? If you're basis is skill rather than respect then Deering, Cobi, or Burns, but Maissoneuve? Maissoneuve has steadily improved over the last year and a half. And he was on today as well. I agree with most here that the subs shouldn't have come on until after 45mins. If they end up getting only 15mins, tough.
One thing I'd forgotten, that would make today's format work better is that next year, they could hold the game earlier, and have a real shot at getting some of the foreign based players involved. If that were possible, it would make for a pretty decent game (throw in Casey, Gibbs, Gooch, Cherundolo, Vanney(maybe even O'Brien or a GK?)-drop Burns, Deering, etc). When is the Confed. and Gold Cups? Strategically placed, the match could actually be fun, competitive, and useful (fighting for spots for imminent tourney rather than vaguely "Catching Bruce's eye".).