Fire 4 - Colorado 3 San Jose 0 - LA Galaxy 3 Fire take the Supporter's shield for the first time and are well on the way for the first triple in MLS! Damn what a year we are having!
Way to go Chicago! Quite an accomplishment for a team that was supposed to be at the bottom this year. I used to think a lot of our magic came from Bradley. Turns out our magic comes from just being the Fire!
Re: Who's the best? 3 trophies if you count whatever it was that they were passing around in Section 8 tonight. QUADRUPLE!!!
WHAT A YEAR- WHAT A TEAM! Who would've thunk?! So happy I could burst , this sooo makes up for the past few weeks of being a stressed out geeked Cubs fan! SOMBODY'S to bring the hardware home to Chicago! Glad it was the the team I love above all others! Treble, fo sure. No to mention the dawning of a new era of Chicago winning dynasty! Go Fire!!
Oh yes, this season has been great. Need to finish it up with the MLS Cup Championship. The regular season will be a waste if the job is not complete. I just don't get excited about regular season accomplishments as much.
I hope so too, but I'm glad MLS is recognizing the Shield, because we've been the best over 30 games (not 4), and that deserves some recognition. The way this team fought for the win last night, I think we've got something special.
Congrats to the Fire . I know neither the USOC nor the Shield is as prestigious as winning MLS Cup but winning a trophy is ALWAYS special and winning two at the same time validates the other in the sense that it underscores how much class your side has. Watching the Fire from afar, I really think Sarachan deserves a lot of credit. He seems to have the right touch with these players in terms of being positive and firm and he seems perpetually upbeat and I think the team responds to that and respects him greatly. It's hard to see how he doesn't win MLS Coach of the Year. Finally, a question: You've won two trophies, the clubs first in three years. But if, somehow, you don't win MLS Cup, will this be considered a good or bad year? For the record, I think the Fire are the favorites for MLS Cup heading into the playoffs but we all know being the favorite doesn't always matter.
The Pontiac in hand! Someone explain to me how we won the Pontiac? Both Chicago and San Jose have one more match to play. If we lose and San Jose win next week we'll be even on points, 53-53. Team GP W L T Pts GFGA +/- San Jose 29 14 7 8 50 44 34 10 Chicago 29 15 6 8 53 51 37 14 What's the tie break? Goal Difference?
Re: The Pontiac in hand! They take a look at who won the series between the two teams. We won one and tied two, so we get it. There's a link somwhere on this board explaining it more.
Re: The Pontiac in hand! our record against them this season. if that were to be equal, than i believe it's goal differential.
Supporters Shield is the TOP! Compared to EPL, winning the league is everything. Winning MLS Cup compares to Worthington Cup at best or perhaps pre-season Charity Shield. USOC Cup = FA Cup. On this scale, MLS Cup is the least prestigious of the awards representing the fewest teams and the shortest schedule, unencumbered by other matches.
Re: The Pontiac in hand! From MLSnet: TEAM-STANDINGS TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES The team awarded the highest position in the MLS standings will be the team with the greatest number of points as determined by the point system. Ties will be broken according to the following system (NOTE: If two clubs remain tied after first club advances during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format): 1) The highest position shall be awarded to the team with the better win/loss record in current regular season games against all other teams equal in points. (head-to-head competition) 2) If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the greater goal difference against all other teams during the regular season. (goal differential) 3) If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team scoring the greatest number of total goals against all other teams during the regular season. (total goals) 4) If the teams are still equal in the standings, the procedures described in this section shall be applied only to games played on the road by each team against all other teams during the regular season. (road 1-3) 5) If the teams are still equal in the standings, the procedures described in this section shall be applied only to games played at home by each team against all other teams during the regular season. (home 1-3) 6) If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the fewest team disciplinary points during the regular season. 6) If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position in the standings shall be determined by the toss of a coin. And even if the universe were to somehow revert so that the Fire and SJ were tied in head to head, since we were tied before last night with SJ at 13 goal differential and are now 4 goals ahead, we're the big winners on this one as well unless SJ gets 5 in the net next week and we don't get any.
With the Open Cup win I have to say that this has been a fantastic year. The Supporter's Shield now takes it up a notch. MLS Cup would put the spring in my step like no other, but even if we get there (Conference Championship is a nice one to win too...) and even if we lose, this has been a banner year for myself and the Fire. That said, gimmie that thing! I think there is a good chance to take it all.
Well, as it is, we're the only team in MLS history to win the US Open Cup and the SS in the same year. This speaks volumes to the team's depth and determination. The fact that they could consistently outperform the rest of the league over a 30 game season AND deal successfully with the pressure of a single elimination tournament is astounding. All of this, in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. I would say that yes, this has been very good year.
Short term it would be a big dissapointment but in the long term I would appreciate all the achievments that this team enjoyed despite all the gloom and doom the so called experts were predicting about this club. Right now, though, the MLS Cup would be the topper.
Got to have the MLS Cup. It's been a great year no doubt. However, it won't be complete without the MLS Cup. Ask the Atlanta Braves what's it like just to do well in the regular season.