MLS #11 :: @ Chivas USA [R], Thr. May 28th - 9:30p CDT Options

[Mikebsiu]

Great adjustments from Hamlett, and urgency on behalf of the fire. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Nyarko.

[Huck1eberry]

Those balls fly different in the air. Van der Sar was having problems with that during the final. Replaces one problem with another.

I don't think replacing a ball for one game, or even mid-year is a good thing. People need time to get used to the feel of a ball. They need time to get used to the fly of the ball.

[Detlef, Esq.]

seeing Hamlett get into it with Kljestan (and caught on ESPN!) was all worth it. Well, that and watching Preki yell at the ref afterwards.

Busch has still been a disappointment to me.

Conde is the man.

[Chicano Fire]

Just saw the game again....and most of us should stick our foot up our mouths (with Pappa out and Mapp in..and not subbing blanco). Last 30 minutes Blanco was good. Dare I say Mapp played like what he promised three years ago. Conde=animal. Nyarko is good, just needs to not be scared of Thornton.

[bahns82]

Just saw the game again....and most of us should stick our foot up our mouths (with Pappa out and Mapp in..and not subbing blanco). Last 30 minutes Blanco was good. Dare I say Mapp played like what he promised three years ago. Conde=animal. Nyarko is good, just needs to not be scared of Thornton.

I completely agree with this. Brilliant choices by Hamlett. They may not have directly won us in the game, but they definitely put us in a position to do so. And, yes, how refreshing was it to see Mapp back in the house?

[fireloco98]

Nyarko is good, just needs to not be scared of Thornton.

He's just a snack for Thornton ....

[scottie]

for the first time this season, this team played with urgency last night. you could really tell they wanted to win it and were going to win it. in the last 20 minutes everything and everyone clicked on the fire side. now if we can just play with that kind of urgency and determination on a regular basis, the sky is the limit.

[radmonkey]

This match was just wow.. I doubted a win after about the 85th but yet again look what we did in Cowlumbus came away with a point basically within a minute of a half of each other.
That PK in injury time put a great taste in my mouth we came off of this road trip with 9 points. But that Nagamura shot could have been stopped, yet again wet surface=weird spins.
In my opinion the MLS should use those new balls, that was used in the UCL final for wet surfaces, preventing chances that shouldn't be goals.

That new ball, is the current MLS ball. I think, with the dimples, they were still using the 1st teamgeist with the smooth surface in the CL. Not sure though.


Anyway, good game and I ended watching at a friends house who isn't a huge MLS fan if at all. But he enjoyed the game. I was calling for Blanco to be pulled out before Marsch got his 2nd yellow. But afterward, I can see why Hamlett kept him, without Jesse on his nuts, he had more space to his thing. Actually, we were joking when we saw McBride go down "PK!", sarcastically and couldn't believe the ref actually called it.

[m311ton]

for the first time this season, this team played with urgency last night. you could really tell they wanted to win it and were going to win it. in the last 20 minutes everything and everyone clicked on the fire side. now if we can just play with that kind of urgency and determination on a regular basis, the sky is the limit.

I was hoping this game would light a fire under the players. (I need a better cliche, lighting a fire is too confusing isn't it?) I think this game woke them up, gave them some confidence, and now I expect to see the team play with some swagger. This might be what we needed to really get this season on a more consistent winning track.

[dpm]

OH MY GOD the thread about this game on Ives' site is out of hand. Apparently even though Andy & the FO can't sell out home games they can buy off MLS refs. I'm banned from posting there ( ) but could someone please please go post a link to this picture?

[FIRExNECK]

Highlights.

EDIT:

Will do dpm.

[scottie]

OH MY GOD the thread about this game on Ives' site is out of hand. Apparently even though Andy & the FO can't sell out home games they can buy off MLS refs. I'm banned from posting there ( ) but could someone please please go post a link to this picture?

The real question is did McBride sign the jersey before taking to Vaughn after the match?

Chicago is being gifted games, it's a joke.

Posted by: Clem | May 29, 2009 at 10:31 AM


Any word on whether Blanco gave out a jersey to the referee after the game.

Posted by: Will | May 29, 2009 at 10:32 AM


this one take the cake though:

Chicago match fixing needs to be investigated. Padula got red carded on a dive from Blanco the same game Blanco got caught buying off the refs. Last night, Chicago got two extremely soft PKS. Chicago match fixing is very real.



hahaha. what a bunch of whiners. apparently drawing 5 games in a row is being 'gifted' games. i wish someone would've clued me in on this. maybe i would've walked out of TP a happy camper the past 4 games instead of disgusted and shaking my head. 'gifted games' shut the fuck up.

[Chow]

Another gift for the Fire.

I wonder if Blanco gave Vaughn a jersey after this one as well?

Or maybe a check?

McBride had no chance, NO CHANCE, of getting to that ball. It must be part of the Chicago Fire Bailout Plan or something.

Between Chicago buying refs, Obama palling it up with terrorists, Burris pleading on his knees for a senate seat, and blago just disgracing himself, Illinois is full of corruption and shame.

At the very least, Major League Soccer needs to hire outside investigators to find out wether or not Chicago is buying refs. The icing on the cake is the jersey situation/padula red card. The two extremely soft pks also point to a needed investigation.

They arn't ment to be cracks. An investigation needs to be done. Chicago could be the next Juventus and get a tun of fines and points taken away the longer this goes on.

I will give you that the other two fouls you mentioned were terrible, but Harris' two-footed challenge was one of the cleanest tackles I have seen.

An investigation needs to be done. Either the refs need to quit and work at McDonalds because the have no reffing skills, or Chicago have been paying them off. One or the other. Or maybe both.

Even if Chicago manages to win something this year (which I doubt), it would probably be taken away anyway after an investigation (see Juventus).

[chicubfan]

Haha I love all the payoff conspiracies.

I interned in the FO for a little while and trust me they are so dumb had they payed off the refs they probably would have presented them one of those huge checks during halftime on the field.

[scottie]

"At the very least, Major League Soccer needs to hire outside investigators to find out wether or not Chicago is buying refs. The icing on the cake is the jersey situation/padula red card. The two extremely soft pks also point to a needed investigation."

AT THE VERY LEAST.