Pre/PostMatch: Toms MLS team plays at Mike's MLS team

Cute play on words!

Nick Benatti of Matchnight MetroEmpire

In fact too cute, so mine wont seem too gross...

Can Galvan Rey stay on the throne... or will his butt go to sleep like mine does?

Will Youra Jerkoff {sic} continue to seamlessly integrate.. or will he disappear completely, like Matteus, leaving little but random DNA to show he ever was there?

This game will tell us a lot. I'd, personally, rather continue to hate the Fire with all my passion while feeling sorry for the Mutts.. but hey, time moves on.
Maybe it will turn into a crap-tacular scoring melee, draw 4-4 or sump'n... and both Tom and Mike will be incented to come to Columbus and buy me a beer in the vain effort to console their host, (I'll supply the tickets} while their respective second teams beat the snot out of my poor Crew.

Yeah well, we will see..

 

RE: Preview: Toms MLS team plays at Mike

It will be a good game tonight. I think both teams are going to be inconsistent this season. That being said, you never know which Chicago Fire team will show up tonight at the Meadowlands.

I would like to think the one from last weekend will, but you never know. As for making a trip to Columbus, the only time I will be headed that way is when Fulham plays there on July 30th.

Not to say I do not like the Fire, but I am not quite as dedicated to the Fire as I probably should be. I will travel halfway around the world to see Fulham play, but I will not drive 5 hours to see the Fire play.

Petty, you have nothing to worry about this season. Your Crew will wax both the Metros and the Fire. You might be lifting the MLS Cup this season. Who knows though, it is a long season.

 

RE: Preview: Toms MLS team plays at Mike

Uh.. maybe .. except that we too have a problematic manager.. genius at recruiting (if he ignores Warzycha's suggestions)... but refuses to hire an offensive specialist assistant.

Last year we had, arguably, the best team in MLS but ego's (mainly Tony Sanneh who we unloaded to the Fire) shot us down in the playoffs.

This year we are missing the player's heart of the team (Oughton) and our best tracking mid (Paule). Neither will likely be back this season.

If we ever manage to learn how to finish, we'll kill 'em all... but that's been the complaint for the last 5 years.

 

Jacqua turned a ball handling mistake by the Metro's defender Jeff Parke into a 1v1 opportunity and a goal in the 29th...

I didnt get to see much of the game but the problem seemed to be in finishing... Thornton did well and seems to me to be back to his old form, including a semi-save of a PK in the opening minutes of the 2nd... he froze Guevara by showing him he saw the direction as Guevara's foot came forward and as Guevara adlusted furhter, his shot caromed off the pole.

Djorkaeff, from what I saw of him, may BE the real deal... he certainly made his presence known with a few sweet passes, and according to reports just missed on an overhead volley.

So, the only thing I could take away from the match was that neither team played as sloppily as the Crew has in their last couple games and only chance kept them from scoring.

 

I was pleased with the Fire getting three points on the road. I watched most of the game and while I think the Fire still have some work to do, but the obvious improvement in Nate Jaqua has helped the attack this season.

Like I said last week, Thiago, Caballero and the other new guy have helped this team a lot. It will be interesting to see how the team plays on Wednesday night against the Revs. I will be there for that and the match after featuring Poland and Mexico. Go Poland!!!