Crew v. Fire

Discussion in 'Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International' started by HatterDon, Apr 27, 2009.

  1. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2006
    Location:
    Peoples Republic of South Texas
    Well, I finally managed to get an entire MLS match in this weekend. My DVR worked and I caught the entire match. A couple of observations:

    1. How can it be that Schelotto only got 10 caps from Argentina? I mean, I know he's a little guy and he's not the fastest out there, but he has a football brain I'd compare with Bobby Moore and an elegance that's obvious in every touch he makes. I almost think that Franek or even I could convert one of those amazing 40 yard curlers into a goal. What a player!

    2. Is this the same Fire goalkeeper that so impressed me during the playoffs last year? If so, someone should see if his brain is draining. The Crew's second goal should never ever have happened. Props to Moreno for pressing the issue, but ... really.

    3. I really like the kid, Banner, who came on in the 2nd half and completely raised the Fire from the dead. Any chance of him getting a shot with the USMNT? I know he's 25 or something, but he's got pace and ball skills, and a nice left foot.

    4. I firmly believe that Crew Stadium has the best soccer atmosphere anywhere in the Lower 48. The Nordecke loonies were very entertaining -- okay, not so much to Blanco, but ... .

    5. The sending off was completely justified. Blanco is a flopper of ginormous proportions, but the guy came into him with ALL studs up. I'd have red-carded him also.

    6. McBride -- I am still amazed at his ability to (a) create so much space for himself while simultaneously (b) create so much space for his teammates. It is that ability, not his scoring prowess or even his courage that makes him the brilliant player that he is. Having said that, his goal was vintage Brian McBride. If anyone can post a link to that goal, I think everyone on the site would appreciate it.

    7. The [seriously crap] FSC announcers made reference to some sort of contretemps in the second half between the two captains. Neither seems the confrontational type. Any information on what this was all about?

    8. If possible, I'll not miss any other Crew/Fire meetings this season. Just being able to watch GBS and SuperMac in the same match is worth the time investment.

    I'm certain that The Crew will overcome their inability to put games away before the season gets too old. They have a talented side with a good CB pairing -- forget the fact that McBride scored; they shut him down for large stretches of the match -- and the best midfield creative force in the league.

    As for the Fire, once their coach slaps Busch upside his head, he'll be fine. Blanco and McBride are made for each other, and Thorrington is like a slightly younger version of Hejduk -- constantly in motion, 80% in control, and a serious pain in the ass to play against.

    Good value, all in all. Not to the level of the Prem, but a good example of the product the league can present. There was plenty of talent on display, tons of end-to-end action, some breathtaking passing, some exquisite finishing, and some head-scratching stupidity. All played in an intense atmosphere in front of knowledgable fans who were sportingly biased. In other words, it was a great soccer match.

    Hope somebody from this board went out to see it in person.

    Thanks, MLS, GBS, and McGod
     
    #1
    HatterDon, Apr 27, 2009
  2. WhitesBhoy

    WhitesBhoy Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2008
    Location:
    The Beach, For Now
    McBride and Blanco are probably doing more to improve U.S. / Mexico relations than anything since NAFTA.

    McBride in 2010!!
     
    #2
    WhitesBhoy, Apr 27, 2009
  3. Flamingcokecans

    Flamingcokecans New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2008
    Location:
    Clemson, SC
    Game highlights courtesy Mlsnet.com

    Link
     
    #3
    Flamingcokecans, Apr 27, 2009
  4. FulhamAg

    FulhamAg New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2008
    Location:
    San Antonio, Texas
    I watched this one for a good stretch and enjoyed it. More of this and I could get into MLS. Awesome comeback by Chicago. However, as Don stated above, the announcers are absolute drek.

    I'm not big on the fans throwing crap at the opposing player on corners either. I don't notice this in other matches, but seems very bush to me and not indicative of "the best fans in MLS" as the announcers proclaimed them (while it was going on).

    Columbus fans otherwise seemed into it. Feels wrong for there to be no fans behind the goal....even moreso when replaced by cheerleaders on a stage.
     
    #4
    FulhamAg, Apr 27, 2009
  5. andypalmer

    andypalmer Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2007
    Location:
    Baltimore, MD
    I think Qwest field may have an argument for best soccer atmosphere in the lower 48 - of course, having twice the fans helps.
     
    #5
    andypalmer, Apr 28, 2009
  6. pettyfog

    pettyfog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2005
    Few things;

    Another game I missed. Went to Columbus Sat morn with full intentions of going but ended up mowing three large apt building lawns with a 22" push mower. First time in 5 years I'd done that. I'm a geezer and I had no idea what cramping effects I'd get.. so sue me.

    * The stage was at least a part of creating what has become Nordecke. It may seem strange to say it but just think squeezing fans into a critical mass. When they were dispersed along the entire north end, there wasnt the same coherence.

    * I have no doubt that Qwest is -stadium wide- more electric than Crew Stadium or even BMO. What is key is the resurgence of Crew mania.

    * Throwing things is bush league. dont confuse that with streamers though, just saying.

    * I'm tired of hearing about whatever networks yank announcers being dreck. We all have our favorites and/but no one can seem to agree on who's good and who isnt.
    I'm not enamored of 'furrin' announcers just because of their charming accents. Some of them are good and some are also dreck. Take Ray Hudson and give him a midwestern accent and you'd have some calling for his head.
    Also, what is the prime requisite for a professional sports announcer? To be able to speak without hitch, hem, haw or stutter. What makes one think their CONTENT would necessarily be less full of holes than anyone elses?

    Think about this, though. The summary view of the game announcers was the same as on here. That the Crew - fire game would encourage any casual viewer to want more like it.

    * The Padula card: poor guy is suffering confidence problems, previous game had screwed up resulting in goal, and that wont help.
    Definitely a yellow, though, if it had been against a squad midfielder. Guilt of studs up assault on a DP, never mind a flopping DP. OTOH I would point out that GBS and Ale Moreno {UNSUNG hero of Crew} hit the turf with some frequency.

    All in all, The Crew is back... that's the way they were playing last year and if they can hold their psych together for the next few games we may see yet another gripping story about the Big Yellow Machine.

    As of now, though, the Fire is without a doubt the best team in MLS.

    PS: Why has no one mentioned Marshall being arm lassoed and thrown down in the box?
     
    #6
    pettyfog, Apr 28, 2009
  7. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2006
    Location:
    Peoples Republic of South Texas
    Good points all, 'fog. As to the announcing. Someone who doesn't shout loud enough to wake my next door neighbors anytime someone approaches the penalty area would be fine. The pair were okay apart from that. It's an FSC thing that you have to overpronounce latin names and scream 25 times a match.

    Can you fix the link posted earlier so we can see everything at the same time width-wise?
     
    #7
    HatterDon, Apr 28, 2009
  8. pettyfog

    pettyfog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2005
    Interesting development

    - there's more.

    I dont think anything's going to change because of that, of course.

    Unless, as one guy said on the Crew BS board, they review the whole game and 'give Marshall a 3 game suspension for being thrown down, and fine Warzycha.'
     
    #8
    pettyfog, Apr 29, 2009
  9. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2006
    Location:
    Peoples Republic of South Texas
    Padula deserved a straight red, 'fog. Both feet in, all studs up. The guy is a useful player, but he was out of control on Saturday.
     
    #9
    HatterDon, Apr 29, 2009
  10. BarryP

    BarryP New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2007
    Location:
    Evansville, Indiana
    Don you are WRONG and the call was WRONG. This was a yellow at best and nothing more. Padula never left his feet. His right foot stayed on the ground and he lifted his left foot high going for the ball but I will grant that the left was studs up. Blanco ran into Padula's leg somewhere around the calf. There we so little contact that Padula standing on one foot did not even fall down. A yellow for the studs up dangerous play with the left foot was warranted but there was nothing reckless or intentional about the foul.
     
    #10
    BarryP, Apr 29, 2009
  11. andypalmer

    andypalmer Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2007
    Location:
    Baltimore, MD
    I have to agree with BarryP on this one, though at the time, I thought it was MLS's deliberate effort to send a message about protecting the DPs.
     
    #11
    andypalmer, Apr 29, 2009
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