As a man who tries to tell the truth at least 80% of the time, I’m not going to lie to you: I turned off the Houston Dynamo’s romp over the Chicago Fire after Nate Jaqua scored. More than the tinges of paranoia telling me that Jaqua scoring some augurs the Apocalypse, I turned off the game because I knew the Fire had, at most, one goal in them against a defense as stout as Houston’s.
Naturally, this means I missed Joseph Ngwenya’s super-sharp goal - seriously, find the video on this one (easy to find from here); it’s worth the look (assuming you can find your way past the Wall of Beckham).
All y’all know by now that the Fire never scored: worse, the Dynamo added yet another goal after Ngwenya’s.
With the Dynamo on a run nothing short of ominous, the key talking point from this game concerns Chicago; specifically, the view I share with USSoccerplayers.com’s Ian Plenderleith that, “the Fire didn’t play too badly for the first hour.” That’s the take-away for me: the Fire aren’t doomed; here and there, flashes of a competent team show. For instance, MLSnet.com’s match report noted a slick back-heel from Thiago that freed Chris Armas in the area. I think "dead to rights" is overdoing it, but regardless as to whether Armas should have shot, he instead raced the end line with Chad Barrett shadowing him; in a move indicative of the disconnect between Fire players, Barrett took one seam while Armas, who pulled the ball back deeper than Barrett’s, took another. What looked like a near-certain goal fizzled to nothing....again.
The point is some decent parts are there for the Fire; someone only needs to connect them. Maybe this is Juan Carlos Osorio, maybe not. This isn’t to say the Fire can be made title contenders - I don’t think they’ve got the talent for that and their central midfield, with all due respect, is ancient - but they can become a respectable team before the season’s end.
And that should make some teams, particularly Eastern Conference teams, a little nervous.
(#########)
Showing posts with label Chris Armas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Armas. Show all posts
Sarachanned! (cont'd.)
I already posted my immediate reaction to the sacking of "Big" Dave Sarachan, but have come across some good stuff since then...just thought I'd share.
To begin, no commentary could be complete without checking in with The Chicago Fire Offside blog. Naturally, a good post appeared there and you'll find some real gems in the comments.
Elsewhere, Luis Arroyave throws in more quotes from Chris Armas, who was clearly unhappy with Sarachan being "relieved" of his duties. The money line in that collection:
Finally, Ives Galarcep weighed in as well and, I'm bound to admit, he framed the writing on the wall a little better than I did:
When I write about a "lack of sunshine on the horizon" that's what I'm getting at: even with the full squad that started the season, Chicago didn't look like much; they were too old in some places, too young in others.
Knowing Armas will retire after this season, I kind of feel for the guy - not least because he's definitely had his share of shitty luck. Anyway, your swan-song ought to be pretty...as opposed to the sound of the swan beind slowly strangled...
(#########)
To begin, no commentary could be complete without checking in with The Chicago Fire Offside blog. Naturally, a good post appeared there and you'll find some real gems in the comments.
Elsewhere, Luis Arroyave throws in more quotes from Chris Armas, who was clearly unhappy with Sarachan being "relieved" of his duties. The money line in that collection:
"Dave believed in the organization. He loved the players," Armas said. "As he goes, Jesse [Marsch] goes, and then we leave--what's left out there? Maybe a whole new team."
Finally, Ives Galarcep weighed in as well and, I'm bound to admit, he framed the writing on the wall a little better than I did:
"Chicago was respectable last season but instead of building on that the Fire has been mediocre and could be in danger of missing the playoffs."
When I write about a "lack of sunshine on the horizon" that's what I'm getting at: even with the full squad that started the season, Chicago didn't look like much; they were too old in some places, too young in others.
Knowing Armas will retire after this season, I kind of feel for the guy - not least because he's definitely had his share of shitty luck. Anyway, your swan-song ought to be pretty...as opposed to the sound of the swan beind slowly strangled...
(#########)
Why the Fire Doesn't Fire Sarachan
This is pure gut reaction, but I still thought I'd throw it out there.
In spite of the now four consecutive losses - with the latest coming last night against Red Bull New York - and in spite of being outscored over that period by (and I'm going by memory here) 11-3, firing Chicago Fire head coach Dave Sarachan only makes sense in terms of economics - e.g. having a good enough team that, when Blanco shows up, people won't be so turned-off that they'll come out for something other than the one-time novelty factor.
In terms of on-field performance, I'd say the Fire are better off letting Sarachan continue through the end of the year - the main reason being the team. Check out the line-up against Red Bull:
There's not much left over on the full roster either.
As much as I like many of the players - Mapp, Pickens, Ivan Guerrero, even Jim Curtin - that's about it in terms of names that impress (me, anyway). Armas is a good player, but, I'm taken with an argument by Biz Mark of US Soccer Snob on Chicago's problems:
In blunt terms, the Fire is simply too old up the middle; on one level, I'm a little surprised they're not the team "taking a run" at Shalrie Joseph. Top that off with an offense both relying on one man so far (Chris Rolfe, on whom I'm a bit lukewarm) and waiting on a savior (Blanco), this team has too many holes to fill on the fly and with the resources on hand. Also, if they did make the major - and I'd argue required - changes they'd surrender points during the process of getting everyone on the same page. Under that admittedly shy-of-air-tight logic, I'd say the Fire leaves Sarachan to make the most of what he can with this season and look to the overhaul on the off-season. Best-case, he pulls off another late-season run like he did last year and the Fire still make the playoffs - and, yes, he'd still get canned for anything short of MLS Cup.
The only question, in my mind, is the economic piece. Even if the results don't come, it's possible (even if unlikely) that replacing the coach will a few people back to see what happens. And, as noted above, the Fire sure as hell don't want to suffer an attendance/revenue slump knowing they threw all that money at Blanco. But that, to my mind, is only the counter-argument: if I ran the Fire, I'd take the short-term hit and return to building the franchise later.
(#########)
In spite of the now four consecutive losses - with the latest coming last night against Red Bull New York - and in spite of being outscored over that period by (and I'm going by memory here) 11-3, firing Chicago Fire head coach Dave Sarachan only makes sense in terms of economics - e.g. having a good enough team that, when Blanco shows up, people won't be so turned-off that they'll come out for something other than the one-time novelty factor.
In terms of on-field performance, I'd say the Fire are better off letting Sarachan continue through the end of the year - the main reason being the team. Check out the line-up against Red Bull:
Chicago Fire -- Matt Pickens, C.J. Brown, Jim Curtin (Thiago 70), Gonzalo Segares, Logan Pause, Chris Armas, Justin Mapp (William DeOlivera 80), Brian Plotkin (Pascal Bedrossian 63), Ivan Guerrero, Calen Carr, Chad Barrett.
Substitutes Not Used: Jon Busch, Jerson Monteiro, Bakary Soumare, Daniel Woolard
There's not much left over on the full roster either.
As much as I like many of the players - Mapp, Pickens, Ivan Guerrero, even Jim Curtin - that's about it in terms of names that impress (me, anyway). Armas is a good player, but, I'm taken with an argument by Biz Mark of US Soccer Snob on Chicago's problems:
"This match [Fire v. FC Dallas] revealed that the FIRE can no longer afford to play converted defenders such as Gonzalo Segares, Ivan Guererro and Robinson as midfielders and expect them to cover for an aging central defensive tandem of CJ Brown and Chris Armas. Armas in particular looks like he aged ten years in the off season."
In blunt terms, the Fire is simply too old up the middle; on one level, I'm a little surprised they're not the team "taking a run" at Shalrie Joseph. Top that off with an offense both relying on one man so far (Chris Rolfe, on whom I'm a bit lukewarm) and waiting on a savior (Blanco), this team has too many holes to fill on the fly and with the resources on hand. Also, if they did make the major - and I'd argue required - changes they'd surrender points during the process of getting everyone on the same page. Under that admittedly shy-of-air-tight logic, I'd say the Fire leaves Sarachan to make the most of what he can with this season and look to the overhaul on the off-season. Best-case, he pulls off another late-season run like he did last year and the Fire still make the playoffs - and, yes, he'd still get canned for anything short of MLS Cup.
The only question, in my mind, is the economic piece. Even if the results don't come, it's possible (even if unlikely) that replacing the coach will a few people back to see what happens. And, as noted above, the Fire sure as hell don't want to suffer an attendance/revenue slump knowing they threw all that money at Blanco. But that, to my mind, is only the counter-argument: if I ran the Fire, I'd take the short-term hit and return to building the franchise later.
(#########)
Armas over Cobi
If you're following Major League Soccer (MLS) closely enough, you probably know by now that the Chicago Fire's Chris Armas has said that 2007 will be his final season. I've always liked Armas as a player, not least because he's got to be one of the unluckiest s.o.b's on the planet (see: World Cup, 2002, 2006; injury). The way he's handling his retirement only makes me like him more.
As I've said before, I like Cobi fine and respect his contributions to the game, blah, blah, blah. But there's something - I dunno - self-important about announcing one's retirement a year in advance; there's a sense of determining his own significance in this, something like having the bride and groom go with you when you purchase their wedding gift. Then again, with so many people willing to roll with Cobi's plan, it's possible I've got a personal problem.
Anyway, this is more about props for Armas than bagging on Cobi. I read elsewhere that Armas wants to coach. Go get 'em, tiger.
(#######)
As I've said before, I like Cobi fine and respect his contributions to the game, blah, blah, blah. But there's something - I dunno - self-important about announcing one's retirement a year in advance; there's a sense of determining his own significance in this, something like having the bride and groom go with you when you purchase their wedding gift. Then again, with so many people willing to roll with Cobi's plan, it's possible I've got a personal problem.
Anyway, this is more about props for Armas than bagging on Cobi. I read elsewhere that Armas wants to coach. Go get 'em, tiger.
(#######)
Chicago Fire: 2007 Season Preview
(NOTE: A decision against being totally psychotic about research no doubt played a hand in making it easier to churn out these previews. I anticipate getting to one of these a day...allowing for the odd day off. That is all.)
Past
Before looking forward, it seems a good idea to look back, so here's a look at what some easily located items had to say about the Chicago Fire's 2006:
MLSnet.com: 2006 Season Wrap
MLSnet.com: Big Questions after '06
My Thoughts on Chicago's '06 (Know my biases)
Present
2006-07 Off-Season Changes
Soccer New England's Ins & Outs for (most) changes to the roster (listed alphabetically)
Roster
MLSnet.com's tardy listing; or the actual current roster from ChicagoLand Soccer
Now...The Future.
Key Men
Justin Mapp - Call him what you will - Clint Dempsey’s little brother, the one-man revival the Peter Tork cut - but he’s unquestionably the unsettling presence for Chicago’s offense. He had a great 2006, not to mention showing flashes for the U.S. men in early 2007, and, absent a key signing, he’ll have to carry still more of Chicago’s offense this year. Skills-wise, he’s up to it, but he has gone missing before.
C. J. Brown - One of the two most-hated players on the Fire - and that’s saying something - but, near as I can tell, Brown is the team’s leader in the back. He’s wicked smart and not a little dirty, but very effective.
Ivan Guerrero - Though he pushes for “most-hated” honors, especially among New England fans, I count this cat as one of the most under-rated offensive contributors in the league. He’s more than his numbers; he gets forward like gang-busters and pulls the opposition defense like taffy.
Liabilities
Forwards? - With Nate Jaqua and Andy Herron gone, there’s a very real question about who will score for the Fire. Calen Carr? Chad Barrett? Rookie Jerson Monteiro? Pencil in “maybe” for the first two and “doubtful” on Monteiro and that leaves a lot of work for Chris Rolfe. Soccer New England’s trade sheet mentions Ryan Coiner, but he’s not showing on any roster I can find. Between Rolfe, Mapp, and Guerrero they do have good mobility up top, but only one player possesses much by way of size (Barrett). After these few, though, there’s a clear shortage of proven quantities. If the Blanco thing fails to come together - or, failing that, an equally impressive deal, or, failing that, one of the new guys coming out of left-field - look for the Fire to stay in more games than they win.
Thin at ‘Keep - I like Matt Pickens; just think he’s a bang-up ‘keeper. But, after him, there’s just some 2nd-year ‘keeper named David Mahoney and a completely new guy named Nick Noble (great name, by the way). One or both might prove as much a happy surprise as Pickens proved to be...but would you want to count on that?
Unknowns
Central Midfield - Whether it’s going forward (Thiago) or having the legs to police the space in front of the back four (Chris Armas, Diego Gutierrez), I can’t believe Chicago will have the players to control the middle of the park. Brian Plotkin looked decent last year and I seem to remember some good things about Logan Pause, but they’re not of the same caliber as the two elder statesmen, not yet at least. I would have put the Armas/Gutierrez midfield pairing in the “liabilities” column had those two not proved me wrong - Armas, in particular - in the past. On the “going forward” side, I’ve seen two sides of Thiago: the raiding, pillaging midfielder and the guy you only notice when he fails to pass the damn ball. The Fire’s chances, and the size of the burden Justin Mapp must carry depends quite a bit on which version of Thiago shows up.
The Entire Draft Class - To be blunt about it, someone in this bunch of new players needs to pay off and not now, but right now.
Prospects in Gambling Analogies
Assuming nothing changes, Chicago off-season strategy amounts to standing pat on a 14 with the house showing a seven. Put another way, enough teams across the league improved that I can’t see these guys keeping up. I think they’ll miss the post-season this time around.
Past
Before looking forward, it seems a good idea to look back, so here's a look at what some easily located items had to say about the Chicago Fire's 2006:
MLSnet.com: 2006 Season Wrap
MLSnet.com: Big Questions after '06
My Thoughts on Chicago's '06 (Know my biases)
Present
2006-07 Off-Season Changes
Soccer New England's Ins & Outs for (most) changes to the roster (listed alphabetically)
Roster
MLSnet.com's tardy listing; or the actual current roster from ChicagoLand Soccer
Now...The Future.
Key Men
Justin Mapp - Call him what you will - Clint Dempsey’s little brother, the one-man revival the Peter Tork cut - but he’s unquestionably the unsettling presence for Chicago’s offense. He had a great 2006, not to mention showing flashes for the U.S. men in early 2007, and, absent a key signing, he’ll have to carry still more of Chicago’s offense this year. Skills-wise, he’s up to it, but he has gone missing before.
C. J. Brown - One of the two most-hated players on the Fire - and that’s saying something - but, near as I can tell, Brown is the team’s leader in the back. He’s wicked smart and not a little dirty, but very effective.
Ivan Guerrero - Though he pushes for “most-hated” honors, especially among New England fans, I count this cat as one of the most under-rated offensive contributors in the league. He’s more than his numbers; he gets forward like gang-busters and pulls the opposition defense like taffy.
Liabilities
Forwards? - With Nate Jaqua and Andy Herron gone, there’s a very real question about who will score for the Fire. Calen Carr? Chad Barrett? Rookie Jerson Monteiro? Pencil in “maybe” for the first two and “doubtful” on Monteiro and that leaves a lot of work for Chris Rolfe. Soccer New England’s trade sheet mentions Ryan Coiner, but he’s not showing on any roster I can find. Between Rolfe, Mapp, and Guerrero they do have good mobility up top, but only one player possesses much by way of size (Barrett). After these few, though, there’s a clear shortage of proven quantities. If the Blanco thing fails to come together - or, failing that, an equally impressive deal, or, failing that, one of the new guys coming out of left-field - look for the Fire to stay in more games than they win.
Thin at ‘Keep - I like Matt Pickens; just think he’s a bang-up ‘keeper. But, after him, there’s just some 2nd-year ‘keeper named David Mahoney and a completely new guy named Nick Noble (great name, by the way). One or both might prove as much a happy surprise as Pickens proved to be...but would you want to count on that?
Unknowns
Central Midfield - Whether it’s going forward (Thiago) or having the legs to police the space in front of the back four (Chris Armas, Diego Gutierrez), I can’t believe Chicago will have the players to control the middle of the park. Brian Plotkin looked decent last year and I seem to remember some good things about Logan Pause, but they’re not of the same caliber as the two elder statesmen, not yet at least. I would have put the Armas/Gutierrez midfield pairing in the “liabilities” column had those two not proved me wrong - Armas, in particular - in the past. On the “going forward” side, I’ve seen two sides of Thiago: the raiding, pillaging midfielder and the guy you only notice when he fails to pass the damn ball. The Fire’s chances, and the size of the burden Justin Mapp must carry depends quite a bit on which version of Thiago shows up.
The Entire Draft Class - To be blunt about it, someone in this bunch of new players needs to pay off and not now, but right now.
Prospects in Gambling Analogies
Assuming nothing changes, Chicago off-season strategy amounts to standing pat on a 14 with the house showing a seven. Put another way, enough teams across the league improved that I can’t see these guys keeping up. I think they’ll miss the post-season this time around.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)