Good afternoon folks. I’m coming to you from a pretty miserable ride from D.C. to New Jersey. I must say that I can’t recall ever making this ride back after seeing a D.C. team as thoroughly beaten as D.C. was beaten last night. I know D.C. fans are holding out hope that it’s just a bad stretch but I see some real problems that aren’t going to go away any time soon. I’ll delve into that subject in an ESPN.com piece this weekend.
I did come away thoroughly impressed with Chicago and what Denis Hamlett has done with this team. They are playing with a passion and purpose that serves to complement the considerable skill on the team. I came away especially impressed with Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Not because of his goal (which was sick) but because of how he interacts with the team away from the field. He’s a star and a designated player but you would be hard-pressed to find a teammate say anything about him having an oversized ego. The same can’t be said for all the designated players in MLS.
The best part of Chicago’s success has been seeing Denis Hamlett make the most of an opportunity not everyone felt he would flourish at. The team has bought in completely to his philosophy. It’s only May and slumps will come, but Fire fans have a reason to believe this could be a special year.
What do you think about Chicago’s strong start? How about D.C. United’s awful start? Share your thoughts below.
While I am certainly upset about DC’s recent performances, it’s important to be patient. I would feel better if they were playing well and loosing, but most of the players are not concentrating and performing for the full 90. Ives, thanks for pointing out that Moreno is their best performer in your soccernet column – I agree. Minus Fred, Olsen, McTavish and Gallardo it’s hard to see them beating Chicago.
On the Gomez vs Gallardo issue – DC has fallen short with Gomez in the playoffs so I can see why the FO made some changes. I’m not sure it was Gomez that needed to be changed, but he was the special player meant to lead DC to a final again. I can’t help but think that Veron would have been a much better #10 in MLS. Gallardo is coming off a terrible year at PSG, while Veron led his team Estudiantes to the Apertura in 2006, played well in the Copa America 2007.
The big ego DP that Ives is most likely referring to is Emilio. He treated training like a joke going into the season because he assumed he was on a different level then other mls players.
I think the Fire’s start is great. They are playing very well together. I think Blanco and Bakary have been 2 of the top 5 players in the league right now. Bakary is finally playing in his natural position and it is really showing. Last year he was playing DM and he doesnt have the ball skills or distrubution skills to play there. I dont know how much I like Prideux in the back yet. Would like to see Dasan back there. Marmol should give Pause a run for his starting spot and Nyarko should be coming soon. Ives, do you know when he will be playing for us? Nyarko that is?
I agree with Twisted – Olsen,Gros and Carrol can’t be replaced by Davechenko, Simms and Santino. The midfield is full of second rate players and players who are not playing their natural positions and that has a lot to do with the coaching. Soehn has been outcoached for 2 years. He needs to go, as does the 3 man back line.
haha i agree, fire are definatly going somewhere this time, they are one of the few teams playing as a team and not for themselves, plus they are having fun while smokin everyone
So if teams are going to figure the Fire out does this mean teams have already figured out NYRB? If the fire will “fizzle out” who’s going to finish on top? Your logic is flawed.
The Fire will fizzle out like the Red Bulls did last year… The other teams will figure them out in due time and they will slowly go down the table and just barely make the playoffs…
Jon Busch’s injuries were caused by his own defenders running into him (Robin Frasier and Chris Wingert) when there was no clear reason for them to even be in the box. C-Bus’ back line was such a joke when he was there.
So to say he is injury prone is really not fair it was a case of poor field awareness by his defenders.
The Fire does not need Pickens to resign. He wanted to play in Europe and we need a keeper who wants to play in MLS. Busch is leading the league in a all categories, and has the best back line in MLS helping him out. Busch is our man, and I doubt he will suffer a serious injury this season, especially when our opponents receive more cards than shots on goal.
The team this year is very deep and also playing as one body. Just look at Thorrington getting ready to murder DC in defense of his team mates who were constantly fouled by a frustrated and dirty DC team.
Tradition, honor and passion: 1998-2008.
What’s amazing about the Fire so far is that so many regulars from the past are not playing (Brown, Conde, Robinson) and others are playing less (Carr, Herron). My biggest fear is the goalie. Busch is playing great so far, but he’s small and prone to injuries. They need to resign Matt Pickens. Almost forgot that new signee Lider Marmol and top pick Patrick Nyarko aren’t playing yet either. Deep except for goalie.
I agree Olsen is a big loss for DC
You know, I don’t think the Gomez for Gallardo switch is the problem with DC. Gallardo has been decent, but DC lacks leaders and grit in midfield. Olsen’s the most obvious loss, but losing honest workers like Gros and Carroll (who’s done well for C-bus) is also important.
That, and Simms apparently taking plays off, makes United a much more worse team this year, regardless of who’s playing attacking mid.
Before the season, Metro fans were ripping JCo for not bringing in a host of new Sudamericano blod like DC did.
Looks like JCO’s cautious approach is the right one.
i’m also very curious about the unnamed ego(s) in question.
an easy guess would be Beckham, and i’m pretty sure he and Donovan aren’t exactly buddies off the field.
Frank O’Neill is my favorite player on United, hopefully he can get a call up from the Irish national team
Chicago has to be the favorite for the title. They are deep up front, in the back and in the goal. The only thing that would keep them out of one of the locked playoff seeds is injury to the starting midfielders. Lack of depth in midfield is their only liability – which is amazing for a MLS club.
DC United looks so bad, that they may have to join the Western Conference.
Blanco really has surprised me as well. Last night, as their was a stoppage and Herron came on, the camera followed him over as he got water…and he squirted the trainer after he was done. The trainer might not have found it funny, but I thought it was and showed he is just having fun playing.
I would say there is so ego issues with Reyna and Gallardo. Do I win?
Hey Ives,
I’m curious as to whom you could be referring to when you state, “The same can’t be said for all the designated players in MLS.”
There’s only so much DPs in the league so I’m wondering if you have any inside knowledge or have seen anything to suggest that some players are a bit arrogant. I can’t imagine Beckham or Angel to be egotistical but perhaps I’m wrong…..
As a Fire fan, very pleased with the start so far this season. If the team can avoid injuries to key players, could be something special. Defense has been great, and that is with Dasan Robinson and Conde & CJ Brown, who played most of last year, not playing much this year.
DC United looked listless last night. Seems the changes they made just aren’t working. Is it something wrong with Tom Soehn (former Fire guy) and man-management?
I’m a fire fan but I feel sorry for Neil getting called out about his hieght. Its not his fault that there is no player awareness on his team to realize he is uptop and needs balls to space or to his feet. I think that was theme for the whole untied team, they don’t play together or to thier strs.
Heck look at barrets last few games, the runs he has made and some of the drop offs hes done, that’s what hes good at. So the mids have been ready to score.
You have to admire DC for its fan base and for its efforts in building a pipeline to South America, but the club’s decision to push out Christian Gomez (and others) for the sake of remaking the roster seems arrogant and foolhardy in retrospect. Garnering consistent performance from international players in MLS is harder than it seems, and DC traded a known commodity (Gomez) for a speculative approach.
It was almost farcical to watch Niell (aka DCU’s Rudy…”five foot nothin’, a hundred and nothin”) trying to compete in the air with Bakare Soumare. I agree with Ives, Blanco’s goal was ridiculous, and Chicago punked DC all over the field.
“…find a teammate say anything about him having an oversized ego. The same can’t be said for all the designated players in MLS.”
who could we be referring to?