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Pappa, McBride keep United under Fire

Brian McBride (ISIphotos.com)
 

By AVI CREDITOR

WASHINGTON – Marco Pappa's second goal in as many weeks put the Chicago Fire in front in the 80th minute, and super-sub Brian McBride came through with an insurance tally nine minutes later, as Chicago defeated D.C. United 2-0 to secure its first win of the season.

Pappa received a clever back-heel touch from McBride just inside the top of the box and rifled home another in a series of late goals yielded by United.

McBride, a 76th-minute substitute for Collins John, made an immediate impact by putting a shot on frame upon his entrance into the game. Nine minutes after receiving a pass from Patrick Nyarko and deftly setting up Pappa for the game-winner, he headed home a long free kick from goalie Andrew Dykstra to finish off winless D.C. (0-4-0).

United, playing without its two starting centerbacks, did well to keep the Fire (1-2-1) off the scoreboard until yielding a go-ahead goal in the 80th minute for the third consecutive week.

Do you think Chicago is better off with McBride as a substitute? See any way that D.C. recovers from its awful start? Please share your thoughts about the match in the comments section below.

Comments

  1. Putting Mapp and hardwork in the same sentence is like your assessment of his effort and asking people to refrain from doing drugs.

    Together, they just fail to make any sense.

    Reply
  2. True he is doing TERRIBLE… I mean against DC United… He came in and set up the first goal, then scored the second. WOW what a disappointment.

    Reply
  3. The HD broadcast often takes out the player b/c the camera men lead the play. It’ll look normal in HD. I thought the same thing in the NYRB/Santos gm. We could only see Dane Richards’ in one of 5 angles on his goal.

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  4. So did we watch the same match yesterday? Mapp, as much as I usually want to kill him, was one of our hardest working and all around best players yesterday. Probably his best game in years.

    EDIT: and in reading your followup post, I have only this to add: don’t do drugs kids!

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  5. Fair point.

    Any hastily fashioned judgment, no doubt, is susceptible to become ultimately incorrect.

    My biggest issue isn’t their record but rather the product that’s being displayed thus far.

    The lack of; passion, effort and chemistry is troubling. Either way, the gaffer is the man responsible for those short-comings and hopefully fixing them.

    Also somewhat troubling is De Los Cobos’ evident issues thus far with speaking English.

    To this point, the assistant manager is primarily handling interviews and the ones De Los Cobos has partaken in have often been cut short when he doesn’t understand the question or words.

    In no way am I trying to be some ” American/English language snob ” but when 85 % of your roster speaks a particular language, often it helps with communicating your message and helping establish rapport and command of the squad.

    This is evident in any league, not just ours or the situation I described.

    Maybe that is or is not a part of the issue but hopefully these 3 points can bridge the change towards a quality product that can challenge for the MLS Cup.

    That is, after all, what he was brought here to do and why Hamlett was shown the door.

    Reply
  6. Nothing gives me greater pleasure as a Red Bulls fan than seeing my team at the top of the East and DC at the bottom. DC really doesn’t look good this season. Awesome.

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  7. I don’t necessaril disagree with you on that, besides, it’s too early to make that judgment for sure. I was just saying the roster always seems much better than the results, coach after coach.

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  8. He’s still making too much money for what he is contributing, and he is NOT still playing at a high level. If you are a Chicago fan and you think McBride is playing at a high level, then you have a high level team who probably will not even make the playoffs.

    Reply
  9. I mean their fan support is deserving of better. They are awful and 18,000+ show up in an ancient stadium. NYRB are doing well as a team and have a brand new stadium and 13,000 show up.

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  10. I agree that the team is uninspired, but I don’t think it’s fair to fault de los Cobos yet. He needs more time to learn the players and the league. I never think it’s quite fair to give a coach less than a full season to prove his worth. Also keep in mind that we lost many starters from last season (Blanco, Rolfe, Segares, Soumare) so it’s not the same team Hamlet had.

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  11. Serious analysis for DC:

    No attack. No playmaker with vision. Four key defenders out with injuries.

    Got a long way to go. I’ll say it again, this year could be worst than the ’09-’10 Red Bulls. Once we get healthy we will be better defensively, but we need to spend some money on a number 10.

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  12. At least Najar looked good. He was solid last night. Has a lot of fight for a little kid and great footwork for a junior in high school. Lucky Honduras.

    Reply
  13. Sadly, they can very well lose another 10 games and still make the playoffs.

    If that doesn’t justify some educated thoughts, ideas and input on a revision of the MLS CUP qualifying, I don’t know what does.

    Reply
  14. Chicago played much better under Hamlett than they are under De Los Cobos.

    Care to disagree?

    Hamlett lead them to a Top 5 finish in the league table, one game away from the MLS Cup and to a Super Liga final last season.

    And you replace him with who, for what kind of results? This…?

    This year’s team looks unconditioned, uninspired and lacking creativity and a lot of effort.

    Having Justin Mapp on the pitch makes me want to vomit but having the rest of the team, except for a few, playing with Mapp’s total waste of effort or passionless demeanor makes me deathly ill.

    Last night’s victory over the worst team in the MLS is nothing to hang our hat on and even less to build upon.

    Reply
  15. For all of you single table, non parity folk out there, if you are DC fans you might want to change your stance.

    I don’t believe the premier league has ever had a winner lose more than 7 games. That translates to 5 or 6 in a shorter MLS schedule.

    DC is already out of contention in a league like that. Done, after 4 games. Unless you think they are going to only lose 1 or 2 the rest of the way.

    In a parity playoff league, they are still ok. Very tough league to get wins in, so the rest of the league, outside of LA is within reach over the remaining 26 games.

    Reply
  16. Reyna was worthless when he returned, plus he was taking up DP money. McBride gets to live at home, is still playing at a high level, and isn’t making an obscene salary either. They don’t really compare here.

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  17. You do make a good point about McBride’s supposed lack of speed. Someone above made the point about the speed of international play versus the speed of DC’s defense. From my seat, McBride seemed ot fluidly and swiftly. Contrary to what you write, he didn’t slow down the offense — he sped it up considerably by getting to open spaces and getting the ball to open players. Once he came on, a plodding offense was flying up the field. I don’tknow about the international game, but he’s fast enough for MLS. More importantly, he’s very smart about what he does.

    As for a comment above about his leaving Fulham — he was still wanted there. He left to make a name for himself in Chicago, so he could play off that in retirement. He made sure to come while he still had gas left in the tank.

    I’m not suggesting he’d be a fill-time player at the international level, but he’s an ideal super-sub. He has a unique ability among Americans to produce goals. He’s quality. Most Americans are shite.

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  18. Why should DC never deserve to be the worst team in the league ?

    Or are you just saying as a matter of course no fan deserves their team to be the worst ?

    Reply
  19. i was at the game. had a blast. the atmosphere was great. $15 college night just turned the tailgate into a GIGANTIC frat party (at least it was DCU themed). some drunk student was puking and laying on the ground in a bathroom in RFK. cops came and got him eventually. hahaha hilarious.

    as for the game, man o man. i just dont know what to say. two home games, two 2-0 loses in the last 15/20 minutes…

    Reply
  20. I am very happy about the 3 points and win. We desperately needed it. However,

    That was an ugly game and the Fire played down to DC’s poor play. The Fire are still lacking in midfield and let a poor DC side control play.

    Pappa out side of his wonder goal played poorly and Mapp finally found his feet.

    I was thrilled that DLC started McBride on the bench! Mcbride has only slowed things down up top. John is a better target forward and should start over him.

    Now everyone that says mcBride is the hero of the night needs to look at the facts; Reality – Mcbride should be a good sub off the bench: 1) Mcbride did not pass the ball on Pappas goal, he was trying to turn and shoot and lost the ball and it just so happen came to his feet. 2) His goal was a very poor play by a struggling Perkins. Yes Mcbride got the flick but it was a fluke. and 3) Thats the best role McBride could play for this team. A super sub coming off the bench, hustling winning balls and sparking the team. Not slowing the team down all game.

    GO FIRE!

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  21. Sir Alex Ferguson could probably get SOMETHING out of this team. Onalfo just doesn’t seem to be able to motivate them. I think we have the talent to contend for a playoff spot, but it doesn’t look like anyone is even trying to score. We just get the ball and do cute things with it, instead of shoot. With a few seconds left, Morsink got the ball about 30-40 yards out and a bunch of guys in his way, and just fired it. It almost went it. I wish I was there so I could have yelled “THAT’S IRONIC, HUH?”

    Reply
  22. Well, NYRB should take the Atlantic Cup this year. Hard to imagine two franchises going in more polar opposite directions.

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  23. That seems to be an ongoing problem with Chicago. They never seem to have a coach who can make good use of the quality rosters they always seem to have.

    Reply
  24. So… that Onalfo guy was a mistake, huh?

    Still trying to figure out this Chicago team, too. The roster looks like it has some promising players, but they just don’t seem to be playing well.

    Reply
  25. You went from being glad to being a fan of MLS, to cringing at the thought of being a fan of MLS, in one paragraph!

    I have to agree with you on Onalfo, though. What’s the point of firing him unless someone else can come in and make MAJOR personnel changes SOON? Alex Ferguson couldn’t get anything out of this D.C. team! They can have only one goal this season the way things are right now. Try to avoid the worst record in MLS. That seems like an insurmountable challenge at this point. Why would they let Fred go, or did he flee? I can’t recall.

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  26. I would have to agree with your assessment of McBride, as opposed to that of fischy. fischy must be wearing rose colored glasses and yearning desperately for yesteryear. I have been incredibly disappointed in McBride’s return to MLS. He certainly knew what he was doing when he left the Premier League. It’s better to go out on top. Unless there is a dramatic change I think he should retire from soccer. I don’t want to remember the last part of his career the way I remember Claudio Reyna’s.

    Reply
  27. D.C. fan, I presume? I can’t say I blame you. They appear to be the worst team in the league right now. D.C. United should never be the worst team in the league. The fans deserve better.

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  28. Don’t fire Onalfo. This roster isn’t his fault. Yes, I am worried we might do worse than the ’09 Red Bulls. The worst thing about this whole thing is that they have a new stadium and only drew 13.6k. Really, that’s pathetic. We have the dump that is rfk and easily out drew them.

    Fischy, your most likely asleep. I know your all about Mcbride after tonight (heck I kinda of am too) -I read your other posts of Goff too- but I am not sure his dominance of DC translates to the speed of international play anymore. Who knows?

    Also, I actually was glad to be a fan of MLS after watching both the Dynamo/Chivas game and RSL/LA game. Especially RSL/LA. Crisp passing and great excitement. Who knew Buddle would dominate like this? DC United defending; well just comical -made me cringe to be a fan of MLS.

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  29. Aside from the appallingly awful play (particularly from the DC defense – my god are these guys professionals??) did anyone else notice the appallingly awful camerawork?? Especially in the beginning, it was zoomed in way too close, they often had the player with the ball out of frame, and routinely cut to replays while the ball was in play, rather than waiting for stoppages. It looked more like a high-school sports camera crew.

    Reply
  30. That RSL/LA showdown was a straight up crackin’ match. Competative, quality, passion. Buddle/Borchers grill to grill? Arena (old school master) opposite Kreis (new school potential)? Big US players on display – Landon, Beckerman? Solid international talent- Juninho, Espindola? Stadium and fans looked great? Title rematch subplot? Allez MLS. Sometimes this league can bring it. Who needs Beckham?

    Reply
  31. It’s sad that at age 56 or however old McBride is, he still looks like an appealing option for the US Nats. I think that says more about the sorry options we currently have up top than about what Brian still has left in his legs.

    He certainly adds a dimension (the 3rd dimension, to be specific: balls in the air) that both the Fire and the USA know very little about. Often McBride seems pretty worthless out there for the Fire, and I suspect part of that is due to the fact that we can’t provide the appropriate service to him.

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  32. I know Buddle is hot and everyone’s clamoring for him to get a shot with the USMNT. I’m inclined to agree — but, if you saw McBride tonight, you have to want him to be with the team in South Africa. Every moment, every movement was sublime. If he can only play the last 20 minutes, he could still be the USA’s most important player.

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  33. Ives – If Onalfo is canned before DC wins a match, will he be the 1st coach in MLS history to have been canned (not counting interims)without winning a game?

    Reply
  34. First,
    glad to know that Carlos de los Cobos is keeping his job for at least another week.

    Second,
    and more importantly,
    the Bulls won!

    HC

    Reply

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