RSL vs. Fire [R] 6/3/06

AreliusIV · 05-30-2006, 01:35 PM

Considering all of the Fire's matches so far this year have been on the road, they have been doing pretty good. Only two losses out of 8 matches. 4 ties. 2 wins.

The game this Saturday will be the last in a series of 9 away games for the Fire.

The Fire didn't lose any players to the WC, although Armas and Rolfe are alternates.

Keys to the match:
Shut down Chris Rolfe, Chad Barrett and Thiago. They have 7 of the Fire's 9 total goals this season and 3 of the Fire's total assists so far and 2/3 of their total SOG.

The Fire play a 3-4-3 with Rolfe and Barrett up top and Thiago playing behind the two forwards.

Akwari, Cutler (assumming he plays) and Torres will really be tested this game.

fuegote · 05-30-2006, 01:38 PM

watching them against Chivas (that was a fun match to watch) they look good. their passing is great. they don't turn the ball over much. They just couldn't finish on Saturday.

I_Believe_In_Kreis · 05-31-2006, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AreliusIV

The Fire play a 3-5-3 with Rolfe and Barrett up top and Thiago playing behind the two forwards.

No wonder Chicago's doing so well despite 9 in a row on the road.......they're playing with an extra player! 🙂
Your analysis is good though. I'll condense it even further: Focus on Thiago and everything else will come out in the wash. But this will be a tough game for RSL. At this point Chicago really knows how to play on the road - not much will faze them. I smell a 1-1 tie. I just hope, for a change, that RSL scores their 1 first - all these come from behind points aren't helping my blood pressure or hairline.

Old Ska · 05-31-2006, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuegote

watching them against Chivas

I think that was the soccer Gods punishing Chicago for dumping Jesse Marsch and for what they did to Peter Wilt.

fuegote · 05-31-2006, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Ska

I think that was the soccer Gods punishing Chicago for dumping Jesse Marsch and for what they did to Peter Wilt.

Chicago was the better team that night. I must say that Chivas' rookie was fun to watch as well. Sasha i think. The battle for ROY is between he and our Mehdi.

AreliusIV · 05-31-2006, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_Believe_In_Kreis

No wonder Chicago's doing so well despite 9 in a row on the road.......they're playing with an extra player! 🙂
Your analysis is good though. I'll condense it even further: Focus on Thiago and everything else will come out in the wash. But this will be a tough game for RSL. At this point Chicago really knows how to play on the road - not much will faze them. I smell a 1-1 tie. I just hope, for a change, that RSL scores their 1 first - all these come from behind points aren't helping my blood pressure or hairline.

Sorry. 3-4-3, 3-5-3. Its all the same, right?

prk166 · 05-31-2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuegote

Chicago was the better team that night. I must say that Chivas' rookie was fun to watch as well. Sasha i think. The battle for ROY is between he and our Mehdi.

Sacha Kljestan, really? I think he's done alright but I'm not sure he's done that well.

fuegote · 05-31-2006, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prk166

Sacha Kljestan, really? I think he's done alright but I'm not sure he's done that well.

He has a great touch. I can't remember how many beutiful through balls he played. He was 100% accurate with them.

Old Ska · 05-31-2006, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuegote

Chicago was the better team that night. I must say that Chivas' rookie was fun to watch as well. Sasha i think. The battle for ROY is between he and our Mehdi.

Agreed.

AreliusIV · 06-02-2006, 08:31 AM

Chicago at Real Salt Lake (9:00 p.m. ET)

Form: Real Salt Lake -- DWWLLL ? Chicago -- LWDDW

The revival continues in Salt Lake. Seven points from three games represents a marked turn around for John Ellinger's side. Another home match should provide an ample chance to extend this fine run of form. Much can be attributed to the spark Jeff Cunningham has provided in recent weeks, but the defensive line has also improved in recent weeks.

Chicago suffered a rare defeat on its extensive travels at Chivas USA last weekend. It wasn't a vintage performance by either side, but it unmasked one of the underlying problems with the Fire right now: forward play. After starting the season hot, Chris Rolfe has fallen off and not impacted games as he had previously, while Nate Jaqua is still finding his feet after recovering from injury. With Andy Herron on the bench and rested after serving a six-match suspension and not getting a subsequent look-in afterwards, it'll be interesting to see if coach Dave Sarachan sticks with his young Americans if the offense continues to sputter.

Key factor: The more dynamic of the two dynamic forwards (Cunningham and Rolfe) should earn his team the points.

Prediction: Draw

http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/latest_soccer_news/518946.html