Major League Soccer 2023: Now With League-On-League Violence

67YAZ

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Dec 1, 2000
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Great news on Guti’s knee - no ligament damage, already back to right training.

 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
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Dec 15, 2002
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FC Cincinnati clinches the Supporters Shield. That club's turnaround has been amazing. 14 games won from 2019-2021 during back-to-back-to-back wooden spoon years and 19 games won so far this year.

The Revs beat Charlotte at home in relatively unconvincing fashion. It's a nice boost to the race for home-field advantage, but this team is far from firing on all cylinders after everything that's happened this year. Transfers, injuries, ArenaGate have all really taken a toll.
 

Arroyo Con Frijoles

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Jul 19, 2005
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It doesn't help that it's not at all clear how the Revs are supposed to fit together at this point. They had no outside back depth, and the Bye injury was a killer. And even if the back line were right, I'm not sure how the other guys are supposed to line up. And the playoffs start soon and the new coach's tactical wrinkle shat itself for 45 minutes tonight.

So yeah.
 

Boston Brawler

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Jan 17, 2011
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Rumors are floating around that Messi has a hamstring tear and might be shut down for the rest of the season.
 

67YAZ

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Last night’s 1-0 win over RB puts the Fire back in the playoff conversation. They finish out with Miami sans Messi at home, Charlotte, and NYCFC. Feels like the Fire will fall juuusssttt short because of some self-inflicted wound.

Guti was back last night, appearance off the bench. Even if he smashed an huge opportunity right at the keeper when that was harder than scoring, it was good to see him back after grabbing his knee last time out.

How valuable has Guti been to the Fire this season?

 

67YAZ

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Lotta angry folks with tickets to Weds night’s Fire match. Weather should be good, tho.

 

67YAZ

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Well, the Fire decided to offer people who purchased tix for tomorrow vs Inter Miami either $250 towards 2024 season tickets or $50 towards any single match.

The morning that the Messi transfer story broke, you could get a $35 ticket for this match.
 

the1andonly3003

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Jul 15, 2005
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Chicago

67YAZ

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Who needs Messi when Guti is out here nugmegging fools? The crowd loved that, too.
 

the1andonly3003

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Apparently tonight's game was sold out. Think most fans showed up in hopes Messi traveled (he didn't). Would this place more butts in seats than a Bears game this season?
 

67YAZ

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Apparently tonight's game was sold out. Think most fans showed up in hopes Messi traveled (he didn't). Would this place more butts in seats than a Bears game this season?
The wide shots make the stadium look close to full. Great night for a match, too. Hope this sparks a bunch of new fans.
 

67YAZ

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Probably best sport team in the city right now....
Well, Chicago Fire II made the playoffs.

So glad the Fire put on a show for the record attendance. This is how the league can make the most out of Messi - the GOAT gets them in the door and then the home side has a chance to impress.
 

the1andonly3003

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Jul 15, 2005
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Well, Chicago Fire II made the playoffs.

So glad the Fire put on a show for the record attendance. This is how the league can make the most out of Messi - the GOAT gets them in the door and then the home side has a chance to impress.
Wait, I just checked the tables. 40 points and worst overall in the league....

Weren't Cincinnati in the same spot two seasons ago and now they won Supporters Shield?

Whatever puts this goddamned inverted fullback experiment to bed is ok with me
So, Revs are copying Pep too?
 

Senator Donut

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Apr 21, 2010
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Whatever puts this goddamned inverted fullback experiment to bed is ok with me
Just incredible that Peay decided to start doing it in October with Ben fucking Sweat and Matt Polster playing out of position. Look forward to seeing that combo while Jones is on international duty.
 

ThePrideofShiner

Crests prematurely
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Jul 16, 2005
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I think Gio is a really good coach, who got fucked over a bit in Portland. I have no idea what to make of Neville, but he is reportedly a finalist for every job in the league right now.
 

67YAZ

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Guti with an audacious free kick from the right touch line, required a finger tip save.
 

67YAZ

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Arrggghhh. The Fire squander an opportunity to decide their own fate.

On Weds, Klopas said “maybe Shaqiri needs 60,000 fans” to pant his best. Truth to that. He was flat tonight.
 

Senator Donut

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Apr 21, 2010
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DC United and Wayne Rooney “mutually agree to part ways” which is usually a euphemism for firing/sacking, but it seems like both parties were ready to move on. However, that’s not the reason I’m sharing the news in this thread. DC United have accomplished the rare feat of both occupying a playoff spot and being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. MLS has an odd number of teams and United has an intentional break followed by a bye week.

View: https://twitter.com/atlutd_kyle/status/1711047748428980554
 

67YAZ

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Fun thread about the 1981 Chicago Sting. We have such a great soccer tradition in the Windy City, if only the Fire could recapture that spark.

 

67YAZ

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In a surprising twist, Djordje reached out to the Fire seeking a return.

It’s a shocker because both sides threw gasoline & dropped matches on the bridge. Heitz blindsided Djordje with the Montreal trade just days after Wicky told the kid he was central to next season’s plans. And the Djordje got a full column in the Trib laying out his complaints. To which Heitz just had to respond to by making public comments trashing the player. Bad blood all around.

It’s also frustrating because Djordje would be a welcome talent boost, but there’s no one empowered to actually negotiate with him at the moment. Heitz is still in limbo and the Fire already have several high priced players in attacking mid slots plus Guti. There needs to be a roster plan and a budget plan to make it all work, and right now there’s no one making these decisions for Chicago. But that’s better than Heitz staying on…
 
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67YAZ

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In happier Chicago news, Chris Brady is turning out to be the real deal. His first 5 matches were rough - he let up 3 howlers: two outside the box knucklers that he whiffed on & a corner he tried to punch but got beat to by an attacker.

But the kid has an elite mentality. He lives the Ted Lasso goldfish mantra. Nothing phases Brady - the second of those howlers tied the match, but minutes later he made 2 huge saves in a row to hold on for the draw.

The shot stopping is superb. FBRef has him as 1.89 goals saved above expected this season, messy data point but also matches the eyeball test. The Fire allow a lot of big chances, and Brady is always in good positions and making big saves.

His athleticism is a huge plus. He’s very explosive diving as well as getting up to claim crosses. More muscle will help him fight through traffic.

He also likes to get out and sweep up behind the backline. He runs really well for a kid that size and is decisive in his reads.

There’s no real distribution or passing to speak of, though that’s shaped by Klopas not wanting to fuck around in back. And why would you given the challenges the Fire already have?

Brady has a huge future ahead of him. It will be interesting to see when the Europe rumors start popping up. He’s equivalent to Slonina in terms of being a prospect, but lacks the pathway to a Schengen passport that Gaga has.

And don’t worry about who’s next up, the Chicago keeper pipeline is still pumping.


View: https://twitter.com/amcalabrese12/status/1709221010166153689?s=46&t=GfuLFvTYcOxcFiCZjyIYZw
 

Senator Donut

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Apr 21, 2010
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It’s straight-up depressing watching the Revs and whatever brain-dead strategy Clint Peay is implementing on a week-to-week basis. This match’s theme is a back three and wingbacks! It’s all very grab bag.
 

InstaFace

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Sep 27, 2016
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And to be clear, as they will insist to you, FC does not stand for Football Club. No sirree. It's a soccer team. What does FC stand for, then? Nothing, it's just letters! It's like KFC, doesn't stand for anything! Why'd we pick it, over, well, literally anything else? Well never you mind your sweet little head about that, you don't understand branding anyway.
 

67YAZ

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Ugh. If Chicago hadn’t completely laid an egg against Charlotte, they’d have complete control of their own destiny tonight. Instead, the Eastern picture looks like this:

72796
 

Arroyo Con Frijoles

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It’s straight-up depressing watching the Revs and whatever brain-dead strategy Clint Peay is implementing on a week-to-week basis. This match’s theme is a back three and wingbacks! It’s all very grab bag.
I'm glad it's raining because I don't feel as bad not going to what surely will be the last home game of the season.