Match Day #1 Preview

Match Preview

The Fire go into their first game of the season well rested after not having to participate in the “First Kick” weekend. However, they do go into their travelling north across the border to serve as the first guests of the expansion side Montreal Impact. This game kind of reminds me of what happened last year when the Fire were the first visitors to Portland. I thought that since Portland were an expansion team and the Fire started the 2011 season well, that the Fire were going to have an easy game. Well we all know how that ended. This is going to be a very tricky game for the Fire, either Montreal feeds off the expected 58K+ crowd or the Fire takes the crowd out of the game by dominating the Impact. This is who I would like to see start the game for our Fire:

Tornaghi

Gargan-Anibaba-Gibbs-Segares

Pardo

Pappa-Robayo-Grazzini-Nyarko

Oduro

To me this line up would create the most chances going forward as well as still being able to track back to cover defensively. I know some of you are thinking “Pause should be out there he is the captain”. Well I thought about that and I think that this line up brings more to the table but I have been wrong in the past before. The only question mark is Robayo who might not even be able to play due to ITC issues. If that’s the case, than Pause should slide right in no problem. I can see Barouch coming off the bench for Oduro or Nyarko. Also coming off the bench I could see Paladini filling in for Pappa or Grazzini. My prediction is that the speed of Oduro and Nyarko will create havoc for the Impact defense and our backline will be able to handle the Impact attack. Final score Fire 2 Impact 0 with goals from Oduro and Paladini.  

Random Thoughts

·       Fire waived Pari Pantazopoulos Monday. No big surprise there, I’m still wondering why Videira is still on the roster.

·       The SKOL was also Monday but I can’t comment on it since I was not there. Heard they had a record crowd this year.

·       Arne Friedrich is not available this weekend. I have a feeling he won’t be ready for a couple weeks.

·       Tornaghi did get all paper work figured out and is available this weekend.

·       Broadcast schedule was announced a little less than 48 hours before the Fire’s first kick. Will be playing on CSN, NBC5.2, and NBC Chicago for local coverage. Why announced less than 48 hours before kickoff is an issue that the front office may have to try to solve before next year.
     Also the fire only have one more draft pick unsigned after singing defender Tony Walls to a contract.

Weekend Predictions

·       Adam ‘s predictions: Houston over San Jose 2-1, Portland over FC Dallas 3-1, SKC over New England 2-0, Seattle ties TFC 1-1, RSL over NYRB 3-1, Vancouver over CDUSA 3-0, Colorado ties Philadelphia 1-1, LA over DC 2-0

·       Mike’s predictions: Fire over Montreal 3-1, Houston ties San Jose 1-1, Dallas over Portland 2-0, RSL over NYRB 2-1, Seattle ties TFC 2-2, Vancouver ties Your really not the Chivas 1-1, Philadelphia over Colorado 2-1, LA over DC 4-1