Match Day #4 Preview

Match Day #4 Preview and Random Thoughts

                This Sunday the Fire take on the Houston Dynamo who lost to the LA Galaxy in the 2011 MLS Cup. Both teams are coming off a bye week and Houston had a bye the week before that too. The Dynamo’s last game they traveled to Seattle and lost 2-0 and it was a very physical game that led to some rough challenges and later fines and suspensions handed down by the league that will affect the Houston line up(Moffat and Clark). One player that has a possibility of missing out for Houston is their midfield assist machine of Brad Davis who is struggling with an injury. So the Dynamo coach, Dominic Kinnear, will have to field some reserves to help fill the voids created by injury and suspensions.

                Enough about the creamsicles, let’s talk about our “Men in Red” because they also have a few problems themselves. The Fire are coming off one of the worst performances I have witnessed in the past couple years. They travelled to Colorado looking for all 3 points and came away with none and looking like a disorganized mess in the process. I……………….I think I just woke from thinking about the first half again.  The 2^nd half of that game was worse as the Fire bunched up in the middle creating no space for a proper attack to develop and the defense gave way too much space to the Rapid’s attackers which eventually led to their two goals. The Fire, despite the line up woes for Houston, will face their first real test in the Eastern Conference to see if they will be able to hang with one of the “better” teams in the east. So this is how I would line the Fire up and I’ll explain my choices after the break:

Tornaghi

Gargan-Anibaba-Friedrich-Segares

Pardo

Pause-Grazzini-Nyarko

Puppo-Oduro

                I still start Tornaghi because he still looks good despite giving up 2 goals last game that should be pinned to the lackadaisical defense. In the back I would put Gargan back in his normal spot because Pause was not nearly as effective going forward as Gargan is. I also put Friedrich in there due to the news that came out on Tuesday that Gibbs suffered a meniscus tear and had to have surgery that will keep him out for 4 to 6 months. In the mid field I would keep the regulars in there except I would bench Pappa. The reason for this is that he really needs to learn how to play his position and stop taking away space and start creating space for Grazzini. I would also move Nyarko back to the wing because although he would start up top with Oduro he would always float back and play the left side of the mid field. He also has a better defensive sense than Pappa has. Up front I would keep Oduro up there but I would start Puppo just to see what he could do. He has shown in the time that he has been given and that he is able to create a few chances. This game should show what Klopas can do strategically and see what kind of adjustments he can make to help kick start the Fire’s attack. The Fire can win this game if they play smart, keep their formation and not bunch up in the middle, take chances when they come, and keep organized in the back which having Friedrich will help with immensely.  Unfortunately taking the last game into account and the fact that Klopas normally doesn’t bench his regulars, I can’t see the Fire getting a win and all 3 points unless they play a perfect game. I think it will be a 2-1 Fire win with Grazzini and Nyarko getting the goals for the Fire and they play a very dominating performance.  I cannot stress enough how vital it is that the Fire take all 3 points in this match. If they do not secure all 3 points than this team is going to be in trouble the rest of the season and we fans risk a repeat of the last 2 years.

Random Thoughts

·         As mentioned before Gibbs is going to be out for 4-6 months after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus that he picked up in training last week.

·         Patrick Nyarko signed an extension with the team that will keep him around Chicago for the foreseeable future. This is a good thing because he is one of the players that can create chances for the rest of the team. Plus his speed and ability to take on defenders one on one is very hard to find in the league now a days.

·         One thing that has bothered me over the last couple months is the fact that the Commish has his heart set on NYC being the 20^th team. Every time I read an article about how the league is investigating sites for a stadium to be built it makes me think of other professional sports teams that are owned by the various leagues. I also like it how Garber holds double standards for teams. Especially when it comes to stadium issues. He moved the first version of the Earthquakes to Houston because they struggled to find investors for their own stadium. He also states that expansion teams that come into the league must have a soccer specific stadium or a plan for one in place(unless you are Seattle and you like to buy yourself an exemption from that rule). Why is DC and New England still not in their own stadiums? I do realize that DC is trying hard as hell to get a stadium in place, but what about New England? Why split a fan base that is already struggling to get out to Harrison NJ? It just doesn’t make sense to me.