Fire’s Cup Run Ends Before It Begins

By: Tom | July 15th, 2007

The defending Open Cup champions, the Chicago Fire, lost tonight in their first game to USL expansion team the Carolina RailHawks. I was only able to catch some of the second half on a webcast, but what I saw was not pretty. It’s hard to say whether or not we played our starters, given almost none of the lineup deserves to be starting for an MLS team right now, but some of our play was frankly laughable.

Unfortunately, one cannot laugh, as I for one was looking forward to another run at the Cup by the Fire, a tournament I’d really like to garner more attention and one that Chicago has a proud record in.

It was not to be, and the result pretty much sums up the season for the Fire thus far. If the new coach, the impending new owners and the finally arriving Blanco didn’t realise how bad the team is right now, they know now.

Roll on 2008.

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Chicago Fire Results

Category: Team News

Tags: Carolina RailHawks, Team News, U.S. Open Cup

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• Joe |  July 16th, 2007 at 4:34 am

  
  
  

  I watched all the glorious action and let me tell you it was really hard to tell which squad was an MLS side and which was an EXPANSION USL side.
  It was, honestly, no different a performance than we’ve seen the past two months. Blow it up, send them packing. Is there anyone besides Rolfe, Soumare, Olivera, Pickens and Robinson (where the hell is he anyway)that you’d want. Mapp needs to go because he just doesn’t fit in and he can bring something in return.
  In other exciting news, Chris Armas said he’s “leaving his options open” as to whether or not he’ll retire. Have you ever, ever, ever seen a footballer so in denial about his present skill level? Chris you are so done, it’s just sad. He needs to be benched so badly. Give the armband to Pickens because he’s the only regular starter who remotely deserves it. What a fiasco.

  Posted from United States

  

• notabbott |  July 16th, 2007 at 6:42 am

  
  
  

  It’s damning with faint praise, but the Fire looked much better than they did in any of the last four matches, save maybe the Toronto FC draw. In a week, Osorio at least has the squad back to where they were under Sarachan — playing mostly toothless possession, squandering their few chances, and making just enough mistakes in the back to lose. On the plus side, no 4-4-2 with two d-mids, Menezes showed some promise, and hopefully the new coach now realizes the degree to which Chad Barrett is utterly useless. So now we get to see if he can make them better.

  Posted from United States

  

• Tom |  July 16th, 2007 at 7:04 am

  
  
  

  Glad to hear Menezes looked good. And agreed, if Osorio hasn’t realised the depth of Barrett’s uselessness from these past two games, he never will. I wonder who he’ll play upfront though - maybe Rolfe and Monteiro, when healthy?

  Posted from United States

  

• Pablo |  July 16th, 2007 at 6:24 pm

  
  
  

  Any chance you guys can back out of that exhibition match next Sunday and maybe schedule something with a local high school team to get some confidence back.

  Posted from United States

  

• Celtic FC |  July 20th, 2007 at 4:48 am

  
  
  

  We are a wee bit unhappy now. We can’t wait for Sunday to crush your weak site.

  Posted from United States

  

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