Happy birthday, Fire

Now that is how to throw a birthday party.

I watched this one on my laptop in bed feeling torpid, working on the composition of a post spitting derision on the club’s 13th year – just to give a sense of my state of mind at kickoff. I was expecting lung-bursting runs to nowhere, lots of gesticulating at officials, and a suspects’ lineup of Fire defenders making the consternation gas-face.

What the hell was this? Moving off the ball? Attacking with a discernible stop-start pace? Quick combinations in tight space? This is not my terrible Fire; this is some other thing.

Notes!:
- Man of the Match, for me, was Nyarko, despite his banged-up ankles. At this point, with the season lost, I’d like to see Pat get a rest – getting his ankle ready for 2011 means more than the drive to finish 9th.
- Lowry doubtless noted my raised-eyebrow reaction to him in the starting lineup. “Stick it, blogger,” he replied, turning in 90 minutes of intelligent industry. Loved the finish on the goal – like the Fire’s overall play, it displayed an understanding of subtle changes in tempo – having turned Marshall, one step and half-beatstab! … to the far post for the goal.
- Ljungberg looked fantastic again in a roaming trequartista role.
- The teams actually lined up in very similar shapes – 4231s with the center of the 3-line filled by a floating creator. The mirrored formations meant there was little easy space on the pitch, and it also highlighted how much more work Ljungberg puts in on defense than Barros Schelotto for Columbus. As a result, Lowry didn’t have the defensive workload that Moffat (a similar player) was burdened with for the Bananas; he could and did roam forward to good effect, knowing Freddie would cover.
- I’m guessing Segares is still hurting, because Ristic at left back? Wild. Wilder still is that he goes out there and plays like a champ for the full 90, giving Gaven and Rogers nothing on his wing and covering the centerbacks like second nature. I really hope this is quality showing and not just form, because I’m excited to have Ristic back next year.
- Speaking of back next year, has Nery Castillo blundered into the fabled MLS Mexican Career Tar-Pit? The man needs to show something more than a scouting report; when you’re 26 and making more than a million dollars a year, we shouldn’t need to sift through your game to find signs of promise. Three games left, fella; show us something!
- CJ’s a warrior. Hope he never leaves the club.
- Kinney’s grown on me despite my irritation at losing Ward.

A lovely evening of lovely football. Is it wrong to feel like screaming “WHY NOW?”

Category: Team News