Live at the game

By: Tom | May 27th, 2007

Earlier today I liveblogged the game from the pressbox. Shame the game was as interminably dull as my updates.

Post game press conference: coach Dave asks why should I resign? Well, Dave since you asked…

Crap, there go my press credentials.

5.59
A draw. Yawn.

5.56
Monteiro’s wide open on the right, but his header to the middle finds no-one. The game’s livening up, in the 92nd minute. And Barrett’s wide open, but hits it straight at the keeper. Are the Fire trying not to score?!

5.54
This game is torture to watch, especially when one is in a ‘neutral’ section of the stadium.

5.46
Now Soumare is on. Looks like he’s playing defensive mid. Please let him be the second coming of Patrick Vieira. First couple of touches very solid. He certainly looks the part, setting up Barrett for a decent turn and shot that whizzes over.

5.36
I feel like I should log an update, but nothing’s going on except for Barrett losing the ball periodically. The corn on the cob at halftime was overly-buttery, by the way.

5.29
An unbelievable whiff by Plotkin, wide open at the back stick, after good play from Segares. Wow.

5.27
Strike that - partially - it’s Monteiro on, not Soumare (we rely on the stadium announcer up here, too). Makes more sense. And right away Monteiro is in the mix.

5.26
Mapp out?! Really? Our only threat? Soumare on? What is going on? Does Dave want to be fired?

5.24
Adu out. I’m not going to pick on the guy, but he was anonymous.

5.21
Armas’ passing just picked up a notch. Is he reading my blog? Mapp has so much space again. But he’s not delivering the ball early enough when he receives it.

5.17
Either this is some wondrous brand of Total Football a la The Netherlands of the 1970s, or half the Fire team have no idea where they’re supposed to be playing. You decide.

5.12
Armas’ passing has been poor. It seems like his body is betraying his mind; he sees the right ball, but he’s not executing. Also, Mapp looks like he’s pushing wider left; Oliveira is pushing further forward.

5.11
Second half underway. Big, big half for Dave Sarachan’s career.

Halftime
Pretty dull first half. Pretty dull updates. Stay tuned!

4.52
Was that a penalty? Hard to say if Mapp was brought down from behind or not from here.

4.47
The Fire’s final ball is always rushed. Patient build-up play…Then rushed final delivery. And Jeff Curtin STILL looks nervous.

4.46
Close call on a penalty shout for the Fire. From here, the no-call looked correct.

4.45
Barrett fluffs a cross and looks despondent. The kid’s really lost right now.

4.42
Bedrossian substituted. Though I’m not sure he was even ever on the field. Mapp has moved to a central support forward role. He’ll miss the wide open space he had on the left.

4.40
That was a very harsh yellow card on Segares; looked clean from here. And I’m still neutral.

4.37
Section 8 sounds loud today. A few chants even caught on around the stadium. Though not in the pressbox.

4.35
Comical defending and almost a Fire goal. Got to love Major League Soccer sometimes.

4.31
I’m amazed that Mapp has so much space on the left. Don’t RSL know he’s the only threat the Fire have on the field?

4.29
Real Salt Lake have no gameplan whatsoever. I forgot they were even playing in this game just now. And Freddy who? (That guarantees he’ll score, of course)

4.27
Oliveira looks lively and dangerous. Not something I’ve said about many Fire midfielders this season.

4.22
Great burst by Mapp down the wing; how did Barrett miss that?

4.18
99.4% of Logan Pause’s passes go backwards. True fact.

4.16
I was going to say Jeff Curtin’s settled down, then he plays CJ Brown a true hospital ball. Chill Jeff, Chill.

4.15
One has to be neutral in the press box, but that was an awful decision by the ref when Bedrossian was forced out just then. Neutral perspective, obviously.

4.12
To answer Laurie, the reason I’m in the press box has NOTHING to do with cheesecake. And all to do with a new publication, Chicago Sports Weekly. More on that later.

4.10
Jeff Curtin looks nervous and shaky at the back. Tough start replacing your own brother.

4.07
Nice left-foot hit from distance by Oliveira, making his first start, forcing a good save. But is he yet another left-footer?

4.03
Gametime. Jeff Curtin in, not Jim Curtin! No Rolfe. Bedrossian at forward. This will be interesting.

3.44
If no-one follows MLS, why are there so many people in the press box? Who are they? Why are they here? Why am I here? Being in an MLS pressbox is quite an existential experience.

3.42
I asked the lady from AP if she knew any team news. She looked at me like I was a touch unhinged. Maybe I should wise up or get my hair cut or something.

3.41
The cheesecake was outstanding. NO, THIS IS NOT A JUNKET!

3.21
Well, as I mentioned, I have a press pass today, so I find myself in the press box pregame.

And I have absolutely nothing of interest to report. A lot of people milling about and nothing happening. I have a lot of paper handouts, though.

So stay tuned, folks, for more dull updates.