The kids are alright

By: Sean | August 2nd, 2008

… we really, really hope.

The yellow-card accountants are having their way with the Fire this weekend, exiling Señors Blanco and Gutierrez to the bench for (meta-)persistent infringement. Adding in the loss of Barrett, however one feels about him, and suddenly it’s three starters who need replacing.

Ordinarily I’d be cringing and preparing for the worst. I’ve written in this space about the team’s ineffectiveness going forward when Blanco is stifled; what will happen when he’s on the bench in a suit? And Guti has been everything you’d want in a captain – he’s played well, he’s passionate, he leads by example.

And yet I’m not, all because the Fire, sans Blanco, trounced Everton Wednesday night, 2-0. (I know, I know. Keep yer knickers on. I’m getting to the provisos.*)

The first goal was lovely, a product of movement as a team: Segares on the attacking left wing, looking for options as everyone starts their runs. Mapp shows square and Sega starts a 1-2, which Mapp completes easily, releasing Gonzalo down the left. Sega’s skimming floor-cross comes to Nyarko first, but his angle is tough and his defender has closed him down, so he dummies the pass. The ball, unmolested, slides through to Rolfe, who finishes it high-side, near-post, thunderously.

Unlike the previous few games (with Blanco on the pitch), the men in red were moving together, thinking together, trying to unlock the defense with movement, spacing, and subtle changes in tempo. The contrast to the gape-mouthed, lead-footed amazement which greeted Blanco’s double- and triple-teaming in the previous couple of games could not be more pronounced.

I don’t want this to sound like I’m cheering for Blanco’s suspension, or think the team is better without Mr. White. That’s just not the case. What I am cheering for, and hoping for, is that the other players with ability on the Fire, specifically the ones who could turn out in red, white and blue for the USA, stop waiting for Blanco to do something amazing and get into the business of doing amazing things themselves.

If they can, this suspension right in the heart of the dog days could be the best thing for the Fire. Temo gets a rest, the team rediscovers flowing football, and when he rejoins he’ll be less prone to, ehh, gouge eyes or whatever.

Another reason for Chicago’s remembrance of good-form-past could be the introduction of Marco Pappa. He’s left-footed, a tenacious attacking mediocampisto (read: he plays defense), he’s only 20, and he’s apparently pretty excited to be here. From the sound of the match report, he made a good account of himself against the Toffees. And there was a Lider Marmol sighting!

Another reason I’m feeling optimistic, frankly, is because Sacha Kljestan is off to China. Best case scenario, he tears it up there, Goats Americanos can’t turn down the ~$6 mil offer, and I can admire him without gut-churning anxiety in the future.

Exciting times. Let’s hope I’m not back here tomorrow in sackcloth and ashes.

*Jeesh, y’get positive for a few paragraphs and everyone wants to criticize. Heh.