Manchester United vs. Chicago Fire Gamethread: Soldier Field - 4:00 PM CST - ESPN2
by Tweed Thornton on Jul 23, 2011 12:58 PM CDT
in Fire Previews & Recaps
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The game against Manchester United kicks off in less than 4 hours. Tune into ESPN 2 or ESPN Deportes at 4:00 PM CST if you aren't headed out to Soldier Field. The parking lots are already open and the stadium will open at 2:30 PM. Since the game is at Soldier Field, obviously their rules are the law of the land today. If you have any questions or don't feel like scrolling through so many words, the Chicago Fire have phones stacked today with representatives: 312.235.7520. They are there to help.
Are the rules more important than the game? Not necessarily but today is essentially a grand party so best know how to behave and what to expect. Manchester United and the Chicago Fire are planning to use a variety of players. From the Fire's interest in regular season player, the most important minutes will be played Sebastian Grazzini who is making his Chicago Fire debut. It's exciting for all Fire players to play against Manchester United and I have to admit as a soccer fan I'm very excited to see the game myself. How are you feeling on gameday today?
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It sucks for me...
not only can I not make the game, but I am working until 5. Thank God for DVR. I just have to manage to stay away from the internet and Twitter until I can watch the recording. I will be about 1 half behind so I probably won’t be on the boards here since the game will be over when I get done watching it.
Have fun to all those that are going. Tweed, if this is the first time you have seen a caliber of team like Manchester United, I think you will be impressed. Even though I hate them with a passion (and of course my fiancee likes them), I would definitely like to see them in person. If for nothing else than to heckle Wayne Rooney for his jug shaped head.
LET’S GO FIRE!!
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
Tradition. Honor. Passion.
Hopefully it won't suck for all of us...
as it would if we take a 7-0, Seattle-style beating from Man U. I mean, the odds are hardly in our favor — EPL champions with incredible depth and essentially infinite monetary resources versus a struggling MLS team with a total salary bill of less than $2.5 mil. Honestly, I’ll be happy if we score a girl and only lose by 2-4 goals. Obviously, I’m not optimistic.
I am, however, excited to see Grazzini play. It’s great that he’ll be able to play with a lot of the first team against a high quality opponent without the pressure of winning games (like we need to for the rest of the MLS season). As far as a mid-season transfer goes, Grazzini arrived at a good time (unless he could’ve come to train before the window opened…)
Good points...
hopefully somebody can do a recap for us of how Grazzini looked in person. I plan to write something up, but will be basing it off TV. I of course want the Fire to win as well, but agree with you that it’s a pretty tall task. If they can put up a good, tough showing, I will be happy with that. But a win, or even draw would be awesome. Hoping that S8 tears the house down like usual and shows what supporting your team is really like, especially for all the bandwagon Man U fans that can’t even name their starting XI.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
Tradition. Honor. Passion.
by Ryan Sealock on Jul 23, 2011 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions
We're winning!
Being up a goal on Man U is good enough for me now, even if we lose. SJ has looked great. We’ve had a decent half, held some good possession, but still shown our weaknesses — lack of penetration in the box and some poor finishing. Three or four shots were just sort of stubbed and made for easy saves for de Gea. While the 4-1-4-1 seems to be good for the possession game, it also accentuates the Fire’s troubles up top. Most of Nazarit’s touches have come when he tracks back to the central midfield, leaving him with very few or no options. The same thing has happened to Chaves when he’s played in a lone striker role. We’ve also been a little lucky on a few offside traps. Still, though, this is more than I could’ve asked for.
Grazzini on the 62nd
Comes in for Pappa who was playing a CM in the 4-1-4-1. Would’ve liked to see the two of them combine but I’ll be paying attention to how he works with the wings and with Barouch up top.
Initial reaction:
Not too upset about the result. As noted above by Ruben, SJ has a good shot at saving any of ManU’s three goals, in which defensive lapses also played a part. De Gea made a couple good saves, Pappa nearly stuck one in the top corner, and Husidic blew an open look. Any of those things going differently, we draw 2-2, 3-3, or even win 3-2. Still, though, that’s been the story of the season — if this or that had happened, we could’ve won… The story gets old and after a while it has to be something more than bad luck.
Grazzini was very active, moving a lot off the ball to open up spaces, runs, and passes in the midfield. He looked hungry for touches and to get involved at all moments, but slowed down a bit towards the end (excepting a nice left-footed shot). The heat and fitness probably played a role in that. Hopefully after another week plus of training he’ll be able to play a good role against Philly on Aug. 3.
Overall, I think this is a positive result. Chicago put in a good effort, got lots of players onto the field, scored a goal and created chances. Finishing those chances, however, remains another issue.
Great game, Manchester United put in their best players in the 2nd half. We put in Jon Conway to take it easy on them no doubt.
Very good summary of all the circumstances.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
by Tweed Thornton on Jul 24, 2011 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions
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