Hot Time In Old Town - Chicago v. Toronto - MLS #27TRADITION - HONOR - PASSIONhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50655/htiot-fav.png2013-09-11T21:27:45-05:00http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/rss/stream/44801132013-09-11T21:27:45-05:002013-09-11T21:27:45-05:00Knee-Jerk: We Don't Deserve Playoffs; TOR 1, CHI 1
<figure>
<img alt="Jalil Anibaba and Ashtone Morgan each played reasonably well, by which I mean they presented themselves as reasonable facsimiles of professional footballers, not that they were commendable in any way." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/C2oY89WECX2z8Xftk3rMXaOgIV4=/0x305:3100x2372/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/19382229/151892006.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jalil Anibaba and Ashtone Morgan each played reasonably well, by which I mean they presented themselves as reasonable facsimiles of professional footballers, not that they were commendable in any way. | Abelimages</figcaption>
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<p>Fire can't impose will, settle for bland 1-1 draw with Toronto club ripe for the picking</p> <script height="349px" width="620px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=4bfc225f82bf46c48dfb065eda97f74f&ec=U1bnhmZTo5LD_IgkihLZUaVSMtwmjmaV"></script><p>Just so we're clear: The game ended 15 minutes ago. I'm writing this in a sort of blind fury, 3 feet from my wife, who is watching an episode of "The Challenge" by MTV. Which is to say, I'm not exactly contaminated with other opinions about the game at this point.</p>
<p>It's not like my wife, Sarah, doesn't watch the Fire - she does, usually. It's just that, y'know - Toronto. No one there. You can hear the coaches. Everyone showed up in a 4-4-2, and it was super embarrassing. One finds other things to do.</p>
<p>So, anyway, the game just ended, and this is how you know you're not emotionally connected with a particular team: Sarah's entertainment just morphed from 'passive and silent' to 'sensurround.' There's no moment of "Oh, my goodness - we really do suck! This is disappointing." I suspect if the tables were turned, and the team on display was DC United, it might be different. But DC is so bad this year as to demand disengagement. So here we are.</p>
<p>For me, it was different. For me, it was excruciating. The Fire looked terrible - terrible! - against one of the worst teams in the league. Said team, the Reds of Toronto, did precious little to impose themselves on the proceedings. Somehow, they still had half of everything - half the possession, half the passes, half the shots, and half the points. It ended 1-1, and felt much, much worse.</p>
<p>Perhaps the disappointment is down to simple fatigue. Presented with a road match against one of the league's real road apples, Frank Klopas wrote a lineup of unwavering sameness: SeanJohnAnibabaBerryBakySega, BigRed, Alex, Duka and Nyarko, Magee and Rolfe. A defensive block of five, a back-and-forth dude, and a four-man attacking block tasked with moving and creating.</p>
<p>Toronto, in contrast, looked like a team recently acquainted. They played in combination only rarely, preferring to play in bursts down the flanks - and yet, somehow, this was sufficient.</p>
<p>The goals came in a four-minute burst in the first half. By the 20th, Chicago was already growing frustrated with their inability to connect in the attack, and Dilly Duka - looking for MVP candidate Mike Magee - tried a chip into the area for Magee to run onto.</p>
<p>Magee couldn't get there, nearly hitting it with a hand then unable to reach with a lunging right foot - but it mattered not one whit, as TFC keeper Joe Bendik couldn't decide whether to play the ball or the striker, instead playing nothing as Duka's lob bounced past him and into the Toronto goal.</p>
<p>1-0 Fire; at this point, there was still every reason to be optimistic - Chicago was creating chances, even if they'd looked a bit moribund. But then came Robert Earnshaw's goal.</p>
<p>Here's my notes for the Earnshaw goal:</p>
<p>23 - Convey in space, [cross] from deep, S[oumare] marking phan[tom] far-po run, B[erry] mk no 1 nr post, Sega[res] slide pst Earn[shaw], clean finish 1-1</p>
<p>That's Soumare marking no one, Berry marking no one, and Sega a step late, as he was all night.</p>
<p>And that was it for the optimism - after that, the Fire lost their swagger entirely, surrendering possession to a team that didn't want it and bogging down into a half-chance-off with the half-chance specialists.</p>
<p>Then the second half - insane. No movement. Can't keep the ball. Larentowicz can't handle a simple switch how many times? My hands have grown numb. Is this a stroke? Or are the Fire just this bad? We looked like winning exactly never after the half. And the subs ... I don't get it. Rolfe is playing so well that we need to take another look at him at his second or third best position? Nice! There's a lot I'm missing here, I guess.</p>
<p>This is the knee-jerk. It's not meant to be fair. And maybe I'll rewatch this and feel that somehow, Fate turned its face away. But right now, watching that live and taking notes, it felt like the whole thing was <i>right there - </i>and we just couldn't be bothered to reach out and grab it.</p>
<p>Here it is in cold, hard agate:</p>
<p> </p>
<h3 class="title eastern" style="margin-top: 18px !important; padding: 0px; font-size: 16px; color: #333333; line-height: 1em; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-transform: capitalize; text-align: left;">Eastern Conference</h3>
<div class="stats-table" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">
<table class="views-table tablesorter standings-table" style="margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; border-spacing: 0px; width: 619px; background-color: #cdcdcd; font-family: arial; font-size: 8pt; text-align: left; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<thead style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: transparent; border: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><tr style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: #f8f8f8; border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-color: #ffffff; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<th class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">#</th> <th class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">Club</th> <th title="Points" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">PTS</th> <th title="Games Played" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">GP</th> <th title="Points Per Game" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">PPG</th> <th title="Wins" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">W</th> <th title="Losses" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">L</th> <th title="Ties" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">T</th> <th title="Goals For" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">GF</th> <th title="Goals Against" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">GA</th> <th title="Goal Difference" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">GD</th> <th title="Home Goals For" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">HG</th> <th title="Home Goals Difference" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">HGD</th> <th title="Road Goals For" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">RG</th> <th title="Road Goals Difference" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ffffff; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: url(http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/editorial.mlssoccer.com/themes/mls_child/images/bg_th.png); background-color: #ececec; width: auto; height: 33px; line-height: 33px; color: #003366; font-size: 8pt; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat;">RGD</th>
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<tbody style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<tr class="even" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.1em 0.6em; background-color: #ffffff; border: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<td class="views-field first" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">1</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://www.impactmontreal.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #003366;">Montreal Impact</a></td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">45</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">26</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">1.73</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">13</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">7</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">6</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">45</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">37</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">8</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">28</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">15</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">17</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">-7</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.1em 0.6em; background-color: #ececec; border: 0px; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; color: #e9e9e9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<td class="views-field first" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">2</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;"><a href="http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #003366;">New York Red Bulls</a></td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">45</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">28</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">1.61</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">13</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">9</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">6</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">44</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">36</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">8</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">24</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">12</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">20</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">-4</td>
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<tr class="even" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.1em 0.6em; background-color: #ffffff; border: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<td class="views-field first" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">3</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://www.sportingkc.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #003366;">Sporting Kansas City</a></td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">45</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">28</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">1.61</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">13</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">9</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">6</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">41</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">27</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">14</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">28</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">14</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">13</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.1em 0.6em; background-color: #ececec; border: 0px; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; color: #e9e9e9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<td class="views-field first" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">4</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;"><a href="http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #003366;">Philadelphia Union</a></td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">39</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">28</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">1.39</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">10</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">9</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">9</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">37</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">38</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">-1</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">21</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">6</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">16</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">-7</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even playoff-cut" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.1em 0.6em; background-color: #ffffff; border: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<td class="views-field first" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;">5</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;"><a href="http://revolutionsoccer.net/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #003366;">New England Revolution</a></td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;">37</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;">27</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;">1.37</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;">10</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;">10</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;">7</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;">37</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;">29</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;">8</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;">23</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;">11</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;">14</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: red;">-3</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.1em 0.6em; background-color: #ececec; border: 0px; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; color: #e9e9e9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<td class="views-field first" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">6</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;"><a href="http://www.houstondynamo.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #003366;">Houston Dynamo</a></td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">37</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">27</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">1.37</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">10</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">10</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">7</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">31</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">35</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">-4</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">18</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">5</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">13</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">-9</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.1em 0.6em; background-color: #ffffff; border: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<td class="views-field first" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">7</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://www.chicago-fire.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #003366;">Chicago Fire</a></td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">36</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">27</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">1.33</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">10</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">11</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">6</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">33</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">38</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">-5</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">23</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">6</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">10</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">-11</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.1em 0.6em; background-color: #ececec; border: 0px; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; color: #e9e9e9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<td class="views-field first" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">8</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;"><a href="http://www.thecrew.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #003366;">Columbus Crew</a></td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">32</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">28</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">1.14</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">9</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">14</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">5</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">31</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">38</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">-7</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">16</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">5</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">15</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">-12</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.1em 0.6em; background-color: #ffffff; border: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<td class="views-field first" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">9</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://www.torontofc.ca/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #003366;">Toronto FC</a></td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">23</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">28</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">0.82</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">4</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">13</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">11</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">24</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">40</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">-16</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">17</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">-2</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">7</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px;">-14</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.1em 0.6em; background-color: #ececec; border: 0px; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; color: #e9e9e9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<td class="views-field first" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">10</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;"><a href="http://www.dcunited.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #003366;">D.C. United</a></td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">14</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">27</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">0.52</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">3</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">19</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">5</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">16</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">44</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">-28</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">12</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">-9</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">4</td>
<td class="views-field" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: auto; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 11px; background-color: #f0f0f6;">-19</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<h4>More from Hot Time In Old Town:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2013/9/11/4721382/knee-jerk-reaction-we-dont-deserve-playoffs-tor-1-chi-1?utm_source=hottimeinoldtown&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Knee-Jerk Reaction: We Don't Deserve Playoffs; TOR 1, CHI 1</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2013/9/10/4714484/who-to-boo-dos-a-cero-the-six-point-week?utm_source=hottimeinoldtown&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Who To Boo: 'Dos a cero' & The Six-Point Week</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2013/9/9/4703294/grilling-with-fire-part-4-hunter-jumper?utm_source=hottimeinoldtown&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Grilling With Fire, Part 4: Hunter Jumper</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2013/9/9/4710298/cf97-gets-an-unscheduled-gift-monday-notes?utm_source=hottimeinoldtown&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">#cf97 Gets An Unscheduled Gift: Monday Notes</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2013/9/5/4697226/words-about-shapes-a-loss-of-nerve?utm_source=hottimeinoldtown&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Words About Shapes: A Loss of Nerve</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2013/9/11/4721382/knee-jerk-reaction-we-dont-deserve-playoffs-tor-1-chi-1Sean Spence2013-09-11T17:00:08-05:002013-09-11T17:00:08-05:00Dopamine Double-Dip: TOR v CHI, MLS #27 gamethread
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9DJMTcs1FNV0H3Je3gWd4obBhco=/0x182:4000x2849/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/19372309/20130910_ajl_aa1_200.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>However they accomplish it, three points is a must for the Fire from tonight's matchup in Ontario</p> <p>If you're anything like me, you're still riding a wave of pure dopamine pleasure-bomb after last evening's fourth quadrennial installment of <i>Dos a cero</i>. It's in that spirit we should approach this evening's contest for our club, as the Fire have every chance to corral a feel-good three points - any prediction based upon form, or quality, or the interaction of shapes should have Chicago as heavy favorites.</p>
<p>Nothing is ever simple, of course. The Fire have, for years now, the maddening tendency to play to the level of their competition. The result can be stirring when the competition is strong, but that's not where one notices - it's during games like this, games where a good old Chicago stomping is called for.</p>
<p>No Cacha, no Lindpere tonight. No word on Magee yet - check back here an hour before kick for lineups! I'll be watching and tweeting from the Hot Time fortress high atop a mountain fastness near Flint, Michigan. Expect, also, for a few sentence fragments from our increasingly-inebriated staff spread throughout the lower 48.</p>
<p><b>Prediction: </b>ARGH RYAN WHY U START PREDICTION TRADITION?</p>
<p>I'm having a hard time writing this, as I'm a deeply superstitious person. I cannot help but feel that, by predicting good things for the Fire, I'm responsible for drawing ill luck when it comes, say (to think of an example at random), in the form of a late own-goal losing goal off the shin of one of my favorite players. Clearly, in that example, the Lidless Eye has turned its baleful gaze upon the team I support, and they can only shrivel.</p>
<p>Despite all that, <b>I think Chicago wins this easily. Say 3-1, and add the phrase "but it didn't look that close." </b>Toronto is young, tactically staid and yet naïve. The Fire should be superior in every phase, should use the space better, and should find joy with group movement in attack. They should. Oh please, oh please.</p>
https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2013/9/11/4720544/dopamine-double-dip-tor-v-chi-mls-27-gamethreadSean Spence2013-09-11T08:00:06-05:002013-09-11T08:00:06-05:00Like Peering Into A Dark Mirror: TOR v CHI preview
<figure>
<img alt="Will Mike Magee's groin mean a start for 'el Serpiente'? " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XlH_57mTf6hFara-DuAMRzazWew=/0x167:4000x2834/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/19339649/20130801_ads_aw6_114.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Will Mike Magee's groin mean a start for 'el Serpiente'? | Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Spor</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Fire, after looking a mess on and off the field at times the last month, travel to the masters of the mess, Toronto FC, this evening. Yet another crucial must-win match for Frank and company; can they take all three points from Ontario's cautionary tale of a club?</p> <p></p>
<p>For two weeks, the Fire faithful have had their hearts broken - two games straight, the Fire have dropped points at the death. First, it was against Houston, when the Fire let a full three points slip away; some lazy defending allowed Adam Moffat to walk into the box and rocket a shot into the old onion bag in injury time. This past Saturday, it was the Sounders' turn to take a result away from the Men in Red. An own goal by Gonzalo Segares gave the hosts the lead in the waning minutes as the Fire looked to hold on for a point in Seattle.</p>
<p>There were actually some positives that came out of Saturday, if you can believe that. First, Mike Magee and the rest of the Fire attack showed that we actually have one - an attack, that is - after they settled in to the raucous environment. Magee ended up slotting in a through ball from Dilly Duka to give the visitors the lead midway through the first half. Sean Johnson bailed out Bakary Soumare with a penalty-kick save after Soumare's awful, awful handball off of a Seattle corner. Both teams were sustaining pressure while the game was going back and forth.</p>
<p>There were some negatives, though. Without Mike Magee in the second half - he left the game with tightness in his groin - the Fire were unable to sustain any kind of constant attacking pressure. In the first half, the Fire were going back and forth with the Sounders and actually looked like they had a sustained attack. When Mike Magee left at half as a precaution, the Fire seemed to let up off the gas and were unable to maintain the attacking pressure that they showed earlier.</p>
<p>Like many of the Fire players have said, it's time to move on and focus on the next one. This time, Frank and company travel north of the border to take on Toronto FC tonight. This will be the first meeting of the season between the two teams, and they're in different places - the Fire looking to stay within reach of the playoffs, while TFC playing for some dignity (and next year's contracts).</p>
<p>The Reds are coming off a 4-0 loss to Portland - and, oh yes, they fired their president and GM Kevin Payne after nine months on the job in TFC's semi-annual house-cleaning. <b>The thing that makes Toronto dangerous is they literally have nothing to lose. </b>This could be very bad for the Fire, as we should be able to beat them handily - but when it comes to teams the Fire should beat, lately it just hasn't happened. Will this be another game where the Fire play down to their opponent? Let's hope not. Chicago will be desperate to get the full three points as this is our game in hand on New England and Houston.</p>
<p align="center"><b><u>Lineups</u></b></p>
<p>First year head coach Ryan Nelsen has tried to put the best team that he can on the field but injuries and short term loans have prevented him from actually making it happen. With arguably his best player out (Matias Laba) and no other injury concerns, this is what we may see on Wednesday night:</p>
<p align="center">Bendik</p>
<p align="center">Eckersley-Caldwell-Henry-Elmer</p>
<p align="center">Rey-Osorio-Hall-Convey</p>
<p align="center">Wiedeman-Earnshaw</p>
<p>I really don't think it's going to be a big surprise to anybody if Frank doesn't change his lineup. Rios and Lindpere will still be missing due to international duty. The only injury concern is Mike Magee who came out at the half in Seattle with a possibly groin issue. The other thing that is possible is the club actually taking action on Soumare's tweet that verbally attacked a front office employee. If the Fire do discipline Soumare (which they should) and Magee is not able to go this is what we will see on Wednesday from cf97:</p>
<p align="center">Johnson</p>
<p align="center">Anibaba-Jumper-Berry-Segares</p>
<p align="center">Nyarko-Larentowicz-Alex-Duka</p>
<p align="center">Anangono-Rolfe</p>
<p align="center"><b><u>Key Matchups</u></b></p>
<ul class="unIndentedList">
<li> Frank vs. predictability - This is all I got this week. It is apparent that Frank is very predictable in much of what he does on the field - from a lineup that hardly ever changes, to tactics that remain the same week to week, to the substitutions that have become nothing but a formality. As I pointed out over a month ago, Frank seems to use the same 13-14 field players. Using that number of players tells you something: Either the coach does not have any depth in his team, or he doesn't trust any of his subs, or both. So far this season there are 13 field players on the roster that have played over 600 minutes. Together these 13 players have logged 20572 of the 23400 minutes available through 26 games. That's 88% of the total playing time used by only 13 players. So what's the point of having a roster of 24 field players when Frank is only going to use 13 of them consistently? Take that the way you want but, in my opinion, players will get tired, physically and mentally, and will need rest at some point. Our tactics have remained the same all season with Frank basically employing a counter-attacking style. This can work from time to time, but with no variety in your tactics you become too predictable. Along with using the same 13 field players comes the fact that the substitutions have become nothing but a formality. He always takes off a forward midway through the 2<sup>nd</sup> half, always subs out one of his wing players midway through the 2<sup>nd</sup> half, and always puts on another CDM also. I know it's a little late in the season to change, but Frank has got to get some variety in order to keep the opposition guessing and adapting to how the Fire play. Toronto may not be that tough of an opponent but if Frank and the Fire do not adjust and change throughout the match than maybe its lights out for the Men in Red.</li>
</ul>
<ul class="unIndentedList"></ul>
<p align="center"><b><u>Outcome</u></b></p>
<p>With all of the results on Sunday going cf97's way, Frank and company must now take advantage. With a win on Wednesday, the Fire can move into the fifth playoff spot, only one point back of Philadelphia in fourth. TFC have had their problems this year again, having just fired yet another president, Kevin Payne, and also not playing to the standard that the long-suffereing fans expect. It seems year after year TFC have been a mess both on the field and off, but this year so has Chicago, frankly.</p>
<p>Bottom line is that, with fifth place presented to the Fire on a silver platter, they have to come up with all three points tonight. I'm predicting a 2-0 win by the Men in Red with Rolfe and Anangono getting on the score sheet.</p>
<p></p>
https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2013/9/11/4714468/like-peering-through-a-dark-mirror-tor-v-chi-mls-27-previewAdam Merges2013-09-10T13:51:03-05:002013-09-10T13:51:03-05:00Fireside Chat with Waking the Red
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gTp6feYl4WJo3VXEuNGcfR_kqUw=/0x67:4000x2734/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/19304877/20130901_kkt_bt2_492.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>3 Questions with Waking the Red.</p> <p>This week is a huge week for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a> that could potentially determine their fate this season. Three points stand between them and a playoff spot and this Wednesday's game against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wakingthered.com/">Toronto FC</a> is the game in hand over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/">New England Revolution</a>.</p>
<p>Ahead of Wednesday's match, Dave Rowan, a writer over at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wakingthered.com">Waking the Red</a>, has been gracious enough to answer some questions about Toronto FC. Below are our questions for Dave, and his responses. Dave also had questions for us, which can be found <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wakingthered.com/2013/9/10/4714732/chicago-fire-toronto-fc-preview-how-you-doin-three-questions">here</a>.</p>
<p><b>1) It seems like TFC was courting Max Urruti for six or seven years, and he's gone within two weeks of finally signing. How bad did the kid look in practice? (via Sean Spence)</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Well not to bring accuracy into this but it was six months that Toronto spent chasing Urruti but when Kevin Payne was fired from his position as General Manager last week it removed his biggest ally from the club. With Urruti slated to become a DP next season he would have taken up a spot that Tim Leiweke would rather see used on a big name, Beckham type, signing in the coming months. By all accounts there was nothing in his 37 minutes of playing time or training that indicated he was going to be a bust so the coaching staff must have seen something that the rest of us did not in his 24 days with the club.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b> 2) How many more years of turmoil before the fans of TFC just stop going to games? Is there any light at the end of the tunnel for TFC? (via Adam Merges)</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The magic number for TFC fans seems to vary from person to person. I know some people who were season seat holders from day one but gave up their seats in recent years and I know others who will be going to games as long as their are games to go to no matter how bad the team is. There is a lot of big talk though these days about just what it would take to push fans over the edge. Some seemed to be hanging out around the edge after the Urruti trade but as any sports fan will tell you the teams you care about are like drugs and just saying I am going to quit is not enough.</p>
<p>As for the light at the end of the tunnel I think the best thing we can do at this point is stop searching for that light as fans. We have gotten our hopes up like some sort of annual tradition only to have them dashed at some point in the season. For now it already looks like #Preason2015 time with next season looking to be yet another rebuilding year.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b> 3) What's the overall feeling on possible renovations to BMO Field that leads to a ground share with the Argonauts? Do the facility upgrades outweigh the current exclusive nature of the stadium? (John Jenzeh)</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>There are some fans who have been trying to look at it logically and see how an improved BMO Field would be a good thing for Toronto FC and sports fans in the city. That would require them to do the renovations right and really put the needed money into turning BMO into something state of the art and making sure they get the absolute best surface for both clubs needs and bring in moving seats so that soccer fans on the ends of the stadium don't wind up being stuck miles back from the end of the field.</p>
<p>The problem is that most fans don't have faith in MLSE to ensure that things are done the right way and figure it would mean ruining the intimate feeling that BMO currently has and mean the return of the turf that the club sold <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110922/maurice-edu">Maurice Edu</a> to get rid of. If it goes down that way it would probably push quite a few more fans over the edge. Hopefully it doesn't come to that and the Argos get their own home in a part of the city with better transit access.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Predicted line-up? </b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>Joe Bendik</span>; Jonas Elmer, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/149734/gale-agbossoumonde">Gale Agbossoumonde</a>, Steven Caldwell, <span>Richard Eckersley</span>; <span>Bobby Convey</span>, <span>Jeremy Hall</span>, <span>Darel Russell</span>, <span>Alvaro Rey</span>; Andrew Weideman, <span>Robert Earnshaw</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Gracias, Dave.</p>
<p><b>***Update***</b></p>
<p>As I was putting together this post, one of Dave's answers spurred me to ask him a follow up question, so I shot him an email.</p>
<p><b>You mentioned that Tim Leiweke would rather see a DP spot used on a big name, Beckham type, signing. I know <span>Junior Hoilett</span> is not a big, Beckham type signing, but he is a pretty good player, he is Canadian and I've heard rumors linking him to TFC as far back as 2011 when Blackburn were relegated from the Premier League. Also, Ryan Nelson and Hoilett were teammates last year at Queen's Park Rangers. Is this just a bunch of nice coincidences, or could Hoilett be playing for TFC in 2014? (via Mark O'Rourke)</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Opening the Junior Hoilett can of worms is always dangerous for soccer fans north of the border. It is hard to imagine him coming to play for a club in Canada when he is not even willing to commit to playing for the Canadian National Team.</p>
<p>The links between Junior and Toronto FC have more to do with the fact that he does spend his offseason at home in Canada and this past summer both he and his younger brother, Janeil, spent a couple of weeks training with Toronto FC.</p>
<p>At this point in his career I think that Hoilett is focused on proving himself in England and moving beyond being the player who has been relegated in his past two Premier League season. If he moves from QPR it is clear that there is enough other clubs interested in him to make it almost impossible to imagine him signing for TFC.</p>
<p>It is far more likely that we will see TFC going after players like the ones they were linked to this past summer or the type that keep being liked to LAG. Guys like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/164127/diego-forlan">Diego Forlan</a>, <span>Francesco Totti</span>, or <span>Maxi Moralez</span> are far more likely to be the kind of targets they go after. It will probably be a while before we see another Canadian DP at BMO Field.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Once again, thank you, Dave.</p>
https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2013/9/10/4715880/chicago-v-toronto-mls-27-fireside-chatMark O'Rourke