Will This Make Up For Not Getting Into the World Series?
Last night, the Chicago Fire beat the MetroStars for in the final of the U.S. Open Cup. It was a close game, and for long stretches of it, the MetroStars did far better against a very talented Chicago team than could be expected. Yet, they didn't do as well as they could have. Throughout the first half, they had control of the game, but never really threatened to score. From the beginning of the second half, they were less in control, giving up the game's only goal a bit after the one hour mark.
It was only in the last fifteen minutes of the game, particularly after Clint Mathis and Richie Williams were removed, that the MetroStars looked truly dangerous. Bob Bradley is moving the team closer to the line up I suggested a few weeks ago, and the team is getting better. Amado Guevara is playing much better. His problem may have been that, for whatever reason, Mathis has refused to play in a normal striker's role and, by dropping back, was getting in Guevara's way. And John Wolyniec has got to be the most improved player in the history of soccer. In the course of a single season, he has gone from clueless to determined to effective to almost slick.
So in the spirit of compromise, I'd like to revise my suggestion a bit in an effort to meet Bradley half way:
|
Juskowiak |
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Wolyniec |
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| Lisi |
|
Gaven |
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Guevara |
|
Clark |
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| Bartolomeu |
Jolley |
|
Pope |
Leitch |
|
Walker |
|
This leaves me puzzled about Mathis. He has fallen almost as far as Wolyniec has climbed. Two years ago, he was the most dangerous striker that the United States had ever produced. He was unstoppable. Now, at twenty-seven, he's starting to look washed up. Perhaps the biggest cheer of the night was when he was removed from the game. What happened?
8:04:28 AM 
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