Save Your Panic for a Real Crisis

tjd1979@gmail.com — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Chaos! Catastrophe! And a collective vendetta against one of our best players this season thus far.

Such has been the general Fire fan reaction to the recent slide in form, which has seen us drop three of our last four games, with a suddenly anemic offense particularly enraging those who seem to think that despite MLS' undoubted parity, the Fire ought to be immune from the mini-slumps in form every team goes through.

In particular, the criticism roundly heaped upon Chad Barret [...]

Fire Edge Columbus in Cup Thriller

martygroark@gmail.com — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:00:00 +0100

On Tuesday June 10th, the Fire traveled 3 hours south of Chicago to Bradley University in Peoria, IL where they met the Columbus Crew in a play-in game to the 2008 U.S. Open Cup. With a record crowd arriving on a warm, early evening at Bradley's Shea Stadium, the Fire took to the field looking like a team with something to prove after an embarrassing first round knockout in last year's Open Cup to the USL-1's Carolina Railhawks. Fielding a team with many underused players, D [...]

Game Preview: Fire @ NYRB

tjd1979@gmail.com — Thu, 22 May 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Not since Rocky traveled to Russia to take down Ivan Drago has there been as bitter a match-up as this Sunday's Fire game in the New Jersey Swamplands.

In attendance should be all the characters who have provided Soccer By Ives with several million hits in the last six months: Juan Carlos Osorio, Wilman Conde and Lider Marmol will all be there, lined up on separate sides of the barricades despite the Red Bulls' best nefarious efforts to gather the Fire's fruit.

Two Views :: Fire Rout Revs on Road

fotop81@yahoo.com — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:00:00 +0100

A successful trip to Gilette Stadium puts the Chicago Fire near the top of the MLS table as the team continues its domination of bitter rival New England. Backdraft takes a look back at Saturday's 3-0 victory with two different reports.
Marty Groark brings us a brief break down followed by a longer editorial by Backdraft's Michael Giacometti.
[...]

Game Preview :: Chicago at New England, 5/3/08

benjamin.kumming@gmail.com — Fri, 02 May 2008 02:00:00 +0100
The rivalry Fire fans hold most dear continues this Saturday when Chicago heads to Gillette Stadium to face New England for more than just bragging rights. Both teams stand at 10 points, second and third behind League leaders Columbus (12pts), Chicago ahead on goal difference. This Saturday’s match has the potential to send the winning side to the top of the East, and the League.

THE FIRE XI

The official expected line-up shows Thorrington retaining his starting spot [...]

Postgame Interviews: Wizards 1-0 Fire

martygroark@gmail.com — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

After a 1-0 loss to the visiting Kansas City Wizards, the mood in the Fire locker room was glum to say the least. The players walked around with their heads low, and there was none of the usual joking around. It was obvious that this was a game the players felt they should have come away with at least a point from.
Kansas City's lone goal came in the 4th minute, a goal for which Chicago's backline blamed themselves. Fire defender Gonzalo Segares explained that "We just kep [...]

Match Preview: Wizards @ Fire, 04.20.08

tjd1979@gmail.com — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

The Fire XI
The Fire stood at the top of the league at the end of week 3 in MLS, though it was a fortunate win in Oakland, the expansion Earthquakes striking the woodwork twice and missing an open goal in the dying minutes. A better performance will be needed against a stronger Wizards team.
It's good that the Fire have depth at the back this season. B [...]

Game Preview :: Fire @ San Jose 4/12 3.30pm

fotop81@yahoo.com — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

The Fire XI
Optimism has come full circle following last Thursday's opener with the Revolution. Now, the Fire head West to take on the expansion Earthquakes brimming with confindence on the offensive end. Coach Hamlett has already said several times that he will start the attackers with the best chemistry, but after last game's display, it [...]

A Justified Red Card

tjd1979@gmail.com — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

Revolution supporters are still, would you believe it, complaining about Jeff Larentowicz's di smissal in the seventh minute of last week's Fire home opener. Egged on by Steve Nicol, who as Backdraft reported claimed the Revolution were "playing against the referee", they seem to think that the decision was both wholly unjust and changed the course of the match. We can prove otherwise.
The claim that it was some kind of bizarre decision by the referee unrelated to th [...]

Game Preview: Revolution @ Fire 4/03 7.30pm

tjd1979@gmail.com — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0100

The Fire XI
Plenty of excuses have been made for the Fire's poor performance in the opener, which left the team elated to escape with a point from Salt Lake City after Blanco's late equalizer. It was the altitude, or the cold, or the artificial turf, or the offseason rust, or the missing players, or the referee, or -- you [...]

Blog Entries tagged 'Games'

Save Your Panic for a Real Crisis

Fire Edge Columbus in Cup Thriller

Game Preview: Fire @ NYRB

Two Views :: Fire Rout Revs on Road

Game Preview :: Chicago at New England, 5/3/08

Postgame Interviews: Wizards 1-0 Fire

Match Preview: Wizards @ Fire, 04.20.08

Game Preview :: Fire @ San Jose 4/12 3.30pm

A Justified Red Card

Game Preview: Revolution @ Fire 4/03 7.30pm