...at the very least that might explain the way things are going.

While our complete and utter ineptitude against Dallas is enough reason for disgust (completely winless since 2005 and winless in Dallas since 1999), it's only a symptom of a much more worrying problem -- our faltering defense of our home.

Since 1998 the Fire have never lost more than five matches at home all season, including playoff and USOC games held in their primary stadium. With three home league matches remaining plus the now-uncertain playoffs, we've already met that mark this season, and have gained only 17 league points out of a possible 36 at Toyota Park, or less than half. Given the tightness of the Eastern Conference race to this point in the season, turning two or more of those draws/losses into wins could place us firmly in first or second place heading into the home stretch; yet we find ourselves sputtering and looking generally inept. This is a sharp contrast to the flowing, dominating play seen in the first half of the season most clearly shown in the 5-1 Memorial Day Demolition away to New York.

Who gets the blame for our lack of preparedness and ferocity at home?

Is it Hamlett? Does our head coach need to put more of the fear of God in his players and give more energetic team talks before kickoff and at halftime to make the team more charged? Are his lineup and substitution decisions more often than not the best for the situation given?

Is it the players? Are Blanco and company taking enough pride in the historical dominance of the Fire on their home turf? Do they require more of an incentive to grab all the points in Chicago beside outright victory?

Is it Toyota Park? Is our home too cushy for our team and too welcoming to the opposition? With the proliferation of new stadiums leaguewide, often similarly outfitted and configured, could TP be too close to what the visitors are used to?

Is it the fans? Down 3-0, and then 4-0 on Sunday the atmospheric intensity of the stadium, already low as are all wretched Sunday afternoon home matches, dropped tangibly. A fanbase that roundly jeers Donovan and Beckham when they arrive; and in the past had similar greetings for Ruiz, Graziani, Valderrama, and the entire cast of the New England Revolution -- are they complacent or lazy when faced with a deficit?

There are obviously more questions, and hardly any firm answers. Ultimately the club as a whole is to answer for our flaccid displays at 71st and Harlem, and it's hard to turn anything approaching the display shown this past Sunday into a sporting, social, and/or marketing force of any kind. The bottom line remains the results and effort shown to this point of the season are wholly unworthy of the colors worn and the badge proudly displayed by those such as Nowak, Kubik, Klopas, Bocanegra, Beasley, Armas,and even Hamlett himself.

It's clear new ownership doesn't - at least on the surface - have much tolerance for poor effort. If the current club personnel values their jobs and the spirit of the Fire, the'll do well to find a way to turn this trend around -- and quickly.

ALL-TIME HOME RECORD
(includes USOC and playoffs)
98 W13 D2 L3^
99 W9 D5 L3^
00 W17 D1 L2
01 W13 D4 L3
02 W6 D4 L4
03 W12 D4 L1
04 W7 D3 L5*
05 W7 D4 L5
06 W13 D4 L4
07 W7 D6 L3
08 W6 D2 L5 (through 22 Sept)
* did not make playoffs
^ SO counted as draws
source :: chicago-fire.com

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