my national team woes

I wrote this at the height of World Cup Fever and sat on it until now out of respect for all of the soccer fans following it. I didn’t want to shit on anyone’s party. Now that it’s long behind us. I’ll shit freely.

The problem I have with supporting any US national team is that I conflate supporting the team with supporting what my country represents, what actions it takes and how those actions affect the world. I realize this is not fair. I realize that the athletes that represent our nation don’t have anything to do with actions taken by our government, or by the ruling class. But this doesn’t matter to me when it comes down to it.

It sits so wrong with me to be watching an event where the stadium is chanting USA USA and everyone is covered in red white and blue at the same time that domestic terrorists are burning black churches in our country. When domestic terrorists are murdering black people in our country. When police officers are torturing and murdering people – primarily people of color. When we are holding women and children in tiny deportation centers and cells because they were trying to make a better life for themselves here. When the leadership of my city of Chicago is attacking public education and turning it over to private companies wherever possible. When our government continues to support, materially and morally, the apartheid government of Israel in their oppression of Palestinians, and their general bullying of their neighbors. When our government continues to use our massive military as a unilateral global police force and conducts declared and undeclared wars on anyone who stands in our way somehow. When these wars continue to destroy people’s lives. When our government continues to deny support to veterans of these military campaigns once they come home.

The list goes on and many people much more articulate than I have written about these things.

But this is the problem. I cannot in good conscience support the national team without all these things – these current events – popping up in my mind. I am inundated with these things. Every day. What happens in my country and in my name sickens me. And when I see people say things about ‘Murica and Go USA it actually causes a visceral reaction of disgust. It feels jingoistic, tone deaf and divisive. I can’t be all nation happy about any nation that oppresses people and has a long history of genocide, slavery, racism, sexism, intolerance, hatred and injustice. A nation that continues to refuse to own up to its history. Yes, that is probably the majority of the nations on earth. I have conflicted feelings about supporting most national teams for some reason or another.

I am conflicted about this, especially with the women’s national soccer team, because I want to support them as players and people. If they were the club in my city or something, I would support them. It has nothing to do with them as people or players. It has a little to do with US Soccer being US Soccer and my negative feelings towards them as an institution. But nothing to do with the players involved.

I also have intensely negative feelings about FIFA and the world cup and the Olympic Committee and the Olympics. In general they are very destructive agents. You can read all about it elsewhere. I read about the behind the scenes news about what FIFA is doing, what the sponsors involved our doing, what the nations involved are doing. I try to be aware and then I try to treat the actual games as just a spectacle, as a soap opera drama, without getting caught up in who is actually winning. I go with supporting the underdog in general and players I like. But even so, at some point I find myself having extremely negative reactions to watching the US team. I do end up viewing them as complicit representatives of what we represent as a Nation. And I do end up viewing the loud supporters, the ones who dress up, the supporters groups, American Outlaws, et al, as representatives of what we represent as well. And I feel what we represent is ugly. Is violent and destructive. It’s not something I love at all.

I love the people in my community, I love my community. I think there are a lot of good people in my neighborhood, in my city, in my country. I think there are a lot of amazing people working for positive change in this country but they are not those in power. They are not the Nation. The Nation has almost always been on the wrong side of history, only making progress when the people at the bottom demand change.

All of this is just an expression of how I feel. I’m not telling anyone how to support or not support their team. Or what to think or anything like that. I don’t think less of anyone as a person for supporting their national team at all. I make no judgments. This is a personal feeling, for me. This is just something that has been festering for a while that I needed to get off my chest.

red stars / fckc

(Look! I’ll embed the highlights!)

Starting Lineup

Huerta / Press
Quon / Colaprico / Mautz
Chalupny
Hemmings / Erceg / Johnston / Lomnicki
Dalton

Johnson and Gilliland sat cuz of injuries.

A Brief Description of Transpired Events

First Half

We began things with some opening flyover shots. Drone cam? I’m not sure how I feel about drones in general. Cuz I’m paranoid like that. But at least it allows for flyover cams on a budget instead of relying on helicopters, zeppelins, elaborate rigging overhead, etc.

Then once the game started there were some nervy opening minutes from the Red Stars. Holiday, Rodriguez and O’Reilly are tough to deal with. Also some cheap giveaways.

Our first goal came in the 12th minute. After Dalton launched the ball forward, it took a few hits and bounces among a few different players of either persuasion before Chalupny settled it and rushed forward. And amazingly, or not so amazingly – it being Chalupny, she slotted a pass through Kansas City’s midfield presence, four of them, for Press to run onto. Goalkeeper Rowland ran forward to try to cut Press off, but Press simply rounded her and gently kicked the ball into the open goal.

Chalupny feeding Press is beauty.

Passing. Some fouls. A free kick taken by Chalupny. The teams traded counterattacks as well as passing combinations through the midfield. Fullbacks involved in the attack. Soccer was played.

FCKCUSA equalized in the 36th minute on a corner taken by Lauren Holiday. She found the head of the traitor LePeilbet. It was fast. It was efficient. It was brutal. Words were exchanged between Dalton and Erceg. And then we were tied.

As the first half ground on, it felt kind of listless to me for some reason. Kind of directionless. Not as crisp and flowing. Not as much triangulation action. More missed connections on our end. Both teams seeming kind of tired. Maybe this was because both teams were effective at canceling each other out.

42nd minute saw a yellow given to Erceg for gently pulling Rodriguez down to the ground. The counter was on, Rodriguez was through. Erceg was professional in her fouling. Fortunately, it all went down outside of the box. Could’ve been a red, should’ve been? I don’t know. The free kick came to nothing.

By the end of the half, Kansas City seemed to be more focused. They came into it. They wanted it more, etc.

Half – The Second

In the opening moments, Colaprico and Chalupny swapped roles – Colaprico dropped back and Chalupny more advanced. However, we continued to play without patience, not playing possession and looking to rush the attack. It didn’t work so well.

Dalton had a huge huge save in the 62nd minute, diving to get a crucial hand on a massive shot at speed and distance from Leigh Ann Robinson. Bonus camaraderie – as Robinson walked into the box for the ensuing corner, she patted Dalton on the butt as if to say, good job blocking my shot. Dalton returned the favor by patting Robinson on the shoulder as if to say, good job making me work. Heart. Dalton followed up the massive block with another massive block, leaping to tip the corner kick over the cross bar.

64th minute substitution, Dibernardo in and Quon off. And much rejoicing happened. Not because Quon is bad, but because we were missing Dibernardo. Chalupny slid over to the left to make room for her in the middle. And almost immediately we seemed to press higher and try to keep Kansas City in their own half. We seem a better team with Dibernardo in, more patient, more deliberate.

In the 74th minute, Press showed her ridiculous Press-ness. Chalupny picked her out in front of goal and Press used her footwork skills to dump the traitor LePeilbet, create space and chip goalkeeper Rowland. Beautiful goal. Beautiful.

Chalupny feeding Press is beauty.

Colaprico took a very pretty shot from distance that was only kept out by the cross bar in the 78th minute. Mautz collected the rebound and took a quick shot, but goalkeeper Rowland kept it out. We needed that one. That would’ve given us all three points. Also note, Tancredi replaced Huerta around now.

87th minute Kansas City sent a long ball into the box. It found the head of Sarah Hagen and popped over Dalton and into the goal. And it was tied. And it felt like we lost. Argh!!!

A few more minutes of soccer happened and then it was over.

Notes
Interesting starting lineup – With Dibernardo sitting and getting a rest for once, Colaprico played the role of attacking central midfield and Chalupny in the defensive mid role. Seems to me it would be Colaprico sticking in her usual spot and Chalupny would be the advanced midfielder charged with creating, but nope. What do I know.

I’ve come to view LePeilbet as a traitor. I’m harsh like that. It’s cuz she’s from Crystal Lake, IL (which is next door to where I’m from) and didn’t want to play in Chicago when originally allocated. I’m harsh like that. I’m sure she’s a grand person in real life. But, soccer is soccer, Red Stars are my Red Stars and I’m harsh like that.

Shout out to Local 134 for organizing the main Chicago – Red Stars call and response chant. Going around and talking to the newcomers – well done.

The glitch and stutter of the Red Stars stream continues to annoy. We must do better next year. Sometimes the screen melts into giant pixels. Video art in pure form.

Another production dis – the replays are frequently only replays of the very end of the action. Never the whole event. Kind of post-modern, but also kind of useless in this context.

Laugh-In camera zooms on the audience.

I’m ready for the announcers to stop small-talking about the world cup. I’m probably alone. But I’m ready for it. Really, stop talking about which national team members the fans get to watch. Don’t care anymore.

Standing on the sideline, Arnim Whisler is the Angel of Light.

red stars / boston again

Yes, you fucking dancer. Indeed.

Here we go again. Just four days after our 1-1 draw, we go off to Boston to do it all over. Boston is at the bottom of the table, but they seemed to give us a much harder time than I would’ve expected.

Starting lineup

Tancredi / Huerta
Quon / Dibernardo / Colaprico / Mautz
Gilliland / Johnston / Johnson / Lomnicki
Dalton

Subs
LeBlanc, Erceg, Hemmings, Leon, Press, Walls.

With only the handful of days rest, Hoy, Hemmings, Erceg and LeBlanc all get a break. Who is awesome? Samantha Johnson? When does she not start? And Julie Johnson makes her first start since coming back from that world cup deal.

First Half

The game started off with the usual press and pass action. Not counting a free kick taken by Dibernardo given for a foul on Quon, Huerta was the first to get a shot on goal that was easily gobbled up by goalkeeper Naeher. She tried again a few minutes later since the Red Stars hadn’t left Boston’s side of the field. Boston’s defense and midfield were fairly shambolic early on with no real time to organize their lines.

Mautz was absolutely crushed in the tenth minute, leveled by Julie King. Rough. Huerta fanned her off with her hand and she was cured. Like James Brown overheating and getting revived by a cape. She is awarded a free kick that Dibernardo takes, but it came to nothing.

In the 14th minute Dibernardo slid the ball forward to Huerta on the left, deep in our own half, Huerta running out of room and with a Breaker closing her down took a touch and burst beyond her defender into wide open spaces. She was able to get her cross off to Tancredi in front of goal who one timed her shot, but Naeher blocked it again. Naeher!

Naeher would do this throughout the game and again in the 19th minute, coming off her line to shut down another Huerta attempt on goal She is so huge for Boston right now.

Finally in the 21st minute, Boston did something. From nothing Schoepfer got a shot through many bodies of both persuasions that went just wide. And then, shortly after, Boston’s Evans had enough of Gilliland’s magic feet ways and stepovers and beautifully slid in and to take it away. A fine tackle. Props.

The sun came out.

Boston had another chance in the 32nd minute. Julie Johnston half cleared an incoming cross that fell for Kyah Simon who took a semi-acrobatic side volley karate kick shot on goal that forced Dalton to make a massive diving save to keep it from going in. Dalton!

Huerta with another shot attempt, Naeher with another massive block. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

The scoring began in the 41st minute. Off a throw-in, Gilliland found Huerta who sent it right back to Gilliland and she did her Gilliland thing and burned down the left side of the field before sending a long cross into the box that Mautz volleyed back across the face of goal for Tancredi to sneakily volley past Naeher for the goal. And it was so sneak, like she hardly looked at it until after it was in. Like, hello ball, let me introduce you to the back of my heel. Sneaky, Tancredi, sneaky. As a good striker does, she put herself into a good position for that one.

From a Chicago fan’s perspective the first half was an enjoyable, chill, experience. An effortless display from Chicago pressing and passing and taking our time with it. Then Boston came into the game more and then it was a little more open and back and forth and all that. And then the goal from Tancredi. Lovely. Pleasant. Like hanging out with some summer beer in your back yard. Just like that. From a Boston fan’s perspective. Probably not so much.

Second Half

The first ten minutes of the second half went down much as the first half – Chicago living in Boston’s half and then Boston occasionally breaking out for a few moments before we continued our press.

Hemmings came on for Lomnicki in the 56th minute. But, why? Lomnicki seemed to play well for the time she was on. Was she injured? Tired? Not providing enough offensive threat? We may never know.

A few minutes later Press came in for Tancredi and Tancredi passed the captain’s band to Hemmings.  And with Press on, there was much joy in Chicago and less joy in Boston. Happy to see her signature off the ball trot in a Chicago jersey again.

The next few minutes were all Chicago as Boston defensive shape kind of dissolved into mist. We got three consecutive shots off, but all were blocked. Then Press created space for herself by cutting back and ditching her defender. With the space she made, she took a dipping shot that Naeher just tipped over the cross bar. Naeher! Press!

Boston decided to make it interesting in the 68th minute. Stephanie McCaffrey sent a cross in that Hemmings was trying to track, but Kyah Simon caught up to her and as they both went up for it, it was Simon who got her head on it and the rest of her body on Hemmings. The ball went in and Hemmings went down hard, seemingly landing on her shoulder, her head kind of bouncing off the ground as well. Not pretty, but effective.

I honestly don’t know how athletes do this playing sports thing. If i fell like Hemmings did, I would be a weeping mess on the ground, refusing to get up and then going home and not getting out of bed for a week. Calling in to work, sorry, I got knocked down. Instead Hemmings just gets up and is like, cool, let’s play.

Hoy came in for Mautz in the 80th minute. And we were rolling with three certified strikers. We wanted this, we hate draws. What was the formation, like 4-1-2-3 or something? I must know!

A few minutes after coming in, Hoy, created some space on the left side, worked her way in to get a cross off to Press. But Press’ shot goes into the side netting. Close. Real close.

Boston almost got some/the points in the 85th minute when Mewis took an amazing free kick. Press and Dibernardo formed one tiny wall and the mass of remaining players were all scrummed up to the left. Mewis placed her shot in between these two obstacles and past Dalton’s outstretched diving hands. Fortunately for us, the far post came up big and tipped it out. We were lucky. Holy fuck. Close, Boston, real close.

89th minute. Oh. My. God. Nail biting edge of your seat sort of stuff. Julie Johnston restarted after an offside call, passed to Quon who passed back to Johnson. Johnson saw Huerta making a move and lofted the ball over the midfield, Huerta got to the ball, stayed onside and with three defenders closing her down, held up the play. She saw Press and Hoy materialize in space to her right, both isntantly swarmed by Bostonians, but she still got the ball through to Hoy who was hounded and tapped the ball out to Press who had marginally more space just inside the top of the box.

And then Press was Press.

She set up her shot and smashed the ball past diving and outstretched Naeher. Hugs all around. Five goals in four games for her. Huzzah!

And. Then. We. Slowed. The. Game. Way. Down. And then it was over. And top of the league, top of the league. Again and again! And after the game, the Boston players looked so, so dejected. Oh, Boston fans, I’m so sorry. As a Chicago Fire fan, I know your pain all too well.

As of now we’ve got 25 points, but Seattle won as well and they are right at our heels at 24 points. Can I say how much fun this season has been? Where did this team come from? I’ve been following this team for a few years now and this year is so different from the past two years. We were always decent, always competitive, but this year we’re like transcendent. Beautiful stuff. I guess this was slowly simmering and developing just underneath the surface for the past two seasons.

Random Notes

Where is Chulupny?

I’m probably one of few, but whenever I hear Boston’s McCaffrey called, I just imagine people riding on time-traveling dragons in a far off land called Pern.

I like to pretend that Julie Johnston’s cross tattoo behind her ear is actually a straight edge X. But, I am a godless sort.

Apparently it was Think Pink night in Boston. Didn’t know they had so much love for Twink in Boston, good on them!

Mewis got Dalton’s knee in her chest in the 66th minute and dropped straight down. Samantha Johnson is class and tries to help out.

Do we play a 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond, Dibernardo at the top and Colaprico at the bottom? Or is it a 4-1-3-2, with Colaprico as that 1? These small nuances keep me up at night. Thinking. Thinking. It’s important.

Does Gilliland even wear shin guards? Her socks are so low.

Boston’s production crew is solid. Steady camera work, not herky jerky at all, they are able to get good angles to minimize camera movement. Well done. I am envious.

Oh, you liked Twink so much? Here’s the whole album, enjoy.

jah wobble

I’m currently reading Totally Wired: Postpunk Interviews and Overviews by Simon Reynolds and in the interview with Jah Wobble, Wobble mentions that he is a huge soccer fan.

I can be a complete arsehole. But if I could somehow be not me and could go back in time and meet PiL, I probably would like me best out of all of them. But in a way, that was PiL – they didn’t care about being liked. It was very wilful, warped and immature. I’m a big football fan, and it’s the same with footballers – you don’t want to meet them. All they want to talk about is how big their mercedes is. But on the pitch they might have this moment of genius that transcends who they are.

This resonates with me. I live for that little second of genius that transcends. Some little movement or feint or kick of the ball. Some little run without the ball, something that they do almost on instinct that is beautiful to watch. It’s like artistry. It is artistry I suppose and I always want the athlete to be a nerdy artsy type as well as the athlete. Not just some douchebag spoiled rich kid. There are a few that I’ve come across. But they seem to be few and far between, especially at the high level professional hundreds of thousands of dollars a week level.

If you don’t know who Jah Wobble is, that’s cool, listen to this cuz that’s him on bass.

Or this one

Or this one

Or this one

Really, just go get the album, Metal Box which is also known as Second Edition. Just do it, cuz it’s transcendent. Like that little moment of genius that transcends who they are. The first record is pretty good too.

Red Stars / Boston

Hello, welcome to this Chicago Red Stars live blog style recap action thing. Full disclosure – I was stuck at the Philadelphia airport waiting for the weather to clear in Chicago when this game started and was in the air when it went down. So I only saw it after the fact, but I wrote this while I watched it for the first time. These are my spontaneous thoughts, live! Uncut! As it happened!
And, without further ado, let’s get started shall we. Whoa! A seeming crane shot opens the coverage. It zooms over the stadium in Lisle kind of gliding like some sort of flying bird that flies. Neat. I think the production budge was blown on that shot. Also, former Red Star, holding mid and header extraordinaire, Jackie Santacaterina, is doing color commentary! Jackie!

Starting Lineup

Huerta / Hoy
Dibernardo
Chalupny / Mautz
Colaprico
Gilliland / Johnson / Erceg / Hemmings
LeBlanc

I like this, cuz we continue to slowly ease the national team players back into rotation. First it was Erceg for a few games. Now we’ve got LeBlanc back in goal and Chalupny back in the midfield. Slow and steady. Also, I’d like to take the opportunity to say that Michele Dalton did amazing in her time as starting goalkeeper! Well done!
I’m also interested to see if our midfield formation changes at all with Chalupny back in the lineup. Will we continue our diamond-esque maneuvers or will we try something else, go back to the flat four with Chalupny and Dibernardo in the middle and Colaprico on the wing with Mautz? Hmm. Tough to call. And we had so much success with our diamond, it’s hard for me to root for change right now. But, y’know, life is change, you never step in the same river twice, or something.

And just as I wrote that, out the players come and it looks like it’s a straight swap Chalupny for Quon. We will see if any morphology happens as the game goes on.

We are still kicking it with some herky jerk camera work. As we do in Chicago. Still dreaming of the day that we have a different production company. More sold out games so that we can afford to upgrade, please!

As always I will profess my love for Hemmings as the rightback. Doing the defensive work but so fabulous going forward, working her way through defenders to the endline and threading passes and crosses through to runners in the box.

Fifth minute – Mautz tries to repeat her beautiful cross to head trick from last time out and finds Hoy who does get her foot on it but it goes straight to goalkeeper Naeher.

That herky jerk camera is making it hard to follow this one. Hard to get a sense of flow and hard to tell what play is actually being made or what part of the body the players are getting on the ball or if they’re touching the ball and who is passing to who, etc. On the plus side, I can hear the crowd chanting! More sold out games, please!

Ahhh, we might see cooling breaks tonight. Hopefully we won’t see any melting shoes tonight since we roll on some famously awful turf and it was shit hot out in Chicago today.

Side note – is Mautz pronounced Mawts or Motts like applesauce? I know it’s not Moots, right?

18 minutes in and Boston hasn’t had much going at all. Mewis had a non-threatening shot from distance that went wide, but that was all. Chicago has had most of the play so far, passing through the midfield at will, creating a few solid chances, but not able to finish anything yet.

In the 21st minute, after the first Chicago corner, Chalupny wins the ball back in a duel, knocking an unidentified Boston player to the ground in the process. She settles it for Huerta who runs at Boston who backs off of her and she takes a shot as soon as she’s in the box, it’s on target, but goes just over the cross bar.

Sorry to flog a dead horse, but this stream is particularly bad this time. Like I’m watching it on my friend’s BBS with a dial-up connection. The dream of the 90s is alive!

24th minute and Boston takes another shot. Olé!

And immediately after it seems that Boston has had enough of Chalupny knocking their players down and takes her down hard. Historically, she does foul a lot, but she is on the receiving end even more.

Glad to hear the Dames has at least played lip service to making the returning World Cup players earn their spots in the lineup. I know marketing needs the names, but this supposed “B” team has been so good.

33rd minute sees Chalupny take another shot from distance and at an angle that seems to be on target, but Naeher gets a hand on it and tips it away. A few seconds later sees Hemmings make a lovely pass through to Hoy, but she’s ruled offside.

Seems that our attack has been primarily going down on the right side so far. Colaprico, Hemmings and Mautz consistently working up the right. Chicago seems to play on the left only in the final third and Gilliland hasn’t been involved as much. Has Boston been shutting that side down? Or are they just weaker on their left? Hmm. Hard to say.

Excitement in the 42nd minute! Boston with a deep throw in that falls to the feet of Boston’s Pathman who sends a cross into the box, there is a lone Boston player there, but LeBlanc comes charging out to punch it away. The ball only goes as far as Schoepfer) who tries her luck from distance, attempting to catch LeBlanc off her line. But LeBlanc is quick and dives to her right to keep it out and Hemmings races back to prevent giving up the corner.

Local 134, loud! On Camera! Leading some back and forth chants with the crowd in the main stands, Yes! More sold out butts in seats, please!

Aaaaaaand, half time.

Aaaaaaand, second half.

Drums! Drums in the deep! of Local 134!

And there, there at the end of the 53rd minute a beauty of a goal from our senior members, Hemmings and Chalupny. A fairly long spell of possession starts with Colaprico settling the ball for Gilliland just inside Boston’s half. Gilliland triangulates with Chalupny who sends it back to Colaprico who moves on up and sends it over Boston’s defenders, switching fields, to Mautz who is just onside. Mautz lays it off to Dibernardo who spots Hemmings unmarked all the way on the right. Hemmings blows by her defender, works her way into the penalty area and snakes the ball through four defenders to Chalupny. Chalupny, by the way, is completely unmarked. All alone at the top of the box. Four Boston defenders are collapsing onto Hemmings with Naeher making a sliding tackle. Solitary Chalupny makes no mistake. None. And we are up 1-0. Aces! I love the goals that come from teamwork and passing most of all. They are glorious. And this year we seem to pull them off frequently. Huzzah!

Quon for Chalupny in the 61st minute. Well done Chalupny! The captain’s band is given back to Hemmings. The minute ends with Gilliland making some fancy moves along the left and then in front of the goal, but her final shot/pass comes to nothing.

Oh no, teeth gnashing! Boston gets one back in the 62nd minute, although the camera missed it. McCaffrey manages to slip between Erceg and Johnson and is in on goal with only LeBlanc to beat. Which she does. Sending it to LeBlanc’s left. The only mistake of the night for our defense, so far. And they make us rue it. Rue it!

Ugh. Big yellow for Schoepfer who tackles Hoy and kind of flips her onto the turf. Free kick to us, Who will take this one? Dibernardo? Colaprico? We have specialists. Dibernardo takes it. Can we regain the lead? No. The ball is deflected by a Boston forehead.

McCaffrey tests LeBlanc again just minutes after her goal, but LeBlanc keeps it out at the cost of a corner, which Dibernardo clears. Boston is coming back into the game in this half.
Hey Adriana Leon! In for Mautz. 67th minute. Her first appearance of the season, courtesy of John Herdman’s sequestering of the Canadian national players. Slow and steady repatriation. Another like for like straight swap. No changes to the formation.

70th minute and Gilliland repeats her move from earlier, blazing up the left and then cutting in towards goal, this time laying it off to Hoy who has time and space but her shot goes straight to Naeher.

Side note – Jackie Santacaterina seems pretty comfortable on the mic. Maybe she should do this color thing more often? Comfortable and knowledgeable are good.
75th minute and a yellow is given to Leon for a challenge.

Announcer Lisa Byington with all the spoilers for the Flash/Reign game. Hope you weren’t hoping for an unspoiled viewing of that one.

We have settled into a bit of end of game back and forth action.

84th minute – Boxx for Hoy. We are going to defend this one out – rest Hoy and get Boxx some playing time. Oooh. I take it back – Quon drops back into the left back role and Gilliland moves up top as a striker and immediately gets a chance on goal. Looks like Boxx is now our defensive mid and Colaprico has joined the rest of the midfield in attacking.

And with a free kick taken by Erceg that comes to nothing, so ends this game.

1-1. and still top of the league, top of the league! I was hoping for another win of course, considering Boston are living in the basement of the league right now. But a point is a point right now. We were still solid aside from that one mistake by Erceg and Johnson that unfortunately led to Boston’s equalizer.

Post script – Julie Johnston is kicking it with Local 134 before the welcome back post game deal. That’s awfully nice of her.

we’re back again – red stars / sky blue recap

Alright, I’m gonna do this one live blog stylee, cuz that’s what I’ve got time for and that’s the way to get this thing back in action. So without further ado – the lineup.

Hoy / Huerta

Dibernardo
Quon            Mautz
Colaprico

Gilliland / Johnson / Erceg / Hemmings

Dalton

Hey, shout out to Erceg. Sorry for her world cup dreams, but stoked that she’s back with us! Can I say that I love the fact that Hemmings has been captain with Chalupny out at the World Cup? I do. Fabulous. Before this game, I dreamt that Hemmings and Johnston had a miscue in the backline that led to a goal and then after it happened, they fought. And I was like, why is Johnston even here, she’s supposed to be in Canada still! Premonition of things to come? I hope not. Cuz that’s not a situation I could see actually happening in real life.

Sky Blue’s stadium announcer is delightfully corny. Kinda like Conan O’Brien’s old announcer, Joel Godard.

I guess we’re in third place going into this game. But we’ve got a game in hand now cuz of our washout against the Dash – so don’t worry. I’m not. I feel like I haven’t watched the Red Stars in forever. Sky Blue announcer using kind of a weird phrase saying that players get a little bit of head on it. I’m leaving that without comment.

One thing I missed about watching the Red Stars for the past few weeks – Arin fucking Gilliland. She’s so much fun to watch on the left.

And in the sixth fucking minute we score! Fabulous beginning. Huerta dumps her defender in the box and is able to slot a pass across the goal for Dibernardo to finish off. That’s a nice turn of events. Awesome for her to get a goal to add to her assists.

Ninth minute, Hoy makes it to the endline and sends a beautiful cross in for Huerta, but she heads it over. This opening ten minutes has been all Red Stars. Possession and pressing for possession. Aces. We are fun to watch. Fun!

It’s hard to track our midfield. Quon, Mautz, Dibernardo continue to shift around, taking turns going forward, dropping back and switching sides. Colaprico continues to play at the base of the diamond. She has been very effective for us there, but in the pre-season I never would’ve guessed that would be her position. Coming into the season they had talked about how she was going to be crucial on the wing, but since the departure of the national team players, she’s been the diamond anchor.

19th minute – Maya Hayes makes a strong run towards our box, initially our defenders drop off and give her some space, but then Gilliland blocks Hayes’ pass to Morris, the ball goes straight to Johnson’s foot, rebounds to Hayes who knocks Gilliland to the ground, continues her run into the box, takes her shot, only for Johnson to make a huge block to deny her. It all ends with a cross from Morris that Dalton collects easily. I love our defenders!

21st minute, Freels has a close call. Seemingly out of nowhere. A cross is only half cleared by Erceg and Freels takes a shot from the top of the box and it goes off the cross bar. Yikes! Had it dipped an inch, it would’ve been a beauty.

Kind of feel bad for Nadia Nadim hanging out all by her lonesome in the 4-1-4-1. No one else up there to help her out. So she’s just running and running around trying to get the ball.

I say that and then Lytle almost gets one in. Shaking our defenders and getting a shot off that goes just wide to the right. So thanks to her for helping out Nadim.

34th minute. HOOOOOOOYYYYYY!!!!!! Aces.

Quon intercepts a pass and breaks forward, ahead of her she has Hoy to the right and Huerta to the left – both making runs. Sky Blue’s Grubka charges Quon who gets her pass off to Huerta. Grubka then desperately runs back to pressure and Cutshall gets in front of Huerta, which leaves Hoy all alone, completely unmarked. Goalkeeper Cameron tries to cut off Hoy’s angle but Hoy shoots past her. 2-0. Beautiful combination.

Have I said I love watching this team? Cuz I do.

In the 42nd minute, Huerta misses a sitter that Hoy perfectly set up for her. Sigh. 3-0 would’ve been super going into the half. 2-0 isn’t bad though.

In the opening five minutes, possession seems more evenly split between the two teams as they take turns going back and forth. Then in the 50th minute a huge save from Dalton. Nadim is finally in on goal, one on one with Dalton who dives to her left to keep it out. Massive, Dalton, massive.

And there’s the third goal. Mautz! In the 62nd minute. Dalton boots it out of the back, Hemmings heads it down for Colaprico who sends it up to Hoy making a run. Hoy only has Cutshall between her and Cameron. She cuts back and passes it to Mautz coming up the middle. Mautz shoots between two defenders, the ball takes a slight deflection off one of them and sneaks in.

This second half has been a sustained back and forth. Sky Blue has had a few half chances, but nothing too threatening. Chicago continues to attack and press, working their way into the box, sending crosses in, a few long balls over the top for Hoy to run onto, earning corners. Bonus – so far, no short corners.

After the 80th minute, chances a plenty! We are living in their half.

Hey, Sky Blue get a shot off in the 85th. It’s over the bar though. But for the next minute Sky Blue keep it in our half.

Lomnicki comes in for Quon in the 88th minute and looks like she’ll just cover Quon’s spot in the midfield.

Sky Blue’s defender Cutshall, has had a busy game. The scoreline could’ve been a lot worse, but she’s cut out passes and kept our forwards off the ball a number of times. So, shout out to her.

Walls in for Hoy in the 90th minute. We are running down the clock now.

Ugh, sadness for Nadim. 92nd minute – a beautiful sideways bicycle kick thing off a corner that is just an inch too high. It goes off the cross bar. She would’ve deserved that one. And after a minute of the ball rolling around a bit, the game ends.

So, after our shellacking by the Flash before the world cup break, we put in a solid performance, largely dominating a basement dweller. This is what you want from a team that’s at the top of the table. We should be outplaying the underperformers. Aces all around everybody!

Higlights:

Oh, wait, you wanted to watch the whole thing again?

top of the league!

Top of the league! Top of the league! Two wins, one draw, I’d say we are in a groove. Stoked! So stoked that I think I only have one complaint which I’ll lead off with.

There were ridiculous amounts of long distance shots. Press took way too many from way far away. Pass the ball dude! Hold it up and look for other options. She was primarily guilty of this in the first half and seemed to improve in the second when we were more patient and taking less desperate shots. I know she’d been on fire coming into this game so why not take a few hopeful ones, but good lord after those all failed. Breathe. Take a minute. Focus. Work on the patient build up option.

Now for the PMA stuff.

Danielle Colaprico was awesome. The whole night she was great. Getting into good positions and making herself available and dangerous and how fabulous that she got two opportunities to get that goal in. Yes! I felt like she really stood out in this game, kind of like her coming out party or something.

Happy to see someone other than Press score. This was, and continues to be, a concern of mine. Hoy got that other one, but so far it’s been the Press show. Which is great when Press is on your team, but when she’s not on your team someone else needs to do it. And so far it’s only been Hoy. Now we have two players who have shown they can score. I assume we will be scoring by committee while Press is out, so the more the merrier. And now we have Mautz when she’s on and Colaprico – threats from both wings.

Arin Gilliland looked fabulous as a winger on the right. Holy crap! I was thinking why the fuck isn’t she at left back, why are we playing Chalupny there. Still not entirely sure why. But I was still like why, you know? Bummed to not see Gilliland out there cuz I think she needs to be out there cuz she adds that other layer to our offense. And when she was subbed on I was surprised to see her on the wing, but I guess I shouldn’t have been. And I certainly wasn’t disappointed. She continued to show her ridiculous skills on the offense but was still able to contribute to the defense. I guess I don’t care where she plays anymore (but I think she should be playing as an outside back) as long as she’s on the field.

We were actually passing the ball around a lot. Working on possession and build up. And even occasionally building out of the back. Fabs! Slightly less direct action. This was so good to see. Coming into this season I was thinking we’d hear some talk about more possession and passing, but we’d end up punching everybody like years past – especially against the top tier teams. But so far we’ve been playing progressively more positive I think. This was easily are best outing in this regard. We seemed to work more on breaking them down with skills instead of physicality.

Great to see Johnson back in the lineup. She will be crucial in the next string of games as the boss of the back line and it seems like she’s ready for it.

Our defense tightened it up and we got our first clean sheet. The question is, were we that much better defensively, or was SBFC that much worse?

Huerta needs to step it up, hopefully she will now that Press is gone and she will possibly switch to playing as striker.

Another cardless performance from our side! Huzzah! Although you could maybe make a case for a card against LeBlanc for taking down Nadim. But, eh. Shit happens sometimes. And I am absolutely sure we will get shit on later this season. So I’ll take a no call.

Highlights

chicago? portland? yes.

Psyched now? Here’s a quick preview dealy bob.

I imagine we will be seeing a similar lineup to our last outing, which I honestly would be completely fine with. The only change I might make is have Gilliland start over Quon, cuz when she came on against Seattle it really felt like the flow of the game on the left side of the pitch. I could also see her being used as a second half sub though to attack tired defenders. The only other change I could see to the starting lineup is maybe Mautz starting over Huerta. But only cuz Huerta had a quiet first time out. But starting Huerta could help get her acclimated quicker, which I’m good with. (Update – Quon is questionable for the game and Mautz is out of the game, so, y’know, moot point.) These are both slight change possibilities. Ultimately I’m cool with what we went with last time.

Hoy / Press
Huerta / Chalupny / Dibernardo / Colaprico
Glliland / Erceg / Johnston / Hemmings
LeBlanc

As always, I hope to see more passing, more breaking down the defense and midfield using technique and chess action. But, also as always, that’s a pipe dream. I’m expecting us to pass sometimes but mostly dribble at and through the defense and lay off the pass or get a cross in. We are direct. We are defenders and counter attackers. Acceptance. Something else I’m hoping for is a second game with no yellows (or reds) given to us! That would melt my brain. And make me so happy too.

My only true concern is our ability to defend set pieces – especially corners. The two goals we gave up last week were off of corners, which last year seemed unthinkable. Impossible! We were so aces in defense that I never really worried about it. I never felt pangs of oh shit in those situations. We just dealt with them calmly, efficiently and got out of trouble quickly. I’m hoping that issue was just working out first game kinks and jitters and that we will tighten up going forward.

So, now the drag. We are playing loathsome Portland. Ugh. The worst. Gnashing of teeth. Rage. A few things to note about them. They’ve won their first two games. They are at the top of the league. Allie Long has scored three goals in the last two games for Portland. So, clearly, stop her. Also McCall Zerboni has been influential. Stop her. Portland has been kicking it with the three in the back lately this season which allows them five players in the midfield which they look to dominate. I grudgingly admit that Portland is talented. But I don’t fear them. Look for us to play to the wings and counter. But look for Portland to totally expect that.

As a side note, I sure hope Tobin Heath doesn’t hurt any of our players and end their season. All shade meant.

Injuries

Out for Portland: Alex Morgan. Possibly out: Kat Williamson, Rachel Van Hollebeke.

Out for Chicago: nah. Alyssa Mautz (ankle sprain). Questionable – Rachel Quon (left ankle sprain).

Here’s my official prediction. We win 2-1. Cuz we’re at home and we got the floooooow!

in which crow is consumed

So, I’m full of shit. I’m not surprised. I’m all heart, y’know. And this crow is delicious.

I called the flat 4-4-2. I almost called the 2-2 scoreline, but that’s one I’m happy to be wrong on. I completely fucked the lineup. My assumption had been that the world cup players wouldn’t be allowed to play a whole lot. But boy howdy did they.

Hoy / Press
Huerta / Chalupny / Dibernardo / Colaprico
Quon / Erceg / Johnston / Hemmings
LeBlanc

We went out with what is essentially our full strength lineup and said lineup ruled for the most part. It definitely seemed like the first game of the season as we played with no real rhythm for the majority of the game and our defensive lapses on set pieces was a novelty compared to last year. But there were glimpses of what’s to come once everybody gets settled.

The thing that I was happiest to see was Hoy and Press combining and playing off each other. For the second goal Press fed Hoy a fabulous ball right in front of Seattle’s goal that Hoy put away with ease and then Hoy returned the favor on our third goal and served it forth for Press to run on to. Fabulous!

Another thing that I was stoked to see was Arin Gilliland’s second half debut. I don’t know if it was just a matter of her not being fit enough to go a full 90 or if they were unsure of her starting abilities or what, but she looked awesome out there when she came on. Immediately making the left side of the field an active part of the game. Prior to her coming on it seemed more offensive forays were on the right with Hemmings. But Gilliland was great on both sides of the ball putting in a convincing shift defending and getting forward.

Oooh, the third thing I was happy to see was that we didn’t knock everyone over on our quest – no yellow cards received! Huzzah! Sure it wasn’t beautiful due to the combination of our pitch, wind and first game-ness. But it wasn’t a brawl either, so that was great! We strung together some good passing sequences – largely in the first part of the match. It seemed like somewhere around 15 minutes into the second half a lot of long balls started flying over the midfield in an attempt to release (sometimes) Hoy and (mostly) Press. But largely, this was a much more positive game than I was expecting.

A few times our center backs cleared the ball unnecessarily booting it out of the back when some simple passes would have helped maintain possession. It was even more frustrating when either by intent or by wind the ball sailed straight out of bounds.

Both of Seattle’s goals came off of corner’s (which is kind of worrisome). The first happened in the 30th minute when Rapinoe sent the ball in for a mostly unmarked Yanez to get her head on and send past LeBlanc. It looked like both Huerta and Johnston failed to mark her while keeping their eyes on the ball. And while they both tried to make up for it, but it was too late.

But almost immediately after restarting, Johnston headed a ball forward for, I think, Dibernardo to bring down. There was a glitch in the stream right when this happened so it was tough to make out. But I think Dibernardo headed it further through Seattle’s defenders and Press used her speed to get through and placed it past the diving Solo.

Our second goal came moments later in the 35th minute. Dibernardo collected the ball in the middle and saw the miles and years of space open out on the right and sent the ball into the path of Hemmings who used her speed to quickly fill all those miles and years of space open out on the right. As soon as I saw her get on that ball I knew something was going to happen. And it did. She took a touch to get past her defenders and then quickly sent the ball to the opposite side of the field. Christen Press quickly settled it and picked out Hoy’s run towards the goal and Hoy made no mistake redirecting the ball past the last defender and into the back of the net.

Our lead was short lived as Seattle equalized off of a corner in the 38th minute. This seemed a more shambolic affair. A short corner before sending the ball into our box, LeBlanc missing the ball while diving for it, leaving Johnston alone to protect the net, Dibernardo trying to close down onrushing Kendall Fletcher who headed it in.

Shannon Boxx came on for Huerta at the half pushing Colaprico to the left and it seemed like we were playing a 4-2-2-2 or something with Chalupny and Boxx playing centrally above the defense and Colaprico and Dibernardo in front of them but more to the left. Chalupny seemed to be playing the deepest of anyone in the midfield and Boxx getting forward more often. Sometimes it looked like 4-1-3-2 with Chalupny occupying that 1 space and Boxx on the right.

The second half was kind of a hypnotic back and forth affair with quick midfield skirmishes and then long balls sent over the top. This from both sides. And just as it seemed that my 2-2 prediction was going to hold, the Red Stars had other plans.

In the 91st minute Chalupny cleared the ball with a boot forward that Hoy took out of the air with a volley into the path of Press on the right. Press took a touch to round her defender, turned on her speed, took one more touch to set up her shot and sent it past onrushing Solo into the back of the net. Hooray. She seemed absolutely determined to make me eat my words. And I did. She’s part of the team, I take it all back. After that we held on to the ball and played out the clock and won. Success!

A few random notes –

It was good to see Press and Hoy buzzing around and harrying Seattle’s defenders frequently knocking balls loose. Attempting to make something out of nothing. Also, clicking. I hope this means they are figuring each other out. Cuz if they keep this up, they will be mighty.

Huerta was pretty quiet for her first game. Nothing bad, nothing great. But she did have a decent run in the 19th minute when Press found her blazing up the left. Huerta took on and shed two defenders, found a little space to get off a shot from distance. It was a good chance. I’m not judging her after only one performance. Overall I think she was decent and will get better with a few more games.

Colaprico looked pretty awesome out there. She played the full 90 and created some chances, made good passes and made her presence known as a winger on both sides of the pitch. I’m completely stoked for her this year.

Quon had a few moments of frustration passing directly into Seattle players or out of bounds.

Long balls on our pitch don’t work great cuz the ball bounces so high it’s like the players have to position themselves for the initial landing and then again for the second bounce. This gives the opposing player plenty of time to poach the pass and make it their own.

game fucking on!

Yes! It’s been so long since I heard that song in this context. Let’s listen to it again.

Okay. Okay. Now it’s out of my system. Just kidding. That one’s never out of my system.

Here’s my predicted starting line up. I think we’re doing a 4-4-2 and I think we’re going to go flat. Cuz it’s safe and we are safe and solid and always have been. I think we’ve always done 4-4-2 flat stylee and I don’t think we’ll change any time soon. Maybe we will.

Huerta / Hoy

Colaprico / Chalupny / Dibernardo / Mautz

Gilliland / Johnson / Hemmings / Quon

Dalton

*I don’t actually know if Quon is currently in Chicago or with Canada. If she’s not available, swap Hemmings for her.

I think Chalupny will be the only world cup attendee that will start the game cuz she’s Chalupny. I think we will see some of the others come in as subs, but I am predicting limited minutes for the world cuppers to reduce their chances of getting injured. I also think it will help build cohesion within the team that will be playing for the majority of the season. But, what the fuck do I know? Not much.

As far as our opposition goes? It’s Seattle. They are one of the few teams that I fear and respect. They play supremely well. Very intelligent. Very superlative. They also thrashed Western New York last week. 5-1. Dig that. 5-1. And most of their team isn’t going away to the world cup. They are going to be beastly in the best possible way. It goes without saying, so I’m going to say it anyways, that shutting down their ridiculous midfield is crucial. I’m also predicting a massive reliance on our aces back line to contain Seattle’s pressure and get the ball moving quickly for the counter. Absorb and counter. Absorb and counter. That’s what I’m predicting.

Given that we are Chicago and we like to knock people down, I expect a lot of cards for this one. I expect a lot of disruptive, grindy and direct play that will keep the score line close. I expect this. I don’t want this. I expect this. I love the Red Stars, they are my favorite team in the world. For real. But, this is the third season of NWSL so I come to expect things in our style. I’d like to think and I am hoping that since we acquired some more finesse players over the off-season that we will play to their strengths. And I am fairly optimistic right now that we will do that over the course of the season. I’m fairly stoked on the idea of Gilliland combining with Colaprico and Dibernardo who then link up with our forwards. But since this will be our first game and it will be against the Reign, I think we will rely on our rumble stylee for this one.

Prove me wrong Chicago! Please! Prove me wrong!

I’m publicly predicting a 2-2 draw to Seattle (I’ll keep my cynical mouth shut). Did I say they are supremely good.

So there you go. What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Think I’m full of shit? Reply below, I like to talk about the Red Stars and you should too!