Observations Of Failure: Chicago 1 - New York 0

By: Dave Martinez | September 8th, 2008

I am doing this weeks post game a bit differently. To those who love the usual format, the hero was Angel, who kept trucking and creating the entire game despite showing an enormous amount of disappointment and angst in relation to the non existent attack.

As for the other three catagories, Diego Jimenez scores an “Offside Hat Trick.” He was involved in the matches turning point, with that gift goal to the scary Stephen King (this is his most horrific tale to date!). That was also the “WHAT THE !$*@ MOMENT OF THE MATCH.” And who better to wear this weeks Special Ed Dunce cap?

But some observations on the game may expound my points best.

#1 - I am not blaming Jon Conway for that goal, because it was all Jimenez fault. But that leap Conway took, vertically and to the left, had to be the best impression of a cat falling 25 stories. Did anyone else chuckle at the sight? Why he didnt throw his body on a more horizontal plain to cover more area and block the low OR high incoming shot is beyond me.

#2 - Was it the loss of Jorge Rojas that made our midfield sputter so badly? Or are we discounting the contributions of Mike Magee, who has been as positive an offensive force as any Red Bull during this stretch run? Magee has been every bit the revelation for Metro scoring as Rojas, in my humble opinion. The loss of BOTH Red Bull standouts are what made way for that big goose egg left in Chicago.

#3 - Gabe Cichero needs more game time. He looked lost - like watching a pee wee soccer game, and seeing that one kid who cant tell his left from his right struggling to find his position on the field. I do feel his contributions (even his hot headedness) can play a positive effect for the team, but the time off with the red clearly effected his judgment out there.

#4 - I still love Diego Jimenez. He is a young noob. And like any young noob, even one with his trememdous potential, he is bound to make a mistake. Jimenez has filled in so well the past few weeks, saving the team from a goal just yesterday before gifting another. Mistakes will happen. But it doesnt take away from the impression he has already made with the Bulls.

My take? Freeman and Parke were out of position. Jimenez comes in from left back to the right middle to help them cover up. He clears to where he should have been, and King scores.

#5 - Pietravallo and Freeman were exceptionally bad. Pietra looked uninspired, Freeman looked out of place. I understand Hunter - he hasnt played in forever. But Pietra was inexplicable to me.

#6 - I love Wolyniec off the bench. Any other function? Ixnay. (also, Max Bretos, if you are reading - and you just might be! - its pronounced WALL UH NICK, not WOL KNEE ACK. It makes Red Bulls fans ears bleed everywhere!)

#7 - Even with the teams progression and growth, Angel still looks and reacts with vast disappointment if the team isnt scoring. Either he is sick of the situation here, or he truly is a leader, in the Paul O’Neill / Yankees mold, who wears his heart on his sleeve in good and bad times. Considering the recent success of the team, I am going for the latter.