US Soccer has announced the possible pairings and hosts for the US Open Cup Semi-Final round. If the Fire defeat New York next Tuesday at Toyota Park they will advance into the semi-final round and face either the Richmond Kickers in Bridgeview or Sporting Kansas City at Livestrong Park on August 30.
Paul on the Move
Midfielder Davis Paul has accepted an invite to train with the Seattle Sounders after being released by the Fire last week.
FIFA Nonsense
Mohamed Bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Conference and one of the key players in Qatar’s winning bid for the 2022 World Cup is expected to face FIFA’s ethics committee on July 22 and claims he won’t go down without a fight. He’s apparently upset that he got busted while others continue to skate.
Speaking of getting busted, Jack Warner (possibly the most despicable character in a lot of loathsome snakes) denies that he voted for Qatar instead of the United States in 2022. His relationship and involvement with Bin Hammam in this latest scam lends some credence to the accusations.
As for Qatar and 2022…..check out this masterpiece of an idea.
Filed under: 2011 US Open Cup
Tags: Davis Paul, FIFA Corruption, Qatar, US Open Cup
Tryouts for the U-16 and U-18 academy teams are set for July 13.....
http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2011/07/2011-academy-tryouts
Latest All-In podcast with Sean Johnson......
http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2011/07/all-sean-johnson
Why the URL links not working? I'm too lazy to copy and paste today...
lol....hopfeully that will be corrected soon too
GR, Any idea when the sister cities cup will begin? Looks like after Portland but no announcement have been made yet. Is Fire vs MUFC the only exhibition match this year?
There will be no Sister Cities "competition" this summer. So far Manchester United is the only international friendly announced.
GR, any word on sister cities cup?
There must be more bugs cause seems i'm posting twice...
Just got a "slow down" warning from the website.
Anyway, one of the many problems with playing 3 periods is that one end of the field could be preferred due to sun, wind, supporters or whatever. So one team gets the advantage twice as long. Never happen. They'll move the tournament first.
The biggest problem with playing three periods is that it's incredibly stupid.
That sounds like a Gary Bettman type of idea if he was running FIFA.
How often are you supposed to see "You're posting to fast slow down"?
Did you see that Deron Williams of the NBA's New Jersey Nets is set to play in Turkey if there's a lock-out in the states? With possibly more stars to follow? Why can't UEFA have a lockout? I call Messi. He'd probably play better for the Fire than for Argentina!
T-Minus 8 days until the transfer window opens, any word on possible DP's, GR? Maybe some more of the media in Mexico have seen players carrying Chicago Fire folders around? I'm intrigued!
Didn't FIFA/IOC institute a mid-half break on the Olympics a couple years ago ... not a full break, but just a few minutes for the players to get a drink?
Or am I delirious having sat in the Qatar sun for 90 minutes?
I don't know remember about the Olympics, but a mid-half break is common in Mexico in particularly hot conditions.
Marco Pappa says he would like to play in Spain when his contract with the Fire expires.....
http://www.goal.com/es-us/news/2214/mercado/2011/07/08/2565735/exclusiva-mercado-me-gustar%C3%ADa-m%C3%A1s-jugar-en-espa%C3%B1a-confiesa-marco-
Also says he's heard rumors about Colo-Colo, Villareal, and Newcastle. While they're mostly just rumors he would like to pursue options in Europe.
GR, Does MLS ever enter into sign and sell contracts like the NBA does sign and trade contracts? Why let Pappa go on a free transfer and get nothing return like Chris Rolfe. The Fire builds up their reps and then lets them go for nothing seems unfair but also seem to be the norm, I guess. Any rumors about signing any of the trialists in camp?
I've never heard of an MLS sign and trade especially since most guys that leave are headed for another league/country. Sign and trade would only work if it were an interleague deal and since player contracts are essentially signed with MLS it wouldn't work like NBA sign and trades do.
The closest thing to it would be selling a player for a transfer fee before his contract expires. But if a guy only has a year left you lose that bargaining power and the player will walk at the end of the deal if you can't re-sign him ala Rolfe. It's just the reality of where the league is but it's pretty common worldwide in soccer. Players will always aspire to play in the big Euro league with big Euro cash.
Trialists come and go all the time. I'd be surprised if one of the two latest trialists were signed right away.
so any signings today or this weekend?
Not holding my breath.....
is there a possibility the owner can't afford a DP or max salary player?
I'm pretty sure he can afford it. Whether or not they can find the right guy who they think is worth the DP investment is the question.
but does he want to spend the money again after last years debacle?
That's a good question. I think they will be more cautious now when bringing on a DP but they were well aware that last year's signings were gambles when they brought them in. If it's absolutely the right guy for the right price I think they do make the move. That being said I don't see a big money DP this year.
but when do they make a move? next week? next month? during the off season? wouldn't you think it would be sooner rather than later. they have to realize that something has been missing since april and that they have been looking since then? or am i just giving them too much credit?
Trust me they realize it. I'd be surprised if there isn't an announcement on July 15 or shortly thereafter. I'd also be surprised if it wasn't for Sebastian Grazzini. There will be no fireworks this time.
New Hot Mess podcast...........
http://section8chicago.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=621:hot-mess-episode-4-the-born-again-just-like-the-last-time-episode&catid=1:general-supporter-news&Itemid=161