Before getting into this post's topic, I wanted to take care of a little house keeping for fun.
Days of current Brandon/J/Andrew post strike: 6 days.
This month has the most posts since: June 2009 (27) and ranks 2nd all time for most posts in a month. Quantity, not quality.
On this date in LSF history:
On 6/30/2008 a post titled "A different choice, a sweep stopped, and the Gayest 100 ever" was the top story. It talked about how the 49-33 Halos beat the Dodgers 1-0 on the back of a huge John Lackey effort. Tyson Gay made an appearance as well.
On 6/30/2009 a post titled "No-Show Joe, Angels lose" was the top story. It talked about Joe Saunders going 3.67 short innings of 8 run ball in a big loss to the then second place Rangers. Hopefully not foreshadowing...
That was fun, but now to the business at hand.
Chivas USA, as has been explored deeply on this blog, has underperformed like reverse gang busters this year. Losing Kljestan to Europe, Bornstein to the World Cup, and various stars to injury hasn't helped. But, excuses are like brains: everyone has one (G rated). However, being 3-9-1 with a -6 goal differential and no team below you in the tables is serious stuff. We ant pretend that it wouldn't be happening if Borns was out on the back line all this time. We've been out shutout 5-2 this season, and you can't even blame ZTB for that. Head coach Martin Vasquez has to take some loads of blame. He has the talent to play at least .500 footie. What's the deal?
Well, a couple of recent developments have completely changed the feeling around Goat Nation, and I'm wondering if it's good to get so geeked, or a slight mistake that could send us spriling even more. You be the judge.
Midfield sensation Paulo Nagamura is back. The former MLS Champ was a fan favorite from 2007-2009, nailing 8 big goals. Despite being with Los Angeles, Toronto FC, and most recently Tigres UANL of the FMF, Naga has only scored for the Red & White. He's stoked to be back, we're stoked to have him, and Goat fans are pumping this up as a way to save the team.
Also, yesterday was a big day for Chivas. In 2005, Chivas USA was a big player in the US Open Cup, making it deep before getting knocked out by Los Angeles. From 2006-2009, however, we were eliminated by AYSO teams in the opening round. The US Open Cup has been around since 1914 and is one of the most storied domestic tournaments in the world (really, it is), so it has come as quite exciting news that Chivas made it out of the first round with a huge 1-nil win yesterday in front of their supporters at Cal State Fullerton over the Austin Aztex (I'm sure Mexicans appreciate the "cool" spelling change). It was #2 goal scorer Jesus Padilla (who wears the #10 because he's "the man") connecting from 18 yards out after a brilliant long ball from last week's goal scorer and El Salvadorian attacking midfielder Osael Romero that broke it open in the 12th minute against the USDL-1 leaders from Austin. Zach "The Beast" Thorton was solid in net, making two breathtaking stops against the 'Tex, and Chivas broke their seven game losing streak over all competitions. Now we've qualified for the quarterfinals against the powerhouse from Houston. Memories, painful memories.
Obviously, it's a big win to try and give this team some spirit heading into this weekend's test against the Philly Union, but the headline seem a tad over the top. "Chivas ignores history, claims win over Austin," from the San Bernardino Sun. "FINALLY A WIN," all caps from LA Soccer News. Is this win over the Aztex really worth the hype? Sure we only had one win in our US Open Cup history prior to this, so it's big, but are we going beyond? Are we setting ourselves up for a biglet down this weekend? I hope not.
It's a big game for Chivas against Philly to try and get our MLS campaign back on track, and I'm interested in getting you all to come around and support the Red & White. Most of you don't have a MLS team to support (you don't like KC, Brandon; you don't like Toronto, Andrew), and I think it'd be fun if we actually all rooted for a team together. Chivas USA should be that team. To get you on board, let's meet some of my favorite Goats, and maybe you'll be so pumped, you'll want to get together to cheer Chivas on the rest of the way:
#22 Zach "The Beast" Thorton (Keeper): ZTB really burst back onto the scene in 2009 not only as MLS Comeback Player of the Year, but also as MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. He was last year's Chivas Team MVP, and he had to be to help us move on after Brad Guzan fled to Europe. He finished with 12 shutouts in 27 games. While he may not be playing at that level still here in 2010, he is still a force in the net. Of course, if he doesn't turn it around, you have former UCSB goalie (2001-2004) and Fullerton raised Dan Kennedy as our capable backup (and a possible favorite player for Brandon) So much to support at the GK position.
#13 Jonathan "Born Identity" Bornstein (D): Borns is a Los Al native who shined at UCLA, and showed the world he could hang with the best in the final two US games at the World Cup. He has 3 straight MLS All-Star nods (2007-2009), the MLS Rookie of the Year award (2006) and despite missing time for the World Cup, he has already pulled in an assist in 9 games.
#8 Mariano "The Trujth" Trujillo (D): The veteran of Pumas, Morelia, Atlante, and Santos Laguna of the FMF became a studly part of the defense last year with one assist in 18 starts, and has already amassed 3 helpers in 13 starts (every game) this campaign. He's a huge fan favorite.
#4 Michael "Umaña from heaven" Umaña (D): The Costa Rican has also started every match for Chivas thus far, and is a native of Santa Ana....Costa Rica. He's second on the team in minutes.
Other notable defenders: Dario Delgado, Marcelo Saragosa, and Ante Jazic.
#18 Blair "Zips" Gavin (M): Also known as the "Louisville Slugger", Gavin has been a solid addition to the Goats in the middle of the field after being selected 10th overall in the 2010 MLS Draft from Akron. He recorded the game winning penalty kick in a shootout to send Akron to the National Championship game over UNC, making him an instant hero. So far in 2010, he has a goal and an assist, marking his presence with authority.
#10 Jesus "El Gringo" Padilla (M): The San Jose, CA native (and therefore Karen's favorite) was a solid player for the real Chivas in Guadalajara. However, they kind of take their players' "Mexicaness" very seriously. They are the only FMF squad to only field Mexican players throughout their history. While that would be racist in the States, is wildly popular in Mexico. Padilla, because of fans questioning his "Mexicaness" due to his US native-ness, was sent from Guadalajara to Chivas USA, and it's been a sweet deal for us. Not only did El Gringo break our US Open Cup curse yesterday, but he also has 3 MLS goals so far this season in just 12 games.
#11 Michael "The Fighting Baptist" Lahoud (M): Lahoud would probably be Jon's favorite Chivas player, being that he was a huge threat from midfield at Wake Forest, including winning the 2007 NCAA National Championship. He was drafted 9th overall in the '09 draft by Chivas , and nailed a goal and an assist in a shortened campaign. In 9 games this year, he has two assists.
#7 Osael "Sal" Romero (M): Osael is the new guy, playing just 4 games since coming to the squad on loan from Vista Hermosa. He scored his first (of hopefully many) MLS goal in last week's loss to FC Dallas and set up yesterday's game winner to Padilla. More to come, hopefully.
Other notable midfielders: Sacha Kljestan (rest in peace out there in Europr), Ben Zemanski, and Gerson Mayen).
#17 Justin "Brains & Braun" Braun (F): Now we're getting to the stars, eh? Brauny leads the team with 4 goals, after a concussion shortened season kept his potential down last year. The SLC native is showing in his 3rd MLS year that he's the kind of guy who can lead the team.
#77 Chukwudi "Chuk Wagon" Chijindu (F): A native of Upland, Chukwudi has been a fan favorite since joining the team in 2009. He already has a goal and an assist this year, equaling his total from 11 games last year. The standout from UConn led his college in goals in his Junior & Senior years, and clearly has the best nickname on the squad. He kind of reminds me of "Better Than" Ezra Hendrickson, and therefore would qualify as a potential favorite for Andrew.
#29 Maicon "Carnával" Santos (F):
The lone Brazilian on the team already has a goal in just 9 games this year, he became famous around Goat Nation assisting on a Kljestan goal one day after signing with the team last year, and for netting a goal against Los Angeles in the playoffs.
#9 Maykel "Missle" Galindo (F): Galindo has been my favorite Chivas player since joining the team in 2007 from the pre-MLS Seattle Sounders. He had 12 goals and 5 assists in his first season with the team (5th in the MLS), suffered through a sports hernia in 2008, and came back with 4 goals last year in just 15 starts. The short speedster who loves to shush the away crowd when he scores hopes to find his precious touch as the season goes on, either as a starter or a sub.
Well, I hope I gave you enough fun stuff about Chivas so you'll hop on board with me and make this 3-9-1 squad the team that we all root for together. I'm telling you, it'd be fun. Saturday at 7:30, Chivas goes against the Philly Union, and the season turnaround begins thanks to our unified support.
Support the MLS, soccer fans.
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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