by Ethan Johnson
May 29, 2008
It's game 2 of the Marco Ferruzzi era, and since I was in the stands with camera in hand, please rise, and salute YOUR investigative bullet points:
- Standard FCD/HOU disclaimer: These teams really do not like each other. Do not adjust your set.
- Houston was coming off of a road loss to San Jose (!!), and FCD was coming off of a much-needed win against Real Salt Lake. Would the momentum be in FCD's favor?
- As is my custom during FCD/HOU recaps, I will say One Nice Thing about Houston: Specifically, as much as I hate to say this, about the traveling support groups. They were sectioned off close to my seat, and I have to say, they have a great "sound". Drums, cymbals, brass (!!), singing... all very well-orchestrated in clear contrast to the less polished Inferno. However, considering the TV mics were pointed in their general direction, the broadcast picked up whatever the Inferno was chanting, giving the impression that the Houston supporters weren't being loud. Oh, they were loud. Props to them.
- BUT, lest anyone think I am wearing orange and singing from the Houston hymnal, it amused me that the Houston fans had to be surrounded by a blend of PHP security, FCD staffers, and Frisco police. Their reputation preceded them, apparently. I saw at least one fan ejection, which I have opted to not publish since cops were doing the escorting. Photo on file, though. (Grin)
- Considering that we had torrential rains the day before, game day was hot and dry. Not that I wanted a rainy game. Bad for the camera.
- This game was supposed to be played in August, but in a move that still rages with controversy, the date was moved to yesterday (a Wednesday night - brilliant!) to book a rock concert. Michael Hitchcock insists that the move is/was in the best interests of "the business" - whatever that means - but screwing your team (3 games in 8 days - brilliant!) and your fans can't be that good for "the business". I think "the business" is going to give Hitchcock "the heave-ho" by season's end.
- Oh, Hitchcock is largely tasked with selling tickets. Tickets to what, I don't know. What I do know is that moments before kick-off, there were oceans of empty seats. The stadium filled in slightly during the first half, but I'm sure the insufferable Houston wags are making bales of hay about the crappy attendance. More on that story later.
- FCD hero and media darling Dominic Oduro got the start. Wowwwwwww. Normally he's a "come in off the bench and thrill the crowd" kind of guy.
- 26th minute: FCD apparently watched the footage of the SJ/HOU game from last week. SJ, in spite of themselves, managed to keep attacking pressure on Houston and tried to set up crossing plays that died on the vine. Kenny Cooper sailed a cross over to Saragosa, who rushed the shot and set it out wide. I mean, sweet "gimme" play gone sour. "A" for effort.
- 35th minute: A common complaint on the fan forum is that FCD relies too heavily on the "long ball" up to the forwards. Guess what? Pablo Ricchetti lofted a free kick from miles away on up to Kenny Cooper, who nailed a sweet bending shot into the net around Pat Onstad. 1-0 Hoops. I tried to egg on the Houston fans by flashing "hook 'em horns" hand signs but they weren't biting. (The FCD mascot is a bull.)
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Halftime. Today's interlude concerns the attendance numbers that Michael Hitchcock is allegedly tasked with bolstering. Thanks to "Arkansas Hoops Fan" on the fan forum, I have numbers to share that will shock you:
Chivas: 17,540 (home opener)
RBNY: 11,564
New England: 10,453
LA (Beckham): 22,331
RSL: 8,960
HOU: 8,541Average attendance: 13,231
Non-Beckham average attendance: 11,411To clarify, that's roughly a 50% drop in attendance since the home opener, excluding the "Beckham bounce". I assumed that attendance was sparse after the LA game due to blowback from the Steve Morrow firing, but the data show that attendance was falling steadily anyway. That's embarrassing, and frankly, if this trend is not reversed, we might be watching FC St. Louis right quick. And concerts will be held in the Pizza Hut Amphitheater. Oh wait.
- The "attendance thing" is probably a topic for a stand-alone article, but briefly, I think props are due to Houston fans for actually showing up and supporting their team (at home). There are mitigating circumstances, such as Houston being 2-time MLS Cup champions, but Houston wanted an MLS team, got one, got a silver spoon at that - OK, I'll table that for now - and have made good on providing visible support. Amazingly, MLS is threatening to relocate the team to someplace like St Louis for not being profitable, but I think this has more to do with the college stadium they use and all that entails. Plus hardball to get Houston to pony up a soccer-specific stadium. Dallas is often written off as a "small market" for soccer events, but there is a strong multi-ethnic fan base. FCD isn't reaching that base. If anything, the assumption that soccer fans will "just" flock to Pepperoni Park on game day and not be concerned with the quality of play is foolish and I dare say incredibly arrogant - with the caveat that this assumes that the FCD brass is in fact being passive in their attempts to build a fan base. Perception = reality and all that jazz, and the reality is, attendance sucks eggs. Explain. Better yet, fix it.
- Diulio Davino was subbed out shortly into the second half. He has been wearing the captain's armband this season, and I found it noteworthy that he gave it to Pablo Ricchetti. Ricchetti may not be THE heart and soul of this team, but he'd have to be in the top three.
- 58th minute: Two Houston players that I prefer to have "quiet" outings are Dwayne De Rosario and Brian Ching. Naturally, they both had to chime in on a single play. DeRo sent a long ball up to Ching, who tapped it over to Corey Ashe, and into the net. 1-1.
- 60th minute: At the far end of the field, Juan Toja sent a rolling cross over to Pablo Ricchetti... and the crowd went wild! But for naught, as the sure-fire goal wasn't. Still 1-1, and Pablo slowly limped back into the action.
- 69th minute: Rocha sent a corner kick in, and Drew Moor headed it in for the score. 2-1 Hoops, and there was much rejoicing.
- 78th minute: Saragosa bumped into Eddie Robinson's back while making a play for the ball in front of the Houston net. Robinson sent Saragosa to the turf with a hard shove, and stood over him apparently spoiling for a fight. Pat Onstad, the Houston goalie, has a tendency that I fully encourage to get wrapped up in any sort of on-field drama. Instead, he tried to diffuse the situation and initiate a fast-break opportunity. Nope, lots of pushing and shoving between teams, and Andre Rocha endeared himself to me by wandering in from outside of the huddle to apparently slap a Houston player. I'll say this here and now, in writing: I have no use for hothead bullshit like that. It's one thing to be "passionate" about the game. We like-a the passion. But slapping players, no matter the team (or player) is uncalled for and unwelcome. This isn't the first time that Rocha has engaged in hotheaded behavior, but he earned the latest in a string of red cards for FCD. Eddie Robinson was red carded as well. Saragosa received a yellow. Both teams down to 10 a side.
- Side note: I included the standard disclaimer earlier, but my impression is that a Dominic Kinnear team is intrinsically going to be more "chippy", petulant, and plain dirty than usual. Who was Nate Jaqua before he came to Houston? He became - keepin' it real - a jerk while he was on the roster. Eddie Robinson wasn't retaliating against dirty FCD play. Certainly not in proportion to the deed. Where does that come from? I suspect the coach. Could be mere coincidence. I base this on non-FCD games, fully expecting that the in-state rivalry will provide some heat and smoke.
- 90+ minutes: People on the fan forum are accusing FCD of giving the ball away to Houston too readily. Upon review of the DVR footage, FCD made a run at the Houston goal, missed, Houston maintained possession upfield, and guess who? Brian Ching sent a header into the crossbar, and Dwayne De Rosario was in position to capitalize on the rebound. 2-2. Sala apparently landed awkwardly on his right thigh while attempting the save.
- Ballgame. Each team gets a standings point, which keeps FCD third in the Western Conference, and Houston fifth. While this sounds promising, I wrote out a single table standings format to get a sense of how things stand against the eastern Conference, and FCD is 7th out of 14 teams, whereas Houston is 11th. Not looking good for the defending MLS Cup champions. Tough luck. Things are less grim for FCD, and in spite of the problems plaguing the team/organization this year, the Marco Ferruzzi era might be less dismal than forecasted. Time will tell, of course. Oh, and FCD has not beaten or lost to Houston this season. That's different.
- One more thing: Random Streamer Era. Over. Get the memo.
Click on the thumbnails to see the full-sized image. Enjoy!
Next up: FCD faces Colorado on the road. A win would be greatly appreciated. <EM>
(Much, much more virtual ink has been spilled by me about Major League Soccer. The fledgling but growing MLS article archive may be found here.)
