[retired_mallory08]

Clark Tenders Resignation

Clark speaks candidly at a press conference held at Spartan Stadium.

"The players have stopped responding. I've had a few question my ability, I shipped some out, but the actions on the pitch speak for themselves. 6 defeats and a draw in our last 7 league and cup games is beyond unacceptable".

"I don't understand. We have the personnel, we have the quality. I think it's time for a change and I told the board as much. For now they've told me they're happy and confident I can turn it around. I'm not so sure. If we miss the playoffs, which is a real possibility, I will step down. "

Clark has tried, in vein, to stop the slide. He ousted Fabian Estoyanoff and his dressing room cancer to the Rapids for a 1st rounder. They added former Brazillian international Jardel, arguably the biggest name to ever grace MLS, but the 32 year old has not helped. (Fernando Hierro was reluctantly allowed to leave to accommodate the striker, despite Hierro being both affordable and solid in his time with the Quakes. "Maybe someone else will pick him up. He's still got lots to offer.")

"We're stacked. I've got multiple first round picks, Freddy Adu and a team of internationals. It's hard to walk away from, but I think it's the course I may have to take. New England are looking for a manager and I've never hidden the fact that they're my favourite team here in the MLS. I'll talk to the Krafts and see if they'd be interested in giving me another shot in this league.

"We've started making average teams look good, and good teams like world beaters. We're holding our own in every game, yet somehow, we conspire to lose to an odd goal, a piece of magic or are denied by a goalie playing at 150% of his potential. It;s beyond bad luck, it's beyond a skid. I'm sick of it."

Responding to a question about injuries...."Yeah, we've had more than our fair share. OUr players have been kicked all over the field this year. Chicago, in particular, have been dirty, filfthy, and caused multiple injuries. Not least the current one on recent signing Chris Klein. He's now out for the rest of the season. I think they've put Freddy in the treatment three games in a row. Right now we've got Wolff, Klein and Pope, amongst others, on the DL. It's as bad as when our internationals are away. Jardel even picked up a knock in training before he'd played a single minute. Maybe Stevie is pushing them too hard on the training side. I don't know. I'll look into it."

In what appears to be a bad omen, not one SJ player has stepped up in defence of his beleagered management team. Steve Nicol even took the reigns for a few games as Clark stepped out on stress-related leave. He could do nothing to stem the tide.

"There's no spirit in this camp. I guess I'm at least partly to blame for that with all the changes I've made. But we've still got a core of players who've been here since I came in, and several who arrived shortly thereafter. I've tweaked the squad but the starting XI has always been pretty steady. If more fans would turn up and put some money in the bank I might have been able to make a few better signings. Most everything I've done has been on free transfers. We all knew this franchise was struggling but I hoped that we could stay focused on the pitch and maybe behind the scenes would sort itself out. Now it seems like I'm just making it worse.

"No more questions at this time. Goodbye."

[retired_mallory08]

FIRST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE UNDER LUNG?

When it was mid-way through the season, people were pretty sure that the New England will be the odd one out of the playoff in the East, but things have changed dramatically 11 games later. The assistant manager of NE is doing a magnificant job out there.

They are currently one point behind the struggling Metrostars with a game on hand.

Get back to the Metros report, they have lost 3 in a row and 4 in their last 5. They have lost their last 4 league contest to all 4 Eastern rivals, that will not help even if they get into the playoff.

First game of the session was a 4th round game of the US Cup, the Metros matched up with the defending champion NE. The game was fairly even matched, each team had their opportunities, the Metros came out on top 1-0 at the end of the game and knocked them out of the tournament.

"Second game of the night was probably the best game I have seen the players played since I took over. Our offense was playing at above average, we got 8 shot on target on the road. And Ring no doubt played his best game in a Metrostars uniform, he defended the net all game long, SJ had 10 shot on target without a single goal. He surely deserves a MOM for the game. As for our offense in the game, Tailey hit his first even Metros' goal with a 25-yard effort, it was deflected off an defender and then went in. Near the end of the game, SJ was all out attacking and hoped to get the equaliser in, that created a lot of rooms at their own half, Peguero got a long ball from the back and hit a bullet and sealed the deal for us."

Then the Metros went on a losing skid in the league contest. They first lost to Chicago 2-0 on the road, then 1-0 to Columbus, after last was a 1-0 lost to NE at home, and lastly a 4-0 defeat against DC, they did not score a goal in those 4 matches.

In between they had an easy win over Seattle in the US Cup quarter final. They will be facing Charlotte in the Semi, they should be going to their first championship game under Lung.

The Metros had kept very quite in the transfer window this season. Recently, they almost had a vital piece of the puzzle come and will surely help them fight for the last spot of the playoff. But the deal fail through due to the fact that the Metros have 3 TI already. Eventually they had sealed the deal and it will go through at the end of the season. Lung had interest in Chen Tao since he first took charge at the beginning of last season. Lung had a couple of chances to bring the rising Chinese star to US during the course of the year. First was during the off-seaon last year, when they should have signed Chen Tao, Lung spent an unexpected 300K on Pickens, so he did not have enough fund for Tao. A week ago, the second time around, Lung should have freed Glen to make room for Tao, but he totally forgot that and the deal was eventually cancelled because the transfer deadline was passed.

Lung has a very high expectation for next season, he has very high hope on the 3 TI attacking trio of Vaca, Tao, and Peguero. But their defense is still their biggest problem, they will once again lead the league in GA, Lung will need to search for a personale who can take the leadership role at the back before they can challenge for the title.

[retired_mallory08]

Flying High

Colorado boss Greg Broz found his squad at the top of the table recently, and in more than one category. Fewest goals allowed, largest goal differential, most wins just to name a few. This while fielding a team with just 1 All Star player on the roster and only 21 players for most of the season.

Attendance is surging as well. The fans are coming in droves to the home games and Invesco field is selling out almost every night. "I would like to think it is my managerial skills they want to see, but really it is Zizi, Pezza, Fabian, and Matt and just about the whole squad. I think it was the best decision I could make in keeping the team as static as possible. I just picked up a few players here and there as I needed to fill slots. Fortunately, the right players have come along at the right time."

The Rapids currently hold the second best streak in ther MLS behind LA who has not lost 10 games in a row, the Rapids have not lost in 6 and the last loss was to LA.. In the mean time, Colorado will be facing Virginia Beach in the Lamar Hunt Open Cup semi final opposite the Metrostars, surprisingly the only other MLS squad still in the hunt.

"We had our scares in the [Open] Cup, but looking at what we have left, I think we can come away with the trophy. Virginia really doesn't have a big threat and if we play all of our starters it should almost be a walk in the park. As for the other semi finalists.. no comment.. :roll: "

The mood certainly has changed from last year when the Rapids we struggling to get a win and even a goal. It seems the Rapids have found a winning combination and will be tough to beat this year.

"It helps that we pounded SJ into submission for what they did to us last year and have their manager ready to run for the hills. I am not sure what is going on over there, I mean Fabian is an excellent player and he just could not settle there we got him for a huge bargin. He has fit in wonderfully here. Hell, Pezza was thrilled the guy was here from day 1, that should speak volumes."

"I just hope we can keep this pace up. We had a few scares several matches ago when we had lost about 4 players to injury and we had a few get called away for international duty. Right now I just want to get Matt healthy and in the net again as he seems to be the lynch pin holding the D together."

[retired_mallory08]

CHING ON THE BLOCK

As The Metrostars is trying to make a final push to secure the final playoff spot in the East this season, Lung II still looking for every possible way to make this team better in the long run.

He has been very patient with some of the players on the squad, but he is now trying to change things a bit. From what he said yesterday to a reporter, "I want to bring the most out of every player on my squad, but sometimes it does not work out, maybe he is not fit into the system I am trying to implement, so is time to move on." According to some reports, Lung II is going to place Brian Ching on the transfer block, he said that he is looking for a high round draft pick.

Brian Ching, the everyday striker for the Metros this season had only socred 3 times in more than 20 appearances. If he is traded, this will create some playing time for DeRosario and a couple of young forward down the road. His striker spot will be replacing by the talented Chinese star Chen Tao next season.

[retired_mallory08]

Johan Grommen speaks Candidly

A local journalist caught up Mr. Grommen at a local nitespot in Chicago and got the following comments out of the tight-lipped Belgian.

Respond to Clark's comments about your team being filthy:

Well, if young Freddy or any player for that matter can't stand up to stress of playing professional football then they don't belong on the pitch. Injuries are a part of football, then happen in training, and they are dealt with by every manager in the world. I'm not going to deny it, we have injured quite a few players this season. I believe that it's just a by-product of the lad's commitment to the cause, and there's nothing malicious or underhanded to it. The rumors off the teams' motto being "Time to injure, maim, mutilate, cripple and cause bodliy harm" are just unfounded.

What do you think of Clark's Ultimatum?

As a manager I'm ashamed and appalled by them. Mr Clark lacks professionalism and the Earthquake fans should demand his immediate termination. His team has no chemistry and how can it? The dressing room door at Spartan Stadium is a turnstile, no wonder the fans don't bother showing up. I bet they can't name anybody apart from Freddy Adu and they have international calibre players. Clark's biggest mistakes have been moving Pezzarossi to Colorado and Palblo Mastroeni to Kansas City. The board has been very patient with him and his underachievers in a season that promised the MLS Title. Now that the inept Dallas attack looks to be getting into gear, Clark may miss the playoffs.

NE or NY?

It's a tough question but I think it may come down to the GD and this gives the Revs a distinct advantage since NY leaks too many goals. In the offseason, NY need to aquire a first-class centre half to stabilize the rear guard. They also need to improve the inconsistent keeping of Henry Ring. But the MLS needs the Metro's to be in the playoffs and successful, here's to an exciting playoff race.

[retired_mallory08]

Clark Speaks to the Press

"I haven't made any ultimatums. Frankly, I don't think I'm in any position to be making demands on anyone. Grommen is barking up the wrong tree. Sure, the fans may be up in arms against me, but only because of the way my team is playing. Not my conduct. As it happens, last time I checked both they and the board supported my position."

"...and Grom is correct, right;y or wrongly injuries are a part of the game. However, I think the Commissioner should come down hard on players and/or managers who go out with the intent to injure. It's endangering players livelyhoods and beyond reproach. We don't want another Alfie Haaland situation where a good player's career was ended out of malice. As I recall Roy Keane wasn't even punished properly for that. It's just a game, let's try and keep it clean and fair."

[retired_mallory08]

Sacked!

Coach Smith-Bryan was said to be very disappointed with GM Lamar Hunt's decision to fire him.

"Has he been watching the same team as me?" said coach.

"We have a great nucleus of players here at the Crew. Yeah, we've been carrying some players lately, but it's time for a clear out.."

Coach refused to comment on which players he was thinking of letting go.

[retired_mallory08]

[retired_mallory08]

[retired_mallory08]

DC Ready for Playoffs

After closing out the season with 6 straight wins, DC United captured the home field advantage in the East and look towards facing New England's revitalised team in the semi finals. In the last game of the season, DC faced their conference counterparts in a preview of the semi finals. Despite a fast start, New England could not capitalise on their chances. Returning from injury, Stoyko Sakaliev opened the scoring and Ivan Robelto added a second before being stretchered off with a minor twisted ankle. Robelto, who has impressed in his first season with DC is expected to be back in training two days before the first leg of the semifinals and is likely to feature against New England once again.

In other news, it is rumored that DC have started to shop around versatile defender Leonardo Gonzalez since he will be occupying an SI slot next season. Gonzalez has been an important figure in the DC defense and it is expected that United will look for pick in the top half of the first round as compensation. His replacement Luis Gutierrez was brought in when his contract expired on September 1st but is not allowed to take part in matches this season due to foreigner limits.

Several United players finished the season at the top of the individual standings this season. Carlos Fernando Figueroa and Ben Olsen were 1 and 2 in the average rating rankings, Stoyko Sakaliev was second in goals scored and Piero Alva lead the league in assists. Matt Denecour also made strides in his rookie making a total of 17 appearances with 8 from the bench. As a team, DC United defense was tied for first in the league with Colorado while getting edged slightly by the same team in the scoring rankings to take second place.