WPS Chicago Red Stars vs Sky Blue: Season Opener Post Game Analysis

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The Chicago Red Stars played their first home game in their inaugural season against Sky Blue FC of NJ/NY. The game ended in a 0-0 tie.

The two teams met again this year, in Sky Blue's home opener, and the season opener for both. This time Sky Blue ended with the advantage, 1-0.

Chicago's play was reminiscent of much of the previous season, when they eventually tumbled from playoff contention to playoff elimination.

Frequently last season, Chicago had the better chances but came up empty, while their opponents would exploit a momentary Red Star defensive lapse for a goal. 

As the Red Stars began their second season, there was a lot of optimism that personnel changes between seasons had produced an impenetrable defense and a more efficient offense, but despite seven new faces among the 14 who took the pitch, it was deja vu all over again.

Chicago outshot New Jersey by 20-10, took 13 corner kicks, but couldn't convert even one attempt. The defense was tentative at first and gave up an early goal before coalescing into the impregnable barrier we had expected.

Coach Emma Hayes spoke for all Chicago fans (and players no doubt) when she told Bleacher Report ,

"Considering how much we exploited and exposed them, I’m disappointed that we didn’t come out of here with a goal at least.  Credit to their back four and their keeper, but I think it’s more poor finishing and executing on our part..and," she would go on to say, "I think we were robbed by poor officiating."  

As for the defense, Coach Hayes said,

"The team did everything we asked apart from a five minute spell where they gave up a goal in the first five minutes.  I think that was the only poor moment they executed in the game."

And that just about sums it up. Offense dominating but not finishing. Tough defense except when it's not. It's deja vu all over again.  

To make matters worse, Chicago is yet to score a single goal against New Jersey, and has lost four straight to the club going all the way back to their first meeting in 2009 that ended in a scoreless draw.   

So is the glass half-empty or half full? You decide.

Half Full

• Sky Blue is the defending WPS Champions and the Red Stars almost beat them. Half the team is new to each other and seemed to become more comfortable playing together as the game progressed.
  
  Rookie Whitney Engen, (part of the brick wall/stone wall defense along with Kate Markgraf) seemed to play into her shoes as the match progressed, and the back line seemed to respond accordingly.
  
  Two of the club's best players, WPS All-Stars Megan Rapinoe and Formiga missed the opener due to injruy but are expected to be ready to play by the next match. With their additional strength, the club may just be able to finish a shot or two. With the improved defense,  hopefully that will be enough.

Half Empty

• Same song, second verse. Offense that can't finish, defense that gives up goals during momentary lapses. New faces, old faces, same old result.
• Same post game interview, different date. Coach Hayes's post-game interviews continue to sound the same. And I paraphrase: "We did everything right but it just wasn't meant to be." (see below)
• Our coaching staff may be our biggest liability.

I think it's time to say in writing what had been said around the seats at Toyota Park for at least half of last season.

Coach Hayes is on the bubble.

Her comments above reflect the same attitude we heard from her last season. We did well, just not well enough.

So when are we going to do well enough, and when does the failure of professionals at the top of the game to execute become the coach's problem and not the players?

And sure, the officiating appears to be an issue again this season, but over the course of a season, short of game-fixing, one would expect that to even out.

Red Stars fans, like all Chicago fans (e.g. Cubs fans, Blackhawks fans, etc.) will love their club no matter what. They will turn out for matches, no matter what. They will idolize team heroes no matter what. And they should.

But what about management? How long will management support the coach no matter what?

We all want the Red Stars to succeed, and at this point we need Emma Hayes to succeed in order for the team to succeed. So we're behind her.

But somebody please start the clock. While fan loyalty to the team is or should be eternal and unconditional, management loyalty to a coach is completely conditional, and cannot be open-ended.

Please, somebody start the clock.

Note: Thanks to Lauren Green, B/R's correspondent in New Jersey, for help with interviews.

Photo: Center Back Kate Markgraf, pictured in US Women's National Team colors, expected to anchor the defense in 2010.

Next up for the Red Stars is their home opener at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.