Goats related predictions for the 2012 MLS season

• By John Santos, Chivas USA Examiner

Disclaimer: The following list is an attempt at humor and is to be taken completely serious.  In fact, go to Vegas right now and place some big bets.  Enjoy.

-First and foremost, as the Mayan prophecies aren’t supposed to happen till December of next year, we will indeed have a 2012 MLS Season.

-Bofo (Former Mexican National Team/Guadalajara member) will be rumored to show up at Chivas USA yet again.  Despite barely playing an hour off Soccer all of last season at Queretaro someone will say that he is what Chivas USA desperately needs and that he can singlehandedly lead the team to the promise land.

-The Goats will pass up yet another great prospect (George John, Graham Zusi,  Joao Plata, a Farfan brother, CJ Sapong  anyone?) in the MLS SuperDraft and settle for less, but hope for the best.

-The neighbors will once again send their sloppy seconds to Chivas USA.  Not gonna say who, but we’ll see it coming a mile away.

Advertisement -Chivas USA will win the Superclasico series ending 5 years of frustration.  Having built up a good amount of sloppy seconds, they’ll know all of the neighbor’s secrets.  Hmm, guess those sloppy seconds can still taste good.  Yummy!!!!

-The Goats will continue not to win in Seattle (those 0-0 ties have been exciting though).  Speaking of Seattle, they will not get the United States National team to pay them a visit either.  Sorry guys, but as has been proven in our neck of the woods (in combination with the neighbors), club support doesn’t equal national support.   And even then our last three US matches have outdrawn your weak showing at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.  And don’t give me that “it was only Grenada” talk.  If you care about something you’ll go see it regardless. 

-While this examiner continues upsetting Seattle, Chivas USA may not win a regular season match up there, but they’ll take the Starfire Open Cup.  After recording over 30 saves in a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes, Zach Thornton will make the 1st three stops in the penalty shootout while Chris Cortez, Victor Estupiñian and Alejandro Moreno score all of theirs. 

-Dan Kennedy will be away with the US National team that week of the Starfire Open Cup Final

-The Black Army and Union Ultras Supporters groups will both grow in size.  But the Powers that be at Chivas USA will still make them pay for their own tickets to the away match against the neighbors, while the neighbors landlords (yes, they have them, but they never talk about them) will pay for their fans to attend our home match.

-Knowing that 30+ year old Manchester United players can still pay dividends on and off the field; Chivas USA will begin making overtures towards Ji-Sung Park who will be in the last year of his contract.  Knowing full well that our corner of the world has the largest Korean population outside of the Korean peninsula, the Goats will slowly but surely lure Mr. Park.

-Early in the year, ground will break on Corona Stadium at the Fairplex (hey, it’s better than Santa Ana).   The stadium will be ready to go in 2013 along with new signee, Ji-Sung Park.  Now about those Mayan prophecies…

Another offseason looms......

• By John Santos, Chivas USA Examiner

Not with a bang, but with a whimper.  And an it wasn't even our whimper.  With the 2-0 loss to the Red Bulls, the neighbors from down the hall have eliminated our Goats from post season contention.  While this examiners season had ended on September 10th, many still held on for a chance.  Many dreaming up the situation in where a win against said neighbors would somehow qualify our Goats for the postseason, while denting their asspirations for the Supporters Sheild.  Somehow, someway Juan Pablo Angel (who joined the Goats from down that hall earlier this year) would carry the team on his shoulders for that final dash to the finish line.   

Alas, none of that is to be.

Like last season, it'll soon be time for us to go our seperate ways for the Winter.  And then come back again in the Spring.  But not before "traveling away" to face our neighbors, and "returning home" to close out the season against the three time US Open Cup Champions, Seattle Sounders.  3 trophies in 3 years, how long has Chivas USA been in MLS?

Advertisement Sorry about that, I was falling into "rant" mode.  Anyways.

So whether our playoff dreams died today, or last month, the point I'm trying to make is that we as supporters are still here.  While some may support more than others, at the end of the day  we all pulled our weight and did our part.  

So if any player is by some miracle reading this, I want you to know that we stood by you all season long.   You are an extension of each and everyone of us when you don the red and white.  Thanks for going out there and entertaining us.  Thank you for your smiles, autographs, high fives, jokes, jerseys, photo ops, and for leaving it all out on the field day in day out.  Sure, sometimes you frustrated us.  But let it be know that we got frustrated because we care.  We care about what you do and what happens to you. We'll be back here again next season too.  So try not to miss us too much when you go on break.  

If by some miracle someone at the front office is reading this, GET OFF THE COMPUTER!!!  You have a three week head start to start scouting for the few missing pieces we need to take this team and make it a contender.  That's what made many of us in the stands so frustrated: knowing that this team was capapble of so much more.  Now go forth into the world and get those few missing pieces to get the team off and running.  And not stopping untill it reaches the 2012 MLS Cup trophy (and the 2012 US Open Cup as well while you are at it).   



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