Archive for the ‘Ultras’ Category

My Two Cents

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

Chivas USA lost another home game to a seemingly weaker opponent. I can think of few other words that can describe losing to Real Salt Lake, but pathetic might be too harsh. Then again it’s almost clockwork that Chivas USA finds a way to lose a game rather than just go for the jugular and impose it’s will. There was nothing flashy, exciting, or even interesting in this game. Unless you like countless, wasted scoring chances, marching bands playing USC fight songs at a soccer game, or RSL players diving continuously in the last 20 minutes, this game had all the entertainment value of a C-Span press conference.

I don’t like sounding negative, but I can’t drink the kool aid all the time. This was not Chivas USA football. This was a new line up of players coming off the injured list starting in place of players who helped this team win three out of the last four games. I believe in loyalty and rewarding players that deserve it, but this line up looked flustered and lost at times. Change is a good thing, but unlike Barack Obama’s campaign, this was not change I could believe in. This seems to be the time of the season where players start to step up and contending teams start to assert themselves for a run before the MLS all-Star game. Chivas seemed to be the victim of over-coaching. For example, Jorge Flores was rewarded for his 3 goals in four games by sitting on the bench for both halves of this game. This seemed like change for the sake of change.

Real Salt Lake came to play, however terrible to look at it may have been, they imposed their style and walked away with 3 points. By Preki’s own admission those players that started for Chivas USA were not “sharp” and as a result, Chivas USA soccer was dull tonight. The 4-5-1 that RSL ran was as easy on the eyes as Britney Spear’s shaved head, but there was no denying Robbie Findley’s speed on the flank and the constant strain he put on the Chivas backline. Proper respect to him and all the RSL divers that slowed the game to a grinding halt.

It’s hard to come away from this game and think that this team is the defending Western Conference champion and started this 2008 MLS season with high hopes. Now, I’m just praying that this team gets healthier and we stick to a successful starting XI.

On the way out of the stadium, a driver spotted Jorge Flores driving out with a dejected look on his young face. The driver asked him why he didn’t play tonight. He yelled back, “I don’t know, ask the coach.” Maybe change isn’t always a good thing.

John Sandate

Disclaimer:
The following article is written from the perspective of one Union Ultra member and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of all the Union Ultras. The Union Ultras believe in the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press. They also reserve the right to pontificate those freedoms while drinking incessantly.
Noi Soli. Sine Metu.

Why Im an Ultra by El Assesino

Monday, May 26th, 2008

Ever Since I can remember I’ve always been a Futbol Fanatic and my team and passion had always been C.D Guadalajara. Some of my earliest memories involve going to El Estadio Jalisco and watching Chivas play. However, being from Los Angeles, growing up it became harder and harder to travel to Guadalajara and see my goats in person. I watched all of their games religiously and read all of their latest news on the internet but I started to feel disconnected from them. I was addicted to them and watching them play once a year in Los Angeles wasn’t enough to satisfy my needs. I needed to be Alentando en el Tablon (in the stands watching them and cheering them win or lose every weekend). All though I continued loving them wholeheartedly I needed a new drug to satisfy my addiction. When C.D Chivas USA was announced in 2004 my prayers had finally been answered. I finally had a team of my own in MY CITY and in MY COUNTRY. As the first year came and went I had finally found my drug, La Droga de mi Corazon, La Razon por mi Locura but it soon became apparent that with a new team new traditions were needed as well. I began to realize that this team needed a barra brava (Supporter group) of their own regardless of what occurred and happened with Guadalajara. It was then that I began to find others who felt this same way, and the UNION UL7RAS were born. We were a group of individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds who all had one thing in common, our love for Chivas USA. It was then that this group began forming its own identity blending the Ultras style of Europe with the Barra Brava style of South America. We made our official debut at a 2008 pre-season friendly against Columbus in Santa Clara and ever since then the movement just keeps growing and getting stronger. We’re not going anywhere and we can’t be stopped. This is our time. WE ARE CHIVAS USA, AND LOS ANGELES BELONGS TO US. SOMOS LA HINCHADA DEL REBANO GRINGO, LA QUE NUNCA ABANDONA. NO SOMOS MODA, NI NOS PAGAN, ES POR AMOR.

- El Assesino

Check out this Video of our Debut at the HDC