Welcome to the first edition of a new segment we will be doing every week after the games. IFHM (I Fucking Hate Mondays) will try to sum up everything from the past weekend: the game itself, the stands, news breaks, videos, whatever. We FHM because 1) it begins another work week and we don’t use the stupid cliché “case of the Mondays” and 2) there is no Quakes games for another week. Thankfully this Monday doesn’t apply to the second point with the Boys in Blue taking on the Ashes tomorrow night to qualify for the Round of 16 of the US Open Cup.
So how about that game? Definitely not pretty. Not the best game by any shot. But a win is a win, and when that win builds on momentum that the team and the fans desperately need than there is no room to complain. The boys hustled all 90+ and held on through those rough last few minutes to hold onto the 2-1 lead.
The first month and a half to two months of the season has seen a lot of talk of disappointment and other negatives. Talking with a particular Earthquake player this past week, he revealed that there was 0 doubt in the locker room. We hear and read in the media during a team’s dry spell that “the core group of guys are tight” and similar sayings. But how much can we as fans believe that? Of course we want to, but that is what any player would say with a mic and notepad in front of them. The relationship that we, the Ultras, have with the players brings a sense of trust between the both of us, so hearing that there was zero doubt among the boys, no fights, no blame, but rather belief in one another during the early season’s rough patch reaffirmed what was read in the media. With this group, don’t ever worry that there is any crumbling among the ranks. All of the Boys in Blue are humble and work for the entire team, an attribute that has been a staple of the Quakes and attributes that every Ultra looks for in a player.
Sven-Göran Eriksson to the Quakes (@1:20)? Ok, definitely not going to happen, but what if it did? He is a manager that has won an incredible number of trophies and cups. He is the only manager to win domestic doubles in three countries. However, his last title was 11 years ago. He hasn’t had a winning record with any team since July 2006 when he was fired from those shitty soccer players over the pond. I feel that Sven is definitely a MANAGER, not a COACH. He can take a team that has everything that they need and just needs someone to tell them what to do. I don’t think he can come into the MLS and build a team up. So even if this “rumor” was true…Nope. Although the exposure we would get week in and week out on Special1TV could be incredible…very nice, I like.
Chris Wondolowski…there are no words to describe how proud we all are of you. What else can you ask for as a fan of soccer then to see a local boy, who was never looked at throughout his career to be the answer to anything but just another player, who was never given a real chance, who was the reserve player who shared Subway with us in Seattle after we walked miles to the players’ hotel, rise up to become a star in the league. To see him continue to be the humble person he was before winning the Golden Boot. To see him being one of the few players who kisses the crest over his heart after goals and games because he truly loves the club. To see him continue to fight tooth and nail to get a win for the club, for his teammates, and for the fans. It is hard to find a player who represents a club as perfectly as Chris. There would be no Blue Collar Boys if not for Chris’ attitude and style of play. There is a reason why all Quakes fans, especially us, LOVE Wondo. While he will be sorely missed at Buck Shaw Stadium, our hearts are filled with nothing but pride to see our guy putting on that Red, White, and Blue and represent this great country of ours.
What makes this call up even better, for this writer and I’m sure for others, is that this roster is the A-team: Timmy Howard, Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Jozy Altidore, He Who Must Not Be Named, Clint “Deuce” Dempsey, etc. We all just hope that Bob Bradley doesn’t put Chris’ skills to waste, so he can be an integral part of the squad as they go on to bring home another Gold Cup. So with this news, we sing…
You are my Wondo,
My Wondolowski,
You make me happy,
When skies are gray,
You’ll never know Chris,
How much we love you,
Please don’t take my Wondo away.
USA! USA! USA!
Of course, we can not ignore the fact that Ryan Johnson has also earned a very deserved call up to the Jamaican National Team. RJ has been an essential part of the Quakes this season on the left wing. His never give up attitude (again, something looked up to by all Ultras alike) has resulted in 2 assists and him just generally being a positive part of the play on the pitch. Good luck to him and the Jamaican National Team in the Gold Cup, but let’s go USA 
Quick notes:
- Vote for Bobby Convey’s (or Ellis McLoughlin’s) goal for the MLS Goal of the Week. Don’t let the MLS’ bromance with New York win and absolutely don’t let the little shit that is Pescadito win. Khari deserved it last week, and Bobby/Ellis deserve it this week!
- The US Open Cup Play-in game is tomorrow 5/24 at Buck Shaw Stadium at 7:30pm. The Ultras will be meeting in the usual spot in Lot 4. The “tailgate” is a BYOB&F. Tickets are $10 so text, email, PM, call, whatever you know in the Ultras for tickets. The US Open Cup is a competition that has not gotten the credit is deserves in the past, but is a prestigious competition that would make the Quakes’ trophy case look a lot prettier. COME ON YOU QUAKES!
