Pre-match: Crew at DC 3/23

at



3:30 pm, Saturday March 23
NBC Sports Network
RFK Stadium

Note the mid-afternoon kickoff time.

DC and the Crew are both 1-1-1 after the first 3 matches of the season. With 3 of the first 4 games on the road, the Crew would love to bounce back from that tie at home with a full 3 points on the road, but I don't think many would complain with another tie in this matchup. RFK has never been kind to the Crew, so we'll want Eddie Gaven back for the one.

Here are the ugly numbers (W-L-T) :

The Crew's overall record at RFK: 7-23-3
The Crew's regular season record at RFK: 6-18-3
The Crew's playoff record at RFK: 0-5-0
The Crew's USOC record at RFK: 1-0-0
The Crew's overall record at DC: 7-24-3

The Crew's regular season record vs DC: 21-25-8
The Crew's overall record vs DC: 24-32-8


It should surprise no one that with 23 losses, the Crew have lost more at RFK than at any other stadium in team history, other than Crew Stadium of course (including Ohio Stadium, where we only have 20 losses).

Record does not look good for The Crew this Saturday!

I'm hoping for a road draw but in truth I'm expecting a loss. Roster against roster I think we're just as good if not better than them; team against team I think they're better than us.

People bitch when we win. I bet a tie bring on end of the world talk.

Personally I don’t think we’re awful I just think we’re maddeningly average. We’re not so bad we’re going to plummet to the bottom of the table, if we don’t make the playoffs we’ll be in the fight all year long. I just don’t think we’re good enough to beat a good team for anything of significance and that’s the point.

Anywhere but DC I'd be voting for the point. *At* DC? Always tough to get something. I think I'll wait to see if Eddie plays before voting.

At this point, yes.

Someone needs to make a sign that says "WE ARE MASSIVE(LY AVERAGE)."

OSU plays on Friday and probably Sunday so that works out well. Gaven's return should help but if we still play Danny and Viana in the middle with Higuain having to retreat to get the ball, we're not going to score. I bet Robert would be happy with a draw so we might aspire to 0-0.

I have to agree but the only thing I can say is so is every other team in the MLS right now. No one looks like they are even 75% on their game right now. Everyone is up and down right now. It is a crazy season so far.

Two mediocre teams produce a mediocre result. Another 1-1 draw awaits.

Based on what we saw in the preseason, I think Finley will start up top.

I'd like to see Sanchez playing instead of O'Rourke. But I get the strange feeling that he may be this year's version of Griffitt, where some of us will pine for playing time for him and get none. Then we're left to resign to the fact that he sucked because a couple years from now, he'll be struggling to sign on for some 3rd teir USL-like Argentinian team.

The difference is that you get the feeling Sanchez is making a heck of a lot more than $40k.

Likely. Oduro can't play hold up like RW prefers his forwards to do. Finley has shown that he's at least competent in that regard.

Crewsmas is over so back to negativity. Crew lose by two (or more)

By the way, speaking of Arrieta being missing, I know Marcos Sanchez got called up by Panama, so he'll be missing. Though just taking a quick look at DC's stats so far this season, they seem to be doing better when Marcos Sanchez is off the field anyway.

Did DC have any other call-ups, or is Sanchez it?


PS. Marcos Sanchez is apparently the tallest player in the league:
http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/marcos-sanchez

This team can be had. They've score exactly 1 goal in three games, this is only DeRosario's second game back (albeit HIS home opener), and Bill Hamid is due for another God Awful brainfart. We can beat these guys.

Can? Yes. Will? Not likely.

Hush you. I voted all last year with my head. This year, I vote my heart.








and pay the price

Answering my own question, it looks like Dejan Jakovic has been called up for Canada. That's a bit of a bigger loss for them, as he's played the full 90 in all 3 games.

Yeah I'd guess his play will be the key to how we do. Arrieta's gotten so little help up top with Ryan's big body who knows maybe it'll be a positive.

RW bunkers this one and we get lucky with a late counter attack goal. Unfortunately, we then space out for a second and give up the equalizer to tie 1-1.

Sanchez is seen at the end of the bench praying to a small idol of St. Guillermo but his calls for more playing time are unanswered. Ryan Finley wins the RFK warmup marathon.

You don't think Ryan starts? Oduro, Meram? Ummm... Schoenfeld, Horton? I think you're right we probably see a pretty tight bunker from our side. I know there's no way we see it but I think it might be fun to see a Ryan Oduro 4-4-2 just for the heck of it.