Our B team was the better B team. I'll take Speas over Meram at LW, Ethan looked really good on the right too. With all the switching our A team did I'd be tempted to sit Tchani in favor of Ethan and let he and Gaven work their switching out. That said I wasn't necessarily a fan of all that switching. They seemed to do a decent job keeping their shape but we've seen games where all that switching destroyed the teams shape and we looked like a U-12 team.
There was a brief moment when Withrow turned around and it looked like he might be wearing #40. I wouldn't bet any money on it, but it's my best guess right now.
Thanks, it was just my attempt to follow who's-who during the match, GK was easy to figure out. I fully expect those numbers to change, but some might hold through pre-season at least.
Just my onion but I think Speas is a better open field passer. I think Meram could be very effective up top but none of his crosses connected at least that I saw. Speas switched the field a time or two, I didn't really see much of that from Meram. Lastly if they were supposed to switch with each other a lot he was the least effective at it. Higuain, Gaven, and Tchani were inside/outside, wing/forward maybe it was because he was the most comfortable on the left of those out their but he didn't do it as much. He did go from the wing to central a few times but no one really replaced him out wide.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/blogs/covering-the-crew/2013/01/crew-beats-fire.html Is anyone else a freaked out or surprised that we played a 3-2-3-1-1
From Jardy's perspective, "Throughout the first half... Viana pushed forward enough at left back that the Crew appeared to be using a 3-2-4-1." This was due to having a strong wind at our backs, allowing both Viana and Williams to make longer runs into the attack. It felt like the way our backs "should" be able to play when our attack is getting forward, not like a different formation. So, not freaked or surprised, but happy we were putting pressure forward.
Three in the back? Sadly, I don't think RW would go for something as fun as three in the back, but given all the serviceable CB we have, I have been tempted with the idea of three defenders. Problem is, it takes wingers who can hustle, so besides Gavin I don't see this working.
only watched first half but here are my observations. - solid in the back and Glauber isnt here yet. Love the potential! -midfield was a disappointment plus terrible service from the wing into the box. -Liked the high pressure up top when Columbus did not have the ball. Absolutely no creativity up top and really no solid opportunities created! I know its early but there is a lot of work needed before the season starts.
With Kevan George and Tony Tchani as our center mids, that is expected. Really hope the Sanchez signing gets finalized.
Sadly, the Crew have not placed this notice on their website, but I first saw it on Redbulls and then saw the Crew retweeted it. Hope there is less wind, so we can get a better feel for the quality of the aerial passing, and everyone enjoys watching the game. Watch Live: Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew (Friday, Feb. 1, at 9:30am) http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/live
I can't help but keep wondering...I loved that Konrad wore #19, but I got to thinking, did Konrad choose #19 or did Bob assign it to him...
Can he play on the left, I know its probably not ideal but he seems like a talented kid best suited to the wing unlike some of our other options who are out of position
He will become a stud in this league he and Speas are still young . Ethan was the second best player in the NCAA as Hermann Trophy finalist last year when we drafted him so expecting him to flourish maybe up top in time.
That will remain to be seen. First Finlay will have to underperform or go on a long stretch of poor/questionable performances while OHSS continues to laud his greatness and blame any and all inadequecies on the players around him, the coach, the media, weather, the fans... Hopefully, Finlay is the next coming of Jebus. That would be great, but KCBus should ready his red card in either event, because however it goes down we are going to want to punch this dude in his Internet ballsack; perhaps even before the season starts. OHSS, Some friendly advice...cool it. Your over-enthusiasm will wear thin very quickly around here.