Their midfield is pretty decent now. Ricketts is better than Samuel. Not way better, just better. He is actually a midfielder for one, not just a lummocks of a striker. Robert's lost his killer pace but he still has the wand of a left foot - probably the best left foot in the league actually. Guevara - we all know about him and as for my old buddy from Wales? He can now concentrate on being a d-mid and let the others take care of the O. He should be pretty effective. I hear he wants back to Blighty now though. If they win, it will be from the middle.
http://blog.dispatch.com/crew/2008/05/evans_in.shtml Brad Evans in for Migs, Ekpo to come off the bench. The Evans love-fest continues though he is coming off his first goal last week. When I think of our midfield line-up, and not taking anything away from Evans, I just don't think teams are scared of a midfield with Brad Evans in it. If I'm Toronto I would be concerned if Ekpo played the full 90. Bringing Ekpo on early in the 2nd half would be ok if we're in need of a spark I guess.
Sigi had done a nice job calling the games so far. I am not going to second guess him yet. I am glad he is not messing with Gaven's position. He is steady and needs to be in. Also, has lots of experience on turf with his prior team.
F'in retarded, I'm glad Evans scored but Ekpo is still 20 times the player of him. I don't get Sigi sometimes.
Oh, come on now: Gaven's "steady and needs to be in. Also, has lots of experience on turf with his prior team." It was only with Steady Eddie out vs. SJ that we managed to score, you know. Situation's change; as in, no Adam Moffat again. And claiming Gaven's time playing in Giant's Stadium is a factor here seems an awfully big stretch. Re: Sigi calling games well, I don't necessarily agree. I see the wisdom in giving a player like Evans time to emerge. But I'm not at all convinced he's one of our best XI now and deserves a start. Was starting Migs the best decision last week? Or Gaven on the right? How defensible a decision is that, when the first goes down with injury and we score 3 goals in 10 minutes immediately after the second is subbed out? Yet many of us knew that's what Sigi would do, make the simple, conservative change. Sigi talks about not caring too much about formations. Yet I don't see it in his roster choices. Instead of asking Gaven to play a more central, defensive role (and if you look at the team stats right now, asking Gaven to play defensively should be too much of a challenge for him), he just keeps digging deeper on the depth chart at that central midfield position. The strategy, then, seems to be trot out a defensive line-up and see if we can keep it tight for 60 minutes. Then bring in Ekpo, if necessary. I'll admit that Toronto away is a big challenge. I've just not been impressed with our ability to control the midfield the last few games, and I think Eddie Gaven may be part of the problem, as other clubs realize he's not much of an offensive threat. Change comes at a glacial pace with Sigi. This is just another example. Maybe NE at home will see Sigi consider a more offensive line-up. But don't hold your breath.
I would like someone to explain something to me: Why are people who live in Canada called Canadians? We don't call people who live in Germany "Germanians", do we? It's pretty evident therefore, that the country's real name is "Canadia"
in an email from the crew about the upcoming game will there be a ping pong match at halftime or did the scot make a miraculous comeback that we dont know about?
Lets frickin hope so! With all this controversy about Evans, Gaven and Ekpo wouldn't it be great to roll out with pretty much the exact line up (save Miglioranzi for EZ @ left back) from opening day. I for one would be happy to see Moffat out there, but I would be worried he might re-injure it being on turf and his style of play...
i'm not sure what makes you think people from germany should be called germanians or canada should be called canadia but this might help sort things out for you as it talks a bit about the suffixes used by different demonyns. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonym go tfc!
Sometimes I just don't get this board. So tell me exactly how Sigi is playing overly defensive when we lead the league in goals, shots, SOG, and corners? Or how playing a player that came into the league a forward and has basically come in as a winger for most of the games off the bench and had a pretty good game in the center offensively against SJ is "overly defensive?" How does Migs going down to injury prove it was the wrong move to play him? And was I mistaken in that with Gaven in, the Crew were creating chances just fine, but just didn't get that last umph in? It wasn't like the Crew were getting dominated and then Gaven left and viola suddenly they were good again. As much as we like to question Sigi and his choices, come on, they HAVE all come up roses so far. He's pushed every right button with this team. If he thinks Evans is good in the center and Ekpo off the bench to start the game is right, I can't see questioning him now.
For those making the trip (or any other interested parties) I updated the usual Song & Chants handout for the Toronto match if you want to print it out: http://www.crewunion.com/alpha/Documents/WZG_Songs-Handout-05-17-2008.pdf now that I have the FTP working for the site, I'll try to post these ahead of every home match.
"Canada" is an anglicization of a native American phrase meaning "my village." They were the first words heard by English explorers when they landed somewhere in what is now Canada.
Wayne Campbell: So, do you come to Milwaukee often? Alice Cooper: Well, I'm a regular visitor here, but Milwaukee has certainly had its share of visitors. The French missionaries and explorers began visiting here in the late 16th century. Pete: Hey, isn't "Milwaukee" an Indian name? Alice Cooper: Yes, Pete, it is. In fact , it's pronounced "mill-e-wah-que" which is Algonquin for "the good land." Wayne Campbell: I was not aware of that. Sorry. Couldn't resist.