What should we expect from the Crew with Roberto in the saddle? Few players were lost. However, 2 time MLS cup winning coach has been lost. Is being a semifinalist in the MLS playoffs too much to ask? Being a U.S. Open Cup semifinalist would be nice. I think they should use the Champions Cup for developmental purposes only. Although, to get Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers minutes in "hostile" environments would do well toward developing battle hardened players for Nat'l team assignment. Any chance we don't make the playoffs?
With how small the rosters are this year every team is a few bad injuries away from not being in the playoffs...however this wont happen to us.
I don't give even half a damn about this, and I will be furious if Robert or anyone else in the Crew organization makes any decision based on it.
I was just talking of making them battle hardened through experience in a "hostile" environment. The development in composure and confidence would eventually lead to more national team appearances. I didn't mean to insinuate that Roberto do Bradley any favours.
I expect a USOC MLS Cup CCL Treble and an undefeated Season with 25 assists from GBS and 25 goals from Robbie
This man speaks the truth with one exception. In our first game against the Red Bulls William Hesmer will sprain his left ball in the first half and Andy Gruenebaum will come on. He will then proceed to score a 90 yard goal on the Red Bulls to avenge the tragic mistake he made last season. The goal will be marked by it's sheer beauty for not only going in the back of the net but also in that it completely knocks Cepero out cold on the way in to the net. Redemption must be had!
LH:USOC MLS Cup Supporter's Shield CCL I believe this is called the "Quadruple." Edit. Damn you, CrewDust!!!
I think MLS history (at least in recent years) has shown that teams that remain intact as far as players and coaches are concerned are the most successful. Look at New England and Houston as prime examples of consistency. We lost one member of the starting XI from the cup and our coach but we promoted a well respected assistant who knows these players well. I think we are in a great position to have another great season. I can't predict that we'll win MLS Cup again, but we should make playoffs again and have the depth and experience now to make a deep run. I'd love to see us go deep in the Open Cup but I think our International tournaments will probably place USOC on the back burner. I would like to see a push to advance deep into the Champions Cup (or whatever it's called) as long as we are healthy and deep enough to maintain solid league form. It's a great time to be a Crew fan.
Obviously the Crew will win the American triple and the CCL. All the major leagues of the world will be in awe of our massivness and forfiet their titles to us. So the list of leagues and titles the Crew will win this year is... USOC SS MLS Cup CCL EPL La Liga Serie A Ligue 1 Bundesliga UEFA CL That's a realistic goal I think.
I think this team knows how special last year was, and rumor has it a few of these guys (Chad Marshall, obviously, but a few other you might not expect too) were not planning on being here this year. Some thought they would try Europe, some thought they would simply go to...ahem... a warmer locale, and when all was said and done, they ended up right back here. Point being, these guys who thought they would be gone are back, and they have to know that this will likely be their last year with the services of Marshall, Rogers, and Guille (let alone Ekpo). The window for champeenships doesn't stay open very long, especially in a strict salary cap environment like MLS. I think every man on that team will be hungry to prove to everyone last year wasn't just a fluke. Realistic expectation for me? Eastern Conference finals, and a trophy of some kind, be it LHUSOc, MLS Cup, or Supporter's Shield. I don't worry about CONCACAF, only because they'll be playing that this time next year, and Lord knows what the 2010 team will look like then.
The key is going to be how Coach gets Guille, Ekpo, Moffat Gaven and Rogers on the field at the same time and possibly Noonan.
This could be a damn good two stick with a little black and gold tweaking. I think that we will make the playoffs this year and then everything after that is pretty much a crapshoot. The playoff system suits whichever team is hot at the moment. Also if, god forbid, Guille sustains any sort of major injury I think our shot at titles are severely hampered. That being said, we win the trebble with a 9-0 victory over whoever our opponent is in MLS Cup . Have they decided where it will be held this year?
They should at least be able to compete for the shield and the cup again, depending on who stays healthy. I, personally, expect to make the Eastern conf. finals and hope for a cup. I'd like them to take CCC seriously. I'd rather see them go far there than in the open cup myself. If they're healthy they should be able to rotate their starters out for a game here and there for both the CCC and league games.