PBP: Columbus vs SKC

Radio did a decent job of making the game sound more interesting than it really was apparently.

 

I though the first half was entertaining and we created a multitude of good chances. Jimenez and Afful forced good saves by the keeper. Jimenez bend a shot just wide of the left post. Santos hit on a foot over the crossbar and Mullins did what Mullins seems to do - miss a wide open net from 4 yards out.

The wheels fell off in the second half and there was no reason to believe they'd tie the game after they fell behind.

 

I'm sure. I was just ragging on you.

 

I listened to Doran in the car as I was leaving the scene of the crime. From what he was saying, there was a really terrific, exciting soccer match someplace at around the same time I was sitting and watching a Chinese fire drill featuring lazy, uninspired lunkheads jogging around at Mapfre.

 

At one point about 15 minutes in to the second half the ball of being hoofed 30 yards upfield from one team to another, no one could bring it down for what seemed like an eternity with both sides giving it back to the other again and again. It went out for a throw and I shouted "Just blow the whistle ref, 58 minutes is good enough, neither team has any interest in playing the game anymore."

Biggest crowd of the year, beautiful night, somewhat rested team and that's what we got. Pitiful.

 

I like Santos. Not as a DP but he’d be a solid option on the wing. He isn’t someone you’d build a team around and he’s making way too much for what he provides. I’m still flabbergasted as to why Mullins is out there. There was a moment in (I think) the first half where he had his back to goal. The defender is close enough to rub his junk all over him. Someone (I can’t remember who) tries to play the ball directly to Mullins and instead of receiving the ball, he turns and runs past the defender as if the player played the ball to space. All the defender had to do was take a half a step forward and received the ball. Literally the only think I saw him do all night other than when he was one on one with the last defender and was fouled 10 yards outside the box.

 

Small point, but it would seem as though the pass it out of the back tactic that was a favorite of both Berhalter and Porter is no longer a "thing" now that Steffen's gone. Thankfully, I'll add, since I can't imagine how gruesome it would have looked for Kempin and this defensive group (also without Trapp) to have tried to engage in that kind of tactical exercise. It was primarily "boot the ball down field every goal kick" stuff from the Crew last night. Maybe once Trapp and Mensah are back (and Afful serves his red card suspension) we might see a return to building out of the back. But I haven't seen anything from Kempin that makes me think he can play Steffen's role.

 

Let's be realistic too--not many keepers in the league who could play Steffen's role.

 

I will say that I feel sorry for anyone who has to follow Steffen. Its unlikely that we can get anyone that good this year and no matter what they do they won't be able to live up to Steffen.

I also feel a little bad for the coach. He came in when it was too late to change much of the roster. He did try and get a few players but it was more of a band aid than a plan (Accam for instance). I think he is getting everything he can out of what's left. I'm not sure why he isn't starting JJ. He can't do any worse and he could be better. Where is Opoku and Sosa? Are they hurt? Sosa has speed and Sosa can dribble by someone occasionally. I'm not saying they are the answer but worth looking at.

 

Crewster point standings following this weekend's debacle:

EAST

Montreal 6
NYC 5
Atlanta 2
Philadelphia 1
DC 0
NYRB -3
Orlando -6
Chicago -8
Toronto -8
New England -8
Cincinnati -10
Columbus -13



WEST

LAFC 13
Portland 11
LA Galaxy 4
Seattle 2
Salt Lake 2
Minnesota 0
Dallas -2
Houston -3
San Jose -5
Kansas City -5
Vancouver -11
Colorado -11

 

Maybe?

We have/are at CP.

Yet some of my family members do not care for CP too much so they venture to other places around the area.

I spent a very short stint working at CP when I was an undergrad. Odd memory, I remember logging into this message board on the CP employee shared computer.

Also I missed this match because both of our phone batteries were very low. Usually we keep ESPN+ running. It seems to have been a shit game. I have seen enough shit games in person that missing one is not necessarily a celebration nor a remorseful reaction.

 

Once that is called a foul, it has to be a red card. No other defender was even close.

 

Whew, I need to drink more.

 

I got my usual question about my game day experience after the Atlanta disaster! My reply was that the weather was great,the field was perfect and the team sucked!

 

I wouldn't say the weather was great for the Atlanta USOC match but it was great for the SKC match.

I always try to give them specifics such a high beer prices or taking too long to get into the parking lot from the freeway (I was on the Hudson street ramp for 15 minutes).

 

I always tell them it’s way too expensive to bring my whole family.

Parking, 4 hotdogs and waters, two popcorns and a nacho are about $75 in addition to tickets.

Not worth it for my wife and two younger kids.

 

What happened to the hype man they had at the gates earlier in the season? His crazy optimism livened things up.

 

Can we please start the Columbus -Orlando thread like last Sunday?

Seriously after a gm the next day we should be able to focus on the next game

 

JJ Williams has start vrs Orlando

If Accam is still not 100 then start Hansen & Robhino with Pedro at Cam or start Sosa and put Pedro on the wing.

 

Who dares rouse me from my slumber?

Oh... thread shit? Have at it, @TRUJDUB.

 

Accam pulled up lame at the end of the Atlanta OC game. He only lasted 15 minutes vs SKC so he probably needs a couple weeks off at least.