I'm glad that last week's goal is having an effect on Balchan's confidence like I hoped it would. I've been waiting all season for him to play like I know he can, and he showed it tonight. The guy was ALL over the place like a maniac, working twice as hard as some people, just trying to get the job done. He may not of made any huge plays, but I'm seeing his talent come out little by little. I may be one of the few on his bandwagon, but I'm happy to be riding. In a couple years (hopefully even sooner) people will be doing chants with his name. I have faith in the boy. Now allow me to sloooowly step out of this thread and let everyone continue their "team Mendoza/team Cunningham" fight. Goodnight!
You missed encourging the nordecke to wear headgear or wigs in honor of x player, see Lehnart. Nevermind, I never liked Lehnart and thought he was shit. This was someone else. I'd love to start a thread Chels, but the patron saint of moderator insecurity KC Bus would likely shut it down.
"That goal is probably more important for the club than it is for me... As teammates and as club, the fans need to support him, especially him, because we’re going to need him to carry the team offensively. He needs that love from us and we need to be more supportive of him " - Jeff Cunningham That really should be the last word on the situation. Even Cunny acknowledges Mendoza is most fit to carry the team offensively and calls for the fans to support him. Will the fans grow up, or hold silly grudges that even Cunny doesn't hold.
Hang, you completely sanitize Jeff's comments, especially how he compares letting Mendoza take the penalty is similar to letting a child have his way... as if that is not a veiled dig... Like I said, Mendoza can't even be bothered to try to learn the language his teammates speak. Guille went the extra mile on the pitch, in the locker room, everywhere... he was a true team player... and that is the example we are gonna hold up as someone we want to see get paid DP money. Mendoza is a whining prat. And yes, I know I'm whining about him being whiny. Such is life.
Then let's go get the next Guille! It can't be that hard right? Guille isn't coming back and players like him are one in a million. Every team in this league would have loved a player like Guille but it isn't that easy to find a great DP.
Are you really this stupid? Usually it takes 20-30 people to reach that level of stupidity. Congratulations on your achievement. What you saw going down was Cunningham giving his okay? What you HEARD was after the fact of Mendoza's childish behavior, Cunningham doing what is best for the team. Mendoza just added another fracture in the team. If you want to give him a reach around for scoring a PK, then you go right ahead.
Where is the fracture? Cunningham said he's behind him. Cunningham implored fans to get behind him. Doesn't exactly equate to the San Andreas faultline there...
You think I don't know this? That was my point where I mentioned that Guille was gonna be the standard that we hold any future DPs to... I never said it was entirely realistic, or that we were not spoiled by having one of what might be the finest futbol minds in our midfield game in and game out, I just wish that we could find someone who at least understands the value of the team. Methinks a DP midfielder might be a better choice since they seem to elevate the game for others... and I know Guille was technically a F/MF, so I don't wanna hear that argument, in 2008 he was much more of a feeder and in 2009 he took over the goal scorer role because nobody else was stepping up to the plate really... and that is all part of being a good team player... Guillermo Barros Schelotto was Columbus' Wayne Gretsky...
My two cents: Its great that the team is pushing for 90 minutes, has scored some late goals. But those early goals against have to stop. This was a pretty sloppy match, from both clubs, perhaps in part due to the heat/humidity; lots of unforced give-aways. About the only Crew player who impressed me was Marshall. Everyone else seemed to screw up as many times as they did something memorable. I loved the look on Miranda's face, how he shook his head unbelievably, when James mis-hit passes to him twice in 5-10 minutes, losing possession; I really want to see Iro get the start Sunday. We are next to hopeless anywhere around the opponent's penalty area. Mendoza... I thought he was a sluggish piece of crap all night. He's also a diver. I ********ing hate divers. Nice PK, of course. I mean, he had nothing to do with getting that call, and it was supposed to have been Cunningham's opportunity, but I give him credit for making the most of it. He he was half as a good a player as he seems to think he is, we'd be in fine shape.
You think JC hasn't learned anything in his tenure away from here? He knows what he sees, and all he has to do is step back, say all the right things and be focused on what is best for Columbus and the team, and let Mendoza hang himself... JC is just handing the guy the rope at this point with these comments, and being Mr. Gracious as he does it... it's equal parts genius and hilarious... and his subtle dig about giving a child what they want sometimes is an obvious nod to Mendoza's spoiled brat behavior. And the end of the day, Mendoza hangs himself, Jeff gets the spot, and bangs home a bunch of goals for us. I bet he has it all planned out in his head as I speak...
I hope Mendoza continues to hang himself with goals. You people are unbelievable. We beat RSL. Can't you learn to enjoy anything?
So in the beginning of the season, the biggest complaint about Mendoza was that he was lazy and didn't try. Now he's running about and really has a will to score, even to go as far as to really want to take a penalty even when everyone wanted to hand that to our bench player who is close to a record. Why give such an important spot kick to someone that hasn't scored all season instead of to someone who has played quite well and put in a few goals in the last 10 days? ffs. If it was 3-0 at the time, I'd be upset about this whole penalty deal, but we pay Mendoza to score goals, and he understands that and is doing all he can to put the ball in the back of the net. From my point of view this is such a non-issue.
It really is hilarious if you look back several years. Everything that Mendoza is criticized for now, being selfish, lazy, arrogant, not in tune with the fans. This is all stuff Cunningham was hung for on these very same boards back in his first tenure. Now, Cunningham is a folk hero and Mendoza is hung and villified for those things so many hated Cunny for back in the day. You can only draw the conclusion that this fan base, or what's left of it, will never be happy.
Who the eff said I wasn't enjoying the final results? Happiness with results does not mean there is not a sickness inside the team... and to turn a blind eye to it, well, maybe Jack Warner should buy the Crew, since people here seem to be able to turn such a blind eye to a potential stinker...
The one thing I love about this season has been the drama (in some respects) to often MLS teams just are boring. Maybe its the lack of media coverage, lack of money, lack of social status but MLS teams rarely have drama like we are getting. It makes things interesting. However, I would still like to win games. Gardner is terrible. Yes, he scored a nice goal. How about the 6 crosses that he played to the Crewzers or Rimando? He is MLS quality 6 years ago. I am really liking Balchan in the middle of the park. He brings a pit bull like mentality. In the first half he was in the middle of 3 tackles and on the ground fighting for the ball then pops up and keeps going. I love it. He still makes some rookie mistakes but I can live with it. Here is the starting 11 I want to see Sunday --------Hesmer--------- -Miranda--Hemser--Iro--Veeder- -Gaven--Balchan--Ekpo--Merman- -----Cunny---Mendoza----- I think it's time for Iro to get a start over James. His defense on set pieces and offense on set pieces would be a nice addition. I have seen Veeder with the U-20's and I think he is better than Gardner or anyone else who would play out of position there.
I slept 2 hours last night... I'm a bit of spinning emotions about the game, since I just watched the highlights not too long ago. You miss a lot when you only hear a game on radio... but I didn't miss the expression on that twatwaffle's face when he shushed his own crowd after scoring a PK. How lame. Guy is a headcase.
Hate to double post, but ... I actually agree with Hang 100% -- windup or not. If Cunningham is putting the club first shouldn't we? Changing the PK taker mid-match happens. It doesn't mean the coach "lost the team" or can't "control the locker room." If Cunningham is happy for Mendoza, that kind of ruins your whole argument. If Cunny is supportive of the PK change and of Mendoza, then the locker room is still in tact, no? And say what you want about Cunny just being a classy dude here, but he's right, regardless. Support the player. We need him to be successful for the club to be successful. If it means letting him take a PK when he wants it, then you do that. Confidence means everything in a striker. How many times have many of you complained this season alone about the team needing someone who'd just frackin' shoot the ball. We have that person now. Support him. Being an asshole is irrelevant. Jeebus. How many of you have ever actually played the game before at a competitive level? I think Mendoza is right, some of you guys are clueless.
So it takes someone who has played the game at a highly competitive level to discern that an asshole who is not team oriented might be a bad thing for a team? Especially when that team, who is relying on him more than ever before to step up and DO HIS JOB, is not doing such a great job at getting results? Yeah, rocket science material there. Sure, we won one. Mendoza has scored a few goals recently. I'm calling it blind squirrel syndrome. I'd LOVE for him to PROVE ME WRONG. I DARE HIM TO.
- Meram's been the game changer the last two games. If Mendoza knew who he was, he should thank him. - Cunny was surprisingly professional on the field. Hopefully that will rally the team. If Mendoza wants to act like a prima donna, then play like one. Most of his efforts have been poor. - After the match, I believe the entire team walked across to the Nordecke except one player. Any guess as to which one didn't go? - Quote of the night goes to Cunningham. "It’s like a child – sometimes they want to do something and you just have to let them" - Can someone explain why, on a night where there is 9,650 in attendance, it takes me 35 minutes to get on the freeway after I get to the car? It's a three-wood from the parking lot. OSU football handles traffic flow better. - Bratwurst. A love-hate relationship that isn't going away.