Pre-match: Columbus Crew vs Scoring Goals & Orlando, I Guess | Match 22 - July 21, 2018 7:30 PM ET

Orlando are dead last in the league in goals allowed. With time still left in the window, tonight should really be last chance saloon for our misfiring attackers, whether we bring someone in or not.

 

I look forward to seeing the fine people

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

Or beerholder

 

I am glad you post on this fine social media platform.

 

Why thank you. I try to get into the deep debates.

When are you all heading down? I think we are going to the lot shortly

 

Far more hardcore than me.

4-4:30. Corralling kids, husband, and brother(s) equals time, energy, and “get your asses moving, people.”

 

Well... that was with Kreis as coach. Under O'Connor, they play a differently.

Kreis used a wide open 4-2-3-1 with 2 attacking fullbacks and 2 CM's that both got forward. It was counterattack city against Orlando.

O'Connor played a 3-5-2 with Louisville, and is seemed like he would try that in Orlando too, but he's stuck with a 4-2-3-1, but much more compact. Instead of playing guys like Yotun and Higuita in midfield (who both like to roam and get forward) he's played either Will Johnson orUri Rosell next to Yotun, making sure that at least one guy sits in front of the defense. He's also decided to play actual right backs at right back and having them not get forward as much, while also not playing Sutter just because he was good last season. The return of Spector doesn't hurt either at CB

I'm not saying Orlando is gonna win the league or anything, but they don't play the wide open kamikaze tactics they did earlier in the year, they will be much more compact and organized.

One guy to look out for is Mohamed El-Munir. He's a Libyan international attacking left back. This dude is super exciting to watch, and is the reason Orlando only needs one fullback going forward. He's got pace and aggression, he's one of the league leaders in tackles, but he's actually better offensively. Very comfortable on the ball, can overlap outside and cross it in, or underlap and go central while dribbling past a couple defenders. With no Meram, I expect him to be Orlando's main threat from the left flank. Think Afful, but big, stronger, faster, and more aggressive on both sides of the ball.

 

Columbus (4-2-3-1)

Steffen; Afful, Mensah, Williams, Valenzuela; Trapp, Artur; Hansen, Argudo, Santos; Zardes

No Higuain in the 18, not on the injury report. Hhhmmm........

Orlando (4-2-3-1)

Edwards; Allen, O'Neil, Schuler, Rocha; Higuita, Rosell; Mueller, Kljestan, Yotun; Pinho.

Orlando is HEAVILY rotating. Reserve goalkeeper, all reserve defenders, reserve striker. Midfield is full of starters, though Yotun on the left is odd. He usually plays centrally, but he's very good at crossing and with set pieces. Not a lot of pace though.

EDIT: rain delay by the way. Kick off is set for 8:18.

 

No police for traffic control getting in to the stadium today, sad.

 

Frigg off with the umbrellas. That’s the unwritten policy.

 

Cbus feed on E+ ? Da fvck?

Back spasms for Pipa.

 

No one here? Lulz.

People complain that Pipa is old and slow and sucks.

Well, this is what we look like without him...

[sarcasm]

And Pedro Santos is having an absolute stunner of a game.

[/sarcasm]

 

Afful's shot goes out for a throw in. Gonna be one of those games.

 

Sosa red card is hurting us. No Higuain, No Sosa, no imigination, no chance of winning.

 

Seriously? Their GK is gimpy, we know it, and don’t force him with at least a couple shots?

Still, do you, Crew take these 3 minutes of stoppage for the 5 min the goalkeeper was treated and stumbling off, plus Orlando’s goal celebration, and the scrum from Mensah’s bike? It’s true, the league never loves you more than when you play against Columbus.

 

This game, with orlando playing half a reserve team, on the road, with short rest, is a MUST WIN.

GB better have made some changes at half, this is crap.

Also, people talk shit about Martinez not being good enough. But you know what, on offense we desperately miss his hard running and ability to get in behind. On defense, we miss his hustle. He isn't afraid to get in someone's face and foul them, or kick them, or hell if slap the shit out of them.

I don't get what people see in argudo. For me, he's a poor man's Martinez.

Hansen, has good moments at times, but never a good game. He's an impact sub, nothing more.

Santos sucks.

Edit: Hansen with an assist lol.

 

Zades goal, Hansen assist, 51st minute.

1-1.

 

2-1 orlando. Terrible.

And now El-Munir comes on. Fvck.......

 

Aaaaaand we’re down again. So soft defensively.

 

I hope Austin enjoys watching this crap show

 

Zardes has the worst first touch for a striker in this league