Only watched the last 25 but Durkin is playing a very solid game. All over the place and saved our bacon with that clearance
Why are we constantly chasing the game in the second half? We had almost no possession until the very last play.
Pathetic in possesion. Game plan to force crosses at Jara, Brillant, Birnbaum, Pines, Durkin, and Hamid was smart and worked well.
I'll take the 3 points, honestly I don't think this was a real struggle, I have seen more positives than negatives tonight on a field which has been traditionally very difficult throughout the years. I don't know what Columbus players are complaining about, it happens to everybody every now and then to lose a game on the only mistake given.
Columbus has got the wrong Robinho. The right one is in Turkey, at Basaksehir, at the top of the SuperLig.
Well Ben tried something different -- Titi as a wingback. Not his position. I thought Ben was going to wait for stoppage time before putting Segura in, I guess Ben liked watching Santos run by Titi. The positives: A win The back 3 -- Brillant, Pines and Birnbaum didn't put a foot wrong on defense all night. I didn't think Pines was ready, I was wrong -- the kid is solid and soccer smart. Hamid controlled the box and sucked everything up Durkin had another solid game. Arriola was much better pushed forward. Rooney did what he is paid to do. Acosta was better, but still got caught in possession too often Moreno was meh Titi is not a wingback, the kid has no defensive sense at all. Jara still looked like a weak link -- not a McCann weak link, but somewhere he misplaced his pace. The inability to hold any possession in the second half was troubling. You can't expect Hamid, Brillant, Pines and Birnbaum to play mistake free for 90 minutes. They collectively were the "man of the match" in my book.
Pines! To be honest, I'm almost afraid to "call it," but he a natural. I can't tell if he's more of a Eddie Pope (athleticism) or Llamosa (soccer-smart)? If he keeps doing this he'll be involved with the National Pool in a year or two. If he keeps this up, he'll definitely be the next "who is going to Europe . . ." talk.
Ben's spent his three subs to replace Rooney, Tito, and Lucho. 3 offensive subs while trying to hold a lead? That's, uhhh, rather aggressive for you, Ben. Or, it makes about as much sense as making defensive subs when we're down a goal on the road . . .
The one major problem with this team is the depth. Between the injuries and the schedule, the starters are going to get their legs run off. By the end of the season Rooney is going to probably need a wheelchair. Acosta will probably be walking form trying to do too much (because Rooney is in a wheelchair). This team simply doesn't have a scorer off the bench. Defensively, while the team has done well this season, it has been chaotic. Even when "bunkered" this team has too many "ahh s---!" moments. Too many of the wins have been luck, not skill on the defensive side of the ledger. It's pretty obvious by Olsen's substitute plans that he simply doesn't respect his bench. The year is long, and you don't plan for an injury, but you've got to expect it. One injury on any of the line makes this a very average team. Hopefully the Soccer Gods are kind this year. . . .
By the way, Columbus' strategy of low percentage crosses into the area when Pines, Brillant, Birnbaum, and Hamid are all waiting there is somewhat less than cerebral soccer. They could have played for 180 minutes and I don't think Columbus would have scored.
I like to think that a Colombus rube got a yellow card for diving in the second half. Was I seeing things?