Sadly, nowhere in Ohio. But both WV and IN. Interestingly, as states have legalized sports betting, FanDuel is setting up sports books in local casinos. Running a book is complicated and expensive, and most casinos outside of Las Vegas cant easily handle it. However, FanDuel comes in and runs the whole operation. No idea how the money is split. That particular bet was placed at a FanDuel sports book at a casino in WV. The odds were a bit shorter than the Vegas books were offering. Caesars had that particular game at a whopping Crew +780.
Ah, thanks for the info. I heard on some news radio (I honestly can't remember if it was NPR or AM newsradio) that Ohio - thanks to some draconian legislation - is proving to be a special case when it comes to sports books moving in and that they may not come here at all, even though sports betting is legal now. And the online betting space is just as complicated inside Ohio.
Not as long as the conservatives are in power. If it was John Kasich, I might be more hopeful, but alas...
I dont know how things are going to shake out with Santos playing the 10 or out wide, but if we play him central next season, I think we will need a solid option for the wing opposite Diaz. Mokhtar may or may not pan out but he came on a free so I would just keep him as serviceable depth or what have you because with Accam leaving the only other main depth option is Argudo. Tito Villalba is in his prime and not a routine starter for Atlanta anymore with Pity, Barco, and Hyndman there and guys like Gressel and Meram starting on the wings. I think hes proven he can be lethal in MLS. He would have suitors elsewhere I would think, but he hasnt had a big season this year and he would fit within our teams budget profile. I was high on him before and would still take him. He would probably like the opportunity to actually showcase himself more and get more Paraguay call ups and maybe a move to Europe if it's not too late. Hes only on 830k right now. We could pay him Accams 1.13 mil, no problem.
Although the winger at Argentina’s San Lorenzo playmaker Nahuel Barrios has one goal in 4 starts but maybe the 5’1 134lb , 21 yr old is the next givinco not sure if he is starting at winger but i do know he was a CM at one point does anyone actually watch their games ? I know they are in first place and he is widely viewed as a promising player .
I don’t gamble in sports so I can’t explain the graphic. I do know #Crew96 is one of only 3 #MLS teams to shutout #ATLUTD this season (over 28 games), and I’ve arrived in Atlanta w/ a ton of optimism! 😀💯⚽️ pic.twitter.com/VwTHtzclA7— Chris Doran (@ChrisDoran18) September 14, 2019 Funny, Doran was tweeting about this. Nice win.
Had to be an engaged husband at a House Warming/Birthday Party so I missed a lot of the first half and watched the second half on my phone while splitting time providing my pithy commentary on today's societal ills. Here is your West Ham Sandwich Good/Bad/Ugly Presented by BigStern for Match 31: Good: Diaz is the real deal. Wingers have the tendency to disappear (see Mohktar and Argudo blurbs below) but Diaz seems make his presence known every game. His shot led to Gyasi's goal, his goal was a quality effort after botching the initial play, and it was his cross that led to the own goal. Gyasi's goal was a fantastic shot on a rebound that is launched into the stratosphere 90% of the time. He now has 8 road goals which is a massive improvement from last year. Unfortunately his home output has slacked. If he can find the balance in 2020, the hype train will be fully functional. Santos works very well centrally although I'm not entirely it's in the Crew's best interest to move forward with him in that spot in the lineup, I think there is a spot for him in the lineup in 2020. The Keita/Mensah pairing seemed to look good (although I'm only basing that on only 1 goal allowed). Same for Room. Bad: Maloney was in a tough spot but better defensive mechanics would have helped. The defensive midfield also provided zero pushback on the attack leading to the goal. Afful is who he is and Cadden can't get here soon enough. Does anyone know exactly when he'll be in Columbus? I've seen the loan labeled as season long but is that MLS season or Championship season? I'd prefer to see him in February 2020 instead of June 2020. I didn't even realize Mohktar had started and Argudo didn't really do much in his sub appearance. Ugly: A season sweep vs the defending champs? Yea I'll leave ugly out of this and just laugh at Atlanta celebrating a non-goal minutes before giving up an own goal to lose by two. Ha! Table Finish Prediction based on Match 31 Performance: 11th. 8th through 10th are theoretically back on the table (and 7th by the slimmest of margins). I still don't think the Crew climb the standings but I also wouldn't have said Montreal would get swept by the Fusslads. Them and Chicago stand 3 points ahead. Chicago had a 4 goal win vs FC Dallas. OC is 2 ahead after drawings the Revs (who are currently in 7th sitting on 40 points with a game in hand). I'll stick with 11th and hope to be pleasantly surprised if they build up some momentum over the Final 3. It does set up well for that as Vancouver are garbage, Philly is a home match and at Toronto could hypothetically be on a 3 match winning streak. Hooray for the narrative that if the Crew had turned a handful of late goal draws or losses into wins or draws, they wouldn't have been that bad.
This game was so strange. I agree with others that we played some of the best team soccer we've seen all season. The players looked organized and engaged. We played quickly quite often and were deserving winners. The only ATL goal came from 2 of their DPs beating our 19 year old centerback making his 3rd or 4th MLS start and our 4th string left winger. I'm not too concerned about that. But somehow we still had awful performances all over the field. Guzman, when not totally invisible, was as bad as I've ever seen him. Artur was about what we've come to expect. Those 2 fouls he had around the box are the kind that lead to goals or red cards. I think the first should have been a yellow, but it was very early so he was let off, which when he got the yellow for the 2nd one, he could have been out. He still can't make an attacking pass. Afful was bad again. I did like a bit of what I saw from Mokhtar, i know now, that he's just not a winger. It seemed like he pushed into the middle and Santos drifted out to the left a lot. I wish they had just swapped. As others have said, Mensah, Santos and Zardes were all very good. I still think that what Santos does best is playmake from wide, whether going line and crossing or cutting in for a shot or slip pass. His best moments in this game came when he did those things. He was ok in the middle, but nothing more. I'm coming around to the idea that this guy could have a place on our team in 2020, but it really has to be as a winger IMO. Zardes' hold up play was again excellent, the goal was outstanding and he was just involved in most of the good stuff we did. Diaz. What a game, what a player, what a bright spot on the season.
I just know that I hate the fact that the bastard always scores against us... lol Just like Accam. lol
it's a bit outside of my soccer tactics understanding but it seems while he doesn't play the 10 role, he benefits from being in that position on the field and have the ability to attack towards the middle instead of heading down the sideline. Higuain is solidly a middle of the field #10 so when Pipa is on the field, Santos is forced to the sidelines. This could also explain why our Dmids don't feature in the attack because they are forced to stay back because Pedro isn't as present in the middle. Also Higuain severely slows down the attack and Pedro benefits from the transition. I think I'd rather see neither Pedro and Pipa back than both of them back. Pedro with a new #10 that has pace and can flip with Pedro on the fly would be my target. That Nahuel Barrios guy would be an interesting option that I could see working with Pedro.
Vancouver is the trap game. I hope the team doesn't think 3 points are in the bag because they're "garbage". A win at Vancouver gives us momentum for the final two tough matches.
I'll never see a dime. As for the game, all you geniuses are missing the point. Go read what DeBoer said afterwards. They were beaten by our speed. Specifically Zardes and Diaz. He admits they had no answer. The problem comes when a high pressing team - the ones that gave/give the GGG method fits - has to hoof it up and down the field for 90 minutes. Speed forces you to do that. And your guys get tired, cause they're forced to track all the way back and then go forward again. Playing high only works when you can stay there and play only half the field. It falls apart when you have to play the whole pitch. He also admits that they didnt do some stuff tactically and looked sluggish sometimes but he admits that it was at least partially due to.Porter ramming it down their throat. Then listen to Porter: he has said it over and over this year and everyone figures it's just crap but I think he means it; he wants the team to be "ruthless" He is aiming for a very fast outfit that keeps you on your heels, forces you to give some room, forces you to run your legs off for 90 minutes and never gives you a chance to breath. It's nothing like Berhalters vision, which is a large part of why the team hasn't been able to do it. Forget all this "Oh we need a 9 or a 10 or an 8 ( which is all gibberish)" crapola and start thinking in terms of full court pressure. Sure you need playmakers, everybody always need playmakers but Guille and Pipa are not the models.for the style Porter wants to play Stop trying to jam the team into some rigid old format. Shut up your mouth occasionally, stop whining about how we need a 7 1/2 or some idiotic thing because that's not what this is all about.
Well said. And what better fir with a DP striker than a guy like Zardes? To say he is a work horse is an understatement. That guy tracks back when most strikers would not. Will. Not. Quit. Zardes is the perfect guy for a Porter outfit... okay not saying his suits.
Really like both Big Stern & Bill's posts above. Agree with Bill's point about Porter's vision. I think he wants a fast, somewhat interchangeable 3 behind the forward. A DP that can play wide some and inside some, rather than a pure CAM or pure wing would seem to fit the bill, and mesh well with Santos. Agree that this bodes ill for Pipa being back, but I would still like a return. A bit emotional on this one, but I also like having the versatility to play fast (Porter's primary goal) and also slower (possess to kill a game or break a bunker). I would love it if we still have a shot at the POs when the last home game vs Philly starts. Both NE & NYRB play twice before then. If we beat Vancouver, NE would need 4 pts to close us out (RSL & at Portland) and NYRB would need a win (at Portland and hosting Philly), though two draws might effectively do it on GD.
If this team thinks it’s in a position to overlook anybody, they deserve exactly what they get. Especially since they already coughed up two points against Cincinnati.
Here's an example that Frank de Boer used postgame to illustrate how #ATLUTD overextended itself vs. Columbus Crew on Saturday. Will talk about this in some more detail on a video coming today on @DirtySouthSoc YouTube channel. pic.twitter.com/abrlrpAx5E— Joe Patrick (@japatrick200) September 16, 2019 Just another mention of Connor Maloney busting a gut and breaking up the attack.
Yeah, who'd a thunk it? Connor effing Maloney. Sliding tackle at one end, then sprinting back to intercept a ball, and making the first pass in a counter-attack that leads to a goal. The kid's going to be on the roster next year, which is a statement I'd have mocked a 5-6 weeks ago.
Afful made the bench on MLS ToTW (Diaz made the starting line up but duh there). https://www.columbuscrewsc.com/post/2019/09/16/afful-diaz-named-mlssoccercoms-team-week According to the stat monkeys, he "recorded a match-high 12 possessions gained to go along with three tackles, two clearances, and two interceptions." That and holding Atlanta to a single goal gets you bench honors, I guess. He wasn't the main culprit but he was pretty out of position on the goal conceded which is why I put him in the Bad category but I'm willing to admit I just didn't watch that closely and probably should have just left him out altogether (or maybe a quick mention in the good).
Another one of our villains, Guzman, is the one that picks up the loose ball from Maloney's pass break-up, holds off the attacker and gets the ball to Santos while getting fouled. I believe the last goal came from a similar involvement by Guzman to win the ball in the defensive third.