Columbus Crew @ Valeri and the City of a Thousand Hipsters | Match 29 - Sep. 19, 2018 10:30 PM ET

Please take three points, and I also have a favor to ask as you leave.

 

Columbus Crew SC vs Portland Timbers

MLS Regular Season Match - Wednesday, September 19, 10:30 PM - Providence Park

Broadcast: ESPN+ (you know the drill), CW Columbus, Spectrum Sports OH, BCSN2

Links: MLS Match Center

Vitals:
Columbus Crew SC
44 P / 28 G / 1.57 PPG | 12W-8L-8D | 35 GF / 34 GA / 1 GD | L5: WLDWD

Portland Timbers
44 P / 28 G / 1.57 PPG | 12W-8L-8D | 41 GF / 40 GA / 1 GD | L5: LWDWL

Goal Leaders:
Columbus Crew SC
Gyasi Zardes - 15
Federico Higuaín - 4
Harrison Afful - 2

Portland Timbers
Diego Valeri - 10
Samuel Armenteros - 8
Sebastián Blanco - 6

Previous Meeting:
March 25, 2017 @ MAPFRE Stadium
Columbus Crew SC 3, Portland Timbers 2

Notes:
Mess with Oregon.

 

Those team stats...

 

Santos continues to be awful and useless. Streak continues!

 

Pedro is our most consistent player. You can count on him to be ineffective game-in/game-out.

 

To repeat a phrase so cliche, and yet so true: I regret that I have but one rep to give for this post.

 

So, does Trapp start on Wednesday, or does he get a rest? I'd ask the same about Pipa, but is anyone that can play his role healthy?

 

I have to figure that Trapp starts, the reason he was held out Saturday was so that he could start both Wednesday and home on Saturday.

I get that they were going to go directly to Portland from Dallas, but I never understand "resting" a regular starter by making them spend extra nights away from their own bed and give them 20 minutes off the bench. We've seen this done to Pipa. I just don't see the point. Trapp could have rested up at home and flown out today to Portland, or yesterday or whenever the team was getting there. Neither her nor Pipa are known to be game changers off the bench. They are starters because they have 90 minute qualities.

Pipa maybe this one out. Maybe Zardes and Mullins start in a 4-4-2? But instead of sending him home to rest up for Saturday, they'll stash him on the bench and give in 15 minutes of garbage time.

I'm feeling a scoreless draw more than anything else. I'd love for all the offensive frustrations to boil over into a golazo bonanza. Portland's defense has been sort of poor.....

 

My guess is that Berhalter goes with a 4-4-2 to rest Pipa.
Afful - Mensa - Sauro - Jimenez
Santos - Trapp - Artur - Meram
Mullins - Zardes

 

My posts keep getting deleted! Lose by 2!

 

gotcha covered

 

What does Hispanic heritage night really mean lol ?

 

I think Pipa rests.

Three choices.

1) Stick with 4231 & play Argudo in his spot.

2) Play 2 up front. Either Mullins or Meeam. 442.

3) Buffet. Play 2 up front. Mullins or Meram. 352. With Argudo central.

I would go with #3 or #1. I think 3G goes with #2.

 

I pretty sure Pipa rests. I just saw him at Meijers.

 

Maybe it's his week for snacks.

 

ORANJE SLICEZ!!!!

 

A solid choice but word on the street is that Meram is of more of a snack bar kind of guy.

 

A trusted friend and travel guide sent me a few stats this morning.

Coming into tonight the Crew is first in the league with 5.6 crosses per game.

Coming into tonight the Crew is 22nd in the league with 1.2 goals per game.

I know some of our posters have small children. The game is late tonight. If you are having trouble getting your kids to sleep may I suggest you tune them into the excitement of Gregg Berhalter possession based soccer and instead of counting sheep you count wayward Harrison Afful crosses....

 

"Okay, Timmy, lie down and curl up like Pedro....That's it. Cover up now. Alright, now let's count crosses. One...Two...Three...zzzzzzzzzzzz."

 

remember when Crew Cat used to drop bombs?

 

He has a BS account, ya know.

Just how late do you think kids' bedtimes are?