Columbus Crew SC vs FC Dallas MLS Regular Season Match – Saturday, March 16, 2:00 PM – MAPFRE Stadium Broadcast: FOX Sports Ohio, MLS LIVE on ESPN+ (we built this league on blackouts!), MLS LIVE on DAZN Links: MLS Match Center Vitals: Columbus Crew 4 P / 2 G / 2 PPG | 1W-0L-1D | 3 GF / 1 GA / 2 GD | FORM: WD FC Dallas 4 P / 2 G / 2 PPG | 1W-0L-1D | 3 GF / 1 GA / 2 GD | FORM: WD Goal Leaders: Columbus Crew Gyasi Zardes - 2 Gastón Sauro - 1 FC Dallas Bryan Acosta - 1 Michael Barrios - 1 Reto Ziegler - 1 Previous Meeting: Sep. 15, 2018 @ Toyota Stadium Columbus Crew 0, FC Dallas 0 Notes: Dallas tied New England at home. We beat New England on the road. But Dallas beat a Zlatan-less Galaxy side at home. And we tied a Zlatan-less NYRB side at home. Dallas has new coach. Columbus had new coach. Dallas score three goal. Crew scores 3 goals. Is Dallas Crew? COLUMBUS IS FC? RRRRAAAAAASBURNNNNNN So... yeah, we'll probably lose at home to Dallas. Bigly. Or do we? Maybe not because... ***LAMAR HUNT PIONEER CUP KLAXON*** That's right, jerkfaces! Get your goddamned heads in the game. We're playing for some sweet, sweet fake trophy mojo! In just his ninth match as manager, CB9K could bring home another scrumptious piece of minor hardware. LET'S ********IN' DO THIS! Also, ******** Texas! Discuss.
I’m really pissed off at Mother Nature about Saturday’s projected weather. Although this early in the week for the opener was showing 35 degrees and snow so who in the hell knows at this point.
I have a friend who is on Year One of STM. He sends me a text yesterday, being pissed off about the same thing. I told him that its best he and his wife learn this early. The crappiest weather of any given week is a Crew home match. In order to get great weather for Crew, you need absolutely gorgeous the rest of the week.
I prefer to play Dallas this early in the cold versus the traditional Dallas home game in heavy downpour and 90 minute lightning delay - specifically with 5 minutes to go in the match.
Would you have preferred last Saturday? I mean, what do people expect in central Ohio in early/mid March? Frankly, I think we were pretty fortunate on week one. If we're somewhere around 40 - with maybe even a hint of sun - next Saturday, I'll have nothing to complain about.
No one wants to see pics of your shit. Jesus that looks gross in a marketing picture even. Overly soggy noddles, sloppy joe, and Lalas pubic hair gross.
Dallas won't pressure as high so there will be more chances for Santos getting the ball, er, I mean, getting knocked over in the final third. I'm going with the over.
Crewster points as of today:: EAST Toronto 3 Montreal 3 NYRB 1 Columbus 1 DC 1 Cincinnati 1 NYC -1 Orlando -1 Atlanta -2 New England -2 Chicago -2 Philadelphia -3 WEST Minnesota 6 Portland 1 Salt Lake 1 Kansas City 0 Seattle 0 LAFC 0 LA Galaxy 0 Dallas -2 Houston -2 Colorado -2 Vancouver -3 San Jose -6
That’s -3 for home loss, -1 for home draw, +1 for road draw, and +3 for road win? I should remember, but my brain doesn’t.
So, what's in Porter's head for Saturday? Same starting 11? Will Meram lose his starting role? The defense seems solid in the middle and Afful had a better second game. Francis has been average and hasn't provided much on the attacking end. If we get the same starting 11, does Porter go to the bench earlier if we're tied? Who will make the 18? It looks like JJ has been a lock but hasn't come in yet. Thoughts?
Porter wanting to keep the CB pairing consistent makes Mennsah and Sauro locks, joining Zack. Afful and Waylon start due to no better alternatives on the bench. You also don’t start hector unless it’s an emergency as he is your cover at multiple positions and he helps you avoid Conner Maloney getting any real minutes. I don’t know if you bench Meram this early in the season despite me wanting him subbed off way earlier than he was at New England. I think you give him another home game to try and pull some magic, but give him a smaller leash before pulling him for Robinho earlier if he still stinks up the field. I just still don’t know what we have in Robinho to say we start him just yet. Would want him to get more than just a few minutes first. I think Santos earned himself another start, and wil, Artur, Higs And Zardes are our best options at their respective positions. I think JJ at this point in his career is your “we are down a goal so let’s bring on another guy that we can whip crosses into the box at” sub, while Mullins is my Choice if we are tied and want to try to bring on another forward to go for the win. I don’t really like any of our other attacking options as subs. Argudo is okay, but I would prefer healthy Niko. Sosa might have potential but he’s no Higs just yet. That’s a long way of me seeing that I imagine the same 11.
I think he sticks with the same 11 we've seen so far this season. If anyone needs to be benched, it's Meram, but it's not like we're loaded with great options behind him. Defensively, I think you've got to stick with what we've seen. I'm a little concerned about our left flank; Dallas significantly favored attacking down the right side their first two matches. I think Francis is our weakest link in the back. I hope CB9K is more willing to make some subs, especially if we're tied. He has seemed hesitant to do so. My XI: Steffen Afful - Mensah - Sauro - Francis Artur - Trapp Santos - Higuaín - Meram Zardes Bench: Bendik, J Williams, Jimenez, Clark, Robinho, Mullins, JJ Williams
I was with a guy last weekend who had a couple he didn't need. He printed them up at home and brought them to the stadium,where we walked over to the ticket window, found a young couple standing in line, handed them to them and said "Go Crew" We figured this was giving forward, since those kids will remember that they went to a Crew game and people were really nice long after they've forgotten the score.
I agree with this except for Meram. He was crap when he returned from Orlando. He's been crap so far this year. He's done nothing to deserve that starting spot. It pains me to say it because of what he has done for us in the past, but you've to put him on the bench. His lack of production can't be rewarded. Give someone else a shot.
When I was a poor graduate student, not more than a month after starting to lurk on these boards, @kgilbert78 offered me a pair of his great seats. I don't remember the outcome of the match, but I do remember his kindness! Now I'm bringing down the next generation. Everyday my 8-year-old kid wears his (formerly my) yellow knit hardhat-era Crew hat to school that Frankie signed at the tAAAilgate. (He also presented it to his class at show & tell.)