PBP: The Greatest Team The World Has Ever Seen vs. those cousin f*****s

It was still further in than the one before Portland's second.

 

FCC set the record last year for most goals allowed. Their CBs were undistinguished and their DMs were terrible. So they go out and get Medunjanin and make him a DM! Nagbe and Zelarayan had no trouble retaining possession against uninterested defenders last night. FCC needs a Chara, Alonso, Armas, ABMOD type DM to harry the other team's ball carriers.

 

That turn he made to get free and set up Mohktar/Zardes for the second was orgasmic. He left three Kentuckians going the other way.

 

I bought the Nordecke one after the game. $25 plus $3 shipping.

 

Last night they came out looking like Jaaaaaap had told them to make up for being bad by being tough guys. So they hit and fouled and knocked people down and were going to beat the Crew up. Only A the referee wasn't having it and B they were really really bad at it. (The way they kept trying to hit Nagbe and missing was classic)

Oh and C while they were auditioning for roller derby the Crew played some, whatcha callit, oh yeah, soccer.

Berding is simply in over his head. Not the faintest idea what he's doing. As someone pointed out above, this guy from USL, that guy from the expansion draft, someone else was a free agent. Yeah, that'll win a bunch of games.

 

Flavatown Crew beats Skyline Chili FC... I'm tired, I'm europhoric... here you go...

 

They had a strong USL side with great fan support. Garber and ESPN were rapturous about the crowds during their 2017 USOC run. Berding apparently swallowed their own hype hook, line, and sinker. If a good USL side could beat multiple MLS teams in the cup, they could do so on a season-long basis. Replace their 3 worst USL starters with 3 MLS DPs and they'd be dominating! Depth, schmepth.

Now they are on their 3rd coach in 2 years and have nothing to build upon.

 

Watching FC Kentucky those first 15 minutes I thought “These guys look like a legitimate soccer team.” Then an actual soccer team showed up.

 

The sequence leading to the second goal was astounding. The Crew knocked it around at the back with zero pressure for several passes. Cincy stepped.out against Afful and tried to apply some pressure to all the available passes. Afful found Nagbe who turned his man with ease and moved upfield. He looks up and sees nothing but space. Mokhtar couldn't believe how open he was got the pass and he looks up and sees Zardes with 15 yards of space of his own. It was so easy.

 

There is a whole Hamilton discuss in the WTF thread if you missed it.

 

Here's my ratings.

9 - Zardes and Zelarayan: I don't think there's much to say when the first gets two goals and looked dangerous on his runs and the second one drew a PK which wasn't called, then gets pissed and dribbles through three players before getting fouled to earn the FK, then proceeds to bury it. The assist was a thing of beauty too. Not 10 because Zardes had a couple of chances where his first step failed him and Zelayaran had one of those plus was MIA for portions of the first 20 minutes or so.

8 - Nagbe and Artur: with the exception of a couple of passes to Kentucky players to give them some hope, the rest of the evening was magical for them. It was really good watching them move into space and dictate the pace of the game.

7 - Keita, Mensah and Mohktar: the two in the back were solid and cleaned up the few mistakes made ahead of them. Mohktar moved and had his head up on both the assist and getting into position to score the last one.

6 - Diaz, Afful and Jimenez: Diaz could have been an 8 the way he abused Garza but his decision making for the final product was lacking. The first cross was way overhit and he had Zelayaran open at the PK spot with the trailing run. A couple of others also fizzled. Afful combined well with him and he was closer to a 7 than a 6. Jimenez did well as the fill in at left back although he got abused by Manneh's speed early in the game. Nice look to find Mohktar for the final goal.

5 - Room: good reflex save early on but a bit shaky on a couple of shots at him. The second of those bounced 5 yards in front of him and could have been a dangerous chance for the other team if it wasn't Cincinnati.

Others: Wormgoor didn't look good early on with balls over his head but recovered well on the play he got injured. Cadden, Berhalter and Morris didn't have much to do as the Crew was pretty much killing the game at that time. Etienne had a couple of chances with speed but he looked rusty with the ball at his feet.

 

Did that once for a Xoggz match out in Dayton....

 

Well that's true of most expansion teams in most leagues--exceptions being Vegas and the LA Angels.

 

If what you are saying is true then there is still the mystery of which Crew player has Cornavirus. I thought I heard somewhere it was someone expected to be in the first 11?

 

Sirk never fails with his words.

https://sirkbook.com/2020/07/12/hell-is-real-iv-the-golazo-ing/

 

I like and respect Sirk. The only artist I have ever been a patron of work.

Though I disagree with “When he lined up, I thought there was no way he was going to shoot.” I thought the exact opposite. Zela gets a look in his eyes. I love it. Like your mischievous child. I am about to do it even though she told me not to.

 

I will make one point. While I thoroughly enjoyed that match, I'm not taking it as an expectation of how the rest of the season might go. One game.

 

The Crew's website posted this result as

O-H-4-O

 

Agreed. First, of course, we have no idea just how much "season" there will even be, but that's another issue.

More to the point, FCC is just terrible. Lots of teams in MLS would carve them up. I'm curious just how bad Vito's ankle is because, as much I like Keita, you hate to lose a starting centerback.

I'll feel better if Santos and Valenzuela (to a lesser extent Adi) are available for other group stage matches.

Still, these guys do play like a cohesive unit, as opposed to last year's team. And Zelerayan certainly looks like the real deal.

 

I love that everyone here is agreeing with Alexi Lalas but if they say they agree with Lalas, well, a pox on their house.

Hilarious.

 

Thanks to the blowout over FCKY last night, Columbus Crew SC is currently #1 in the MLS Supporters' Shield Standings.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings/supporters-shield

 

Was it @TKyle who made a non-exhaustive list on those who we must hate from the dark times?

Listen I owned Ginger. Was I obligated to go Office Space copier scene on the cd? Probably, yes.

 

Thoughts after the game:

My first thought is I'm trying not to get too excited after this one because I know FCC is terrible and we still had some bad turnovers, Room was shaky a couple times, Vito got hurt, and Santos, Valenzuela, Adi, & Hamilton were mot availabe.

But if you can't get excited about whuppin' your "rivals" ass 4-0, what is the point of being a fan?

Zelarayan was brilliant. Zardes was sharp. Nagbe basicly flawless (he's a diamond). Mokhtar was the best I've seen him. He could have had another goal if Diaz had spotted him unmarked at the top of the box instead of trying to feed Zardes. Even with questionable decision-making, Diaz is a handful. Artur was very good. As was Mensah, aside from his usual one awkward moment. Room good early & had a couple shaky moments late. Jimenez his usual, mostly solid self (and an assist). Keita filled in well.

Still think CM is thin, but all good other than that & Vito's injury.