Well. I actually thought Cincinnati was the better team and was creating the better chances for the first 15 minutes. The last 75 minutes turned into a good old-fashioned ass-whoopin'. Maybe we should bring Zardes off the bench every time. I can't believe we've allowed TWO GODDAMN GOALS in ten matches. And remember -- one of those was a self-destruct moment. A lot of people looked at this roster before the season began and drooled at the offensive talent, but the question was whether or not it would gel right away. I don't think anyone thought we'd be on a historic tear of defensive play. Not this way. I certainly didn't. But the back line has done an amazing job of cutting out the unforced errors that led to disaster last season. Part of that has to be attributed to Nagbe being so solid in front of them as well. In addition to everything else that has made 2020 a complete shitburger, it's a shame that we're not going to get to see what this team could have done in a full 34-match season.
To every #Crew96 supporter, near and far, this is for you. pic.twitter.com/IiILvZ4cAM— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) September 7, 2020
Hell is indeed Real. I think there's a bus melting down there. Room (Have no clue) - what rating do you give to someone for watching Netflix for 90 minutes? Afful (7) - one of his better games in some time. Even a couple of crosses were dangerous and his header off the rebound on the Diaz shot directly led to the third goal. Valenzuela (7) - great pass that could have broken the game open early. Had some trouble with Gyau's speed and ball skills. Mensah (8) - again, communication. I know Nagbe went 42 for 42 but Mensahk probably was just as good with the exception of a couple of long pass attempts. Williams (7) - quietly just doing his job and stepping up when needed. That little step in front, bring it down with the head, dribble past one player, then feed Nagbe for what ended a solid chance is an example of that. Artur (8) - solid down the spine and ventured up a few times. He needs to stop attending the Santos School of Long Distance Shooting. Alashe (8) - like Bill said, quietly a great game both defensively and involved in the attack. Great early chance blocked for a corner. Mohktar (5) - unlucky on the possible top of the arm, maybe shoulder block attempt. Had trouble with possession on the left creating a few chances for KFC. Santos (8) - didn't have success early on although he did have a good cross into the box which led to Mohktar's chance but he gave it all defensively. Great move to take three steps back and be in the right place to finish the Diaz pass. Great cross to Zardes. Nagbe (9) - not a 10 because he wasn't closer on the turnaround shot (I have to come up with something, right?). What a presence. KFC had one yellow card against him, should have been at least two. Good in both the 10 and the 6. Adi (6) - much better in the second half. Nice heel pass which Nagbe didn't read. Some good fight and some nice possession passing. Diaz (9) - the Diaz from 2019 unlocked the game. He found out he has another son because he's Garza's daddy. The move on Gutman that turned him into a pretzel, wow! Unlucky to get a goal along with his assist. Zardes (10) - what can you say when he scores 2 goals in 9 minutes on the pitch. Was involved all over, drew another yellow card, played some high-pressure defense. He did it all. Etienne (7) - slowed the game down a bit on defense but helped contain Gyau in the second half. Nice move to dribble out of trouble and initiate the counter. Berhalter (7) - calm, collected. It's as if no change had been made as the Crew didn't lose a step. Just one late pass that caught Afful flat-footed. Porter (9) - no Zelarayan, no problem. Made the right subs at the right time. Diaz in at the half changed the dynamic of the match and Zardes got his 30 against the Tide Pods.
Gyassi got a brace, but give the man of the match to Luis Diaz. The offense kicked into overdrive once he got in and his beautiful assist to Santos for the first goal opened the flood gates.
Well, Jeff was the all-time leading goal scorer in league history at one point. With a lot of then here. But the overall point is well taken, it seemed like he should've had double what he had. I'll take half of that from Diaz & be ecstatic.
Three thoughts: 1) Alashe looking like a keeper is big for me. Berhalter has been better than expected, but we needed another dependable CM, especially with Nagbe playing some #10. 2) Improved wing play/production. Santos with a goal and an assist. Diaz with an assist. If our wingers are productive, we are really tough to beat. 3) Hype train going again with 2. OK, I said three, but 8 shutouts in 10 games. Unbelievable.
I've been really negative about Josh Williams in the past but my goodness the guy is solid back there. Always seems to be in the right place. Doesn't make mental mistakes. He has been physically dominating, tackling with grit and altogether studly. And watching him and Mensah communicate, both verbally and otherwise, is pretty cool. How did this happen? Awful boner aside, if Keita wants that spot he's got a hell of a fight on his hands. Speaking of which, now that they're back up to over 300 minutes without conceding, it just has to kill him that were it not for his brain fart this defense would have smashed the record and set a new one that could last a decade. And Mensah. Good God. You'll have a hard time convincing me that he's not the best CB in the league.
From Steve Zakuani over at Major League Soccer Soccer: Why the Crew are on top of MLS Some winners are driven by their love of winning while others are driven by their hatred of losing. Columbus Crew head coach Caleb Porter belongs in the second group. I can vividly remember his reaction (he was on the verge of tears) when he coached me in college and we lost a game. We were very unlucky that day and it was our first loss in 10 games, but he didn’t care. Losing was not something to ever be accepted, and he let us know about it. Before Porter applies tactics, he instills a winning mentality in his teams. I saw it at Akron, I saw it at Portland and now I am seeing it with the Crew. That’s not to say there’s not plenty to love tactically about the Crew: We can talk about how they drag opponents over to one side of the field by combining a few passes in small areas to attract several defenders, and then quickly switch the ball to the other side once the opponent has overcommitted. We can talk about how their wingers will often come inside and allow the outside backs to provide the width, only for the next attack to feature wingers hugging the touchline while the outside backs come inside. The way the Crew move as a group when they don’t have the ball is also very impressive, because they know when to press and when to drop back and stay organized. Every player knows their role with the ball and especially without — this is why they’ve only conceded two goals in 10 regular-season games. We can all see that the Crew are tactically excellent, and that’s why even without Lucas Zelarayan they had too much for FC Cincinnati in their 3-0 romp. What we don’t all see is that Caleb Porter’s maniacal approach to winning is rubbing off on the players every day during training sessions, team meetings, through texts he’ll send to players, or via the little notes he’ll sometimes leave in a certain player's locker on game day with some words of motivation. Every action he takes is deliberate in filling his team with the belief that winning isn’t only possible, but it should be expected. It’s that approach, combined with the tactics, that has made the Crew the best team so far this season.
Why does "Hell is Real" matter? FCC really sucks, and they have sucked since entering MLS. Why does anybody care about this match when FCC is one of the worst clubs in MLS history? This strange rivalry was born out of the desire of MLS to erase Columbus Crew from the league and the history of MLS soccer. In June of 2017 there was a lot of hype about FCC, sellout crowds and dominating play in the second tier USL. Then by chance(or maybe manipulation) The Crew ends up with a US Open Cup match in Cincinnati, and FCC beats the MLS side in their packed stadium they were renting from UC. Suddenly Don Garber is singing the praises of FCC and their fanbase, even comparing them to low drawing Columbus. Garber didn't talk about the $5 ticket prices that surely helped FCC fill their rented stadium. Something was up, a few months later we found out what was actually happening. MLS wanted a "real major league city" in Ohio and Columbus was never what Garber, US Soccer and their cronies envisioned, even though Columbus was the first MLS side, and the unofficial home of US Soccer. Garber wanted cities that have NFL and MLB. So then, concurrent with Precourt announcing that he may move the club, MLS was simultaneously pumping up FCC as their newest expansion team. Unfortunately for Garber and FCC Ownership and supporters, The Crew was saved. Last year I made the road trip to Cincinnati in August, that was one of the most enjoyable days I have spent as a Crew supporter since 1996. I would guess there were 4,000 Crew supporters there that day. We took over their supporters pub, and we took over their stadium, as we dominated in a 3-1 victory. Now the reality of being in MLS is surely weighing on the ownership and supporters at FCC. The ownership group thought they were going to be Ohio's MLS team when they handed over the franchise fee to MLS, that didn't happen. Since then they have committed to a $250 million stadium and building a roster. As we all know, things have not gone well at FCC. They have been terrible on the pitch, fired way too many coaches, and off the field issues with players have been a negative distraction. For me the memories of FCC gleefully accepting the role of stepping in to replace The Crew will never fade. It's a different kind of rivalry, and it always will be. That is, as long as FCC is able to survive in MLS. If, and when, FCC actually fields a competitive team, the rivalry will be that much sweeter for me.
It was nice to see fans at matches again. I hated the starting lineup with Zardes and Zelarayan out. What's going on with Lucas? FCC had the best chance of the first half but couldn't convert and that was there offense for the night. Subbing in Diaz made a big difference and adding Zardes ensured the win. Congrats to Gyasi for his new child too! Nobody had a bad night for the Crew and Nagbe, Zardes, Mensah, Alashe, Diaz, and Williams were very good. The ref should have given a yellow to Reggattin for pulling Nagbe's jersey about minute 10 and let FCC thug things up. We get a week of rest and likely a more open match vs the F*re on Saturday so full steam ahead on the hype train!
And Josh had at least one good run right up the middle of their midfield that almost led to a good chance.
Lot of depth in the back right now. Keita actually was strong up to that moment and made a great block and muscled an attacker out of the box. It is just that Williams is just more steady right now. It sucks that one bad play defines you especially one which cost points and remain undefeated (paging Steve Clark...) but Keita will learn and I am sure Porter and the gang are using that along with keeping him out of the lineup until the right time to sharpen his game. Hell, it worked with Diaz. As for Williams and Mensah, playing together for so many years under two defensively minded coaches will do that. All of the pieces are falling into place.
Do we know when MLS is actually scheduling more matches? I am curious to see if they break out of these pods that we are in at the moment. 6 out of 10 of the Crew's matches so far have been against FCC, Chicago, or teams that have already fired their coaches. I am thrilled with where we are in the standings, to the extent that they matter, but I also really, really wish to see the Crew play actual meaningful games. For instance, I'd rather watch an extremely frustrating sometimes poor performance that leads to a 1-0 win over teams like Philadelphia than a dominating 3-0 win against FCC. The latter just doesn't feel like a real match.
Broadcast said last night that he had a knock and was day-to-day. Sounds like Porter was just protecting his star.
For centerbacks, I really think its a partnership and they both have to fit together. Mensah and Williams do fit together. They compliment eachother with their different approaches. Going back to Næss, I think they did not fit together, which caused Mensah's early troubles.
We are 5 points clear at the top of the table (knock on wood). I know Keita's brain fart vs NYCFC and the draw at the Tide pods were disappointing, but the fact is the gap at the top is larger than it was after MLSisBack. All of this missing Vito. Having Mohktar, Room, Valenzuela, and Zelarayan miss time. Best start in team history: 7-2-1 (WDL).
My rep said they hope to have info next week. And while your point about our schedule is well taken, TFC have seen an awful lot of Vancouver. Orlando has gotten a lot of Miami. Someone plays Nashville. Etc. Hopefully the games will be a tad less congested. Do we have a Canadian club solution yet? Or are they gonna have to stay in the US?
Yes, and circling back to Bill’s comment above, this pairing is clicking well. There’s good communication and chemistry between Josh and Mensah right now. And the results speak for themselves. (Although two of these defensive masterclasses have come against toothless FC Food Lion.)
I wonder if we'll have a new pod of teams to play against. I see why they're keeping teams clustered--maybe it would make sense to do two more clusters of teams for the remaining matches?