Post-match: EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: CREW VS NEW ENGLAND NOT THE PATRIOTS SUNDAY 12/6 3:00PM

Yes!!!

 

I didn't think much of it at the time, but when the starting lineup and subs were announced for the last match, and Mokhtar was nowhere to be seen, Inside Man posted:

Mokhtar-19

Of course, he'd not been one of the players specifically named as having tested positive. Still...

 

Well, I do not want to jinx it, but it does not look like we'll have to travel.....

Loons 3: Sportings 0. At half.

Minnesota 9 unbeaten at start of play.

 

The table has been set. Up to the Crew to run it.
I ********ing hate Seattle. Come on Minnesota!

 

Other teams stuff should probably go here:

https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/2020-other-teams-news-thread.2108324/page-52#post-39154016

 

I love you, John Wilmar Perez.

 

Thanks Karen.

 

Wait.... nobody is talking about how the league is considering a neutral site for the MLS Cup Final now?

 

WHAT??????????

 

Only if the state/city hosting the final goes into a complete lockdown and professional sports are prohibited from being played.

 

#Crew96 list Eloy Room and Waylon Francis as questionable for Sunday’s game against #NERevs. Sebastian Berhalter, Miguel Berry, Chris Cadden, Derrick Etienne, Jon Kempin and Vito Wormgoor are all “medically not cleared to play."

— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) December 5, 2020

Room back and cadden was the latest positive.

 

Great news: Room is back. Missing training should not be as important for a GK.

Good news: Francis back. Other than Etienne, he is the field player most likely to play amongst the initial seven.

Bad news: Cadden was the 8th. He played on Sunday. And more likely to play than Francis.

Guess my Mokhtar/Alashe theory was wrong.

Guess at the XI: Room; Afful, Mensah, J. Williams, Valenzuela; Artur, Nagbe; Diaz, Zelarayan, Santos; Zardes.

Bench: Tarbell; Jimenez, Francis, Keita; Morris, Boatang; Nemeth, Adi +1 (Mokhtar or Alashe).

MNC: Kempin; Cadden; Berhalter, Etienne; Berry. Wormgoor (DL).

 

One small disagreement; Francis has been used lately as a late game defense-only replacement t for Valenzuela when we have a lead., Valenzuelas game is more two dimensional but hes not as strong a lock down marking back as Waylon is.

 

I hear that Dong Arber has floated the idea of a baseball stadium in the Bronx.

Or wherever DC played while Audi Field was being wrapped up.

 

Of the 4 remaining teams it seems like Columbus/Franklin County/The Crew is the only one allowing fans to attend, (even though it has the highest per capita infection rate.)

I know Garber is bitter towards the Crew, but this feels more like pressure towards the other 3 clubs to make something happen to allow fans in for the final.

I sure do hope the Crew can take care of Business on Sunday. I would love to go to the finals, but ain't no way I'm traveling right now, so it's Mapfre or bust for me.

 

ESPNarticle

It's 'a backup to a backup' plan but I trust Don Garber as much as I trust a US Open Cup ref...

 

But the thought of Don Garber having to come to Columbus for the final is just wonderful. He hates us so much.

 

The article says they’re looking into back up plans in case the local government of the host stops the game from happening (ex San Jose). That’s not happening in Columbus. Chilllllll, everyone.

 

I wonder if IM was saying he thought Mokhtar had contracted a contagious disease, or if he was saying Mokhtar IS in fact a contagious disease. Either would be a reason to keep him away from the team.

FWIW, my stir crazy brain called my rep yesterday about procedures for MLS Cup tickets (if we should get there) and was informed there were still some tickets left for tomorrow's game. So if anyone out there wants to brave COVID & the cold, get after it.

 

Duck Fon Garber.

 

Win by 2+. Con and I will be there cheering our heads off.

 

Let me do a "glass half empty" scenario... MLS Cup involves a fair amount of logistics and advance team work. Changing something at the last minute is both expensive and difficult to pull off. MLS has a desire for a stable situation to put the bow on their 2020 season and the slightest whiff of a disruptive issue puts them on edge.

Assuming we 'host' and you are MLS, would you prefer to host an event in a state where the governor has beem steadily restricting things and has been known not to bend to your will (not that I mind that last part)? Or do you set up shop somewhere that provided venues for your mini-tournament earlier during the pandemic?

 

Oh I totally get this.

Here’s another thought though: Columbus is the only team left where fans HAVE been permitted this season. 1,500 fans in Columbus is more than I think would show up as neutrals or traveling fans to a game in Orlando. MLS already knows this isn’t going to be a normal Cup this year. As much as they love Seattle, if they host there won’t be any fans there. Seattle has been even more restrictive than Ohio and would be even more doubtful to bend rules just for a final.