I feel like even if we had 30 they could take all of them to Mexico but then a few guys would be in the stands. I know we won’t have that issue to deal with but other than not traveling because of injury in a game this special everyone would want to be there. Unless the team plane didn’t have enough seats for everyone that would suck if you didn’t get to travel.
Yeah. Bush has an injury, so if we need 3 keepers,,I could see a Crew2 keeper traveling. Or not. Any Cucho updates? We leave on Thursday. Hopefully he is training.
I'm a little more concerned about what happens when both Hagen and Schulte are off on national team duties and Bush isn't 100 % yet.
And someone correct me but with America defeating Cruz Azul last night that sets up another Campeones Cup championship game in lower.com?
My understanding is it was always going to be here at LDC. But it’s confirmed now that we play América. The date I haven’t seen anything on that yet.
Luckily for the June Friendly window we are off. Not sure who the training goal keepers will be for a week. The Olympic team only has one game this window. September and October might be an issue if Schulte moves up to the 3rd GK spot.
According to #Crew96 GK coach Phil Boerger, Evan Bush is on the right track for his recovery, and expects him to return within a monthAdditionally, Boerger believes Bush will return before there is any issue with both Schulte & Hagen being on international duty at the same time— Brianna Mac Kay (@brimackay15) May 23, 2024
If only she read big soccer so she could ask all the good questions like about Matan on the final year of his contract.
Most likely we'll host America for some midweek game in September. Theoretically since both the Crew and America are skipping the group stage of the Leagues Cup, we could play the Campeones Cup on that first weekend in August, but I have a feeling that both MLS and Liga MX will not want to upstage the Leagues Cup. (And really, what would be the point of the Crew and America being awarded a first round bye, if they then go and play in a massive match with each other anyways?)
Last years game LA vrs Tigres was in September (27th) so I would imagine it will be around the same time.
| In a friendly duel against Club Atlético Morelia, our Tuzos showed a great performance: ⏱️ 1st half: 5-0 (Idrissi, Sanchez, Cabral, Rondo and Deossa) ⏱️ 2nd half: 2-0 (Rodriguez and Idrissi) ⏱️ 3rd half: 3-0 (González and Hernandez doublet) ⏱️ 4th half: 2-0 (Montiel and de la Rosa) They posted this earlier today
After trying to cram on Pachuca the last few weeks, and being laid up during most of those days, I had a fair amount of time (that others hopefully don't. LOL) So, I thought I would share my findings and takes. First on the club and city. A lot of parallels between Pachuca and Columbus. Undersized, rural market. They need to beat big money teams by betting correctly on youth and incorporating timely introductions of select talent. They have been somewhat of a feeder team for the big money MX clubs, ala our Cleveland baseball team. They punch way above their weight class with an impressive trophy list. They are now considered in Liga MX's top tier of teams. Their fan base is not as strong as the other top tier teams due to a smaller and poorer population. If they weren't playing us, I'd be rooting for them. The thing that jumps out at me is the recent injection of top tier, veteran talent within the past year/months. Every so often, Pachuca reloads and breaks through with a great team and this year is a great example. The timing couldn't be better with all that is on the line this year. So here's who came in - Let's start with their prototype number 9. Salomon Rondon. As Venezuela's all time leading goal scorer (41) he is still just 34 years of age and showing no signs of slowing down as this year's Champions League leading goal scorer with seven (second place is at five.) In his first year in LMX, he already has ten goals in only 16 starts and five more appearances. He's a bull of a man. 6'1", 190lb. Think Josie Altidore. Same cannon, but with quicker and more skilled feet and better in the air. He's been a premier league globe trotter and scored goals everywhere. He has the interesting distinction of being the fastest to score three header goals in a game in the EPL, when he was with West Bromwich Albion. Surprisingly to me, a three header hat trick has only been accomplished one other time in the EPL. He's a load. But dang, feeding him is arguably the highest rated player on the team, Oussama Idrissi. At 28 years old, he brings a solid first division resume including something like 40 goals and 29 assists over 7/8 years in the Netherlands. He's quick as a gnat with a long range cannon that he only needs a second to get off. His highlights remind me of Matan, except in a higher caliber league, and then coupled with extraordinary crosses and finishes. He has a very deft roller-over move. With his quickness, it's hard to imagine him not getting off a cross, or worse, breaking by. They also added Celso Ortiz. The 35 year old Paraguayan defending midfielder had 22 National Team appearances and stood out for six years with Alkmaar and another seven with Monterey. Further, they added Luis Rodriguez, a 33 year old, MX standout. He is a great right back with an ability to press and deliver excellent long through balls as well. Last year, they also added 29 year old Javier Lopez on the right. He had nine goals and five assists for Pachuca last year and had 12/3 for the SJ Quakes in 21. These newcomer veterans join existing 36 year old center back Oscar Murillo who served time in the middle of Colombia's national team that included impressive Copa play. There still seems to be plenty of scrappy youth on the team, as appears to be their model, but this is a very experienced team, but who are still in the early stages of playing together. Maybe a tad bit too early? Let's hope. So here's my take - You can always count on the top MX teams to tactically sound at every position. They play a quick game. Players and coaches understand the game and are well coached. They are strong on fundamentals, positioning and game concepts around space creation. They are smart. Frankly, the recent humiliation by the rest of the MLS at the hands of MX this year has not helped our reputation. There is a lot riding on the Columbus Crew Saturday night. Will an elevation of 8,000 feet be a factor? I think it will be a factor, but our team is tough, extraordinarily fit, and I suspect the best science money can buy is being applied. Playing in Mexico, and heaven help us with the officials, is tough. Although I thought our last game against Monterey was fair. I always worry though. We will certainly be the road team with jet lag. That is a thing. Do I worry about Cucho being off so long? Although I wish he had been able to play more recently, I'm not worried. He's the Tasmanian devil especially when he gets wound up. I believe he will be at full tilt, as Saturday night will certainly be one of his big auditions. I think his energy carries him and he blends in with the rest of the team that is finding its form quite nicely, especially on the road. We are playing a great team in a brutal environment and the historical odds are long to say the least. Seems to me to be the perfect making for yet another Columbus Crew victory over the impossible. I think Nancy's system and the mindset he has instilled in this team is going to carry the day. Although they have plenty of players who only need a sliver of time and space to bang it home from just about anywhere, we win by limiting their chances to a manageable number and striving to score multiple goals ourselves. We need to deploy the same swarming approach we used at the end of last season. Nancy really has this team supporting defensively. Everyone continually hustling to support and each player knowing they can count on the others to be there. Extraordinary discipline and conditioning. I think our team overcomes exceptional talent. I think Columbus has a bit of an intimidation factor down south. Our team's toughness, confidence and tactical execution catches them off guard. I'm expecting one HELLUVA game! As advertised, it truly is biggest game in our Club's history. We're ready for this moment. This team and coach are special. Our destiny has been brewing in the cosmos for quite some time. Who would have dreamed we would be having so much fun!
Idrissi can routinely hit lasers on target from 40-50 yards out, he did it twice in the second leg against America and forced difficult reaction saves on both. Morris and Nagbe will need to close on him anytime he gets the ball inside of midfield. That's my biggest concern. Their defense is not as stout and will give the Crew more space to operate and create than Tigres and Monterrey did. They'll also have plenty of opportunities because their counter attack is lightning quick and dangerous. I tend to agree though. Pachuca has better individual players and a great manager. The Crew is a better team with the best coach on the continent. Nancy and the Crew have been building toward this for 8-9 months, ever since moving Lucas in the summer window. Someone said early this month, this is a final for people that love the beautiful game. Concacaf's marketing execs hate it. Mikel Arriola and Don Garber both had 3-4 other teams they would have preferred. Soccer purists couldn't ask for a better matchup though.
Arriola and Garber are both functionary stooges who don't give a shit about anything except the money. Arriola is a career Mexican civil servant who used to run the national health service and something else, like street department or something. Garber is Garber. Screw them both.
Assuming Cucho is at least 85% healthy, I'm really not worried at all about him missing the last three games. He's a big game player, and this is probably the biggest game of his career. He will be up for it, no doubt.
I rewatched the 2nd leg at Monterrey. Their big guns were all energy and aggressive at first. They pressed Camacho on the ball and chased when he did his usual side passing. After about 20 minutes of chasing you could see them drop off. I think that’s what our key will be on Saturday. We have to make them chase and wear them out. Those big names mentioned above are mid 30’s other than Idrissi. Limit mistakes. Move the ball around. Find a goal or two.
Greenland has applied to join CONCACAF. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40235988/greenland-applies-concacaf-membership-concacaf
UEFA turned them down, due to rules about countries needing to be independent. They're actually owned by Denmark. They also couldnt join anybody until they had a FIFA approved field, which they finally do now. But the coolest thing is their plans for an enclosed stadium which if it does get built will be unbelieveably awesome. Wooden dome with glass sides. The biggest problem is that you can't actually get to Iceland from anywhere. Well, that and the fact that while they love soccer - Futsal is very popular - they have very few people and will get killed on the field. But if CONCACAF Admits them they will be placed in the North American Union, which will expand to.four: Canada, Mexico, the US and Greenland.
I wonder if they will let St. Pierre & Miquelon in too. They have applied in recent years (other similar French administrative areas in the Caribbean are in CONCACAF). It's the answer to a trivia question as to how many countries are in North America--the answer is four: US, Canada, Mexico, and France.