Agreed. Very much so. What passion from Higs - Feeling it all the way up here in Northeast Ohio. The warmth. So this team is not spectacular (though it could be). As cautiously unconfident I am about the likelihood of winning this knockout game, my evergreen optimistic nature whispers like @Pauncho 's devil and angel. They can beat the scum. They will. Justin Merrrrrrrrraaaam.
Hopefully being scared will encourage Higuain to kick it even into second gear, as opposed to the walking pace he's been at for the past 6 months. Michael Myers shows more change of pace.
From the Dispatch article, this jumps out at me: Pragmatism. Gregg has tested his theory that Santos is a good winger and found it wanting in practical application. We scored 43 goals this year. Sprinkle 16 more goals from wingers and Higuain throughout the season and we're in the Supporters' Shield conversation. Missed due to the afterglow of the win this past Sunday was that we only got 1 run of play goal. A nice combo on right between Afful and Hansen led to a classic "system" goal as Zardes scraped it in from 2 yards out after beating his man to the near post. This team has defend better than they have recently. If we give up 2 we're not going to win many playoff games. That said, when they play quickly this team can look competent in the attacking third. Anyway, I can't wait for game time.
The flipside here is that we scored 2 set piece goals. Out of all the playoff teams, Columbus leads with total corners won. We are near the top of the league in drawing set pieces (and this is a specialty of our generally inept Santos). But, for the large part of the season drawing a set piece was just another frustrating part of watching Crew soccer. We were hardly dangerous, much less actually converting. That is to say, we should be stoked that we were able to convert 2 set piece goals. That is good momentum and bodes well for us. (Also, we don't need to rely on Higuain's world class speed in set piece goals!)
It's the little things that make us happy. I'm with you 100% on this. You don't get too many like Lampson's spill and immediate cash-in from Zardes. That's third string goalkeeping. The first one, on the short corner and cross from Milton was pretty nice. Minnesota gave up 71 goals this season, nearly 50% worse than DC's 50. I was much happier when we were cruising up 2-0. We have to have more killer instinct and be less sloppy in defense against DC.
Also, **** DC United. **** those ******* ****** ******* ********s. **** them and **** their ***** ****** ******. ***** **** ********* ******** **** ****** Rooney ***** the ***** and **** ***** up his **** *******. Then Olsen can ***** ***** ****** the ***** ***** and ***** his ***** ***** and ***** the **** out of ****************! That is all.
Fine. Take the easy letters. I wonder what were the more colorful words Drag opted for in his little scum-hating tirade.
http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-le...-lafc-could-go-far-mls-knockout-round-preview Thought this fire could use some fuel.
If anyone is going to be in the Cambridge OH area for the game, come to the Bdubs there and hang out with me, my brother, a coworker and a couple other folks for the Crew game.
Being the underdogs is fine with me. Let's extinguish the MLS dream of pumping out Wayne Rooney highlight videos all the way to the MLS Cup final and Don G. handing the MLS Cup to Ben O. and Wayne.. Can you imagine instead of the MLS wet dream, Don G. handing the cup to Gregg and Wil ? Getting a win tonight would be a huge milestone, regardless of how much further we go. One more 2018 home match would make me very happy.
The team is expected to the John Glen International charter flight area around 12-12:30 for anyone interested in welcoming them home after the game tonight.