The Dispatch said that the Crew tried deals with both D.C. and Chicago. Andrulis said something about solving the right side attacking problem. He then went on to say we needed a true attacking right back. I wonder if we tried to pick up Evan Whitfield from Chicago. I have no clue about the D.C. trade except that i would imagine it involved Washington.
hmmmm, now that i wouldn't have guessed ....details please? Did we really offer something worse than a conditional draft pick that NE offered? As for Dante to DC, It seems that Hudson suddenly thinks only foreign strikers can score in MLS. He's been going on scouting trips for strikers like crazy and the Dante rumors have seemed to die.
The Dante deals with DC might have had trouble b/c of salary cap issues but that's no longer as much of a problem with DC and the talks are (somewhat) ongoing. However, I'd be extremely surprised to see Dante in a Columbus uniform this season.
not sure what we offered... just heard from people 'in the know' that we attempted to get him from the fire but it fell through in the end as the two teams could not agree to terms of a trade...
I, too, heard that Columbus had a trade almost worked out for Nowak but it fell through right at the end. Oh well.
...and all the fire fans would continue to claim that absolutely no rivalry exists between columbus and chicago.
Why would we want Nowak and where would we put him? Its like we keep trying to get more midfielders or something... I think Greg wants to play a 2-7-1 or something. Yeah, just choke up the midfield so that nobody can go anywhere.
i think the idea was to get nowak and then get rid of pelusa... why would we want him? well he would be a very nice mentor for martino...
Hey, playing at LEAST 6 players in the midfield is an option. Even during World Cup time! Sincerely, Steve Sampson
Kryptonite, do you think there now exists a rivalry between Chicago and New England simply because Nowak was traded? Maybe if Nowak were disliked by FIRE fans and he left for more money or something, then I'd see that possibility. But he was traded, and FIRE fans love him, so I doubt their matches will take on any additional heat.
Hear hear. Chicago is an annoyance, like a guy who moved in next door and revs engines at 3 am. A slob, a jerk, but not worth the effort to hate. The Filth, however, is worth getting up early and staying up late just so there are more hours in the day to spend hating them.
while I know that I don't need to make the case, here are a couple things: 1) We're 2-13 or something like that @ DC, some of those include losing in the eastern conference finals. 2) The players, Etch, Moreno, Diaz Arce, Ritchie Williams, Olsen, the list goes on and on. 3) Their new coach has talked a whole lot of crap about our team, both while at miami and at DC. 4) It's a more enjoyable trip. Buying booze in West Virginia gas stations, creating a ruckus on the subway, taking over their stadium every time we go there. It's like Bill said, Chicago is an annoyance, they play forty minutes away from Chicago on a turf community college field, we'll play them on Sundays for the second consecutive year, if Nowak, Stoichkov, Razov, and Thorton aren't on this team, is there really anyone on this team you care about? Either way, I hope there are some people that are committed this year to going out for the LA game in August, I know of a party of three that is already going out there, and as soon as I can book the flights I'm going to.
This should be required reading for all new Crew fans on why we hate DC. Even if Chicago beat us the next twenty times in a row I would still hate DC more. A first hate is as powerful as a first love.
Just because you guys can't win anything, why take it out on us? (OK, you won the Open Cup this year -- and, as much as it pained me, I was pulling for you). More seriously, there has been a lot of speculation on DC boards about a trade of a defender for Dante Washington. We may be close to signing a Bulgarian central defender, putting Reyes and Petke on the outside in a 3-5-2, with Nelson as D-Mid. That could make Brandon Prideaux expendable.
I agree that I definitely enjoy the wins against DC more than any others, on a purely opponant basis. I wish I knew my post-grad. working situation better so that I could plan on a couple of trips. Somebody give me a job! Help a poor college mechanical engineer out!
As for the midfield comment. Argentina was essentially playing a 3-6-1, even though they argued Lopez and Ortega were forwards. Bati was up top alone. You guys seem to be stacked in the midfield and forwards. Off the top of my head, Cunningham, Buddle, McBride, and Washington are 4 great forwards. You guys are the deepest in the league at the forward spot I would think by far. Your midfield is also solid, and I think the weakest aspect of your game is the defense.
DC has reportedly completed the signing of the "Bulgarian Defender" that Ray has been lusting after. All he really wants is drinking buddies. This frees up a defender, although I'd prefer Nelson or Reyes.