Obviously nobody really wants to start this, but I need a distraction. Good News - Gibbs is doubtful with a groin strain. Crew 2-1
Hang, you're such a glutton for punishment. You do this to yourself every week. I'm one of the most optimistic people in the world, but even I can't be optimistic about the Crew's chances anymore. I'll be at the game singing my a** off, but I have no delusions of a Crew win, as much as I may want one.
see this is where things get tricky for me...i was telling zak... sure as hell i want to see this team come out guns blazing on saturday at crew stadium and toss a "W" in the standings for ourselves, score a few goals...make ourselves and the team a little bit happier. but then... do i really want this team to go on a tear with greg still at the controls, knowing it is only a matter of time before he screws up again; replacing a "hot" cunningham with someone like oughton up top, ya know, just to shake things up a bit? hell f'ing no. so therein lies the confusion for this kid.
I am in the same boat as you fid. While I feel another loss at home epecially one with no goals scored would all but seal clueless ones fate, I still want the result. I forget what its like to win a game with meaning at home. 2-0 Crew
Guys, and those who consider themselves women..... Corey Gibbs is out. Did somebody say "GOLAZO!!!!!"
I'll probably have to make the trek to Crew Stadium for this one. Dallas has been playing wide open, kick-it-and-run, peddle to the metal, attacking soccer. We may want to consider putting Herdsman in the middle with Marshall because Ed Johnson and Nhecko will "burn" some of our slower guys. Also a good chance to check the progress of two up and coming American strikers, Buddle and Johnson. I'm excited for this one. 3-0 Crew. Andrulis takes credit for the win and says, "the team has gelled."
Any combination of Martino, Elliott, Paule, Hejduk, Maisonnouve, or Lagos is a "decent midfield." On paper, at least. I'm guessing we'll see Brian "Back the f*** off Jeff" Maisonnouve in the middle again.
Luckily/Unfortunately I will be out of state, in the middle of nowhere, (hopefully drunk) at a weddin' so I won't be able to attend. I have a strange feeling though, almost as if it's an honest to goodness psychic prediction, that this game will set off a chain of events... We will win this game 2-1, getting the first goal, giving up a stupid goal, then getting a late game winner sometime after Lagos (if he's healthy) enters. This gives validity to the whole "gel" theory/excuse and an extra life for GA The Crew start a typical cycle of reactive change to the "gelled" team after a poor performance or two, replacing a problem player with someone who gets a chance, that person performs for a while then struggles only to be replaced. This will probably happen consistently in the midfield and forward spots. Meanwhile, the Crew really aren't putting adequate points on the board and hover around fourth place, their usually comfort zone of seasons past. Because things, theoretically, have improved since last season, GA will keep his job. Back to reality, ... The Crew really need a convincing win. If they return home to the crowd they angered before, what's left of it, coming out full of piss and vinegar, then failing to win - it will degrade into something worse than early 2001.
We're still in the ready,shoot, aim mentality. Until we actualy play to win vs. the current "not lose" we're toast. 3-1 Dullass
All I can say is that Columbus will have a fare share of Shots against Dallas, but with the way the Crew has been playing, it seems obvious that Dallas would sweep the floor with the Crew the entire Game..... MY PREDICTION may seem optimistic to you Crew fans but I smell a 4-0 Dallas Victory!
piss off with your prediction. i say 2-1 Burn. we'll at least put one in. but with our midfield the way it's been there is no way we will pull out a W. no way. if, by god, for some reason our wings start to put themselves in dangerous positions, and our off ball movement improves, and our man marking is better, and we start playing passes to feet and/or dangerous space then we may have a chance at a victory. Greg, you listening?
I will be driving to Columbus this weekend, but I'm going to the 24 hour sci-fi marathon instead of the Crew game. This could be good news, as my absence has frequently led to a Crew victory in the past.
Not really, 10. Of those guys, Elliot, Maisonneuve, and Lagos are definitely below-average MLS midfielders. Hejduk looked good there in the game against the Metros, but, really, he ought to be in defense. Paule is probably average. Martino I'd like to say is good, but with Andrulis's directionless offense in place, he can't really do what he's supposed to. Andrulis may be a bad game manager, but his roster moves this offseason were either born out of tremendous desperation or evidence that he's an even worse general manager. I wish you guys the best of luck in ousting him as soon as possible.
1-1 draw. We get a scrappy goal but never hold on to win it. Then I predict inner-fighting in the locker room afterwards.
Frankly, the US result against the Mexicans will take the bite out of another poor showing by the Crew.
no doubt but lets look at bruce's lineup for a minute... the us played a box midfield with two AM and two Dmids. now granted our players are not as skilled as those who took the field last night for the US, no "on a terror" baby jesus on this team but still, it worked really well and against a dallas squad with no gibbs to "manage" the back why not try it and see what we can work with... i go with the following line-up. -------------- busch -------------- frankie -- fraser -- marshall -- denton --------- elliott ------ mais --------- ------ martino --------- paule ------ ---- cunningham --------- scott ---- it puts frankie back in a position he is a little more comfortable with. although players like frankie and denton can sometime be a liability in this scheme you just have to have cover, and two d-mids like elliott and mais can provide that cover when frankie flies up the wing and pulls that "ronaldinho move" again. plain and simple, with enough of a work-rate from martino and paule this line-up could work really well against dallas w/o gibbs. the problem in my mind is whether or not martino can put in the hustle that is needed by him to make this work. paule will work hard but it is martino that worries me. who knows, just an idea...
We must play three up front, the lack of scoring on this team is appaulling. It has to be Testo, Scott, and Cunny up front. If coach clueless is willing to bench Paule after one poor start, then Buddle definately deserves the drop after his poor showing in LA. You then go with Martino, Elliott, Denton, and Paule in midfield. Fraser, Marshall and Hejduk in the back. Who cares if we give up goals, it's time to start scoring them. I'd take a 4-3 scoreline.
Hey Gaucho, just because you learned how to create a red font doesn't make you any smarter. In fact we all see through the idiocy of your post. Piss off.