Post-match: Long Time, No Sea(ttle) - Crew v Seattle Sounders - Match 26 - 9/7/24 7:30 PM

I said that I refuse to watch replays. Trying to burn this from my memory. Maybe 12 Kyle Brews will help.

 

Okay, the masochist in me watched it. That might qualify as serious foul play, but I don't see how that is violent conduct.

 

Running full steam ahead and launching yourself at the opponent’s head from his blindside is in no way violent? Okey dokey.

 

Damnit, don't make me watch it again.

 

I haven't watched the video. But based on what's been reported, and prevous statements from Nancy, when he does leave Columbus, it seems far more likley than not that it'll be to coach in Europe, and that his departure won't because of anything Columbus has done or not done, but because he'll have just run out of patience with the league. I'm sure Nancy could field amazing offers to coach in LA or NY in MLS, but that wouldn't separate him from what he sees as the league's stupidity and short-sightedness.

There was that earlier presser, after the away Charlotte match, where he said he tells people what a solid league MLS is, but then teams end up being forced to play in terrible conditions with terrible refs. Red cards, injuries, horrible turf. And what amounts to a shitty product on display. Last night was just another variation that theme.

I bought a partial season package this year. And one of the reasons why I chose the option I did was because it included the Seattle game, which looked like it would be a premier match-up. In the end, not so much. I ended up having commitments that made it very unlikely I'd be able to attend, so I ended up selling my ticket. Thankfully. But, come on, those line-ups? All those missing players? It was a shitty, watered-down USL-C-esque product.

I don't follow the league as closely as I used to, and I know these things are exaccerbated for teams like Columbus that are in a lot of competitions. But all year, it's felt as though we've been forced to go from one extreme to the other. We're playing three games a week, needing sometimes to play during international breaks without half of our core starters. Then we sit on our hands our two weeks for the first part of Leagues Cup. We went into this season having no real idea whether we'd be taking part in the USOC. I've grown tired of the constant experimentation, the rejiggering of schedules; the adding, subtracting, renaming, restructuring of competitions; and feeling like the league is doing things that are making playing during international breaks - a perpetual frustration for MLS fans - a bigger problem.

 

Look guys, the main difference between serious foul play and violent conduct is whether or not the ball is in play and the action takes place on the field. If it's in play, the same action that would justify a sending off for VC, is interpreted as SFP.

This is a red card for serious foul play. There's no reason for Romero to jump there, and there's no reason to have his fist make contact with Joran Morris's head.

It's a send off 90% of the time given where Romero is on the field, how he got there, and the context of where the ball is.

The Crew should waive this guy today, if possible. We must have told him under no circumstances can you get sent off, and he goes wandering out leaping into the air outside of his penalty area with his fist in the air. Excuse me, but what the ever living ********? What kind of challenge is that? You can't play the ball with your hands 40 yards from goal, so what was he doing?

Or as a very wise man once posted, 'Everything about the Crew is so stupid right now... well it always is, but especially so right now!'

 

Re: Nancy's rant. It is unfortunate the callups were burned early but it's not like this was out of our control. While it may be true that there should be more callups, it is also true that one could argue that a player being called up five times should receive the league minimum salary that has been collectively bargained. The rules do exist for a reason, so I find it somewhat surprising he is so incredulous.

The Crew knew that (1) it was playing games in international windows, (2) it had two goalkeepers likely to be called up, and (3) that the third GK has been injured the entire season. They also knew the roster rules. These were all known facts. That they came home to bite us is unfortunate but should have been handled better. The club gambled and lost. So why so upset?

 

Assuming Schulte gets called up again, Romero will be our one and only goalkeeper for the Oct 12 game vs New England. Unless you want to start Sean Zawadzki in goal.

So no, don't waive him.

 

Try to trade him then. The lack of situational awareness was unforgiveable. I never want to see him in a Crew shirt again.

 

Trade window is closed. We cannot trade for another goalkeeper.

 

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
but thank you for taking me to school

 

The Crew got taken to school by MLS. It comes back to the original question. If 2 of your keepers get called up for NT duty, another is injured, and your Crew 2 guys cannot be called up, and you only have 1 left on the roster, does that count as a "hardship"?

 

Presumably Bush will be ready to play by then. Unless he breaks his arm a third time.

As for a backup, they can either give Cole Johnson a contract or get somebody on loan.

Romero has been tested and found to be stupid.

 

I think he was just pulling a Mourinho, he made the game all about him and his rant so we talk about that instead of the roster mismanagement and Romero being an absolute idiot on his debut.

 

Last night is in the past, it's already old news. The only thing the Crew coaches and players should be talking about all week is how to beat the shit of out Cincinnati.

Though I guess they can't exactly do that in the public eye.

 

I think they were figuring on Bush being back by now. Him getting reinjured right before the deadline left them scrambling.

And it may be that they originally planned on bringing in Romero as the backup. Either that or they assumed they had another callup since the AV game should not, logically, be counted.

Nevertheless, this is a really bad look on Issa Tall. Whatever the circumstances, it is his job to make sure shit like this doesn't happen. Know the rules, man, and check with the league to make sure you can do what you plan.

Inexcusable. Issa out.

 

We're on to Cincinnati!!!!

 

Also note, the MLS roster freeze deadline is Sept. 13. Five days. We have plenty of room on the roster for players, and no budgetary need to get rid of anyone. It would be silly to jettison Romero, even if he's rather useless. Doing so accomplishes nothing.

My main question right now is if we will have two legitimate keepers who can dress next weekend. Romero, of course, will be suspended.

 

Just sign a free agent for the rest of the season, done. And tell him not to get sent off next week.

 

Until the 13th or 16th?, We can still sign a keeper or get one from USL on loan. Just no international transfers.

I was getting very annoyed at the people blaming Dong for this when I think he would have been happy for us to use cheap labor for these purposes. The union put in these protections, and MLS can't circumvent this one. I even mentioned earlier that I thought the Union might use the Crew's callup patterns this season as an example of abuse of the system in the next CBA.

I also wonder if Schulte's call up surprised them. In the US discord the two people who are getting any plaudits are him and Aidan.

 

Alright well well well what the hell. Now I'm mad at dong https://www.givemesport.com/why-columbus-crew-field-player-goalkeeper/

Even Tommy Scoops is confused.

The friendly vs Aston Villa (4th of Lapkes' short term call ups) came during Olympics. The Crew were without Patrick Schulte b/c he was at Olympics

I still don't know why it counted at all but definitely don't know why it wasn't Olympic exception. So unnecessarily convoluted.

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) September 8, 2024

 

Fortunately, MLS will steadfastly ignore any and all requests for an explanation, while telling us all about how Don is committed to transparency

 

This doesn't make sense from a competition aspect, as a "friendly" is not a in a competition/competitive game. But it does make sense from a union position. I know at a hobby show in NYC, someone had left a broom in the aisle. Someone with the show picked it up and moved it to the side to avoid a trip hazard. The union then filed a grievance.

 

No. It was on the coaches and FO.

BOOOOOOOOO!

 

My first thought was red at the match.