Caution: This could be another last-minute shocker. I know some are looking forward to a visit from the Scum.
There really isn't much to say about this one. All the cards have fell in our favor. No Dema, no Rimando, no Olsen. This will be DC's 4th game in 11 days, the previous three coming against the Metros, so you gotta think they have some more bruises there. It's time for Martino and BMB to step up and have huge games. Still, I think even if the team plays an average game they can come out of this one on top just cause of DC's schedule. But you'd like to see them get a head of steam going into next Friday's game in chicago.
DCU has Rimando, Quaranta and Olsen definitely out (probably for the entire season) besides the previous season ending injuries (Barclay, Reyes, etc.). Petke, Kovalenko and Ivanov are out b/c of card accumulations (the result of the 11 yellows that Kennedy gave out the last match). The other upside for the Crew (about those 11 cards) is that it creates the same issue for Metro (which is also depleted). For instance, Mathis will miss their next match as well.
DC's fourth match in 11 days, the Scum are missing players, and it's at CCS. There's no reason, whether or not Kevin Stott is the main official, the Crew should not grab the three points. None.
I'm starting to think some of you don't really understand what it means to be a pessimist. Have you learned nothing from this season?
Not even "the soccer gods were against us"? Like great Crew teams of the past when facing DC teams in shambles: Crew 0 DC 2.
They have mentioned on the DC boards that a win would clinch DC there first playoff spot in years. If that happens in our stadium I will be sick. Seems like DC played a good game last night only to get beaten by Wolly who all the sudden is the reincarnation of Giovanni Savarasse. But a DC loss is always good. I personally don't see DC bouncing back from a 3-2 loss. I don't see Hudson's fire and Brimstone talk working at all this time. I think the doubts start to settle in and we jump on them early. Crew wins 3-1. Paule, BMB, and Dude with goals. BMB dedicates his to Zipsix in the postgame newsconference.
I debunked that rumor. https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=1657912#post1657912 It should be quite a spectacle this weekend. And if by chance you guys pick up three points the game in two weeks at RFK could be epic.
I just noticed that minutes earlier, thanks Knave. It's true, with DC six ahead of us and two games head to head it may be a DC collapse that would give the Crew the best chance to make the playoffs. I would love it if that was the case.
Posted by Knave on the thread he linked to: "The Crew would have to win it AND make up for their OVERALL goal differential deficit but theoretically it's possible." We best damn better win that game. Pretend it's MLS Cup or something. Leave your personal issues at home. Players and supporters. From http://mlsnet.com/games/03/tracker.php?gamename=10042003_DCCLB&version=preview REFEREE: Ricardo Valenzuela. SAR (bench): Nathan Clement JAR (opposite): George Gansner 4th: Marcel Yonan Games involving Crew: P5 W2 L3 T0; FC/gm: 34.0; Y/gm: 6.0; R: 1; pens: 2 Games involving United: P10 W2 L7 T1; FC/gm: 35.1; Y/gm: 4.8; R: 0; pens: 6 INJURY REPORT: COLUMBUS CREW QUESTIONABLE: F Jeff Cunningham D.C. UNITED OUT: F Devin Barclay D Milton Reyes F Santino Quaranta GK Nick Rimando M Ben Olsen SUSPENDED DC: Dema Kovalenko Mike Petke
I've been having mostly positive thoughts about this weekend and the end of the season, but if we lose this one wit as many players out as DC has, I will be the most negative mf here.
Hang's apply for the Cuntly Most Bi-Polar fan award... go for the glory buddy! As for this weekend's game, I hate my job for keeping me here this weekend and not letting me go to the game. I know I would love nothing more than to see DC get dismantled by our boys. Tomorrow is really a gut check. The team is on the brink of missing the playoffs. Its time to see who remembers to bring their hearts and their nuts to the game. If our boys leave them on the coffee table at home, this season is over. Pure and simple, in my opinion, is that if we don't win this weekend, it'll be damn near impossible for us to recover to drag ourselves into the playoffs. The way the boys play should be an accurate baramoter of the team as a whole. If we suck, then it shows nobody cares anymore, that the team is in major trouble, and that changes are needed. If they play like champions, then we know that they still give a damn and there is still a chance to end this season on a good note. I wait with baited breath to see which team walks onto the field tomorrow.
Ha ha ha. That would be awesome. I really hope he does score, like five. And I hope West gets all the assists, I don't mind looking like a jackass if we win. But since we ABSOLUTELY MUST get this win, and the season will definetly completely be over if we lose, I'm sure we'll draw. Which, based on your promise Hang, will probably keep you optomistic, and everyone else up in arms. Crew 1 : 1 United Buddle 29' Nameless DC player 83'
Let's be serious here. That DC goal comes in at least the 87th minute, and not a second before. Even money it takes till stoppage time.
I seem to remember a "no way we lose this one" match against DC during the Fitz era, where the Crew struggled mightly and against all odds managed to steal a defeat from the jaws of a heavily injured, called-up, etc. DC team. I think it was match with AJ Wood's "hand of God" goal or something like that, or the one with the infamous "Moreno elbows Chulis' honker drawing blood then scores game winning goal" or both. It wouldn't surprise me to see the heavily favored Crew bend over and accept the DC micro-pud in their cornpipe yet one more time. And BTW, we are six points back from DC so all we need to do is win two and tie one more game or win two and score eleven more goals than DC out of the remaining four to bypass them into the playoffs. Somewhat unlikely since DC will play a Western Division team that's already in the playoffs and likely not jockeying for position (i.e. not taking the game seriously, resting starters, etc.).
again, not sure how relisable this is, but the MLSnet game guide has busch, frankie, williams, clark, denton, paule, mais, martino, west, buddle, and mcbride. oughton not starting? also lists the rookie david stokes starting for dc, on west's side. i look for west to dominate him like he did ezra and the burn a few weeks back. Hejduk, Williams, AND Denton all in "yellow peril." god knows what our back line would look like if all three of them are out against shitcago. i hope they can all keep their cool, but i just don't see that happening.
It's quite possible. Our defense is really depleted right now. Stokes hasn't had a single minute of MLS play though he has played in the USOC. The other rumor currently circulating is that Etch isn't actually starting. In that case it's Stewart/Convey in the middle with Martins moving up top with Cerritos.
Craig Merz highlights the Crew's collapses in this article:http://www.dispatch.com/crew/crew.php?story=dispatch/2003/10/04/20031004-E1-02.html He notes our lack of scoring and inability to transition the ball from defense to offense in the final 25min. The 2 are obviously related and I believe we've discussed that pretty well previously. Our passes out of the back and inability to control might be tested tonight even with Petke out of the game and Reyes gone for the season. Just as importantly (certainly related) is our lack of patience and control in the offensive end late in the game and after the first 30 mins. of MOST games. Have we have attacked, for more than 10 mins.with any intensity in the second half? Many of our attacks have been Frankie coming in from the back and we need to develop, IMO, some central offense and possession. Duncan/Mais needs to be more envolved in the offense for us to win this game if Etch starts. Etch doesn't play D but is a great link in the counter - so let's make him play back on D. Their big Kiwi will dominate Kmart (again) so we need Dunc or Mais to fill the central role.