It seems to me that we are having the same old problems, and nobody's seems to be fixing them. It seems that so far our biggest enemy has been our finishing. We just can't seem to convert our chances. I don't need to harp on this, on to the next. Then there seems to be a defensive blunder every game that costs us dearly. This week, it was the PK, before it was poor concentration or running forward too much, or whatever. We could really use some more discipline, concentration, focus, and drive. Our substitutions and bench are shite. This is probably due to a couple injuries, but boy did the tinted glasses of "depth" come off quickly this year. It was nice when we had 3 forwards to choose from, and 1 could come off the bench. It was nice when Mais was in there, because we then had more back-up defense. Why is West still playing? Denton has a lot to prove now. We have the f-in boys clubs coaching staff. It's pathetic! We got nice old Greg, who is a .500 coach, and will always be one. Then he's got his buddy from Wisconson or Minnesota or wherever that he hire this offseason. Of course, then there is the Polish Sausage who just can't seem to find the exit of Crew Stadium, even though he's retired. I swear to God we should find some staff from the English 1st Division or something... I'm sure it would be better. I just don't see an obvious turning point in which things suddenly come back together and we're all fired up. If anything, I honestly feel that the front office is one that waits too long to take action, and nothing will be done unless we fall into the basement of the East.
The only way the Crew falls to the basement is if DC wins a match, but from the comments of those fans, that isn't happening anytime soon.
Yeah, I realize that, but that wasn't the point of my post. I'm just pointing out that something needs to be done, but it seems like nobody is willing to make a move. They're all watching the oven, waiting for the timer to "ding" and then they'll check and see how things look. When does the timer ding? At the end of the season? If it doesn't ding soon, then I think it is going to be a very long, and disappointing year.
what's the lineup... seems like we've got very limited choices this week due to injuries and callups: Busch Clark - Torres - Dunseth - Denton Paule - McCarty - Walsh- Garcia McBride - West OR Busch McCarty - Clark - Dunseth - Torres West - Paule - Walsh - Denton McBride - Garcia Who will are subs be? Ouch! Pray that Maise can go and Martino and/or Cunny are released for the game...
One thing is clear, the Crew are going to need people who haven't stepped up yet, to step up. Mais said last week that he planed on being ready for this game. That should help a lot in the center. The one player that we really need to step up is Brian West. Like it or not, he's going to get a lot of time this June and maybe July as well. I don't know what it is, but there's something in me that thinks he will. West is going to be playing forward, which is his natural position and the one he feels most comfortable playing. I think he will do quit well in the Josh Wolff role of running at the defense and shooting. I remember the West from the 2001 season when McBride and Washington were gone, where he played that role and had like a four or five game goal streak. Then they switched him to RM and his problems started from there. He just doesn't have the skills to be a consistent midfielder. As far as putting Clark on the outside, once again, his outside days are over. We're probably going to see McCarty in the RB role he played during the playoffs or Akwari might get some games in as well. I think Torres definately played himself into another game over Denton. Something interesting would be to have Denton on the right and Torres on the left, although my bones shake to the core thinking about what might happen. Walsh is going to be a factor as well. He showed some interesting composer on the ball against the Metros. He seems to be really comfortable with the ball at his feet. The Crew will also have to rely on their DPs for some minutes as well.
It's so hard to think about this game without knowing who would be released from the nats. It's frustrating as hell. Thank goodness DC is in our division or this may be a must win. I mean we are level with Chicago and Chicago has two games in hand on us. This is the last of a three game home stand in which we have got a whopping one point. It's hard to find any silver lining here. This game could signal the beginning of a make or break month for West with this team. I have lost faith that Buddle will be back any time soon, which leaves the weight of scoring on BMB and West. If west doesn't show something in these games coming up and continues to be Andrulis's first choice off the bench something is seriously wrong. Given that we are losing Martino and Oughton outta our midfield and Mais's questionable health I would think that Walsh gets some time, or perhaps Denton's stay on the bench is short lived as he moves to left mid and freddy goes to attacking mid. There are just too many questions right now. Wonder when Bruce will let MLS coaches know who he is realesing for the weekend. Regardless its time for Andrulis to show he can adapt to this and get this team strightened out.
I'm with hang, you can't say anything about this game until you know who will be released for the weekend. I'd expect at least one Crew player to be back, and probably Cunningham, just going on who is going to be playing the bulk of the forward minutes in France. There might be a shot at Martino being back too, but I'm not getting my hopes up. Unfortunately, I doubt Hejduk is going to be back. The defense finally put together a solid outing, and we have to make a change back there again. At least we have somewhat able bodies able to fill in back there. I think we'll be seeing quite a few less runs out of the back though, at least on the right side.
I think Andrulis is going to be with us for at least this year and all of next, even if we are in the basement from here until MLS Cup 2004. I think Torres did well for himself and he should get the start. Denton's probably as bad with his right foot as most of our other defenders are with their lefts. I think we should inch Akwari into this season over the next few games. Maybe he should get a start in one of these three games. I think Walsh needs to play. The guy showed some decent stuff in the last match, although he should have shot or something on that 20 yard tear across the top of the box. McBride is going to have score goals for us. We mostly rely on Cunningham, and if we lose, he takes a significant amount of blame. McBride has shown he can score, so as I see it, it's his turn to be Jeff Cunningham for a while. As a foreward he must score in these next weeks. A hip flexor injury usually takes 4-6 weeks to heal completely. Buddle is in week 7. Maybe we should turn catenacchio for the next month.
The problem is...........we have guys who thought they were going to get the job done. They were over confident, thought TIHS was going to go their way and it hasn't and now they have found themselves in a slump. We better get our act together real soon.....THERE'S GONNA BE A RIOT.....GONNA BE A RIOT.......GONNA BE A RIOTTTTTT!!!!!!
why are you saying everything three times, three times, three times these days, days, days??? anybody read the latest dispatch article? i think andrulis is either quoting timo or took up a new 'religion' to right the crew... i still haven't given up on him. yet... torres should start. west is crap. the guy couldn't hit sand if he fell off a camel mais and buddle must get healthy soon. oh, screw it. see you all saturday.
Over on teh quakes board they seem to be bitching quite a bity abiout their injuries. Also after the 4-1 loss to Chicago they don't seem confident at all. With all their injuries you would think that would play into our favor, but given the injuries Arena has decided to let Donovan outta camp for this game. I still haven't seen any word on if we get any of our boys back for this one.
Gus St. Silva's stats: Games involving Crew: P2 W1 L1 D0 FC/gm 39.5 Y/gm 5.5, R 2 pens 0 Games involving Earthquakes: P2 W1 L0 D1 FC/gm 40.5 Y/gm 6.0, R 1 pens 1 Two games involving Columbus, he's given 11 yellows and 2 reds. I think there's a couple people on here that despise the guy. Injury Report: COLUMBUS CREW – OUT: M Brian Maisonneuve (R ankle sprain); F Edson Buddle (R hip flexor) SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES – OUT: F Brian Ching (R hamstring strain), D Troy Dayak (sports hernia/L knee surgery), F Dwayne De Rosario (R torn LCL), F Roger Levesque (R torn ACL), D Eddie Robinson (R hamstring strain); QUESTIONABLE: M Ronnie Ekelund (R ankle surgery), M Richard Mulrooney (L hamstring strain) PROBABLE: M Ramiro Corrales (R ankle sprain)
In this AM's Dispatch Senor Merz states that Frankie and JC will be here for the game, but Martino stays with the Nats.
So... Out: Martino, Oughton, Buddle, Maisonneuve Probable: McCarty Wow. We are seriously thin in midfield right now. Does Walsh start? Or do we push Denton into the left mid and Garcia into the center? I think the only player we have left to play Mais' role is Paule, unless we want to stick a center back like McCarty there. .....McBride...Cunningham ..Garcia......Walsh.......West ................Paule Torres..McCarty..Clark..Hejduk ...............Busch Torres certainly played well enough to hold his spot. Denton has some work to do, but competition for places is what we want. I haven't been upset with Dunseth - he hasn't been making glaring mistakes - but McCarty played well last week and the defense stiffened up big time (some props due to Oughton for that too). I think we keep the same cast of characters in the back. I expect that when Hejduk is gone McCarty will return to the outside position he filled last year, and Dunseth will slide back into the middle. The loss of Oughton is a bigger problem, at least with Mais injured. And with Buddle out, Cunningham's loss becomes tougher to deal with.
Gosh, personally i'd rather see them keep Frankie and give us back Martino given how many we are missing in midfield. But 2 outta three ain't bad. As for our midfield, it looks like another week of West getting significant minutes. Hopefully Greg will play him on the right hand side this time. I just think he looks more comfortable out there. And as for our attacking mid debate, has anyone even seen Greg use Garcia in that role in practice. I know he has played that role for the Guats, but I can't remember him even playing that role for five minutes with us. Personally, I'd rather see Paule leading the attack than Garcia or Walsh. After we drafted Walsh, we always heard how he was the best two way midfielder in the draft, now he has a chance to prove it. Besides, the reason Andrulis moved Paule into the attacking mid role last week was that he gets rid of the ball quicker than Martino, and from what I seen of Walsh this season, he seems to hold onto the ball too long. Also as Foos said, I have no problem with the way Dunseth is playing, I just think it may be hard to sit McCarty after last week, but since McCarty is listed as probable if he is anywher less than 100% I would start Dunseth. ...........BMB..........Cunny Garcia.......Paule........West ..............Walsh............ Torres...McCarty....Clark....Dude ..............Busch............
I'd start this: GK- Busch D-Torres, Dunseth, Clark, Hejduk DM- McCarty Wings-Garcia, West AM-Paule Strikers- McBride, Cunningham McCarty is probably the most capable guy we have able to step in hehind Paule, with Oughton and Maize out. Walsh is a possibility, but I have no clue how much he's played that roll.
That would be my guess too. The only other way I see it is moving Freddy inot the middle and putting West on the left and Paule on the right. But Paule has a lot of experience in the middle and he's the smart pick. Also, Paule as the AMid leaves the other two other guys where they are most comfortable/experienced. Of course our problem here is not coming up with 11 starters. It's who you bring on. Up front, the only alternative is Walsh for the WHOLE FRONT FIVE. In back, Denton is all we have. That's not real good.
That's the lineup I would go with. That leaves Walsh who can go in at Forward or Cen-mid if needed, Denton for offensive or defense help on the left, and maybe Iron Man after playing 90' Friday for the Riverhawks for help on the backline. Of course I was really disappointed the article this morning didn't even address Mais' status. Last week though he said he was aiming for this week. Hopefully the Friday or Saturday articles will fill us in on Mais. If Mais is ready pencil him in at D-mid and keep the backline from the Metros game.