Pre-Season

Discussion in 'Columbus Crew' started by Rylar, Feb 7, 2026.

  1. Paul171121

    Paul171121 Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Dec 14, 2018
    Thought i read somewhere about how it has taken him a while to regain fitness. But reading back, Brianna and Goal.com reported he is fully fit https://www.goal.com/en/lists/top-s...w-he-is-ready-to-dominate/bltd5a710d0c518801f
     
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  2. KCbus

    KCbus Moderator
    Staff Member

    United States
    Nov 26, 2000
    Reynoldsburg, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Team USA plays their first game of the Olympic hockey tournament today. How the hell are we nine days away from MLS opening? Feels bizarre.
     
  3. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Why would it? We've been starting in February for a while now.

    2025: 2/22 MLS
    2024: 2/24 MLS
    2023: 2/25 MLS
    2022: 2/26 MLS
    2021: April Start (COVID)
    2020: 3/1 MLS
    2019: 3/2 MLS

    March before that and if you go way back, it was April. But it has been Feb post COVID every year.
     
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  4. Minnman

    Minnman Member+

    Feb 11, 2000
    Columbus, OH, USA
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah, we were told he was ahead of schedule and might have played last season had we gone deeper into the playoffs.

    Whatever. Early season knocks are par for the course. I doubt it’s anything serious.
     
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  5. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite Guinness

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In a capitalistic society, sports calendars do stupid things.

    Why is the Stanley Cup awarded in June?
    Why do the "Boys of Summer" start and end when it's colder than balls in northern cities?
    Why does college football start in August and end close to February?
     
  6. soccerncbus

    soccerncbus Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Mar 29, 2018
    Is the WC break longer this year than for previous WCs? It seems like it would be, but I haven’t had a chance to fact check.
     
  7. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite Guinness

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Dates: June 11 – July 19

    So...not by much.
     
  8. soccerncbus

    soccerncbus Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Mar 29, 2018
    I finally took the time to check, and it actually is much longer than previous breaks.

    2018: June 14-22
    2014: June 12-24

    The 2022 WC was odd because it was held in the winter.

    So this year’s break is significantly longer by almost a month.
     
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  9. Paul171121

    Paul171121 Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Dec 14, 2018
    Our last game is May 24. It is a 2 month break.

    8 teams play the 16/17th of July.
     
  10. Kyle Crew

    Kyle Crew Member+

    Feb 23, 2013
    Columbus, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Because there are more games and teams.
     
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  11. soccerncbus

    soccerncbus Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Mar 29, 2018
    Right, which is why I asked the question in the first place. I expected the break to be longer, which it is by quite a bit.
     
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  12. Paul171121

    Paul171121 Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Dec 14, 2018
    It is also here, and about 1/3rd of teams are either unable to play in their home venue or cant use their training facility.
     
  13. Paul171121

    Paul171121 Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Dec 14, 2018
    The home opener only has about 500 nonresale/direct tickets available. Could release more in 2 weeks.

    Maybe this thing does sell itself.
     
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  14. Bill Archer

    Bill Archer BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 19, 2002
    Washington, NC
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #39 Bill Archer, Feb 14, 2026
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2026
    I'm not sure that people grasp what a huge difference this is.

    Compared with 4 years ago there will be 62.5% more games, going from 64 games in 2022 to 104 games in 2026.

    Sadly, a great many of them will be utter crap, featuring teams that have no business being there. Maybe not Spain vs North Korea (South Africa) bad, but close enough.
     
  15. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    No, because MLS is actually breaking for the entire tournament instead of only a week to 12 days.

    I mean, yeah, there are more teams, and one extra round. So it is longer.

    But MLS was not on break for the full tournament before. Unless you think it was over in 12 days? That is what has changed.

    And the fact it is HERE.
     
  16. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite Guinness

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Didn't Germany thrash Saudi Arabia 8-0 in 2006?

    Of course the Women's World Cup saw a team finish with a negative GD below 30 or something equally stupid. All that results is people arguing "act like you've scored before when the score goes 9-0 in the first half" vs "don't tell women how to act when she scored her second-ever WC goal".

    Sadly, of course, there *will* be games finishing with stupid goal differentials because each manager knows the other teams will also run the score up.

    But hey, it's good for FIFA. Or something.
     
  17. Bill Archer

    Bill Archer BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 19, 2002
    Washington, NC
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    One of the several reasons why I detest Meghan Rapinoe:

    I cant recall the game but the US Women were thrashing the living crap out of some hapless opponent. Rapinoe scored the 7th goal on them and proceeded to pose and preen and knee slide with a huge " aint I wonderful" smile and both arms raised to the crowd to encourage their cheers. 7 -0.

    In 2013 at the Confederations Cup, Spain vs a hopelessly outclassed Tahiti side that shouldnt have been there and was getting their faces kicked in. Spain was a machine.

    David Villa scored goal #7. He turned, nodded to the guy who had fed him the ball, then put his head down and trotted back to the center circle.

    Class. A pro who respected the opponent enough to not rub their faces in it.

    Class. Something that purple haired little boy can't even spell.
     
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