San Jose - Columbus (Saturday, 9/7) thread Lord...trolls... Anyhow, I will be wearing my lucky shirt, not watching the game here in FL, but I'll be cheering for the Quakes at my class's car wash!
San Jose - Columbus (Saturday, 9/7) thread Let's start with standard sports cliches... Both teams might be looking past this week's game because both have ENORMOUS showdowns in home-and-homes with the team challenging them for their respective division crowns. Big intangible. Crew have been more settled of the two over the past month. They have McBride this time, which can't help the Quakes' cause. If SJ lets the Crew speed run like they did in previous meetings, the outcome is very likely to be like those we saw in Ohio. Quakes will have the services of Agoos and Dayak back for the first time since before WC. Their leadership and positioning smarts, along with Barrett's steady speed/cover ability and, for my money, Robinson badgering Martino on the right side PLUS SuperJoe back in net and the Home field thing that just plain MATTERS...I see another slim Quakes' victory IF Graziani and Donovan are not hitting posts. Starting XI: Cannon Robinson, Dayak, Agoos, Barrett Corrales, Mulrooney, Ekelund, Lagos Donovan, Graziani We've lost in the past week so I can't imagine anyone is going to counter with the "Frank doesn't change the lineup" thing.
      I'll most likely be at the game, so it's pretty obvious that attendance will be bad.       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
San Jose - Columbus (Saturday, 9/7) thread I think this is the best starting XI we have. With both Dayak and Agoos available for play it would be inexcusable if they weren't on the field (especially with the performance of our defense over the past month or so). In order for us to win two things must happen: 1) Ekelund has to control the middle and provide quality service to the forwards, and 2) LD and Graziani have to gel. Go Quakes!!!!!!!!
Re: San Jose - Columbus (Saturday, 9/7) thread damnit....someone cancel the crew's flight out, its over.
At the risk of starting something, how can a team that's beaten San Jose two of three this season, with San Jose's win coming in the 90th minute, not be "too much a threat?" Also, why would you use Crew's draw with New England (29 points) for "evidence" just after DC United (26 points, which I think is less than 29 points) knocked off San Jose? Like I said, I'm not trying to start something but I just don't get it.
I fully expected the loss to DC, but on the bright side I still think we will keep the undefeated-at-home streak going. It may well be a tie game though.
Exactly. The Quakes have been sucking, and the Crew have given us problems all year (and the previous six years, except for the playoffs last year). The only things in the Quakes favor are that they should be plenty pissed off after losing the last two games, and they have bounced back in similar situations, like when they whipped Dallas 4-0 after a disheartening loss in Columbus, and when they whipped Dallas 3-1 after a three-game winless streak (loss in KC, Open Cup loss to LA, draw with DC). Unfortunately, we're not playing Dallas this time. But this is an absolute must-win for the Quakes, and if they underestimate Columbus or look past them to LA, they will not be winning the Supporters' Shield or MLS Cup this year.
Not necessarily. If, hypothetically, the Quakes were to lose to Columbus but then win the last two games against LA, then the only team that could beat us would be Dallas and they would have to beat the MetroStars, New England, and D.C. United all in a row to do it. If we merely tie Columbus then beat LAx2, the best Dallas could do is tie us. My understanding is they would still be the #2 team based on our 3-1-0 record against them. Obviously we'd prefer to not have our away game against LA be a "must win" game but the truth is, if LA can beat Chicago on Saturday Sept. 7th then it will be a "must win" game for us anyway.
Sorry to be Goodsportian by quoting myself but I just checked the game times... looks like Spartacus will be announcing the good/bad news of this game result during our halftime with Columbus! GO CHICAGO FIRE!
This is not necessarily about the QUAKES vs CREW this weekend, but... Today when I called to purchase group tickets for this weekend's game, the female who answered the phone greeted me with "Good afternoon, San Jose Sharks!" After I said, "Whoa! you mean Earthquakes?" she said yeah, obviously embarrassed. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!?! Good thing for her it was just me and not some MLS exec.
San Jose - Columbus (Saturday, 9/7) thread When I called, I got this: "Good Afternoon, you've reached 976-luv-stud, how can I help you?".....Maynard shouldn't moonlight on company time.
I will be honest about Columbus...despite their position in the league, they are not playing the best football they could be.
Sorry, but I never get a chance to "help attendence" because I volunteer for the Quakes. Sometimes the games play on those package channels that I don't have at my house and nice people like Wayne (Albany) record it for me when I can't go to the game.
San Jose - Columbus (Saturday, 9/7) thread Obviously that means its almost hockey time!!! http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/06.22.00/gifs/sharks-0025.jpg http://www.thenorthwest.com/image_nhl/NW10190.gif
San Jose - Columbus (Saturday, 9/7) thread #$&%#$@%#@* YELLOW CARD!! http://www.thenorthwest.com/image_nhl/NW10190.gif[/img]
Re: San Jose - Columbus (Saturday, 9/7) thread haha Neck puncher, can you punch a certain Quake fan for me?
San Jose - Columbus (Saturday, 9/7) thread Why can't you.....too busy tending to the cattle.....so to speak?
Re: San Jose - Columbus (Saturday, 9/7) thread G: Cannon D: Agoos D: Dayak D: Robinson D: Barrett M: Corrales M: Mulrooney M: Lagos M: Donovan F: Graziani F: DeRosario Usually when the Crew and the Quakes play the matches have been very competitive. The Crew are coming off a scoreless draw, and a draw between DC United and New England will secure a spot in the MLS Cup Tournament. The last time the Quakes were able to come back from a 2-0 deficit and win 3-2. Right now, the Quakes are coming out from a loss against DC and are eager to get another win at home. With their key players at the helm (McBride and Cunningham up front, and Maisonneuve in the middle and Torres patrolling the backline) they always play the Quakes tough. With post season slots at stake, expect both teams to come out fighting and expect another close game.
San Jose - Columbus (Saturday, 9/7) thread I take it that Ronnie must be out on caution points or injured because nobody in there right mind would sit Ekelund. The Great Dane ROCKS!!!
FYI...I didn't want to start a new thread about this, but our playoff watch continues tonight...the Dallas v. NY/NJ match is on ESPN2 at 5 PM. I didn't know that until I read the TV schedule in the Sports section of today's Merc. Picture-in-picture time (Niners opener at 5:30 on ESPN...)!!!!!
It's been mentioned on this thread that you need people to help attendance. Well, I was planning on doing that by going to watch The Crew get a victory this weekend already, but I'd like to know what the best way to get tix is, other than ticketmaster. I"m already on a tight budget as it is, so paying $11 in fees for two tickets isn't my idea of using $ wisely (neither is $8 parking, but oh well). So, those of you who have gone before...can't buy tix at the stadium from the box office, right? So...are there usually scalpers outside getting rid of tix, a la LA Galaxy games? Or, if you can't go to the game and want to get rid of your tix, let me know.