No mo' Nico...

Nico Hernandez was waived this afternoon by the Crew. Mitchell's blog has confirmed the fact, but has not explained the why. Here's what we know:

- Hernandez would have made $99,999.96 this season, and that contract would have been guaranteed starting Tuesday.

- Brian Bliss recently took a trip down to South America.

- The Crew's only forwards that have seen significant time are Mr. Seven Nation Army, Jason Garey, and the Cabbage Patch Skinhead. Not much depth there.

With the Olymipics coming up, and with Rogers and Ekpo sure to be swiped away for that length of time, the Crew are going to be left with two slow, aging attackers (Moreno and Schelotto) a midfield of Eddie Gaven, Brad Evans, Brian Carrol, Duncan Oughton, and a back line of Marshall, O'Rourke/Iro, Frankie and whoever can stay healthy at left back.

Are the Crew getting ready to make add a couple of players, seeing how they also released Guiherme So' this week? Let's hope so.

Matchday Update: Altidore Likely to Sit

News today from Big Apple Soccer that Jozy Altidore will most likely not start or play today, due to an injury suffered in training on Thursday:

“I don’t think he will be in contention for tomorrow,” Osorio said after Friday’s training. “I only want to play players who are 100 percent healthy and he’s not 100 percent healthy. I would rather play somebody else.”

Relplacing Altidore in the lineup will be tricky. The Drinks are hoping newly aquired forward Oscar Echeverry can play well uptop with Angel. But one has to think the output falls off quite a bit form Altidore to Echeverry.

Obviously, it's early in the season, but to take 3 points in New York would be special. And with Altidore out, it's going to make things even tougher for an already depleted NYRB team. They have little to no life in their midfield, and their defense is nearly as porous as Toronto's. Maybe even worse. The Crew should not be thinking tie in this game, despite being on the road.

I stand by my earlier 2-1 prediction. Now? Off to Ruby Tuesday's. Go Crew!!!