A stunning and disheartening defeat. The Crew concede two early goals to a fired up Energy Drinks squad, and never quite recover, losing 2-0. Some thoughts I had from watching the game last night:
- First and foremost, Max Breto tells us that the Red Bulls grounds crew watered down the fake grass. Yes, I said FAKE GRASS. You know, the kind that doesn't need water? How the hell is that allowable? I say when the Drinks come to town, we just set burning couches on their half of the field. I mean, that has as much to do with groundskeeping as watering plastic grass, right?
- Despite his brilliance in the Toronto game (and most of this game), the first goal was all Will Hesmer's fault. It was softer than that big ol' dumplin-filled belly his coach carries around on the sidelines. Will should not only have made the save, he should have wrapped the ball up, cradled it in his arms, and sang "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Michael Bolton to it. Instead, he read it, got to the ground, and then let it slip through his arms. Inexcusable.
- The second goal? Well, Chad Marshall, it's your turn to be the goat. I realize you think you got fouled. I realize it might have, in fact, BEEN a foul. But instead of laying on your ass whining about it, maybe next time, you could get back up, make sure the ball gets cleared, and THEN piss and moan about your foul. Pick your spots.
- The Crew were terrible for the first ten minutes, and then played well, behind some stellar goalkeeping form Will Hesmer. Including ANOTHER blocked PK. This should not be lost on the season. Will Hesmer has saved two PKs. The defense in front of him is just absolute shit right now. But Hesmer is going to make some noise at the keeper position before they year is out.
- Danny O'Rourke needs to realize that he can't just foul someone whenever they get around him. You can do that stuff when you're a defensive mid, not when you're the last line of defense in the box. Two PK's in two weeks? Danny, it's called the "penalty area" for a reason.
How much money did that team from Chile give us for Gonzo? Because it wasn't enough.
- Anyone else want to buy a Pancake Puff Pan? Yeah, me neither.
- What was the number of ill-fated crosses we had in that game? 37? How many times did we have the ball at our feet in the box? 943? And yet, we had all of FOUR shots on goal? Absolutely horrendous.
- Once again, Sigi made two baffling substitutions. Didn't we have this saem story last year?
1. Brad Evans for Adam Moffat. Really? At least Moffat was making things happen in the midfield. And Brad Evans is...well, he's Brad Evans. It's not like Sigi was running out a super sub. The Moffat substitution caused the bar to erupt in a chorus of "What the Fuck?"s.
2. The other amazingly insane substitution of the night: Ezra Hendrickson comes in for...umm...someone other than Danny O'Rourke (it was Stephani Miglioranzi). I mean, Ezra isn't necessarily an upgrade, but at least if Sigi would have taken O'Rourke off, it would have signaled that he understood what was going on. Miglioranzi wasn't completely lost out there, which is saying something about last night.
My subs last night (as if Sigi cares) would have been:
Hernandez for Schelotto
Ezra for O'Rourke
And if I had to use a third sub:
Garey for Rogers (who was just a little lost last night)
One final thing on the subs: What the hell was Ezra doing up in the attack? If any of the back line should have been up there, I would vote for Miglioranzi, as he's actually pretty decent in the air and with the ball at his feet. Instead, EZ managed to muff one of the few decent scoring chances we had there towards the end, and most of us at Ruby Tuesday's started throwing back Trailerparks 3 at-a-time.
- I really, really want Eddie Gaven to do well, but he is banned from taking free kicks after that terrible effort in this game. Typical of a Sigi sub. He takes off our best taker of free kicks (Schelotto), and we earn the only direct of the night. Not really a way to prevent that, but it is indicitive of the absolute piss-poor luck we had last night.
- When Wolyniec came in, I knew we were done. Any team that is willing to sub him in is acknowledging that that they don't take the opposing team seriously.
- Parke, after about his 27th dangerous challenge, finally gets sent off...about 20 minutes too late.
- Finally, did anyone else notice Sigi was wearing a parka last night (indicating he was cold) but couldn't be bothered to wear the supporter's scarf? C'mon Sig, don't make me think that was just something you pulled as a publicity stunt for one game.
So...was last night a bad loss? Did we just come out flat against a team that was fired up for their home opener? Can we still be optimistic about the season?
Yes to all three. Though if we see a similar result next week, get the couches ready to burn.
Match Summary here.
Showing posts with label Energy Drinks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Energy Drinks. Show all posts
Saturday, April 5, 2008
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:
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!!!
“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!!!
Friday, April 4, 2008
We Talkin' Bout PRACTICE
Yesterday, I had a day off, and decided to go watch the Crew practice at Ohio Dominican. Having never been to an official Crew practice, I was under the impression that the event was attended by at least a few members of the media, or fans, or someone.
The only media member there was "Mr. High School Sports" himself, Larry Larson, of 610 WTVN. He's a legend in the Columbus radio world, and he's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. He talked to me for a solid 20 minutes before practice, and he proved to be very knowledgeable about the team. He was also genuinely bummed that he missed the win last week. If you ever see him at a sporting event, and he's not in the middle of something, introduce yourself. You won't be disappointed.
But other than Mr. Larson, there was no one there other Crew players and staff. So when Sigmund walked onto the grounds, I asked him if this was a closed practice, or if I could watch. I had my trusty notebook with me, and he pointed to it and said, "As long as you're not passing any notes to the Red Bulls, yeah you can watch."
Utter blasphemy, Coach! I would never betray the Black and Gold! Satisified with my allegiance to the Crew Nation, Sigi granted me access to the practice.
My main reason for attending practice was to catch a glimpse of the new aquisition, Gino Padulla, who was in uniform. I tried to nose around for some info on whether or not he would be playing this weekend, and the Crew staff were tight lipped about it. My guess is that he won't play, as he only saw limited action in one of the full squad drills, and didn't participate in the full scrimmage. From what I saw, he looked a little rusty on the ball, but not bad. Probably just needs another week or two with the boys, and he'll fit in. Also, S&C coach Steve had Padulla and Guilherme So' running for the second half of practice, so my guess is Padulla needs to get his fitness up before he sees gametime. As for So', they're still working out his work visa (I think), which would mean they're not wasting practice time on someone who isn't available yet.
Other observations:
- Sigi has quite the fatherly presence in practice. He's a little of a hard-ass, but he always takes the time to bring the player over and explain why he's getting onto him. Watching him in practice helped me understand even more why he was so successfull in college, and why he seems to get a lot of growth out of his younger players.
- Brian Bliss was on hand, as was Mr. McCullers, the latter of which was surprising to me. I always thought of M&M as a behind-the-desk GM, worried as much about the ROI as he is about the right back. While that may still be the case, I have gotten the sense over the last few weeks that he is a soccer guy first, and a businessman second. Which is good for this club. I am willing to admit that I was wrong about him in my earlier criticisms of his decisions.
- For as much skill as he exhibits in games, Robbie Rogers seems to get an inordinate amount of correcting in practice. Play was stopped 3-4 times to show him how he was in the wrong position. It's hard to remember that he isn't old enough to buy a beer yet. The kid is magic on the field though. I hope he can stay out of Sigi's doghouse, if such a place actually exists.
Finally, midway through the practice, I looked across the field, and saw a strange car driving around the parking lot. It was one of those Red Bull jeeps with the can of Red Bull on the top of it. Apparently, New York did send their spies after all...
The only media member there was "Mr. High School Sports" himself, Larry Larson, of 610 WTVN. He's a legend in the Columbus radio world, and he's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. He talked to me for a solid 20 minutes before practice, and he proved to be very knowledgeable about the team. He was also genuinely bummed that he missed the win last week. If you ever see him at a sporting event, and he's not in the middle of something, introduce yourself. You won't be disappointed.
But other than Mr. Larson, there was no one there other Crew players and staff. So when Sigmund walked onto the grounds, I asked him if this was a closed practice, or if I could watch. I had my trusty notebook with me, and he pointed to it and said, "As long as you're not passing any notes to the Red Bulls, yeah you can watch."
Utter blasphemy, Coach! I would never betray the Black and Gold! Satisified with my allegiance to the Crew Nation, Sigi granted me access to the practice.
My main reason for attending practice was to catch a glimpse of the new aquisition, Gino Padulla, who was in uniform. I tried to nose around for some info on whether or not he would be playing this weekend, and the Crew staff were tight lipped about it. My guess is that he won't play, as he only saw limited action in one of the full squad drills, and didn't participate in the full scrimmage. From what I saw, he looked a little rusty on the ball, but not bad. Probably just needs another week or two with the boys, and he'll fit in. Also, S&C coach Steve had Padulla and Guilherme So' running for the second half of practice, so my guess is Padulla needs to get his fitness up before he sees gametime. As for So', they're still working out his work visa (I think), which would mean they're not wasting practice time on someone who isn't available yet.
Other observations:
- Sigi has quite the fatherly presence in practice. He's a little of a hard-ass, but he always takes the time to bring the player over and explain why he's getting onto him. Watching him in practice helped me understand even more why he was so successfull in college, and why he seems to get a lot of growth out of his younger players.
- Brian Bliss was on hand, as was Mr. McCullers, the latter of which was surprising to me. I always thought of M&M as a behind-the-desk GM, worried as much about the ROI as he is about the right back. While that may still be the case, I have gotten the sense over the last few weeks that he is a soccer guy first, and a businessman second. Which is good for this club. I am willing to admit that I was wrong about him in my earlier criticisms of his decisions.
- For as much skill as he exhibits in games, Robbie Rogers seems to get an inordinate amount of correcting in practice. Play was stopped 3-4 times to show him how he was in the wrong position. It's hard to remember that he isn't old enough to buy a beer yet. The kid is magic on the field though. I hope he can stay out of Sigi's doghouse, if such a place actually exists.
Finally, midway through the practice, I looked across the field, and saw a strange car driving around the parking lot. It was one of those Red Bull jeeps with the can of Red Bull on the top of it. Apparently, New York did send their spies after all...
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Game 2: at New York Red Bulls
Fresh off a correct score prediction from last week, CTID tries to go 2/2 on the predictions tip. OK, so I got the goal scorers wrong, but I'll make up for it this week.
New York Red Bulls
What you need to know:
JPA and Altidore are the only non-shitty parts of this team.
New additions:
Jaeger, scooter for Claudio Reyna.
Biggest hole to fill:
Giants Stadium, at least for this year.
2008 Prediction:
Like the nimble co-ed who thinks she can hold her liquor, the Energy Drinks will start off strong, but eventually end up all wobbly and passed out on a park bench in front of their apartement. So, they're missing the playoffs. Also, if Jozy Altidore transfers to Europe, add the phrase "Roofies" to the previous analogy.
NYRB match preview here.
Game prediction:
Moffat scores again, and Robbie Rogers tallies for the first time as well. Both are assisted by Guillermo Barros Schelotto. JPA gets his first goal, but that's it, and the Crew win 2-1.
Finally, if you're going to the game, here a video of what to expect from the NY fans, especially the Long Island fans:
New York Red Bulls
What you need to know:
JPA and Altidore are the only non-shitty parts of this team.
New additions:
Jaeger, scooter for Claudio Reyna.
Biggest hole to fill:
Giants Stadium, at least for this year.
2008 Prediction:
Like the nimble co-ed who thinks she can hold her liquor, the Energy Drinks will start off strong, but eventually end up all wobbly and passed out on a park bench in front of their apartement. So, they're missing the playoffs. Also, if Jozy Altidore transfers to Europe, add the phrase "Roofies" to the previous analogy.
NYRB match preview here.
Game prediction:
Moffat scores again, and Robbie Rogers tallies for the first time as well. Both are assisted by Guillermo Barros Schelotto. JPA gets his first goal, but that's it, and the Crew win 2-1.
Finally, if you're going to the game, here a video of what to expect from the NY fans, especially the Long Island fans:
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Scouting the Opposition
This week the Crew take on the New York Red Bulls, or as they are more disaffectionately known around the league, the "Energy Drinks".
Here are their prime scoring weapons:
Juan Pablo Angel
- Played in Aregntina for River Plate, also spent time in England with Aston Villa.
- Scored 19 goals and 5 assists in 24 league matches last year for the Drinks. Basically, if he's on the field, he's responsible for a goal a game.
- 33 Caps for the Colombian national team.
Josmer "Jozy" Altidore
At nineteen, he is the next big thing in American soccer:
- Scored his first professional goal in MLS at age 16
- Scored 13 goals in his first full MLS season, at age 17
- Has already scored a goal with the U.S. Men's National team
- Drawn interest from Manchester United and Chelsea, who are going to be in a bidding war for him when the transfer window opens.
Fortunately for the Crew, the Energy Drinks are without speedy midfielder Dane Richards, who does a lot of the work to get the ball into space for these two weapons. Still, Chad Marshall, Danny O'Rourke, and the rest of the defense will have to be on their very top game, as both Altidore and Angel can be lethal with the ball at their feet from 30 yards and in.
Of course, the Crew have some young guns of our own in Robbie Rogers, Eddie Gaven, and the new sensation, Adam Moffat. This could end up being a very exciting, high-scoring game.
Here are their prime scoring weapons:
Juan Pablo Angel
- Played in Aregntina for River Plate, also spent time in England with Aston Villa.
- Scored 19 goals and 5 assists in 24 league matches last year for the Drinks. Basically, if he's on the field, he's responsible for a goal a game.
- 33 Caps for the Colombian national team.
Josmer "Jozy" Altidore
At nineteen, he is the next big thing in American soccer:
- Scored his first professional goal in MLS at age 16
- Scored 13 goals in his first full MLS season, at age 17
- Has already scored a goal with the U.S. Men's National team
- Drawn interest from Manchester United and Chelsea, who are going to be in a bidding war for him when the transfer window opens.
Fortunately for the Crew, the Energy Drinks are without speedy midfielder Dane Richards, who does a lot of the work to get the ball into space for these two weapons. Still, Chad Marshall, Danny O'Rourke, and the rest of the defense will have to be on their very top game, as both Altidore and Angel can be lethal with the ball at their feet from 30 yards and in.
Of course, the Crew have some young guns of our own in Robbie Rogers, Eddie Gaven, and the new sensation, Adam Moffat. This could end up being a very exciting, high-scoring game.
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