Crew Rd 6, Home vs DC United

DC United is back in town this evening to take on the Columbus Crew. Kickoff is at 7:30 PM EST. Temps will be on the cool side (60-ish) with a slight NE breeze (means it'll feel like -8 in the stadium, bring your blanket).

  TEAM NOTES  
CLB: Winless in last two
CLB: Only question to lineup might be up top (Oduro or Arrieta)
CLB: Still healthy, Paladini might make 1st app as a sub
DCU: Ben Olsen is still coach
DCU: Dykstra to start again, Hamid out
DCU: Last 2 are 1st back to back wins since Oct 2012

  TEN PREDICTIONS  
Percent is accuracy in picking result this season for Crew matches only.

60% WIN DRAW WIN ... COLUMBUS CREW
Large stake on 1-0 Crew win and 58% of the 'Your Vote' (DC 12%)

40% COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... COLUMBUS CREW(?)
Adam Jardy - Crew beat man on the pulse, like white on rice and bees on honey - notes that "the Crew will enter this game as a heavy favorite - just like it did against Toronto." Have a feeling Jardy thinks this one may go the way the TFC one did (noted). Pick up the Dispatch today, good stuff on possession and how players like playing that way.

40% GOAL.COM ... COLUMBUS CREW
Thomas Floyd took down a long quote from DC boss Ben Olsen praising the Crew. Olsen gives "Gregg a lot of credit" and singles out Higuain, Oduro and Trapp as good players. "They're fun to watch," he said.

40% WHOSCORED.COM ... COLUMBUS CREW
Previewer Gra... wait!? Not Ruthven today? Martin Laurence thinks the Crew have enough to edge out DC tonight 1-0 but thinks it will be "a tight match this weekend."

20% BET365 ... COLUMBUS CREW
Home team are heavy favorites today (8/11 fav, Draw 13/5, DC 15/4). Only heavier favorite this week is KC over Montreal.

20% HOME TEAM ... COLUMBUS CREW
Last out at home against TFC didn't go well at all. Crew will be looking to get back on track tonight.

20% MLSSOCCER ... COLUMBUS CREW
Another week, another major lean towards the Crew with five of six votes going their way. Only one picking draw, none have DC.

0% TABLE POSITION ... COLUMBUS CREW
We are officially into the season now, table positions will start to matter more as a sign of quality.

0% WV HOOLIGAN ... COLUMBUS CREW
Epperley is pretty confident the Crew will in this one 2-1 siting support as one of the drivers... "I see them bouncing back this weekend at home in front of their massive supporters (who killed it this weekend with their welcome to Atlanta)." Interesting. Because Sherman also "killed it," right? - an angry Virginian.

n/a% MASSIVE REPORT ... (no pick)
Josh Williams wants to make up for the last game and says the "Nordecke will be ready." Go check out Mr. Murphy's latest to find out more about what (a remarkably prepared and up to speed on DC) Williams thinks about DC.

  MY THOUGHTS  

DC haven't been limiting attempts against the last two weeks, particularly last week. NY dominated DC with tons of possession in their half and loads of attempts, but they didn't bring the shooting boots (and that was a DC home game).

It's entirely possible that this week's game will look like that NY / DC match up. United aren't a possession team and that plays well into what the Crew want to do but the big question will be if the Crew can finish. They have been well below average with Dominic Oduro leading the attack as far as shots on frame % (you want to be getting 1 in 3 on the 'keeper) and I don't really see that changing much today if he gets the call.

With open play goals generated from possession something we probably won't see tonight, it means is that set pieces will be the difference maker today.

Tonight's wildcard, however, will be Eddie Johnson. Eddie is healthy and is settling in with his team and his money. Once he gets all settled in he will get hungry for goals. Is that tonight or is it later in the year? I'm not sure. But with the team finally getting a few results I think his time is coming... and when it does, it'll come in bunches. Water finding it's level and all that.

Final note is related to Jardy's "just like it did" TFC comment. This week does feel like that (team even seemed to be very relaxed at training yesterday, according to reports). While Josh Williams might be up to speed on DC, most other starters probably think they are facing the same team the rolled week one at their place. DC was never really out of that game and had Parkhurst not drawn that penalty it might have ended differently.

DC is a much better team that that first week and full of confidence. It's an extremely experienced group made up of players that have all probably played well at Crew Stadium at one time or another. Throw in a very light crowd (by very I mean approaching 10k levels with the Blue Jackets playoff game starting at same time) and this match up could have a few surprises.

We see. Bundle up and for God's sake, take a blanket so you don't have to buy one at the stadium.