Saturday, May 24, 2014

Crew Rd 12 Predictions, Home vs Chicago

The Columbus Crew host the Chicago Fire tonight at Crew Stadium. Kickoff is at 7:30 PM, 6:30 Central. Looks to be perfect weather.

 GAME NOTES 
CLB: Parkhurst playing or not is critical to result
CLB: Gonzalez, Francis on national team duty for World Cup
CLB: Back line gave up 2 goals to 10 man Portland last week
CHI: Won two straight (NY, SKC) but hasn't been pretty
CHI: Shipp is Rookie of Year candidate, fun to watch
CHI: Not really firing on all cylinders under Yallop

 TEN PREDICTIONS 
Percentage on left is accuracy picking Crew games only.

55% WHOSCORED.COM ... DRAW
Graham Ruthven doesn't really know how to call this one. Ultimately it becomes... "Will both sides' new-found attacking potency come to the fore? It could be a case of who can concede fewer."

55% WIN DRAW WIN ... CHICAGO FIRE
Your Vote section has Fire 44%, Draw 34% and Crew just 20%. Large stake is on Away Win 1-2.

36% COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... COLUMBUS CREW*
Put the astrerisk there because Adam Jardy thinks that with Parkhurst being in the lineup "would be the emotional boost needed for the home team to earn its first victory in nearly two months." Pick up the paper when you're out and about this beautiful morning.

27% BET365 ... COLUMBUS CREW
Home odds for the Crew slipped to lowest in the league for today's slate of matches, but still favored 13/10 (12/5 draw, 2/1 Chicago).

27% GOAL.COM ... CHICAGO FIRE
I'll say the mystery preview writer favors the Fire by going the "two teams in opposite directions" card. Fan vote see's this as even. Mentions some midtable jockeying.

27% HOME TEAM ... COLUMBUS CREW

27% MLSSOCCER.COM ... COLUMBUS CREW
Crew pick up 4 votes from 6 from the table of experts employed at the MLS Home Office if Information and Propaganda. Two other picks are Draw. Wouldn't worry on this too much if I were a Chicago fan.

27% WV HOOLIGAN ... (no pick)

18% TABLE POSITION ... CHICAGO FIRE / DRAW
Chicago is ahead of the Crew on the true table (ppg), but only by a hair.

--% MASSIVE REPORT ... (no pick)
Head over to check out Pat Murphy's preview and find out things like the fact that Harry Shipp trained with Berhalter's Swedish side Hammarby.

 MY PREDICTIONS, HOW IT WILL PLAY 


Harry Shipp
As the season has worn on the Crew have loosened a bit on possession but they are still 2nd in the league in that critical stat. I would expect more of that today as the Fire don't mind letting the other side play.

What that means is this match will look a little like the last couple home matches against Vancouver and NY. If you can remember back to April 5th, even Toronto.

The key for Columbus is (and will always be) finishing chances. Last week they put three past Portland but two came on a 10 man team. While the Fire are giving up a lot of goals, I'm not sure they can replicate that performance (or that Higuain chip on Ricketts) but a couple isn't out of the question.

I see this on as pretty even with Parkhurst out there, edge to Chicago if he is not.

If your in town, go check it out! Should be nice out.

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