Win of the Season Hijacked by Supporters

The table was set by new investor / operator Anthony Precourt when it was announced that the team would honor Landon Donovan before the match.

While Donovan has never played for the Columbus Crew he has made more than a handful of memories for local fans through his heroics with the men’s national team. Many of the same fans cheering him on during all those dos a cero matches though, wanted to make it clear that those deeds have nothing to do with these deeds in league play.

The ceremony before the match was, of course, attended by Precourt but also former teammates (and one would assume, friends) of Donovan, Gregg Berhalter and Frankie Hejduk. In fact, in all likelihood the idea probably came from Hedjuk. It was as classy as an on-field presentation could be and the star of the show even appeared to tear up.

(finest kind)

Into the match we jumped. With the first tifo raised in the Nordecke gone I breathed both a sigh of relief that it wasn't something calling Donovan out specifically. Not because I don’t think the supporters should have stayed away from the eyebrow raising thought of honoring a player on another team but because I could see what the Crew, as an organization, is trying to do. At least, what I think they were.

Columbus isn't seen as a destination city. A great place to live, yes. A great place to raise a family, yes. Many, many other things and I have enjoyed my time here - but one thing it is not is a place for a male 20-something professional athlete that has a bit of cash in the bank.

On top of that, the Crew have a recent history of mistreating players and being generally poorly run. Perhaps it can be traced back to 2010 when the team was broken down. Was it the right thing to do? Lots of different answers to that. One thing we can answer is the way it happened didn’t go over well with players.

Events don’t happen in a bubble where other players don’t pay attention. Soccer, unlike other US sports leagues, is unique in that good-to-great players have dozens of options not just a couple. So when a city gets a reputation (even if it isn’t that bad of one) from a front office or coach or bad facilities it causes a player to put it down the list of places to go. You see this everywhere, not just in Columbus.

(side note: There’s probably a metric I could create of which players on rosters have decided to play for a team vs which ones are there because they are the only place that would have them. (I’m not doing that.))

So, when Precourt and the Crew announced they were honoring Landon Donovan pre-match - it was a nice thing to do. Intentionally done to erase some of the wrongs in recent years or just done out of gentlemanly behavior, it was fine.

And it matters.

What also matters is how the fans react to it. And react they did a few minutes before the match ended by raising a tifo painted last year that reads “New Heroes” with a stylized image of Jurgen Klinsmann. Those keeping track of the drama between Klinsmann and Donovan got the purpose of it. It was where most impactful tifos come from; that deep dark obsessive place in supporters’ hearts.

Supporters’ voices are very important to the sport. Right or wrong, good or evil. There is no doubt they are necessary. This particular one though might have had unintended results, however. Be it good will towards an important player in US Soccer history, just showing class or trying to clean up the world view of Columbus, Ohio – the tifo undid just about all of that and shows that supporters are not in lock-step (un-knowingly, it seems) with the winds of change Precourt is trying to introduce.

That’s not to say that it was wrong though. The other purpose of supporters is to give the team it’s shape. To represent the city. After what happened I’m thinking that the new front office might have a different view of things and that metropolitan image Precourt talked about doesn’t stick for a reason.

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The Crew ended up beating LA 4-1 in one of the best games I’ve seen the team play since I started writing about them four years ago.

What's the Root? And, Why is It Snowing In Here?

What? Huh? No way? That can’t be true, can it?

The deluge of news coming out of Major League Soccer in regards to TV deals...($70 million a year/8 years for just the English language rights!!), player signings galore (Bradley, Defoe, Gilberto (and that’s just Toronto FC!), Brazilian Samuel to the L.A.Galaxy, Gaston Fernandez to Portland Timbers), possible player signings (Xavi, Drogba), and new teams/stadiums (NYCFC, Orlando, DC United...well, maybe there, but we certainly hope so even though the rats living in RFK stadium will have to make new friends), possible new teams/stadiums (Miami, Atlanta, Minnesota) ...It’s...all...simply...too...frigging...much...to...process.

But, what the hell, let’s take a stab at what it might mean.

Clearly, it signifies that Major League Soccer has more cash at its disposal; or, at the very least, the lever pullers know the magic television and sponsorship money faucet is about to be cranked wide open.

Most indubitably (Love that word) it screams “I’m a Major League Soccer owner, and I’m-a-gonna show you my thingy!” at least in regard to some of our beloved league’s big boys.

Underneath, though, where is all this craziness getting its sustenance? What’s comprises the nourishing root structure?

Maybe, just maybe, it implies that our fearless leaders couldn’t stand the pressure of having to step carefully through the dung-filled field that is the American Professional Sport’s Landscape. Maybe keeping their ego’s in check for most of eighteen years has driven them to the brink of their usual CEO/Psychopath selves. In other words, as I worried in my previous post, maybe they’re drawing sustenance from their own deep roots. This is a credible theory, especially given the success their patience and diligence has awarded them.

But owners acting like owners, finally, seems only to be a symptom of something more meaningful.

So, what is the essential element piercing, supporting and extending its stringy molecules throughout Major League Soccer and the beautiful game in these United States of America? What element has suddenly turned Major League Soccer and its owners into a bunch of horny frat boys, pockets stuffed with dollar bills, at Boom Boom’s Big Boomers Strip Club?

How about you, me and millions of other American and Canadian fans watching games, surfing random soccer blogs (instead of the usual, Blonde’s In Bob’s Bedroom, pron sites), buying our teams’ scarves and jerseys, and debating the merits of whether the United States will beat Germany this summer (I personally think we will lose that game, but will already have beaten Ghana and Portugal)?

It’s us. It really is us, all of us. We are the essential element.

In my previous post I hinted at the possible gaping ditches in that dung-filled sports landscape. These ditches and piles of steaming excrement are not going away anytime soon; because, those ditches and piles are often self-made.

Even if the boy’s club that is the SUM of MLS owners does everything right, they are going to step directly into a few of those stinky landmines. One or two teams will relocate over the next five or ten years, almost without a doubt. One team may even just fold-up shop; although, I doubt that will happen.

It’s amazing to watch what’s going on right now in our sport. For those of us who have followed along from the time of the NASL, it’s like looking at one of those old-fashioned paperweights, you shake it and little flecks of snow fill a winter wonderland. You want it to go on forever, but you know you have to keep shaking it occasionally. 

Hopefully Major League Soccer keeps picking up that bastard, and hopefully they shake themselves vigorously on a regular basis. If they don't or they can't, maybe, just maybe we will be able to do it for them.

Crew Rd 18: Late Game Mess, Loss

The Columbus Crew fall to the LA Galaxy 2:1 because of two late called fouls in the box.

1ST HALF
LA might have been a little surprised at how easily the gained possession and worked the ball just inside the Crew's half of the field. Matias Sanchez and Kevan George seemed a lost for large sections of the game and gave the Galaxy little trouble.

As the half worn on it started to resemble the Crew's previous game with Sporting KC. Columbus couldn't get anything and LA seemed to have open chance after open chance.

The first half wound up with LA seeing 13 shots vs. 1 for the Crew (vs. KC the week prior it was 12-3).

2ND HALF
More of the same to start. The Crew seemed to be a bit more aggressive but it was LA still driving the car.

Things changed in the 78th minute. Bernardo Anor received a free kick from Higuain and headed in a blooping header from about 15 yards, Crew +1.

The Galaxy seemed to ramp up a little but it was much more desperate than their easy going dominance in the 1st half. Columbus stiffened and it seemed like it might work until Jose Villarreal got nipped in the box and went down. Robbie Keane finished the penalty to even it up.

Not long after, in stoppage time, Keane went down easy when Anor leaned on him with his arm. It was a questionable call. Keane again stepped up to finish off the penalty and there it ended.

FINAL THOUGHTS.
These types of games happen too often in MLS. Messy and a lot of that has to do with the way the Crew played in the first half. It was just about as poor as I have ever seen them.

I don't have a lot to say about this one. In some ways it was a throwback type MLS game in that you had one team that couldn't finish against another who doesn't know what possession is, decided on two penalty kicks after the 85th minute in front of a capacity crowd just there to see the postgame fireworks.

A tough watch. On to Portland this Sunday in what will hopefully be a better game.

Predictions: Crew (A) v Galaxy

The Columbus Crew disrupt their circadian rhythms tonight due to a 10:30 PM EST matchup against the LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center. 7:30 PM PST.

GAME NOTES
-CLB: Only 5 pts in last 6 games
-CLB: Traveled direct to LA after KC game last Sat.
-CLB: Higuain being investigated, passport falsification
-CLB: Arrieta out, Gold Cup
-LAG: 7 pts in last 6 games
-LAG: Robbie Rogers to face old team
-LAG: Landon Donovan out, Gold Cup
-LAG: Only conceded 2 goals at home (6 games)

PREDICTIONS
"I really don’t know what to make of the Crew these days." Drew Epperley, writer for SB Nations Big D soccer and WV Hooligan. His prediction for tonight? LA Galaxy 3, Columbus 1.

Bet365 likes the Home Team this week giving them 1/2 (Draw 16/5, Crew 11/2). In other words, The Galaxy are heavily favored.

Win Draw Win places Home/Away form at the top of their summary each game. It's for good reason, it matters. In six home games this year LA have scored 12 and only conceded 2. Because of this we get a Medium Stake on a Home win, 2:0 and a 'your vote' in favor of LA, 55% and Columbus 14%.

The team over MLSsoccer.com has Galaxy across the board this week.

Adam Jardy, Crew beat writer for the Columbus Dispatch, doesn't show a lean either way in today's paper. He does state that a loss here would set up an "unpleasant scene at Crew Stadium" this Sunday.

Over at Goal.com Zac Lee Rigg writes; "Los Angeles will look to preserve a four-game home unbeaten streak against the Crew come July 4." The fan voting there is getting some activity going 90% LA Galaxy 5.5% Crew. Steep.

MY THOUGHTS

Chipped Beef & Scotch

The Crew are in the middle of the toughest part of their schedule and are struggling. A win tonight is not likely but, of course, not impossible.

Despite what NFL fans like to project onto soccer, location matters. Form matters. And also, for the sake of Pete - Stop saying each game can turn around the season. A Crew win here or an LA win doesn't do that. It's a long season. I feel like the pitcher in the Barbsol commercial needs to set people straight here.

I'm normally not a fan of this, but a draw here for Columbus should be what the Crew fight for. Zero, zero? Okay, good enough right now. Adam Jardy is correct in his statement about the Sunday game if the Crew lose tonight. It would mark the third loss in a row and push the team back to 3 points in last five.

Columbus hasn't lost three in a row since mid-September of 2011 and only three times since the start of 2008.

Late game start for Crew fans but sometimes the best moments happen in games like this one. Enjoy.

Crew Round 21, Draw Strength

Columbus took to the pitch with heavy hearts in their first game back after teammate Kirk Urso's passing.

The match ended 1:1.

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Photo credit not available but the image can be found on the Crew's FB photos page.

Best Team Ever + That 2011 MVP

It could be argued that the 1998 Galaxy are the best MLS team the devoted have ever seen. Best PPG (2.19), an astonishing MLS best 2.66 goals p/GM (Cobi Jones, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Hurtado the beast). They also sport the best goal difference in league history... 1.28. No team even comes close to that.

This got me thinking though. How close are the 2011 LA Galaxy to Major League Soccer Immortality >>? David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Juninho, Robbie Keane. All "superstars".

<< or as immortal as MLS teams get >>

The 2011 Galaxy are pretty close. They currently stand on 2.03 points per game. A win in their last game gets them to 2nd best PPG in league history, hopscotching a strong Miami team in 2001*. *I'll go ahead and do the asterisk here. 2001 was a good year for a lot of MLS teams. Read up. Dark days, my friend.

The Bruce Arena 2011 Galaxy team is nowhere near the top in Goals For (96th in league history, 1.42 per), but his goals against is a historic 0.76. 2nd best in MLS history. The best? Last years Real Salt Lake. Yeah, that team that erased part of the MLS can't play stigma across the Americas.

So. Who are the masked men that rule the back line on this years Galaxy team?

Todd Dunivant, Omar Gonzales, AJ DeLaGarza and Sean Franklin. All four of those guys are rated in my top 20.

Taking into account one of the best Team Points p/GM averages in history and 2nd best GA avg in MLS history... I'm going to go ahead and present the following:

HELLTOWN BEER Major League Soccer Player of the Year

Todd Dunivant.

Congratulations buddy.

Crew Lose to LA. Crew Player ratings.

Since I plan for the worst kind of soul crushing disappointment that comes with an extra time goal I took it upon myself to rate the Columbus Crew players for this game to keep my mind away from the inevitable end.

The plan was simple. +1 for positive movement or touch and -1 for some action that sucks. Tally them up and...

Rating : Name
+5 : Marshall
+5 : Renteria
+4 : Rogers
+3 : Danny
+3 : Gardner
+2 : Mendoza
+2 : Miranda
+1 : Duka
+1 : Hesmer
+1 : James
00 : Grossman
-1 : Ekpo
-3 : Francis

Hope that recaps all the action for everyone. Goodnight.

Fanfare from Crew v. Galaxian

Andres Mendoza has 6 goals from the run of play. Eddie Gaven and Emilio Renteria have 4 and Tommy Heinemann has 3. The Columbus Crew are dead last at procuring goals outside of PKs. They have been last all year.

13 MLS teams have a scorer with 6 goals or more. On those 13 teams, 28 players have at least 6 goals or more. There are 24 MLS players with 6 or more goals that make less money then the Crew's create-a-player (on FIFA 12) lefty only goal scorer.

Bleeno and Smitty (and Geoff(and Crack and Stevens)) will get that reference, but to others reading... I meticulously create players on sports video games. Usually each player has at least one weakness (save for the Woods, Crack and Smitty; Trequartistas those guys). Comic books from the 80s are probably to blame.

Mendoza is like one of those created players. He has a top 50 in the world "100" left foot but little* else. When I watch him I feel like I have a controller in my hand and am trying desperately to get the ball on his left side. And when less then 30 yds out? Punch it.

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This weekends Crew game is sold out. A feeling I haven't felt since...

Beckham flew back to Cali today. So none of that guy at the game. Yeah, there is Donovan and that Irish fellow (Keane, sorry Nana) but it's Beckham that sold out the stadium (for the first time since...). But leave that behind. If fans knew there stuff they would know that Todd Dunivant is the real reason to go to the game. He has a stranglehold on the MVP race right now. Well... here at Helltown he does.

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The Crew have a real chance of dropping out of first this weekend. A loss here and a KC win puts the Crew in a tight spot in 2nd with Philly. If DC and Houston also win then we have a 5 alarm fire going on here in Columbus.

What's that then?

Looking forward. Columbus has KC Wed. of next week then DC next Saturday. Danger, Danger. 1st in the East to the last wild card spot will bring out the nearly dead and depressed Buckeyes.

And it will be the thing of nightmares.

*Mendoza showed recently he can play the mid-field well. The Houston game. Check the tape. Unfortunate we can't see the 33 yr old there more during his stay in Crewtown.

Your Ctrl+(right)click for reading this post (for my brother. Amazing how it means so much to so many. Not only in the US, but across the world. And amazing how quickly we forget what it's like not to be the clear number one).

Loss to Galaxy. But Better from Crew.

Late night for the Crew and Crew fans alike. In it, the LA Galaxy proved too much for Columbus.

The LA Gear were organized and confident. Impressively so. Bruce Arena has a championship team here.

Even though it was a loss, I gotta say that Columbus looked the best they have all year in a 4-5-1 (at least I think it was that formation. Anor and Ekpo seemed to drift). Important to note that Mendoza went out early (4th min) and was replaced by Tom Heinemann up front. While it didn't net anything for the Crew, at least they were not tripping over themselves in the mid.

Tommy had his best game with the ball at his feet - which was nice to see. Good touches. As for the team core: Robbie Rogers was active (good). Gaven was solid (as always). Marshall, Miranda and Hesmer were zz tops (Marshall had standout game).

So what happened? How can the Crew play solid football and lose? First off. The Galaxy is a better team. 2nd off: Two players. Anor and Gehrig. Gehrig is all hustle and heart but might not be ready for this level (uh, ouch). Check the 30th and 38th minute. Ugly. Donovan made him look goofy on the first and the whiffed clearance at 38 was beyond embarrassing. Anor had a muggly one at 50. I'm calling out specific moments here because the Crew (including these two guys) played an otherwise solid game.

Donovan did his thing in the first half but disappeared in the 2nd. Beckham was involved the whole game which was nice to see. I fear this will be the last time I see him against the Crew. I appreciated the moment though. Ultimately, LA's Franklin came through with a screamer and a deflection off (who else) Gehrig.

Other Crew play.

Ekpo... I'm going to ask the same question with him as I did with Cunningham earlier this year, what is going on here? I'm curious if the Crew management brought in Tchani to start over Ekpo at this point. I'm not sure where Ekpo belongs. Good player but roams all over the pitch (sort of like Gardner did earlier in the year, hmm going to have to think on this issue more. coaching?). I'm hoping, Justin Meram will get some more chances as the season goes on.

One last note. Julius James was also noticeably a step off. Not terrible, but maybe the weakest link in the back 4.

Predictable loss for Columbus, but memorable for solid football and the perspective angle that it good to see what the team might look like in the future without hired gun, Mendoza.

Promising.

Quick turnaround for the Crew. Back home Saturday.

Crew v. Galaxy Master Component

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-NASL Google Timeline, lots of good documents to be found under this lesser known google feature

-Excellent, excellent NASL resource for old photos, documents, game guides, etc...

-Mountains of fan journals on old NASL teams. Here is a very good one, Tampa Bay Rowdies. "Soccer is a kick in the Grass."

-Pretty comprehensive book list on the NASL here.

-Note for Smitty: Unlucky: A Season of Struggle in Minor League Professional Soccer. An insightful account of the struggles of players of the 3rd division Northern Virginia Royals of the USL (1998)