Shutout Needed, Wild One Expected

uh oh

Throughout the season, Columbus Crew SC have been one of the more entertaining and satisfying MLS teams to watch. Playing an attacking type of possession game has pushed this year's team towards the top in the goal scoring category. Second overall, actually. That comes from being fifth in shots per game and first in those on target.

With all that attacking comes a rather leaky defense. Looking past the two late season shutouts the Crew posted against Toronto and DC in the last two games of the regular season, the team was only able to blank one team in the previous 26 matches (Chicago on August 15th). 

Anyone paying attention should know that discounting late regular season games is important. A lot of bad decisions are made over the course of late-season runs of form. Think of the Columbus Blue Jackets late last year when they had nothing to lose or the Colorado Rapids this year in MLS. Last minute efforts when other teams are winding down and / or prepping for the postseason leads many a team GM or President astray. It's fool's gold.

The addition of Gaston Sauro to the Crew defense might be more about timing than anything. Sauro is a good player, but one person is not able to turn a poor defensive team into a good one. Montreal had no trouble getting quality opportunities last weekend with a full strength Crew backline.

Montreal has outright beaten Columbus three times this year already, outscoring them by 5 goals even though they've dominated by the Crew in terms of possession and shots. Interesting note: the Impact have taken 12 fewer shots (29-41) but gotten 6 more on target (18-12). 

The first two games between these two were similar. Lots of opportunities for Columbus but poor finishing. Last match things changed a bit. Crew controlled the ball but were shut down offensively. Were it not for a somewhat right-place, right-time Higuain, the Crew could be looking at a much different game today.

A Crew shutout win would be incredibly impressive, considering. I don't think it will matter who scores first this evening. Goals will happen in this match. When the first one goes in, hold on.

Predictions, Thoughts: Crew (H) vs Impact

Columbus is at home again tonight for the franchise's second to last regular season home match. Montreal is on the menu tonight. Dinner is 7:30 PM EST.

MATCH NOTES
CLB: Impressive run, 13 pts in last 6
CLB: Lineup should remain familiar
MTL: Effort levels still there, but team deeply flawed
MTL: Haven't played a meaningful game in a while

MATCH PREDICTIONS
% Correct picking Crew results - (Last 10) - Outlet

55% (6) COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... COLUMBUS CREW
48% (6) MLSSOCCER ... COLUMBUS CREW
48% (3) WHOSCORED.COM ... DRAW
48% (6) WIN DRAW WIN ... COLUMBUS CREW
45% (6) HOME TEAM ... COLUMBUS CREW
41% (5) BET365 ... COLUMBUS CREW
38% (3) GOAL.COM ... DRAW
28% (4) TABLE POSITION ... COLUMBUS CREW
--% (-) WV HOOLIGAN ... (no pick)

--% (6) MASSIVE REPORT ... COLUMBUS CREW
Pulling down Massive Report this week to start including Nate Beckman's picks. Nate is about as on the pulse of the team and league as you can be and regularly posts those thoughts in his regular "4caster" column. As always, bookmark SB Nation's MR for all the latest.

MATCH THOUGHTS
This week see's the Crew as heavily favored as I have seen them in three years. The BET365 line of 8/15 is about has large as it gets in MLS just in general. Win Draw Win shows a large stake on a 2-0 win and voters only going Montreal 8% of the time (as low as it gets).

8 AM, Sept 27, German Village

One of the benefits to they way the Crew play now is that they can hold off below average teams, even if they aren't having their best day. Last week's 1-0 victory over New England was an intense and meaningful. With more of that coming up on the road for the team this match falls prey to the proverbial "trap game" (...and I told myself I wouldn't write that, gah!).

Helping the Crew out, if they do come out flat, will be the possibility that Ignacio Piatti not playing. He's a very, very good player on a Montreal has a handful of good players.

Crew fans will remember Dilly Duka and he is having a great year on a bad team (whoscored.com has him rated in to quarter). They've also got Hassoun Camara, Andres Romero, and Justin Mapp. Their deep rooted flaw is not those guys, it's depth and players that are suppose to be good but are playing very average. Felipe Martins, Jack McInerney, Patrice Bernier and even Marco Di Vaio fall into the average bucket and shouldn't.

Weather looks great. Clear and mid-70s. Being the time of year this is, you should see loads of nice long shadows and the east stands soaked in a beautiful golden hue. It's magic time here in Ohio.

Predictions: Crew Home vs MLS Team

Columbus Crew host the league owned LA team today at 3:00 PM EST, 12:00 PM EST.

GAME NOTES
CLB: Trapp, Tchani suspended (yellow accumulation)
CLB: Look to bounce back after disappointing loss
CLB: Still looking for consistent production from forward position
MLS; (nothing notable)

GAME PREDICTIONS
Number on far left is percentage accuracy picking result. In parentheses is correct picks in last ten games.

50% (5) COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... COLUMBUS CREW (fav)
46% (3) WHOSCORED.COM ... COLUMBUS CREW
42% (4) GOAL.COM ... DRAW
42% (5) MLSSOCCER ... COLUMBUS CREW
42% (5) WIN DRAW WIN ... COLUMBUS CREW
38% (5) HOME TEAM ... COLUMBUS CREW
35% (4) BET365 ... COLUMBUS CREW
27% (5) TABLE POSITION ... COLUMBUS CREW
--% (-) WV HOOLIGAN ... (no pick)
--% (-) MASSIVE REPORT ... (no pick)

GAME THOUGHTS
The Crew come into this one as heavy favorites against a team whose future is very much uncertain. Bet365 has the home side 4/9 favorites, Win Draw Win likes this one as a 1-0 win with only 14% of the user votes going the visitors way.

Adam Jardy's preview for the Dispatch isn't quite as confident on the Crew side as it was last week when the team took on a poor Montreal saying they have "take care of business against the worst team in the West."

MLSsoccer.com, on the other hand, picked the Crew across the board.

Even without regular starters in Tony Tchani and Wil Trapp, anything less than a win today will raise some serious questions as the opposition is in comparatively complete dysfunction.

Weather looks pretty good, clear and warm.

Predictions: Crew Rd 20, MTL at Home

Another one at Crew Stadium tonight. 7:30 PM Eastern kickoff, weather will be mid 70's, partly cloudy and a little damp.

GAME NOTES
CLB: Limited roster availability (injuries, suspensions, a rib being removed)
CLB: Higuain carrying nagging injury, not 100%
CLB: Crew one of only 4 teams with negative home goal diff, only 8 goals in 9.
MTL: Only 5 goals in 8 away this year, zero wins
MTL: Last place team
MTL: Do have 2 wins in last 6, not great but better than Crew

TEN PREDICTIONS
Number on left is percentage accuracy picking 2014 Columbus Crew results only.

58% WHOSCORED.COM ... DRAW
"This one is hard to call, with both teams coming into the game in poor form. It could be case of who isn't the worst on the day." - The Oracle (Graham Ruthven). Has this one ending even.

53% COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... COLUMBUS CREW
A lot of good Crew info in the Dispatch as of late. Gonzalez transfer news, Williams updates, pick up a paper!

47% GOAL.COM ... DRAW (for now)
No preview up yet.

42% MLSSOCCER ... COLUMBUS CREW
4 picks for the Crew this week, remaining 2 are a draw.

42% WIN DRAW WIN ... COLUMBUS CREW
Heavy Crew lean this week, 56% picked to win (12% Montreal). Large Stake is on 2-0 home win.

37% BET365 ... COLUMBUS CREW
Home team surprisingly heavy favorites today (17/20 odds, 12/5 draw, 10/3 Impact).

32% HOME TEAM ... COLUMBUS CREW

21% TABLE POSITION ... COLUMBUS CREW
Gotta be pretty low to be behind 16th place Columbus, but here we are.

--% WV HOOLIGAN ... (no picks)
Drew Epperley stopped predicting games some time ago but that shouldn't stop you from visiting his site.

--% MASSIVE REPORT ... (no pick)
Head over to Massive Report for Patrick Murphy's latest on the Columbus Crew. He's got a fair take on the current situation.

MY PREDICTION
Hard to overstate how limited the Crew are with their roster. Fully fit, this is a mid-table / average team but with Wil Trapp out (suspension), Hector Jimenez (long term injury), Josh Williams (blood clot), Jairo Arrieta (pulled muscle) and Federico Higuain not all the way back (and used in both games in past week already)... this team is in peril.

All that said, there only a couple teams that the Crew could beat in their current shape on one of them is in town today. Montreal is pretty bad this year. Not patient, not defending well, no cohesion. Just a mess, which is why you seen a heavily favored Columbus.

Pretty sure well see the Crew passing around a non-possession oriented Impact relatively easily but I think the only way this one doesn't end as draw is if we see a penalty or some other kind of mistake late in the match.

Sometimes these lower table games can surprise, though. Both teams will feel this is a good chance to get after it. Worried a little about the Crew defending without Trapp back there helping out an out of form Francis and a Chad Barson who can sometimes get beaten off the dibble (re: Marco di Vaio).

Ultimately, I hope it is a wide open game. Crew Stadium attendance is below average this year and I'm sure some of the fans want to see excitement.

Predictions, Crew Rd 16 (Home vs FC Dallas)

FC Dallas is in Columbus today to take on the Crew. Kickoff a slightly later 8:00 PM EST so there is some night for post game fireworks (always brings in a crowd here in the midwest).

 GAME NOTES 
CLB: Limited roster, Higuain likely out, Trapp recovering
CLB: Win will help separate from lower half of table
CLB: 1st league game since World Cup break
FCD: Only 1 win last 10 (Crew 1 in last 12)
FCD: Won both US Open Cup games during break
FCD: Missing too many players to mention

 TEN PREDICTIONS 
Number on left is percentage accuracy picking 2014 Columbus Crew results only.

53% WHOSCORED.COM ... DRAW
Graham Ruthven gives the edge to Dallas in the game notes saying "If FC Dallas can pick up where they left off, they could take the points from this one," but thinks ultimately it ends with a 1-1 scoreline.

47% COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... COLUMBUS CREW (lean)
Beat writer Adam Jardy admits that this one is a hard to call but in the end seems to think FC Dallas is a team the Crew can beat; "...this is the type of game it needs to win."

40% MLSSOCCER ... COLUMBUS CREW
Picking Crew with gusto! All six votes.

40% WIN DRAW WIN ... COLUMBUS CREW
Medium Stake on 1-0 home win, Your Votes heavy on Crew (60%, Draw 33%, Away 16%).

40% GOAL.COM ... DRAW (Crew lean)
Jon Arnold more or less runs down list of player absences, no lean either way. The fan prediction leans towards Crew.

33% BET365 ... COLUMBUS CREW
Crew at better than even (10/11). FC Dallas 3/1, Draw 12/5.

33% HOME TEAM ... COLUMBUS CREW

13% TABLE POSITION ... FC DALLAS

--% WV HOOLIGAN ... (no pick)

--% MASSIVE REPORT ... (no pick)

 MY PREDICTION 

Careful!!

Not many would have predicted Costa Rica to still be in Brazil, but here they are. The Crew are a severely depleted side, both in starters available and overall. Along with absences of starters Giancarlo Gonzalez and Waylon Francis to the World Cup the Crew are also missing Josh Williams and Ethan Finlay. Michael Parkhurst is somewhat questionable as are Wil Trapp and Federico Higuain. Not sure I've seen a Crew roster this way in the last few years.

Dallas isn't much better but their roster is always seems to be a patchwork one. In some ways the two sides have mirrored each other for some time. Inconsistent results and questionable roster decisions at the admin level. Crew fans are hoping that changes in coming months, years.

The Crew might have the edge in this one with the home crowd. Slight chance of rain for the fireworks but weather otherwise looks outstanding. Enjoy the match.

Crew Rd 4, Home vs. Toronto

The Columbus Crew host Toronto FC today at Crew Stadium. Whistle blows at 6:00 PM EST and temps will be in the 40s.

 GAME NOTES 
CLB : Still healthy through four games to start season
CLB : Hot start to the season, looking for 4th win in a row
CLB : Not sure what else to add here
TFC : Missing starters Defoe and Caldwell
TFC : Doneil Henry and Ashtone Morgan are also out
TFC : Still have Gilberto, Cesar and Bradley

 TEN PREDICTIONS 
On the left is % correct so far this year (only three games in).

100% WIN DRAW WIN ... COLUMBUS CREW
With last weeks correct pick, Win Draw Win is the only place I track left with a perfect record and, just as the first three weeks, they like the Crew this week with 57% in the "Your Votes" section. (30% Draw, 12% TFC).

67% COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... COLUMBUS CREW
After going over pregame notes, Adam Jardy comes to the conclusion that "it’s tough to imagine Toronto leaving Crew Stadium with any points." Pick up a paper today if you get a chance.

33% BET365 ... COLUMBUS CREW
Still heavy on the home sides here. Only away fav is LA over Chivas, actually. No different for the Crew this week either. If fact, the Crew have best odds of anyone this weekend at 5/6 (5/2 Draw, 10/3 TFC).

33% GOAL.COM ... COLUMBUS CREW
Rudi Schuller paints a dark picture for the Reds this week with all the injuries; "without all of its weapons it could be a long night for the Reds." Readers like TFC in the voting section but that sucker is just a popularity contest.

33% HOME TEAM ... COLUMBUS CREW
Home team wins most of the time.

33% MLSSOCCER ... COLUMBUS CREW
Another across the board pick for the Crew. How things have changed over recent years.

33% WHOSCORED.COM ... TORONTO FC
Graham Ruthven coming strong this week by saying; "If Michael Bradley is on top form, Toronto FC should end Columbus' impressive start to the season." I've been tracking Ruthven's picks since last year, not all that great. This year I'm going to start tracking team ratings as done by this site as well. It matches up better with what they do anyhow. There, the Crew are favored (6.9 vs 6.7).

0% WV HOOLIGAN ... COLUMBUS CREW
Drew Epperley is the only one on my list to have not picked the Crew to win any of the first three. That changes this week, though. He thinks the Crew could give TFC another reality check this week. 2-0 Crew.

n/a% MASSIVE REPORT ... n/a
"Really?" Check out what Berhalter said after Pat Murphy broke the news to him that Jermaine Defoe was out this week.

n/a% TABLE POSITION ... n/a
Still not to five games.

 MY THOUGHTS 
Just about everyone here is discounting Toronto this week, pretty much to the point of giving them an excuse. Last check the Reds have still have players on the team whose salaries eclipse that off all the Crew in Micheal Bradley in the midfield, Julio Cesar in goal and Gilberto up top.

Saying the team has no chance because Defoe and Caldwell are out and a couple other players are nicked up? It's a joke and covers up the team's number one problem... coaching (well, number two problem behind ownership).

Toronto is a Frankenstein of a professional team. They are fully capable of getting a couple goals but are also capable of getting embarrassed. Seems most believe it will be the later. Which should tell TFC fans all they need to know about their team and the millions they have thrown in the garbage.

These two met up in the preseason and were part of the same tournament just a little over a month ago. TFC couldn't find a win in four games down there and only managed one draw with a team that look similar to today's projected lineup.

Columbus only needs to watch out for Gilbero and Rosario up top (both not in form) and giving away free kicks in dangerous spots around the box. Outside of that things should be easy for the Crew. TFC isn't a possession team this year and has not interest in it and they are in the lower half of the league in terms of shots on target per game (4.3).

Toronto shouldn't be bad this week even with all the injuries, but they probably will be.

Predictions: Crew (A) v FC Dallas

Good Morning.

The Columbus Crew travel to Toyota Stadium today to take on FC Dallas. Kickoff time is 8:30 PM EST. 7:30 Central.

GAME NOTES:
CLB: Lineup likely to stay same as last 2 weeks
CLB: On GD, tied worst away form -10 in last 6
CLB: 7 losses in last 8 on the road
FCD: Only lost 1 all year at home
FCD: Lots of speed up top
FCD: In danger of dropping out of playoff hunt

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PREDICTIONS
(in no particular order)

1. WIN DRAW WIN ... FC DALLAS
Leaning pretty heavy here at this aggregate betting site. Wise guys taking stake in a 3-0 Home win and only voting for the Crew 15% on the pretty accurate 'your vote' section.

2. COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... NO LEAN
Adam Jardy, beat writer here in town, doesn't appear to lean either way. Again mentions win makes hopes of making the playoffs more realistic.

3. MLSSOCCER.COM ... FC DALLAS
Four of the six folks on the MLS panel like Dallas. Only one picking Crew to win (Andrew Wiebe, the arch nemesis to any thinking analyst)

4. HOME TEAM ... FC DALLAS

5. WHOSCORED.COM ... DRAW
Graham Ruthven actually gives fans a glimpse of what this game might look like as far as play (a rarity in MLS); "A compact, yet eagerly contested game is expected between these two sides. A draw could be on the cards."

6. WV HOOLIGAN ... FC DALLAS
Drew Epperley (Big D Soccer on SB Nation as well has WVHooligan.com) like Dallas to win this one 2-1. "Columbus has been better under Brian Bliss but I’d argue that they haven’t seen a team that has the speed that Dallas has up front."

7. BET365 ... FC DALLAS
Dallas is basically even (10/11) with a draw next (12/5). Crew getting 3/1 odds in this one.

8. MASSIVE REPORT ... DRAW
Managing editor, Patrick Guldan is sure to mention David Ferreira, saying that he "is Dallas's biggest creative force. Clamping down on him will choke the home team's offense." Patrick thinks this will go down as a 1-1 draw.

9. TABLE POSITION ... FC DALLAS

10. GOAL.COM ... COLUMBUS CREW
Ives Galarcep again with the summary for this one saying "Standing in the Crew's way is an FC Dallas side that is heading in the opposite direction. Consecutive losses, both courtesy of own goals, have put a halt to a promising turnaround for Dallas, which has managed just two wins in 16 matches." I'm going to go ahead and put the Crew down for this one, even though Ives doesn't really lean. The reader pick shows Dallas.

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MY THOUGHTS, PREDICTION
There are precisely two MLS teams that have positive goal difference away from home this year. Just like last week when Chicago traveled to Columbus and got whooped 3-0 it's going to be a tall order for the Crew to get all three points this week down in Texas.

The Crew do have a couple things going for them, however.

1. Team has some pep in the step under Brian Bliss
2. Dallas struggling to win home or away

Dallas is clearly the favorite today but those two things point to a closer match than many might think.

Josh Williams and Andy Gruenebaum, who have been recovering from injury, are probably sitting this one out. Bliss, like Warzycha before him, likes to keep the lineup the same if the team is winning.

I have problems with this. Biggest one is that this philosophy has failed the Crew over the past two years. They have only been able to string a couple wins together two times this year doing this.

You have to plan for each opponent differently. For example. The Crew aren't good on the road. A lot of that has to do with Matt Lampson and his inexperience on the road.

Goals given up with Lampson as starter:
3 : at Houston
4 : at Salt Lake
3 : at Kansas City
1 : at Montreal

That's 11 goals allowed in his last four away starts. I realize this is a team thing but Lampson has looked like a completely different person home vs away. A Gruenebaum start here, even though he has been out for an extended period, might not be a bad idea if he is ready to go. Gruenebaum's motivation will be through the roof.

Despite not getting the results they might like, Dallas has lit up the scoreboard in last three at home (8 goals in last 3). They will be extremely hungry to get goals vs the Crew.

Bliss could take advantage of that if so inclined.

Dallas is fast. Dallas can be frustrating. Dallas is hard to beat at home. This one could have some fireworks in it if the crowd gets in to it (if they are even there, Cowboys playing late afternoon game).

Looks like temps will be in the mid 80s. Enjoy the game.

Predictions: Crew (H) v Houston

Midweek matchup at Crew Stadium tonight as the Houston Dynamo are in town to take on the Columbus Crew. 7:30 PM EST start.

GAME NOTES:
-CLB: Haven't beat Houston at home since GBS played.
-CLB: Won 3 of last 6 at home, +1 GD
-CLB: Freshen up: Looking like Gehrig, Finlay getting nod.
-HOU: Only 1 win in last 6 on road, -9 GD (bad)
-HOU: Missing Garcia, Jermaine Taylor to International duty.
-HOU: Sitting in playoff position.

----------
PREDICTIONS:
(in no particular order)

1. WINDRAWWIN.COM ... HOUSTON
The 'your votes' section is 37% Dynamo and 27% Crew this week. Close enough to call it fairly even. What pushes the lean to Houston is the Small Stake 0:1 Away side.

2. GOAL.COM ... EVEN
"Columbus has lost five of its last seven matches, and its playoff hopes are on life support as a result," says Avi Creditor. "The Crew can nary afford to drop more points at home against one of its playoff-place competitors." The reader prediction section has this one as a Draw.

3. HOME TEAM ... COLUMBUS

4. WHOSCORED.COM ... HOUSTON
"Kinnear should be able to pick his players up as they head into the race for the play-offs and they're expected to perform well against a Crew side struggling with injuries and suspensions." 1-2 Score prediction.

5. BET365 ... COLUMBUS
Tight enough to almost call it even. The Crew are at 6/5 and Dynamo 9/5 (at the time of this writing 11 AM).

6. MASSIVE REPORT ... EVEN
Wise words from Mr. Guldan today; "Bliss and the Crew hope to get that new coach bump. It's been proven to be more of a myth, but the changes on offense and defense likely will spark a more competitive team." Patrick thinks this will go down as a 1-1 draw.

7. TABLE POSITION ... HOUSTON

8. COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... COLUMBUS
Man on the Crew beat Adam Jardy thinks that new coach Brian Bliss will give the team a jolt. He also makes note of another competitive advantage, "The Dynamo has had one fewer day of rest, and it could be a long evening for the visitors." Check out Jardy's commentary on his Dispatch blog "Covering the Crew." Excellent.

9. WVHOOLIGAN.COM ... --
(no preview yet, will update)

10. MLSSOCCER.COM ... --
(no prediction yet, will update)

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MY THOUGHTS:
Houston is going to be missing a couple key guys but Kinnear always seems to be able to do just enough once the calendar turns to fall. Tonight's game isn't probably seen as a must win to him but certainly important.

The Crew, on the other hand, are in the middle of a gigantic organizational adjustment. Hard not to think this makes this either a huge 3-0 kind of Crew win or a 0-5 horror show.

I'm never quite comfortable with Houston teams. They just seem to do enough to get into the playoffs and like to draw when in town. They don't need this game, per say, but they will probably go for the draw early if the Crew prove to be stubborn in the first 30 minutes.

Nice and cool today in Columbus. Probably in the 60s by kickoff and clear skys. Has the makings of a beautiful mid-western sunset, if nothing else. Enjoy.

Optimism for this Game

Columbus has only had a couple results this year where they pushed past what people thought was going to happen. The away game at Houston comes to mind. 4-1 over Colorado and 2-0 win over RSL.

The April 16th matchup against Sporting KC was a 1-0 win but certainly not that memorable. After all, pick 1-0 for the Home side in every MLS game and 'they' just might call you an expert.

Columbus is tumbling without Eddie Gaven and with a Robert W new contract and Chad Marshall's leadership/captaincy roll changed with the return of O'Rourke (Danny, I hear didn't travel to KC). I know that statement isn't probably the most fair, but perception is becoming reality here.

The Crew need this game badly. It needs to be one of those surprising games. A loss here and the club tumbles to the last playoff spot and is looking up at a stampeding DC coming to town Sunday.

I happen to think this is the kind of game the Crew can pull out. They will be hungrier than KC and will be sharp coming off a tight game against the best team in the league (uh, LA).

Put in the work, Crew. Come home with 3 pts., balance to your normal 1.42 PPG and 1st place in the east.

Others Have it for Us. Crew, NE Preview

One of the ancillary benefits of being a Columbus Crew fan is the fact that the team has a proud history. One of the original teams, first soccer specific stadium in the MLS and a cabinet full of trophies. When I put these preview programs together it always strikes me the amount of respect other teams have for Columbus. Often opponents and opponent news outlets go out of there way to compliment the Columbus Crew. It's hard for my mind not to wander to 1892 and how newly formed Liverpool FC thought of 1863 founded Stoke City. Anywho, New England is one of the original teams for the MLS like the Crew so my little analogy that I was trying to create with SCFC and Liverpool is moot, but! NE still show plenty of respect for my local club just like Liverpool might have for Stoke way back when even without the 30 year gap:

“The thing about Columbus I’ve learned over the years is they’re really a steady team, they’re consistent. I don’t think – if I remember correctly – that they go on super hot runs, but they also don’t get in these kind of slumps throughout the season. They’re a steady team with consistent play so we expect a good game from them.” - Revs Defender, Ryan Cochrane

Hoping Crew supporters and fans pick up on some of that. Can't help that it's a bit like Klinsmann coming in and telling Americans what Americans are all about and, in turn the American soccer press, oblivious to what the we are as a people, praise him for his insightful words. I'm happy he said and says the stuff he does about our country. The way it is lapped up is telling. It takes an outsider sometimes to remind us why we are, though more then just the kaleidoscope of soccer, special. Troubles, yes. But compared to what else is out there? We do pretty darn good. In the top 50 at least. Hardy har.

Proud history and good team here in Columbus this year. With the recent city mandated shutdown of the Hudson Street Hooligans Pub, I think the fans outside the intense supporter microcosm around here are looking for some good news from the actual franchise and players.

Game against NE is home this weekend. Winnable for the Crew but going to be tough for them against a team that is already working to get in the playoffs.

A win here would do great things in the table for both.

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For more on Crew Supporters Group HSH and their bar closing click HERE.

Longer form NE Revs Crew preview and praise go HERE.