Updated KRAMB

KRAMB is a measurement I started tracking a couple years ago. It started out as points earned per game (PPG) + goal difference (GD) when starting. It's evolved to, well... pretty much the same thing.

Only now it's PPG + GD above replacement (team average of 0.00).

I call it KRAMB after Ryan Kramb, who once asked questions about such things.

What this works out to be is... the higher the number, the better the team does when that player is starting.

KRAMB : PLAYER : GAMES STARTED
+0.95 : Eddie Gaven 10
+0.49 : Justin Meram 9
+0.34 : Agustín Viana 14
+0.28 : Gláuber Berti 13
+0.20 : Bernardo Anor 13
+0.19 : Dominic Oduro 28
+0.18 : Matt Lampson 8
+0.09 : Joshua Williams 24
+0.05 : Chad Marshall 24

0.00 : TEAM

-0.06 : Tyson Wahl 18
-0.07 : Federico Higuaín 25
-0.09 : Tony Tchani 7
-0.12 : Eric Gehrig 6
-0.15 : Andy Gruenebaum 20
-0.16 : Danny O´Rourke 19
-0.18 : Chad Barson 13
-0.28 : Jairo Obando Arrieta 15
-0.35 : Ben Speas 10
-0.55 : Wil Trapp 10
-0.65 : Matías Sánchez 10

Here are the players with not enough games to make any reasonable conclusion.

+1.05 : Aaron Schoenfeld 2
+0.55 : Ethan Finlay 2
+0.05 : Konrad Warzycha 2
-0.62 : Ryan Finley 3
-1.28 : Kevan George 3

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The spirit of KRAMB is what each player's goal difference is when on the pitch. Exactly the same thing you see with NBA and NHL in their meticulous plus/minus ratings that they track but are absent from the pages of MLS or any MLS stat tracking outlet (this includes when used as sub).

Here is how that looks for Columbus Crew players as a per 90 minute figure...

ON PITCH GOAL DIFF : NAME : 90 MIN GAMES
+0.40 : Eddie Gaven : 10.0

0.00 : Bernardo Anor : 13.0
0.00 : Dominic Oduro : 26.2
0.00 : Agustín Viana : 11.5
0.00 : Gláuber Berti : 13.0

-0.11 : Tyson Wahl : 17.9
-0.13 : Joshua Williams : 24.0
-0.13 : Chad Marshall : 23.3
-0.20 : Andy Gruenebaum : 20.0
-0.22 : Tony Tchani : 8.9
-0.24 : Justin Meram : 8.2
-0.26 : Danny O´Rourke : 19.1
-0.26 : Jairo Obando Arrieta : 15.2
-0.28 : Federico Higuaín : 24.8

-0.38 : Matt Lampson : 8.0

-0.50 : Eric Gehrig : 6.0
-0.55 : Matías Sánchez : 9.1
-0.61 : Chad Barson : 13.2
-0.62 : Ben Speas : 9.6
-0.63 : Kevan George : 4.7
-0.85 : Wil Trapp : 9.4

...and here are some guys that don't really have enough time. That said, this is a metric based on minutes so the impact of this number could be considered more important than something based on apps.

0.00 : Aaron Schoenfeld : 2.3
-1.00 : Ryan Finley : 4.0
-1.32 : Konrad Warzycha : 3.0
-1.82 : Ethan Finlay : 3.3

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While only part of the overall picture, I believe this type of information to be important in evaluating the overall impact of a player.

Two to Zero

From last night's USA v Mexico pregame get together and Massive Report podcast. Hendoc's Pub in Columbus, Ohio. On left; Matt Goshert (host of the Massive Report podcast, among other things) and Justin Bell (in Dos a Cero shirt).

Crew Rd 28, Youth Proof

The Crew no match for Sporting KC on the road.

1ST HALF
New interim coach Brian Bliss decided to keep things simple and run out the same lineup that pulled off a mildly surprising midweek upset over the Houston Dynamo. Major differences between these two games were two fold:

1. It was on the road and the Crew have completely collapsed away from home. Losing last 7 straight by a total of 15 goals.

2. Playing the best team in the the Eastern Conference (not missing a beat without Zusi or Beasler).

The game didn't start well as Wil Trapp caught the foot of a KC Benny Feilhaber in the box which sent Designated Player Claudio Bieler to the spot where he ripped one past Matt Lampson.

From there KC owned possession till the final minutes of the first half when they didn't really need it as much. It was a hot and humid evening so all the possession gassed the Crew players (who had all played on Wednesday).

In the 41st minute Barson, in what seemed like a mental lapse, lazily mis-touched a Eric Gehrig pass. The ball wound up with Claudio Bieler who found Sonny Saad who had no resistance from Barson or Gehrig and easily put it past an iffy looking Matt Lampson.

2ND HALF
KC would never really relinquish their grip on this game and the Crew just slipped further and further out of it. Tony Tchani, subbed on at half for Ethan Finlay, provided some more energy in the middle but it was still miles away from what the team needed.

In the 54th minute Oriol Rossell would like an absolutely beautiful ball from 40 yards out to CJ Sapong in the 18 yard box. Tyson Wahl seemed powerless against him and Lampson wasn't able to get there on time.

The Crew were three goals to beaten at this point and were just out classed. In fact it took till nearly the 80th minute for the Crew to get an attempt that made it to frame.

GAME OVER, THOUGHTS
Abysmal. That's the only way to explain the Crew on the road since the shockingly poor June 6th 3-0 loss in Philly.

The last four, in particular, have been horror shows.

2:1 at Toronto
3:1 at Houston
4:0 at Salt Lake
3:0 at Kansas City

Playing inexperienced players is the quickest way to get run over on the road. Chad Barson, Matt Lampson, Wil Trapp, Ethan Finlay, Ryan Finley would be done better by if they were able to be worked into a more experienced lineup. As it stands though, they are basically college players still.

With that, the experience they are gaining may be the most valuable takeaway for them right now. Whether or not it is for the best is not known. Fans will have to pocket this away and revisit in the coming years.

On top of young players you have the absence of Federico Higuain, the Crew's insistence in playing Dominic Oduro in the midfield, and keeping Jairo Arrieta guessing as to his role this year.

With the situation the Crew find themselves in it's difficult to know which way is up. With six games left in what will likely be seen as a transitional season - one thing is for certain; the stong will be separated from the weak.

Predictions: Crew (A) v Sporting

The Crew are at Sporting KC today. Kickoff is 8:30 PM EST and a Sporting 7:30 PM Central.

IMPORTANT GAME NOTES
-CLB: Have lost last 6 on the road (only 5 GF, -12 GD)
-CLB: Higuain back in lineup after 2 game suspension
-CLB: 2nd game under interim coach Brian Bliss
-SKC: INT Duty: Zusi, Besler (USA), Jerome and Joseph (Haiti)
-SKC: Kia Kamara sold to Middlesbrough
-SKC: Only 1 loss at home in last 6 (+7 GD)

PREDICTIONS
(in no particular order)

1. COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... EVEN (NO LEAN)
Beat writer Adam Jardy notes key player absences for KC but also states the Crew "...now will face a road test against one of the league’s elite teams." Jardy doesn't seem to lean either way.

2. TABLE POSITION ... SPORTING

3. GOAL.COM ... EVEN
Sayeth Seth Vertelney (Goal.com contributor) "The home side will be shorthanded due to international matches, and the visitors, with a new head coach in tow, will hope to take advantage." Vartelney thinks KC is "formidable" but he doesn't fully commit to them. Reader Prediction leans KC with 50% of vote, 38% draw.

4. MASSIVE REPORT ... EVEN
Site Editor Patrick Guldan likes this one a 1:1 Draw and offers insightful comments on what might happen, "If Meram or Finlay are slow to tuck in, the Kansas City midfield, even under gunned as it is can do damage."

5. BET365.COM ... SPORTING
KC has heavy odds today at 4/7 (11/4 draw, 5/1 crew).

6. WHOSCORED.COM ... SPORTING
If I'm not mistaken it looks like Graham Ruthven is writing these up now? Regardless, key call out here is, "Despite the unpredictability of the Crew Sporting KC will be considered favourites to take all three points."

7. HOME TEAM ... SPORTING

8. WVHOOLIGAN.COM ... SPORTING
Drew Epperley thinks the Crew's "..midweek result was a good one for Brian Bliss’ first game in charge but heading on the road to Kansas City is never an easy task." Final prediction? 2:1 KC.

9. WINDRAWWIN.COM ... SPORTING
There is a large stake on a 3:0 Home win and the 'Your Votes' is very KC, 56%. All key indicators here point to KC but the are based on form not unique events (missing players).

10. MLSSOCCER.COM ... SPORTING
All six participants in this years Pick 'Em feature think KC are winners. Matt Doyle remains in the lead at nearly 50% accurate (impressive).

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MY THOUGHTS
It is very difficult for me to get past 6 straight losses on the road for the Crew (and only 5 goals). New coach is a good sign but I don't think this particular issue is all on former head man Robert Warzycha.

This logo has no meaning

It has to do with youth and inexperience. Barson, Trapp, Lampson and Ryan Finley have very little experience on the road. Last three results were horror shows ... 4-0 in Salt Lake, 3-1 in Houston and the straw that essentially broke the back of the season, the 2-1 loss in Toronto.

The Crew will have to play disciplined in the back like they did last week by keeping Barson and Wahl at home (easily the most notable tactic change Bliss has implemented thus far). If those guys get caught up then KC will get the two goals need to put them past the Crew.

The Crew are catching KC at the right time but sometimes a team that is missing key guys is a little more motivated with players looking to make their mark. You'll notice in the predictions that team and league watchers are calling this on closer than the macro betting sites.

Will be fun to see how Bliss approaches this one tonight. Enjoy the game.

Crew Rd 27, A Refreshening

The Columbus Crew play out a fun and open game to victory over the Houston Dynamo.

1ST HALF
Columbus came out in a somewhat different looking lineup. New interim head coach Brian Bliss stated in the press that he wanted some new faces and he made good on it, somewhat.

Eric Gehrig and Ethan Finlay were two of the surprises getting the nod. Other notables include Ryan Finley getting a start over Jairo Arrieta and Tyson Wahl making a reappearance after not playing for a couple months.

The changes early on almost looked to backfire as Houston's Will Bruin was able to easily work past Gehrig on at least three occasions (two of which should have been a goal).

Eventually the game sort of settled into an evenly matched pinball type MLS game rhythm, but not ugly by any means.

2ND HALF
Columbus jumped all over a questionable Houston back line early when Justin Meram found Ryan Finley right in front of goal.

Tony Tchani, who was subbed on in the first half due to a Wil Trapp injury, provided the nice play (huge shoulder barge on Adam Moffat, sending him to ground) setting up that goal. Tchani would go on to play a nice half.

Minutes later Dominic Oduro would be dragged down in the box. Ryan Finley would step up and miss the penalty but it mattered little as Houston seemed to drift further away from getting anything from this game.

For the first time for as long as many can remember, the Crew felt like the Crew and were at full steam.

The Crew would go on to play probably the most balanced I've seen them for the next 20 minutes. There efforts were satisfyingly rewarded in the 74th with Ethan Finlay worked the ball over to Oduro who picked out Ryan Finley at the top of the box. He would go on to whiff but it fell to Meram who did what Meram does and did it beautifully.

2:0 Crew.

The final 15 saw Bliss and his crew settle in and keep a defeated Dynamo out of goal.

FINAL THOUGHTS
This was a refreshing game for me personally. I've been watching and writing closely about them since late 2010. There were few times in 2011 that the Crew felt like the "Crew" I knew. Or at least the Crew image I had in my minds eye.

After a long dry spell from late 2011 there were very few of these 'Crew' moments for me but, goddamn... last night felt Crew.

Missing the star player and a couple defensive cornerstones... players like Eric Gehrig (perennial hard worker, reserve), Ethan Finlay (fan fav last year, went to doghouse, great preseason but no minutes), Tyson Wahl (veteran, journeyman), Tony Tchani (Gen Adidas player, yet to find stride and window closing) were in there, making soccer for me. Not the pretty magic football that people seek out in much better leagues, but the earthy MLS magic that happens so very rarely but I wish happened more.

Brian Bliss is the perfect conduit for this type of soccer. A smart, respected American coach with an intimidating amount of experience. He seemingly did everything right last night. From lineup, to subs (classy move to put Konrad Warzycha on late), to urging team to thank fans, to mentioning Chad Marshall as a USMNT player. He hit all the marks and did it like it was natural to him.

Is what happened last night a model for sustainable success? No. Of course not. Only the most delusional would think that a team as inexperienced and as young as that could win out over a long season... but, within last night's events, that is where the important parts to success breathe.

With the US Men's game against Mexico coming up, history will probably not remember too much about this game but I really hope Crew fans soaked up what happened last night. It hasn't happened often over recent years.

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.

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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.

A Good Warzycha Story

Great comment over at Massive Report under Patrick Guldan's Robert Warzycha: True Black and Gold piece. It comes from someone named "scudsmckenzie."

I felt the last paragraph really gets to the heart of who Warzycha is. As a soccer player, coach, man and Pole.

...as for warzycha, so long and thanks for the memories— my personal favorite warzycha moment was watching him dish out an utterly brutal two footed studs-up tackle at midfield, get NO ball, leave his man in a crumpled heap, and get up and start jogging to the locker room without even looking back to confirm that he’d gotten a red card. i’ll always remember that as the epitome of robert warzycha— tough, realistic, and a little bit hot-headed and delusional, with a pretty wicked bending service and a pretty limited vision of how the game should be played.

I'm sure that over the next handful of months there will many a story told about 18 year company man Robert Warzycha. The above is just one of early ones.

The gif above was created from something I found on youtube entitled "Norwegia - Polska [22.09.1993, 1.połowa]". In it they cycle through the players one by one with live head shots (fairly advanced for the time). I thought it was neat. Warzycha a few years before he came on over to MLS.

The mechanisms of history can be a cruel thing but my hunch is that, years and years from now, Robert Warzycha will be remembered fondly in the annals of Crew soccer history.

Good stuff there Mr. scudsmckenzie. Great story.

Crew Coaching Changes, Warzycha Removed

Columbus Crew head coach Robert Warzycha has been let go by new owner Anthony Precourt. Assistant Coaches Ricardo Iribarren and goalkeeping coach Vojislav Stanisic were also "relieved of their duties" according to a report by the team website.

A lot will be written and remembered about Warzycha. He has been with the league and the Crew for as long as both have existed. Eighteen years with or doing anything is a very rare feat in any walk of life and is to be respected.

What will probably loom large over his tenure as head coach will be keeping Guillermo Barros Schelotto on the bench for the opening leg of the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs (which they lost) and the handling of the 2010 offseason when many of the players that brought the club so much success the previous three years were let go.

While not playing Schelotto is certainly on him the decisions made at that time crippled the organization in 2010 and lost "the room" are not.

Since then the Columbus Crew have stumbled through league expansion years (in just about every aspect) to the point where now they are close to rock bottom as a sports franchise in any major professional league in North America can be.

Warzycha, Iribarren and Stanisic are likely only the first to go.

Over the past handful of years (some say since 2004) he Crew, as an organization, have built a bubble in which they have preferred to exist. Shaking off critical voices in the press, players, bloggers, fans of the sport of soccer, relationships with Columbus area businesses and corporations. The list goes on.

In some regards it is unfortunate that these three were let go because they probably had the least to do with what the Crew have become.

General Manager and Team President Mark McCullers and Technical Director (and now interim head coach) Brian Bliss are still there in their same roles and they are the guys that have been steering the ship for the past half decade.

Until the decision makers are removed or placed in correct positions nothing will change over on 1 Black and Gold Blvd. it will just be a fresh coat of paint on top of a half decade of rust and rot.

"@APrecourt 30 Aug
Fresh paint for tomorrow's match. What do you think? New sound system to boot! Place is in good order."

No, not yet.

Crew Rd 26, Out of Ideas

Crew went up a man in the 7th minute but couldn't find a way to break down Seattle. Game ended 0:1 Sounders.

1ST HALF
Even after a delay of almost two hours, Crew players seemed excited and energized by the rather large crowd that stuck around to watch.

The game had just barely started with Ryan Finley broke free and Leo Gonzales grabbed his shoulder and 'prevented a clear goal scoring opportunity'. Or was it? The red was harsh. The foul happened right around the edge of the center circle on Seattle side and Finley really hammed up his tumble.

Not long after the Crew give up a free kick about 35 yards out. Mauro Rosales whipped in a free kick that found Eddie Johnson's run and they scored.

Seattle promptly dropped back into a defensive shell and held off the Crew for the rest of the half.

2ND HALF
Seattle continued to hold off the Crew by bunkering. Columbus fired off bad shot after bad shot until it seemed everyone was just waiting for the 90th minute to arrive.

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GAME OVER, THOUGHTS

Seattle had zero interest in going forward in the 2nd half. Their shot chart is hilarious. But not hilarious is the fact that in doing what they did they played out a very modern approach to being a man down.

By not getting greedy they eliminated the only way the Crew could possibly score, which is catching too many tired Sounders pushing forward and getting caught in a counter attack. Rarely (if ever) do you see a team with the patience and will power to not get caught up.

Some of that could have had to do with three US Men's National Team players looking to not over extend themselves. Which leads me to say that this game is Exhibit A as to why Columbus doesn't get many of the biggest stars travelling to town.

The bottle tossing during a corner kick (right in front of a USMNT banner) doesn't help either.

Columbus hasn't had any creativity in attack all year. That didn't change last night.

DEMPSEY

Greg Bartram-USA TODAY

Clint Dempsey did play in this match but you would hardly know it. Most of the match he was walking and had little interest in tracking back to play defense. He didn't have to.

When he did get on the ball he took the occasion to do a little flick back or nifty move that hearkened back to his last stint in MLS when he so dominated. Seeing him do it now though... it left me melancholic.

A player of Clint Dempsey's quality has no business playing in this game and I think someone as competitive as he is knows that.

I also think Jurgen Klinsmann knows that.