On the Road with Vidda "JibJab" Grubin

The open plains of Southern Illinois are rolling by outside the driver's side window. They're also rolling by the passenger side window, and under the tires of my Odyssey. (A Honda van, not the crumbling façade of my mind's thinly veiled, ill-chosen path through life).

The open plains, covered in soybeans, corn and wheat, are home to sudden miles of tall white sentries, whose hair spins in the ever present Midwestern breeze. If I don't fall asleep at the wheel while writing this (I'm multitasking. I'm possibly the only writer to ever compose an in-depth analysis of a professional soccer team's style of play while simultaneously navigating the coma-inducing middle of America at 70mph).

Okay, so I'm sitting in McDonalds trying to win a million bucks one Big Mac at a time. But, I am in the heartland and there are many miles, 240,000 to be exact, on the odometer. Travelling the tournament poker circuit in North America is a mysterious fantasy, achingly lonely and eye-opening.

The poker (Mostly cash-game play. Play made-up of staring at total strangers across a couple feet of felt) is not going well of late. Folding winners after the turn, and not getting paid off when value betting the nuts, makes losing hands the primary focus of one's bankroll graph. Unlike the plains, the graph representing money spent versus money earned looks like a downward sloping mountain side.

So, naturally, I've decided to write about the Columbus Crew.

One nice side benefit of playing cards in casinos from Columbus to Las Vegas, and everywhere in between, is the ability to watch almost any sporting event known to man. Simply ask the floor manager to put a certain channel on, and there's the Columbus Crew, beating the NY Red Bull's to every lose ball.

The Black and Gold's maturation in 2014 has been as exciting as it has been surprising. The clues that Gregg Berhalter knows what he's doing were there for all to see during preseason. (Well, for those few who follow the American soccer scene closely. A more ubiquitous presence in the unencumbered media MUST be a priority for Major League Soccer going forward)

In a matter of two or three weeks, Greg Berhalter transformed the stagnant, clearly dissatisfied, roster of Columbus Crew players into a team of creative souls unleashed. While early positive results were followed by a long string of frustrating ties and losses, the trained eye could see the players wanted what their coach was serving on a daily basis.

The spark of excitement displayed on the field never waned. Gregg Berhalter stuck with his core players game after game. Young players meshed with veteran players.

Berhalter wanted his squad to pressure up the field. He wanted his defenders to do their job, with or without cover from the midfield. The midfield was being asked to read the game as they saw it happening in real time. There was/is more freedom of choice being offered by the manager. But, and this is a doozy, Gregg Berhalter has managed to convince his players that with each inch of freedom and creative license comes another inch of personal accountability, for not only self but team.

This is a key difference between the mindset of the players assembled each Saturday in Crew Stadium in 2014 and that of the same players the last 2-3 years. The idea of responsibility and accountability took a front seat to creativity's spot in the trunk of the Odyssey the past couple of years.

Over reliance on stressing responsibility narrows focus. Narrow focus is easily exploitable on a soccer field. The Columbus Crew's focus had narrowed to such a pinpoint between 2010 and 2013 that opposing coaches had little to worry about when it came to preparing their team to play the boys in gold.

The Crew's expanded focus has not only made them more successful, it has created a team that is truly fun to watch. From the chances taken on the back line, moving the ball on the ground through the goalkeeper and central backs, to the overlapping runs of the outside backs and the immediate pressure applied by the mids and forwards when the ball is lost, the Columbus Crew Soccer Club has brought joy, and a love for the game, back to Hudson Street.

Watching the quick interplay in the opposing teams end of the field is inspiring. Seeing players like Tony Tchani, Justin Meram and Ethan Finlay find their voice on the field is what the game is all about.

Bottom Line, Gregg Berhalter gets... IT. IT'S... the players and the combination of equal parts freedom, creativity, inspiration, responsibility and accountability. We as fans have been the big winners this year. Regardless of the outcome of this year's playoffs, we all know, hell, we all feel, the magic of the game is back in Columbus. May it never leave.

All US Born MLS Team, 2014

Wrapping up my year end player ratings (right hand side of this site, web version), so here is my All US Born MLS Team of 2014.

STARTERS
Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy) - Hawthorne, California
Clint Dempsey (Seattle) - Nacogdoches, Texas

Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy) - Ontario, California
Davy Arnaud (DC United) - Nederland, Texas
Lee Nguyen (New England) - Richardson, Texas
Perry Kitchen (DC United) - Indianapolis, Indiana

A.J. DeLaGarza (LA Galaxy) - Bryans Road, Maryland
Bobby Boswell (DC United)  - Austin, Texas
Chad Marshall (Seattle) - Riverside, California
Dan Gargan (LA Galaxy) - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Steve Clark (Columbus) - Mason, Michigan

BENCH
Nat Borchers (Salt Lake) - Tucson, Arizona
Matt Hedges (Dallas) - Rochester, New York
Bill Hamid (DC United) - Annandale, Virginia
Nick DeLeon (DC United) - Phoenix, Arizona
Lamar Neagle (Seattle) - Tacoma, Washington
Ned Grabavoy (Salt Lake) - Joliet, Illinois
Eddie Johnson (DC United) - Daytona Beach, Florida

There's plenty to nit-pick on in regards to what constitutes a US player but I tried to keep it simple with this list. Meaning: If you were brought into this world on US soil, you qualify. The older I get, the more that sort of thing starts to carry weight (meaning: your mama brung ya within US borders). Not saying that players that are born outside the country can't be part of the USMNT... just keeping it simple, I guess. Realize the world is shrinking, global community and all that. I guess, also, I can't figure the FIFA rules on what it means to be American.

Texas and California lead the pack. Most of these guys might not check the "marketable to the millennial generation" that MLS lives and dies with, but these are the guys that have dominated the 2014 MLS season - according to me, anyway.

Clark.

------
Nick DeLeon's father, Leroy DeLeon, was a Trinidad and Tobago striker as well as one of the "old" NASL guys. He made a stop with the Washington Diplomats in the late 70s. His son, Nick, plays for what's basically the modern version of the Dips. 

Valeri, Non-MVP

Diego Valeri won't be on anyone's MLS MVP shortlist this year but I'm here to say that what he's done in the last couple years in this league is pretty remarkable. 21 goals and 27 assists. No much need list out where it falls in terms of MLS history. It's up there.

His Portland team could be eliminated from MLS Cup contention this weekend, which is a damn shame. He's better than that disjointed mess up (and out there) in Oregon. Valeri. The 2014 non-MVP, MVP.

Unbelievable Finlay

Source image Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Ethan Finlay added another goal and two assists tonight against NY, which brings his total up to 11 goals and 6 assists (...7, if you go by MLS stat tracking, secondary assists!). It's a the kind of individual season that has me stuck trying to process. I just got done writing about it a couple days ago and he goes and as a day like today. The guy behind him isn't doing to bad either. Sheesh.

Henry on Trapp after Crew Win

"Today they were better than us, there's nothing you can do. Wil Trapp was outstanding today. I know Higuain usually get all [the attention] and the striker scored two goals, Finlay wasn't bad either, but Wil Trapp is the key of that team and today was, given the tempo of that team, bring the ball out from the back. Higuain doesn't have to drop and get the ball. He will get it in good position because Wil Trapp does his job, he brings the ball out for them. Difficult to stop, he has for him a good future, he's American, you guys should be happy. Today, I thought he was the difference."

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Listen to the full interview HERE.

Predictions: NY v Crew (A)

Red Bull NY host Columbus today. These two have punched their ticket for the MLS Cup already but a win by one of the other means they could host the 4th v 5th 'wildcard' game. 3:00 PM start.

MATCH NOTES:
No notes this week.

MATCH PREDICTIONS

% Correct picking Crew games (last 10) Outlet 
56% (6) COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... NY RED BULLS (fav)
53% (7) WIN DRAW WIN ... NY RED BULLS
50% (6) MLSSOCCER ... NY RED BULLS
47% (7) HOME TEAM ... NY RED BULLS
47% (3) WHOSCORED.COM ... DRAW
44% (6) BET365 ... NY RED BULLS
38% (3) GOAL.COM ... NY RED BULLS
34% (6) TABLE POSITION ... NY RED BULLS
--% (6) MASSIVE REPORT ... NY RED BULLS
--% (-) WV HOOLIGAN ... (no pick)

MATCH THOUGHTS:
No thoughts this week.

Anor, 2014

May 17, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Bernardo Anor (7) goes up for a corner kick and land on Portland Timbers forward Frederic Piquionne (9) along with Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri (8), midfielder Jack Jewsbury (13) and forward Gaston Fernandez (10) during the second half of the game at Providence Park. The game ended in a 3-3 draw. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

Garber Frustrated

Don Garber, MLS Commissioner (and CEO of Soccer United Marketing) decided to take Jurgen Klinsmann's recent comments about MLS and a couple of her high profile players to the streets yesterday afternoon.

"It's frustrating as hell," said Garber.

Those four words tell all of us that work in the professional world that the fight was over as soon as this press conference was called. The fact that Garber and his close circle did not - and cannot - see that, is the larger issue here. Klinsmann's mildly critical comments are secondary.

Most of Garber's frustration here is self inflicted. It started somewhere around the beginning of last year when he came out with the proclamation about becoming a top league in a decade's time -- and culminating yesterday with this shockingly immature and unprofessional overreaction to criticism.

Aiming high isn't an issue until you start cutting out everyone and anyone writing critically of what's going on and believing your own hype.

Soccer has had a foothold in the US as long as I've been alive and looking through history, well... it's always had a big place here. It's only recently that we have "sports industrialists" trying to make mountains of money off it while trying to control the market.

“He needs to think very, very hard about how he manages himself publicly and how he motivates players playing in our league," Garber said towards the end of his press conference. 

“I am demanding that he refrain from making comments which are critical of our players and damaging to our league.”

It's crystal clear that the head of MLS isn't happy. All things considered, he probably shouldn't be - as he has worked pretty hard over the last ten years to get this league to where it's at. But the public showmanship is not necessary, smacks of desperation and insults lovers of the game. Adding to the insult is "the Don" himself. By tying himself to MLS this much makes it seem as if pulling for the Columbus Crew is the same as pulling for the 'fightin' Don Garbers'.

He certainly has the right to bring this up at the next USSF board meeting but has absolutely no right to demand anything from anybody but his MLS staff. He also has no right turning a league I've grown up with into a complete and utter joke.

Klinsmann's comments were the opposite of damaging. They are only the very beginning of what Garber needs to hear.

Here's to hoping more adult voices will be guiding MLS in the future.

MLS Goal and Assist Leaders (with Salaries), Finlay and Meram

Below is a look at MLS leaders is Non-Penalty Goals + Assists per game for players with at least 900 minutes this year. I've also included Salary on the far right to give you an idea of how much goal and assist getting players earn (it's a lot).

NPG+A per Game - Name (Team) $ Salary

1.17  :  Robbie Keane (LA) $4,500,000
0.97  :  Clint Dempsey (SEA) $6,695,189
0.93  :  Obafemi Martins (SEA) $1,753,333
0.92  :  Landon Donovan (LA) $4,583,333
0.88  :  Fabian Espindola (DC) $150,000
0.86  :  Maximiliano Urruti (PDX) $200,000
0.86  :  Fanendo Adi (PDX) $593,300
0.84  :  Thierry Henry (NY) $4,350,000
0.82  :  Diego Valeri (PDX) $500,000
0.82  :  Joao Plata (RSL) $70,000
0.79  :  Bradley Wright-Phillips (NY) $372,500
0.77  :  Luis Silva (DC) $134,440
0.74  :  Lamar Neagle (SEA) $110,000
0.73  :  Gyasi Zardes (LA) $198,000

0.72  :  Ethan Finlay (CREW) $65,847

0.72  :  Blas Pérez (DAL) $359,250
0.71  :  Chris Wondolowski (SJ) $650,000

0.70  :  Justin Meram (CREW) $91,827

0.70  :  Álvaro Saborío (RSL) $453,333
0.66  :  Marco Di Vaio (MTL) $2,600,000
0.64  :  Chris Rolfe (DC) $225,000
0.64  :  Kenny Cooper (SEA) $265,625
0.62  :  Javier Morales (RSL) $300,000
0.62  :  Brad Davis (HOU) $392,062
0.61  :  Luke Mulholland (RSL) $56,250
0.61  :  Gilberto (TOR) $1,205,000

Adam Jardy mentioned today that the Crew are working on Ethan Finlay's next deal and from the sound of things it's going pretty well for the player. As it should be, he is out performing his contract based on this metric alone. Meram, same.

In the list above I've included all players with over 0.60 NPG+A per game. It's league best type levels. I've found that it's also a level were players might start showing up on larger club radars.

One final note: Luke Mulholland. I called him out as a player to watch years ago when he was topping my USL Pro player ratings (which I hope to get to again this year). Pretty proud of that.

Can't overstate what Finlay and Meram have done this year in this category. Special season for both these players especially when you take into account their age and nationality in comparison to the rest of the stars on this list.