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OH NO(!)

 

OH NO, again(!!)

 

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    • MuRrAy HiLL
      MuRrAy HiLL

      Congrats on the title! Columbus Crew win 2nd MLS title, beating Seattle 3-0   https://sports.yahoo.com/columbus-crew-win-2nd-mls-034801910.html

    • Columbo
      Columbo

      A MASSIVE WIN!!!  ⚽ 🎆

    • KJP
      KJP

      Seriously?? A Cleveland guy is the first one to post this?? You slippin' C-bus!  

    Posted Images

    Based on this new info from the Dispatch's Crew reporter, I feel much better about the team's prospects now.  The only starters who tested positive were goalkeeper Room and right wing Etienne.

     

    Backup GK Tarbell started six games this year while Room was out with an injury and looked good.  Etienne has worked his way up the depth chart and had a very good game against NYRB - but Diaz and Mokthar have also started games this year and been good.

     

    The biggest relief is that Zardes, Zelarayan and Nagbe should be in the starting lineup:

    Here's some additional reporting from the Dispatch reporter.  It looks like the current outbreak is under control and hopefully won't affect any other players.  Sunday's playoff game is still on:

     

    • Like 1

    I clearly dont think it's okay for anyone to get covid and thankfully it sounds like they're all asymptomatic and doing fine. I was gonna say though that we got extremely lucky that no major pieces were hit besides Room. Tarbell has been decent in goal and can hopefully get us through. Etienne has been useful but we have enough options that I think well be fine.

     

    Hopefully fans and especially the team dont sleep on Nashville. They might not look like anything terrifying on paper but they're a team that's getting hot at the right time. We have a lot more rest which most consider an advantage but I dont necessarily think that's always the case. Hopefully we should be able to outlast them energy wise, but it can be a positive for them that theyre stringing back to back positive results with only short gaps in between, allowing them to really kick it into high gear and maintain form.

     

    I'm personally more nervous about facing them than I was about potentially facing Toronto.

    Edited by Tobias C

    • Like 1

    2020 MLS PLAYOFFS - EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINAL:

     

    https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2020-11-29-columbus-crew-sc-vs-nashville-sc/recap

    https://www.massivereport.com/2020/11/29/21725812/columbus-crew-heads-to-mls-eastern-conference-final-after-2-0-extra-time-win-against-nashville-sc

     

    WHEW!  A 'testing' week for the Crew organization ended with quite a test from Nashville on the field tonight.  The Crew got off to a good start and had the better of play in the first 15 minutes.  But a scrappy Nashville squad took control of the game for the rest of the first half and had two great scoring chances.  The first in the 24th minute off a header from a corner kick that Tarbell barely saved on the goal line.  The second in the 27th minute off another header from a corner kick that hit the crossbar.

     

    In the second half, the Crew began to take control of the game and dominated possession.  Despite this, the Nashville defense denied the Crew of prime scoring chances, frequently turning away crossing passes into the 18-yd box.  The best Crew scoring in the second half came in the 79th minute when a Diaz low pass to the front of the 6-yd box found a sliding Zardes' foot.  But the shot was stopped by the Nashville keeper with a goalie-like kick save.

     

    Despite the Crew continuing to ask questions, the Nashville defense had all the answers throughout regulation - so after 90 minutes the game was still 0-0 and went into 30 minutes of extra time.  But what the Crew did not accomplish in regulation time, they did accompish in extra time when they broke through the Nashville defense in the 99th minute.

     

    A throw-in to Zardes was advanced to Zelarayan in a holding position.  As Zelarayan drew the defense toward him, he passed forward into open space to the left of Nashville's 18-yd box that Zardes ran on to.  While Zardes gathered the ball and advanced into the 18-yd box at the end line, Santos was making his own run into open space near the middle of 18-yd box.  As Zardes drew the defense in, he passed it to an unmarked Santos, who one-timed it past the Nashville keeper to give the Crew a 1-0 lead.  Here is that beautiful sequence:

    After that first goal, the game opened up and the Crew took advantage only three minutes later on a counter-attack in the 102th minute.  It was once again started by Zelarayan in a holding position, who quickly passed it Diaz on the right, who drove down the right side to just past midfield, and then hit it forward to Zardes who got behind the final two Nashville defenders, driving it into the 18-yd box and beating the on-rushing keeper for an insurance goal to put the Crew up 2-0:

    And 2-0 was the way it would finish.  The Crew iron-manned this game, leaving the starters in until after the second goal was scored.  Nashville was a tough defense to break down, but the front four of Zardes, Santos, Zelarayan and Diaz came through in extra time.

    Columbus will face New England in Sunday's Eastern Conference Final - a battle between two MLS originals.⚽

     

    The MLS Eastern Final will be 3 p.m. Sunday on ABC

    In the run-up to Sunday's Final, the team announced another player (unnamed so far) tested positive on Monday.  However, the rest of the team tested negative on Tuesday and Wednesday.

     

    In a separate announcement, the Crew reinstated an allowance of up to 1,500 fans for Sunday's match.  Since Sept. 6, the Crew had allowed 1,500 fans to attend matches, but the team changed course beginning with its first-round playoff game against New York Red Bulls on Nov. 21 due to the increased spread of Covid-19 in Ohio and Franklin County:

    Some possible positive, er, good news for the Crew roster.  Players are returning from their covid self-isolation.  All players with COVID-19 have shown no symptoms and are doing well with regular check-ins from the club’s staff.

     

    https://www.massivereport.com/2020/12/3/22150940/caleb-porter-columbus-crew-players-returning-from-covid-19-self-isolation-before-eastern-conference

     

    This opens the possibility that starting GK Room and/or starting right winger Etienne might be available for Sunday's Eastern Conference Final.

    Were gonna have to really dig deep to carve out performances the rest of the way to the final. New England is hot and riding some serious momentum and that can be a hard thing to handle. I really hope our guys are laser focused and prepared because our final opponents are all arguably in better actual form than we are in my opinion.  I'd love for Room to be able to start the game but Tarbell has been solid enough, fortunately. Were no underdogs but were not favorites either. Hoping for the best though!

    • Like 1

    Starting lineup for today's final.  Except for a few changes to the bench, Coach Porter is going with the same group that won the semi-final:

     

    2020 MLS PLAYOFFS - EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL:

     

    https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2020-12-06-columbus-crew-sc-vs-new-england-revolution/recap

    https://www.massivereport.com/2020/12/6/22157428/columbus-crew-advance-to-the-2020-mls-cup-after-1-0-win-against-new-england-revolution

     

    No need to go into a lengthy game recap.  The Crew statistically dominated the Revs in shots, shots-on-goal and possession (until the 59th minute game-winning goal).  The Revs keeper made six saves to keep the game tied until the 59th minute game-winner.  And then the Crew defense and backup GK Andrew Tarbell held on to that one goal lead for the rest of the game!

     

    Here's the 59th minute game-winner:  Zelarayan to Mensah(!) to Artur(!!)

    And after that, this was the only other highlight that mattered(!)

     

    • Like 2

    I'll be rooting for Minnesota United to win it all 😉

    • Haha 1
    6 hours ago, ryanlammi said:

    I'll be rooting for Minnesota United to win it all 😉

     

    Just for that, you've got to watch this video of all 2020 Columbus Crew goals up to yesterday's final - set to the sax solo in 'Baker Street'.  It will haunt your dreams(!)

     

    • Like 1
    22 hours ago, ryanlammi said:

    I'll be rooting for Minnesota United to win it all 😉

    I think you put the jinx on Minnesota.  The Loons were up 2 goals in the second half last night, until Seattle got on the scoreboard with a goal in the 75th minute.  Then a tying goal in the 89th minute and a game-winning goal in the 93rd to win it for Seattle(!)

     

    So, its Seattle coming to Columbus for the MLS Cup, Saturday at 8PM.

    NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

     

    • Sad 1

    Not the way you want to see this play out, regardless of who you are rooting for.

    • Thanks 1

    No more positive results in Friday's final round of testing going into Saturday's MLS Cup.  So Nagbe and Santos are the only DQ's from the Crew starting lineup.  But they're both huge losses going into the biggest game of this weird 2020 season.  The Dispatch's Crew reporter and MLS did very similar articles about how the Crew will try to replace these two key players:

    Replacing Pedro Santos at left wing is the "easier" of the two - which seems surprising considering Santos is the team's second-leading scorer, the team's assist leader, and a key part of their defense(!)  But they have a depth of replacement options here with Mokhtar, Etienne and Boateng.

     

    I personally would go with Mokhtar to start MLS Cup.  Mokhtar has a very similar offensive playing style to Santos and might be the most skillful of the choices.  However, you do lose alot defensively.  Etienne was surging by the end of the regular season.  But he normally played right wing opposite Santos, instead of left wing.  Plus Etienne had to stop training for 10 days because of a covid-positive and might only be able to go as a sub.  Boateng has been used as a second-half sub to maximize his raw speed, but hasn't shown a starter's quality this season.

     

    Darlington Nagbe is more irreplaceable of the two roster losses.  At his defensive midfield position, Nagbe is the key link between the back line and the forward offensive positions.  Playing Porter's possess-and-attack strategy, Nagbe has been brilliant at maintaining that possession and advancing forward.  He is an unflappable veteran with two MLS Cup victories on two different teams.  You just can't replace that(!)

     

    The two replacement options are 27-year-old MLS veteran Alashe and 19-year-old rookie Aidan Morris.  I'd go with the rookie Morris.  Despite the absolute unfairness of throwing a rookie into such a big game - Morris has looked better in the Nagbe role during the regular season, when Nagbe missed nine games due to injury.  Morris started in Nagbe’s place during a 3-1 win against NYCFC on Oct. 18.

     

    However, without Nagbe, Seattle will have a clear advantage in midfield.  The Dispatch reporter noted that the game in October against NYCFC might be a blueprint for how Porter might modify his game plan for the MLS Cup.  Against NYCFC, Porter chose to concede possession and try to win duels higher up the field - giving attacking players chances closer to goal instead of building the attack from the back line.

    Tonight's MLS Cup will be a bittersweet experience for Crew fans.  Definitely sweet to reach the league final - but much more sweet to even have a team after the nearly losing them(!)  As the SI reporter said above, "From the brink of oblivion to the brink of a championship".

     

    The bitter part comes from the separation of those fans from the team in this 2020 covid season.  What would have been a joyous gathering at Mapfre Stadium, is instead a subdued socially distanced affair.  And then to get the gut-punch of losing two key starters just before the big game is tough.  I'm partly dreading tonight's game because I don't want to see our team get blitzed by a strong Seattle squad.

     

    If we had our full roster and lose to Seattle, then you could tip your hat to them.  But losing to Seattle with a depleted roster would definitely be bitter.  Because you know Seattle fans wouldn't even acknowledge their advantage.  Their fans would act like they beat the Brazilian World Cup Champs, because they have the most arrogant fans in MLS(!)

     

    Still hoping for the best tonight, but unfortunately expecting the worst.

    Here is tonight's starting lineup.  I was 1 of 2 in picking the replacement players for Santos and Nagbe.  Also, Room is back in goal.  GO CREW!!!

     

    Congrats to C-bus and the Crew! And to the Haslams -- hopefully their *first* football title!

    "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

    •
    • Like 6

    A great performance. Dominated the first half and soaked up the pressure in the second, then hitting the killer blow late on. All three goals were exquisite finishes. 

    My hovercraft is full of eels

    • Like 5

    I'm still a little bit in shock that the Crew actually won.  I can hardly believe it(!)

     

    But they did - and here's how they did it:

     

    The first goal in the 25th minute - a beautiful long pass from Diaz to Zelarayan, who one-timed it in:

     

    The second goal in the 31st minute - a failed clearance drops to Zelarayan, who maneuvers it over to a wide-open Etienne, who smartly finishes it:

     

    The third goal in the 82nd minute - Diaz beats a defender on the right side and sets up Zelarayan for THE DAGGER(!)

     

    And then, the trophy presentation:

     

    • Like 4
    • Love 1

    And this MLS Cup is all the more amazing because of the near-death experience faced by the Crew only three years ago(!)

     

    • Like 5

    https://www.columbuscrewsc.com/post/2020/12/14/release-core-2020-mls-cup-winning-columbus-crew-sc-roster-return-2021

     

    One of the stinky things about the business side of MLS is that they force teams to make roster decisions immediately after the season ends.  Even if that team just won the MLS Cup.  And so today the Crew announced who they will retain for the 2021 season.  The team exercised contract options on eight players from its 2020 roster.  Those players will be added to 14 other players already under contract for the 2021 season.

     

    The Crew exercised the 2021 contract options of goalkeeper Eloy Room; defenders Harrison Afful, Grant Lillard, Milton Valenzuela and Josh Williams; midfielders Derrick Etienne Jr. and Pedro Santos; as well as forward Miguel Berry.

     

    Players already under contract for 2021 include:  Goalkeepers Jon Kempin and Matt Lampson; defenders Chris Cadden, Aboubacar Keita, Jonathan Mensah and Vito Wormgoor; midfielders Artur, Sebastian Berhalter, Luis Diaz, Aidan Morris, Darlington Nagbe and Lucas Zelarayan; as well as forward Gyasi Zardes.

     

    The Crew declined the 2021 contract options of goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell; midfielders Fatai Alashe, Emmanuel Boateng and Youness Mokhtar; along with forwards Jordan Hamilton and Krisztian Nemeth.  Defender Waylon Francis, midfielder Hector Jimenez and forward Fanendo Adi are all out of contract.

     

    Although the team said they would remain in dialogue with players out of contract for possible resigning, it looks like backup goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell will not be returning.  The Crew also announced today that they acquired 34-year-old goalkeeper Evan Bush from Vancouver.  Bush is a 10-year MLS veteran with 184 starts with Montreal from 2012 to 2020 and with Vancouver in the second half of 2020.  Bush was born in Delaware County and grew up in Cleveland before playing for the University of Akron.

     

    It stinks to lose Tarbell because of his contributions to the Crew's championship run.  But Tarbell deserves a starting job, and he wasn't going to get one with the Crew.  Bush seems like a quality veteran backup for 2021, who might be giving the Crew a hometown discount.

     

    A little surprised to see Nemeth and Mokhtar not retained - particularly Nemeth as a veteran backup to Zardes.  But GM Bez might be looking to clear cap space to sign another DP-level forward for 2021 - something he said was on the table in an interview before the playoffs started.

     

    Additionally, it looks like two long-time Crew veterans - Francis and Jimenez - will be not be retained.  These veterans didn't play very much in 2020.  But they went out on top.  Both Francis and Jimenez were late game subs in the MLS Cup Final.

    • Like 1
    1 hour ago, ryanlammi said:

    Y'all didn't retain Adi?!?! 😉

    Yeah, he was pretty much a bust (although more because of injuries this time).  But even if he had a better year, I think Bez was just looking at him as a one-year Zardes backup because FCC was paying 90% of his salary for 2020 only.

    • Like 1

    Is the Decision Day rule because of the possibility of international soccer play by team members? 

    2 minutes ago, GCrites80s said:

    Is the Decision Day rule because of the possibility of international soccer play by team members? 

    It might be.  I've never heard why though.

    If I remember correctly, when the Timbers won it in 2015, they had to make their decision that night. Meaning people celebrating their championship in the locker room would have been informed their contracts were not extended as they are popping the champagne.

    • 2 weeks later...
    On 12/14/2020 at 10:48 PM, Columbo said:

    A little surprised to see Nemeth and Mokhtar not retained - particularly Nemeth as a veteran backup to Zardes.  But GM Bez might be looking to clear cap space to sign another DP-level forward for 2021 - something he said was on the table in an interview before the playoffs started.

    The Crew just acquired Bradley Wright Phillips.  Now I see why Bez let Nemeth and Mokhtar go.  BWP might be 35 years old - but as a backup striker with LAFC in 2020 he still had eight goals and six assists in 18 games.  Very nice pickup for next season:

    • Like 1

    I like all the roster decisions given all the particular circumstances. Tarbell out kinda sucks since he was a solid reliable backup, but its completely understandable that he would want to pursue a starting position somewhere coming off a championship season that he contributed to. At 27 he still has plenty of good years ahead of him as a GK, but probably wants to lock down a position somewhere so he can be the "#1" at a team for the foreseeable future. I'm fine with getting Evan Bush. Hes a proven, capable keeper in the league, but not like an unquestionable starter necessarily, and will probably be content to be the backup keeper as long as hes getting a handful of games, which he should see, with CCL, and especially if Room is getting callups for the Curacao National team. Bonus points for being from Ohio, which could appeal to him as well.

     

    It's hard to know the salary situation with players since we havent been privy to any of that information since late 2019. Last I knew, both Nemeth and BWP were million dollar players. I'm not sure if we were able to negotiate something lower for Nemeth when we brought him in, but if we didnt, and he was a quick bandaid for Adi being mostly a flop, then I can see us cutting him loose. I thought Nemeth was decent and actually was comfortable with him as our backup.

     

    With that said......landing Bradley Wright Phillips is way more exciting and assuring. BWP is still a lethal finisher. At 35 (I think?) hes not going to have the juice to put in 90 minute shifts weekly, and he will mostly only sub in at the end of games. With a busy USMNT schedule this upcoming year though, Zardes is bound to be gone periodically or at some point at least, and BWP can fill in confidently. Also were qualified for CCL for the first time in a long time and he will definitely be able to see action then, as well as in US Open Cup, and the occasional midweek game. He will definitely play a major role. Him leaving an excellent team at big market juggernaut LAFC, to come to another team where he wont be the starter tells me hes probably chasing a cup win before his careers done and who better than to come to the current champs. Signing him is a statement of intent by this organization in my opinion, that were not going to skate by on last year's success, but keep ramping up our talent to do our best to have a repeat win next season in our new stadium. 

     

    Bez has gone out of his way to inform that we could sign 2 more DPs if we so choose to. It blows my mind thinking we could still add 2 more big talent players to the decently stacked roster we already have. At this point, theres two positions I could see us spending a solid chunk of cash on. The biggest need in my opinion would be right back. Harrison Afful did well closing out the season, but if we expect to keep up our momentum right into next season, I think we need to figure out what our future looks like beyond Afful. Caddens the only other logical choice but after a full season in the books, hes barely cracked into the starting lineup. With that said, hes in his prime (24), and talk is Hibs in Scotland, as well as Oxford United (who we had him on loan at) both are interested in taking him. If we havent bothered to utilize him anymore than we have, over a 34 year old, I could see us cutting bait and moving him on. Maybe he hangs around as the backup? Regardless, I could see us spending TAM level money on a starting RB. DeAndre Yedlin seems to be eyeing a move back to MLS and I think he would be a statement signing as well for our ambitious champions going into next year. He may be more likely to go back to Seattle, but maybe he wouldnt mind connecting with his college coach in Porter to chase a championship next year. I'd wager were probably number 2 in line to snag him...if were interested.

     

    Going into next season, as reigning champs, and even more importantly as we open our new stadium downtown, I keep thinking the organization will want to have a hot new DP signing to flaunt as we usher in our fancy new digs. With Zelarayan, and probably even Zardes, untouchable in my estimation...the only spot I see us possibly adding/upgrading is on the wing. At first I thought maybe we try to upgrade over Pedro Santos, who's definitely over the hill for a winger now. But hes been crucially productive for us as of late and I now question if we would pull that trigger. Then again, just like with Afful, if you want to keep the Championship train rolling, you cant rest on your laurels.....so who knows? If Mokhtar is out, I'm not surprised as he never locked down a job, but I thought he was serviceable and even pretty good in some instances. He may just have used us to rehab his form and career a bit and will try to get a starting job somewhere else, and more power to him if that's the case. We paid a million dollars for Luis Diaz so I think hes gonna stay in the equation for a while. Hes a major talent, albeit still a little raw and not entirely consistent. Hes still young though. If you hope to maybe sell him on for a profit, I dont think you can confine him to the bench. Dudes gotta play to beef up the resume. I'm not sure it makes sense to bench him and bring in a star to play over him. Well see. If Santos chooses to move on from us for whatever reason though, I would totally go the cliche route of bringing in a big name, older, European star, for the immediate injection of undeniable talent and the sheer clout and attention in the media going into the new stadium. I wouldn't waste money on a transfer fee for someone who may only give me 1 or 2 good years but I would fork over several mil for the salary while he delivers performances. I'm thinking we bring in our own equivalent to Nani in Orlando. Maybe a little lofty, but I could picture grabbing Di Maria on a free, throwing 7 mil at him and letting him play next to a fellow Argentine in Zelarayan. Just spitballin!

    • Thanks 1
    • 2 weeks later...

    Another big off-season signing for the Crew.  This one is Kevin Molino, who declined to re-sign with Minnesota and will join the Crew next season, likely as a starting left forward wing:

    The 30-year-old is a six-season MLS veteran who played with Orlando and Minnesota.  Last season, Molino hds 9 goals and 4 assists in 18 games at Minnesota.  The one risk with this signing is that Molino has had ACL injuries to both knees - right in 2015 and left in 2018.  But he returned from both injuries and remained an effective scorer.

     

    The thought for 2021 is that Molino might start at left forward and Santos would move to right forward.  This thought - along with the other 2021 starters at striker and CAM, plus the quality backups at these positions - has Crew fans understandably geeked:

     

    • Like 2
    • 3 weeks later...

    https://www.massivereport.com/2021/1/25/22249215/mls-announces-important-dates-for-2021-season-start-date-mls-cup-final-decision-day

     

    MLS announced their 2021 season will begin on Saturday, April 3 and would go back to a regular 34-game schedule with Decision Day ending the regular season on Nov. 7.  The playoffs are set to start on Nov. 19 and would finish on Dec. 11 with the 2021 MLS Cup Final.

     

    In addition to the MLS regular season, the 2020 MLS Cup Champion Columbus Crew will also be part of the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League - a 16-team knockout competition featuring the best professional teams from the North American, Central American and Caribbean region.  Each round of the competition (other than the final) will consist of a two-leg series, home and away, with the winner determined by aggregate goals with an away goals tiebreaker.

     

    The Champions League Round of 16 and Quarterfinal rounds will take place in April and May.  The Semifinal round would be in August, and the Final game would be in October.

     

    https://www.massivereport.com/2021/1/22/22244690/details-announced-for-2021-concacaf-champions-league-columbus-crew

    Some more off-season roster news:

     

    https://www.massivereport.com/2021/1/15/22233107/columbus-crews-chris-cadden-completes-transfer-to-hibernian-football-club -- Right back winger Chris Cadden transferred back to the Scottish Premier League.  Kind of a surprise considering the Crew acquired him with some fanfare as a "short-term backup / long-term replacement" for Harrison Afful in Summer 2019.  But Cadden only played in seven games last year and now he's gone.  Afful did play great last year, but at 34, he won't last forever.  So the Crew will still be looking for a long-term Afful replacement and for short-term backups to Afful and Valenzuela in 2021.

     

    https://www.massivereport.com/2021/1/28/22254618/columbus-crew-signs-veteran-midfielder-perry-kitchen-mls-2021 -- Another MLS veteran player signs with the Crew.  Seems like winning an MLS Cup is attractive(!)  Perry Kitchen is a 28-year-old midfielder with 8 seasons of MLS experience.  He'll give the defensive midfield ranks a strong veteran option to go along with three young options - 19-year-olds Aidan Morris (MLS Cup hero) and Sebastian Berhalter (son of Gregg) who combined to play 19 games with seven starts as rookies in 2020; plus 22-year-old Isaiah Parente, who was just signed as a homegrown player after three seasons at Wake Forest.

    An update on the planned Crew 2 reserve team.  Unlike MLS second teams in recent years, which were a part of the USL divisions, the Crew plan to take part in the upcoming MLS reserve league:

     

    https://www.massivereport.com/2021/1/29/22256211/columbus-crew-reserve-team-is-coming-when-and-why-its-so-important-to-the-black-gold

     

     

    And a look at the Crew's 2021 roster at the beginning of February, just before training camp hopefully begins later in the month:  https://www.massivereport.com/2021/2/1/22217437/state-of-the-columbus-crew-roster-early-february-kevin-molino-perry-kitchen-mls-2021

    • Like 1

    Love the signings of BWP and Molino. Kevin Molino assures us goals and assists from both wings now. Hes also a possible call up to T&T and has a substantial injury history......but.....who cares. If we lose either of these guys down the way, were just back to the same team that just won MLS Cup. Kitchen is a good pickup. Hes nothing special anymore but that kinda works for us. He knows our coach, and just wants to stick with a team somewhere. He wont expect to start very often, but is capable if called upon.  Morris can absorb the majority of available minutes and Kitchen will tolerate it if he wants a paycheck playing for the reigning champions.  If we have everyone available, were deep as all get out and prepared for the regular season plus multiple tournaments.

     

    We still just need a solution for right back. Starting the season with Afful as starter is fine, but we, at minimum need a backup to fill Caddens role that isnt an untested rookie. Ideally we sign someone who can succeed Afful in the near future and be our starting RB for years to come. Even a solid MLS journeyman would suffice for a while too though. My hope is that we basically go out and find another Milton Valenzuela for the right side.

    MLS announced they will be delaying the 2021 season start two weeks from April 3 to April 17.  This means that the first game action for the 2021 Crew will be in the CONCACAF Champions League.

     

    The draw for the Champions League Round of 16 was held yesterday.  The Crew will be facing Real Esteli of Nicaragua.  The first leg of this two-game Round of 16 will be held no earlier than April 6 in Nicaragua.  The second leg will be back in Columbus no later than April 15.

     

    https://www.mlssoccer.com/meta/competition/ccl/bracket-2021

    https://www.massivereport.com/2021/2/10/22272347/columbus-crew-will-play-real-esteliin-concacaf-champions-league-round-of-16

    • 2 weeks later...

    The Crew's 2021 training camp began yesterday.  Technically they're within the seven-day quarantine period that MLS is requiring for teams in 2021.  But it is a start nevertheless.  On March 3 thru March 13, the Crew will be at a training camp in California.  After that, the Crew will return to Columbus until they depart to Orlando for another training camp running from March 21 to April 5.

     

    The Crew would then travel from Orlando to Nicaragua for the first leg of their Champions League series with Real Esteli, which is scheduled for April 8.  The second leg against Real Esteli is scheduled for April 15 back in Columbus.  The MLS regular season is scheduled begin on Saturday, April 17:

     

    https://www.massivereport.com/2021/2/18/22289444/the-columbus-crews-2021-preseason-set-to-begin-on-feb-24-mls

     

    https://www.massivereport.com/2021/2/22/22295630/columbus-crew-announces-2021-preseason-schedule

    State of the Crew - pre-season:  https://www.massivereport.com/2021/2/22/22295363/state-of-the-columbus-crew-pre-preseason-bradley-wright-phillips-kevin-molino-perry-kitchen

     

    And an update to that State of the Crew article from yesterday:  https://www.massivereport.com/2021/2/24/22299632/columbus-crew-to-sign-midfielder-marlon-hairston-minnesota-united-mls-2021

     

    The Crew signed 26-year old midfielder Marlon Hairston as a free agent.  He last played for Minnesota in 2020.  Although he's listed as a midfielder, Hairston has played right back for much of his seven-season MLS career.  So its likely that Hairston will be the backup option to veteran starting right back Harrison Afful, who will turn 35 this season.

    Here's a bit more from the Dispatch's reporter on the new 2021 jersey and how it might fit into the context of the Crew's traditional yellow and black kits:

     

    • Like 1

    This new kit is getting a lot of hate from Crew fans, but I kinda like it. I would definitely prefer an all yellow kit, but it's nice to change things up once in a while. Also, having the yellow shorts and socks definitely make the jersey better.

    I love the new ownership and new management - but this new jersey . . . 

     

    As a stand-alone jersey, this new white jersey (I know they're calling it gray, but it reads as white/off-white) is quite nice.  Some subtle details when viewed close-up.  Big positive is the way the Crew logo "pops" visually.  Big negative is the way the two silver championship stars get lost.

     

    However, when you combine the white jersey with the traditional yellow shorts, you get a real 2016 "For Columbus" vibe(!)  Obviously, it's nowhere as bad as that abomination.  But I've never liked the different color jersey/shorts combo.  Especially when the Crew's All-Yellow and All-Black kits are so perfect.

     

    I wish they'd added this white jersey with some white shorts (with similar yellow & black trim) for an alternate All-White kit.  Then mix that All-White in a rotation with the All-Yellow and All-Black.

    • Like 1
    9 minutes ago, Columbo said:

    I wish they'd added this white jersey with some white shorts (with similar yellow & black trim) for an alternate All-White kit.  Then mix that All-White in a rotation with the All-Yellow and All-Black.

     

    MLS teams only get to have three kits now if they sell a certain number of jerseys. Only a few teams have been able to accomplish that. So this plan would never have been possible.

     

     

    16 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

     

    MLS teams only get to have three kits now if they sell a certain number of jerseys. Only a few teams have been able to accomplish that. So this plan would never have been possible.

     

     

    I sometimes forget that "the soccerdon" is still running MLS.  Big surprise that this guy would choose business metrics over aesthetics(!)

    soccerdon.png.0ea3b1d4a97acc96dc1bafa39f2f4e0c.png

    • Like 1

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