Columbus Crew

[BuckTwenty]

Originally Posted by MuckFich06

Yes we can, head it!

That picture was sent all around the world for a few days after the Crew met with Obama. The Crew got a TON of free pub internationally with their logo on that ball!

[jlb1705]

It's been a while (7-8 yrs.) since I've been to a Crew match. I used to have a lot of fun standing in the North End, and I'm thinking about going to the match on 9/13 since I'll be in town for the USC game the day before. It looks like they've made some changes at the stadium since I was last there - is the North End still the place to be, or should I be looking for a different area if I want to be around the folks standing up and being the loudest?

[OHSportsFan9]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

It's been a while (7-8 yrs.) since I've been to a Crew match. I used to have a lot of fun standing in the North End, and I'm thinking about going to the match on 9/13 since I'll be in town for the USC game the day before. It looks like they've made some changes at the stadium since I was last there - is the North End still the place to be, or should I be looking for a different area if I want to be around the folks standing up and being the loudest?

Huge come from behind win for the Crew. 3-2 over Toronto FC.

I haven't been in about a year in a half, but I know that the North End now has a big stage in the middle (for concerts, cheerleaders dance and stuff during games ). There is still a big group of supporters in the North corner, but I think a lot of that standing, singing and chanting has moved to the South end because of the stage.

BuckTwenty would be the go-to-guy on this one though.

[jlb1705]

I got to see the equalizer before I had to go, I'm glad to see they managed to pull out three points. That puts them at the top of the table in the East with Chicago only getting one point out in Seattle this afternoon.

[BuckTwenty]

Anyone who missed watching that game last weekend, you missed a great one. Crew come back down 2-1 to win 3-2, thanks to a great cross by Hejduk and a beautiful laser of a snap-header by Jason Garey in the 92nd minute. Subs Garey and Steven Lenhart have now combined for 5 goals in the past 2 games. Not only did they win the Trillium Cup (rivalry trophy with Toronto), but the Crew now have the unbeaten home streak record all to themselves now (19 games-- 13-0-6 at home since June 2008), are 1st place in the East (jumping both DC United and Chicago), and are now 2 points off of Houston's MLS-leading pace. Not bad for a team that started off as terribly as the Crew did.

Here's the highlight film of Saturday's game. Well worth the click. Garey's goal is nominated for MLS Goal of the Week (2nd straight week with a nomination), though he's not going to win it thanks to Claudio Lopez's half-field "Hail Mary".

Originally Posted by OHSportsFan9

There is still a big group of supporters in the North corner, but I think a lot of that standing, singing and chanting has moved to the South end because of the stage.

The Nordecke is now located just to the right of the stage (Northeast corner?). Not the best angle to watch the game from, but by far the most fun place to cheer from... maybe in all of MLS (though I'm biased). Beware if you try to buy a cheap ticket for the south end and try to sneak into the Nordecke, you might not make it. Due to the chants involving cursing and items being thrown at opposing players, they're checking tickets in the section in order to crack down on the shinanigans from outsiders invading the supporters' section.

---------

As an aside, Crewture is reporting here and here that it is looking better and better that the Crew will sign 25-year old Venezuelan striker Emilio "The Deer" Renteria from Caracas FC. Something tells me F Alejandro Moreno (also of Venezuelan decent) may have had some insight in to the Crew front office on this one. The Venezuelan news agencies are reporting that this one is official already. Still awaiting confirmation from the team.

Sounds as though any offer the Crew may (or may not) have offered is contingent on him trialing up here first, but it's painfully apparent from his youtube videos (included in those links) that he's more athletic than anyone else on the team... and he's a freaking beast... and he's a forward, which we have desperately needed with Moreno not producing like he did last year. The thought of Renteria partnering with Guille, Moreno, Lenhart, & Garey up top is SCARY. With approx. $250k to spend, Renteria could be what this team needs to make another deep run towards back-to-back MLS Cup Championships.

[brodybuck21]

Originally Posted by BuckTwenty

Anyone who missed watching that game last weekend, you missed a great one. Crew come back down 2-1 to win 3-2, thanks to a great cross by Hejduk and a beautiful laser of a snap-header by Jason Garey in the 92nd minute. Subs Garey and Steven Lenhart have now combined for 5 goals in the past 2 games. Not only did they win the Trillium Cup (rivalry trophy with Toronto), but the Crew now have the unbeaten home streak record all to themselves now (19 games-- 13-0-6 at home since June 2008), are 1st place in the East (jumping both DC United and Chicago), and are now 2 points off of Houston's MLS-leading pace. Not bad for a team that started off as terribly as the Crew did.

Here's the highlight film of Saturday's game. Well worth the click. Garey's goal is nominated for MLS Goal of the Week (2nd straight week with a nomination), though he's not going to win it thanks to Claudio Lopez's half-field "Hail Mary".

Ive never been to a Crew game and I dont really like soccer. On saturday I happen to come across the game against Toronto while flipping the channels and I actually saw both the equalizing goal and the game winner. Ive never seen a crew goal live on tv either so it was pretty cool to catch. They are definitely playing well and I may just try and catch the next game if its on.

[Bucky Katt]

Similar boat here. Soccer's a fall-back sport for me. There hasn't been [censored] worth watching on lately ([censored] the Reds...both Cincinnati and Toronto FC) so I ended up watching both the Crew game and the LA-KC game afterward. The long goal by Lopez was ridiculous. Not sure where the goalie thought he was going, but he paid for it big time. Injury to insult by crashing into the post as he failed to save it.

[brodybuck21]

Originally Posted by Bucky Katt

Similar boat here. Soccer's a fall-back sport for me. There hasn't been [censored] worth watching on lately ([censored] the Reds...both Cincinnati and Toronto FC) so I ended up watching both the Crew game and the LA-KC game afterward. The long goal by Lopez was ridiculous. Not sure where the goalie thought he was going, but he paid for it big time. Injury to insult by crashing into the post as he failed to save it.

that goal was ridiculous

[BuckTwenty]

Originally Posted by Bucky Katt

Similar boat here. Soccer's a fall-back sport for me. There hasn't been [censored] worth watching on lately ([censored] the Reds...both Cincinnati and Toronto FC) so I ended up watching both the Crew game and the LA-KC game afterward. The long goal by Lopez was ridiculous. Not sure where the goalie thought he was going, but he paid for it big time. Injury to insult by crashing into the post as he failed to save it.

I think everybody's that way, especially after basketball and hockey seasons end ubruptly. There's nothing to fill in the gap except baseball and soccer until the college football and NFL seasons start up again. I wish MLS and international soccer stepped up their marketing during this time of the year, because they're missing the boat. Big time.

I'm really glad you guys are giving soccer a 2nd go though! It's a great time to be a Crew fan right now, especially now that the front office is cracking down on the things that kept families (chants with cursing, throwing items on field, etc.) from wanting to go to games. We had to pay our dues for a dozen years before we had a historic year, but it was worth it for what we have right now.

I'm with ya- I have no idea what that goalie was thinking. He was WAY out of position. Lopez stole the ball and caught him napping. You very rarely see it (especially to a good keeper like Donovan Ricketts), but Beckham hit one from from half-field last year and Danny Ceparo (NY's goalie) scored the first goal by a goalkeeper FROM 3/4 FIELD last year against the Crew (he was trying to clear the ball) on a terrible bounce off of the astroturf at Giant's Stadium. When I find those videos I'll post 'em on here.

[BuckTwenty]

Danny Ceparo's goal in week 30 last year

David Beckham's goal

against KC (talk about a keeper being out of position!)

[BuckTwenty]

Speaking of lack of marketing, bet you didn't know the MLS All-Star game was tonight. Yeah, I know. On a Wednesday night.

MLS All-Stars vs. Everton FC of the English Premier League on ESPN2 at 9:30pm. Should be a great game. Watch for U.S. International GK Tim Howard playing for Everton (was the GK who manned the nets during the US's amazing stretch run in the Confederation Cup) and Columbus Crew D Chad Marshall. Crew M Guillermo Barros Schelotto and D Frankie Hejduk will not play due to injuries, but both also made the All-Star team.

[BuckTwenty]

The MLS All-Stars lost in a penalty kick shootout to Everton last night after being tied 1-1 after 90 minutes. Wait... I take that back. The MLS All-Stars lost to Tim Howard last night. Howard wins the game MVP and much deserved. First international team that has beaten the MLS All-Stars.

That said though, that was the weakest line-up I've ever seen for an MLS All-Star game. Would have been much better though if it wasn't for so many guys that were selected being injured. Despite being on the score sheet, I thought Houston teammates Brad Davis and Stuart Holden had really disappointing games. Marshall played a quiet game on the back line and got subbed out at halftime, which is great considering the Crew have a match on Saturday at Colorado.

In the really good news department, Crewture is reporting that the rumored Renteria deal is true and 99% done. Look for him to be in Black & Gold by the end of August. On top of that, the Crew is signing a developmental player from Africa (whom exactly is not known at this time) that won't count against the Crew's senior roster or salary cap.

[Bucky Katt]

Originally Posted by BuckTwenty

The MLS All-Stars lost in a penalty kick shootout to Everton last night after being tied 1-1 after 90 minutes. Wait... I take that back. The MLS All-Stars lost to Tim Howard last night. Howard wins the game MVP and much deserved. First international team that has beaten the MLS All-Stars.

I didn't watch all of the game, but he was awesome in the shootout.

[jlb1705]

Crew at Colorado right now on ONN - 6th minute.

[jlb1705]

Marshall - 39th minute. Crew lead 1-0.

The Crew earned a free kick about 30 yards out. A short touch to Marshall on the restart set up a low shot that the goalkeeper could only get one hand on. It was the only shot of the night so far for Columbus.