**I thought the Crew played a good game overall. I thought Grendi was impressive for a rookie getting his first start and the Crew were the more dangerous team for the vast majority of the game.
**I think we were definitely lacking when it comes to finishing. When we missed all those opportunities I had a feeling it was going to bite us in the end. I knew two goals and the game was over. With that said, I would be alot more optimistic about our striker stituation if the Crew would have won one of our two games. These sort of feel like ties that were wins last year. Although with two games next week, pull some wins out there and I feel a whole lot better. I still think it's sort of nerves right now and with everyone back next week we will put out some wins. Also, on forwards, I think Garey gave a solid effort and was unlucky to hit the post.
**I thought Padula had a great, great game until the OG. His slide tackle on Vitti in the corner along with the nutmeg was beautiful. Although that happens sometimes, Padula was put into an awkward position and just didn't take the best option. Although there were not many options for him. Just dust it off and move on.
**Ekpo looked like a totally different player in his second game. Good job Manu.
**Schelotto was a legend today. In parts it was as if the ball was glued to his feet. Him and Gaven were exceptional together at times today. With that said, why did we take him off though? If there was an injury okay. But, he was schooling everyone until the end. No wonder we looked a different team putting Elenio and Lenhart on as replacements for a legend like Guillermo. Both looked a little lost out there today and pretty ineffective.
**Kudos to the crowd on both sides. That was a good atmosphere and a game I like to be a part of on that front. I do have to say though for talking up supporting their side with class the Toronto "2 Girls 1 Cup" Banner was pretty classless and well gross along with the jesus with the middle finger which hopefully leads to some bad karma for them.
Also, didn't get why they were throwing smoke bombs at their goalie. Although the big flag to hide the flares was pretty amusing. I was like "well that's a random time to be throwing up a flag." And, I didn't really get their ruining of our ceremony. What did they throw, newspapers? Sheets of printer paper? Way to litter, go you. If myself or others can't see what they are throwing or doing then it's sort of ineffective.
Can't hate on the effort, just was confused by that whole thing and to be honest more interested in the unveiling along with the other Crew fans. I love how all the Crew supporters in the Nordecke turned and were all entranced by the unveiling and just sort of ignored whatever the TFC fans were doing over there.
**Also, kudos to the Crew fans for holding up the two sticks and being eager to do so. I was worried everyone was going to be like what the hell are these? But, I had a whole barrel of 22 of them, and in 30 seconds I had one left for myself. Thoma's and Al's went just as fast. For that eagerness in trying new things got to say I love you guys and girls in the section. Love the atmosphere you all bring. You definitely exceed my exceptations every time and especially today when it came to the eagerness for trying something new and the noise.
Think about it fellow Nordecke supporters, in the Nordecke's last two games in the corner you guys took on a large crowd banner demonstration and a large two stick demonstration out of nowhere. I don't think we ever had more then one crowd banner going at the same time or more then five two sticks. And, then were doing up five large crowd banners in a week for the Chicago game and throwing up 70 two sticks. I don't know if they all went up at once but I was pleased with the effort.
Can't hurt the try in the section as that's just going for the gusto, skipping from point A straight to point C, and saying screw to B.
Hopefully it looked okay, haven't seen any pictures, but I'm just glad enough with the effort to be honest.
**My favorite part of the game crowd wise was around minute 87 where I'm pretty sure all the Crew fans joined into the "let's go crew." I got a chill there. I don't care too much about attendance as long as every single person in those stands is deep into it. Yes, yes, yes we would all love 20,000 day in and day out. But, I also love a crowd that's into it. And, the regular fans are becoming fantastic just like they were in the Eastern Conference. Maybe we are rubbing off on them a bit? :-)
**In regards to Toronto's numbers, still a great showing. I would say there was quite a bit less then last year. I didn't really have that "wow that's alot of damn people" feeling this year like I did last year. It seemed almost like half what were there last year. Say 2,400 last year and it felt like 1,200 this year. But, it was whatever the South End fills along with maybe a overflow of like 50-75 people. No one almost in the top or bottom stands like they were last year.
Still too many. :-)
**I love how TFC fans celebrated at the end of the game when the whistle was blown like they just had won the World Cup. Wooo! 1-1 tie in Columbus. While we were all quite annoyed and bummed with a tie.
**On the after game stuff. With any rivalry and fans on both sides a little irked that their team didn't win, there is going to be some of that when security shepards them down the same exit. Don't think there is a reason to blow it way out of porportion under those circumstances. As it seems to be just some people playing the role of tough guy on both sides and nothing really ever happens. Until security at MLS games across the board understands not to allow fans to congregate together after a heated game, then why blame Toronto fans or Crew fans? After a while it just becomes old news. It's just some people are going to do that and then alright either accept it, step around it, move along or have security change the after game patterns. That just seems to be the stituation until security gets a bit smarter and tougher home and away.
Also, from what I saw most of it was just fans chanting at each other. Crew and Toronto fans were allowed to chant back and forth inside the stadium for 30 minutes after the game as police watched. Which led to some trouble. However, I'm not the best source as I went back after a while to pick up my banners.
That's the end of my comments on that. If it's sensationalized with OMG Crew fans or Toronto fans are at fault, I'm just going to ignore it. Because it's just some on both sides to be honest, really nothing noteworthy ever happens, and it's like "duh" if you send them down the same concourse exit and let them chant at each other for an extended time, something like that may likely to happen.
Also, to be honest, I'm more interested in our next game and picking up a win.
3/28/09: Some Crew Postgame Thoughts
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10 comments:
I guess i'm in the minority that thinks that Gino DID NOT have a good game? He was alright defenensively, but he constantly gave the ball away. you talk about his sweet slide tackle that made Vitti look like a jackass, but right after that he carried the ball for 5 seconds and then passed it to Toronto.
I also thought Zayner was alright defensively, but he looked timid whenever he had the ball like he thought he might fuck something up.
I think one guy we missed A TON is NOONAN! He will be great to bring in off the bench to throw into the attack. Definately > Garey/Lenhart.
Also, we could really use some speed up top (robbie?).
And I wouldn't at all be upset it Eddie started in the middle and Emmanuel out wide.
From the field, Gino really did have a good game. As for Zayner, considering the shoes he was having to fill on a home opener, he didn't play that bad at all. I think overall, we could have come out with a 1-0 win if we would have held the ball down a bit. That obviously didn't happen. I agree that Gavin and Manu should switch though.
dunno if you were trying to keep all of your two sticks seperate by who made them tonight, i just rolled up whatever i saw after the game and threw it in the bucket, hope thats cool. A lot of them were fucked, hopefully you can do some repair jobs on em.
Nice job on the two sticks.
II thought the game did go well. It is just frustrating having that many chances and not finishing them. If you look at the highlights. Toronto for the most part didn't have many great chances. It was mainly Columbus. We need to work on finishing. Also, I like having new guys on the field to get experience. But we had a lot out there today. Not too sure how I felt about that. But also, I guess we didn't have a choice with everyone going off to national duty.
I heard one chant after the game that I thought was funny, "your bacon's really ham! Your bacon's really ham!" I think we should use that next time. Good game the Crew definetly could have one 3-0 if they had just taken advantage of their chances. They need to win their next game or we're going to start falling back in the table
except for the boo-boo, i think gino played very well. zayner played like a rookie, but to be honest, i think that might of been the first time ive ever seen him play.
glad to see ekpo and lenhart get some time in. ekpo is one of the most stylish players, in my opinion.
gaven and schelotto were meshing together very well yesterday. I think they could become a very potent duo.
garey, in my opinion, deserves to be in the starting 11, its nice to have someone up top that doesnt get fouled every two seconds *cough* moreno *cough*
crew fans should not be worried at all if the crew is going to miss that many oppurtunities and then still tie (especially on OG)
also, where are the pictures??
Had to watch the game on ONN last night up in Cleveland due to work, but oddly enough by parents went to the match . . . great 1st half!! I think its time for Gavin and Ekbo to get some shootng practice in, can you get any closer! Anyways, ONN is deplorable!! The feed always cuts out and all they cared about in the "color comentary" was showing TFC fans!! gimme a break!! They never once showed a complete picture of the Nordeck or any other Columbus fans!! I thought the broadcast is the home of the Crew?
Pictures are up.
Shady I figured it would go that way for mine. I need to use something other than spray on adhesive and thanks for throwing them in there. I came back 15 minutes later to pick them all up.
The ones I really like I'll adhere together with something stronger. And, the others I'll use the poles for new ones when something relevant comes up.
I agree that Gino did not play very well. He did give up the ball cheaply a couple times, even though he had some very good defensive plays. I was a little confused as to why Padula was in the middle of box to get that own goal anyways.. He's not a center back, that ball needs to be cleared by Marshall or Danny Boy.
Zayner did look alright, it's good to see that we do have that depth at outside back, I was little worried about that aspect of the team.
As much as I like Lenhart, he should not have seen time against Toronto. Garey, in my opinion, had a great game up top. Schelotto should not have been pulled off at all. When it is 1-0 and he is your playmaker, you do not take him out! The game wasn't sealed at all at that point.
Now why does everybody think Gaven can play in the middle? He didn't play there at all for us last season. The reason that Ekpo is having a hard time in the middle is because I don't think he is used to thinking about tactics all the time. Ekpo is best when you give him the ball and tell him to go with it (out wide, or in Schelotto's position).
Go Crew!
For those wondering what the deal is with the TFC newspapers -- they had them held up like they were reading them, as in "your (whatever) is so boring, we'd rather read the newspaper". It must be a hockey thing - we used to do it at the Chill games too. It's a pretty funny visual but it was awful that they followed it up by littering all over our house.
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