4/2/09: Crew vs. RSL Preview

Hopefully the Argentinians Have A Better Day Today.

Time: 9 PM EST
Channel: ESPN 2
Weather: 47-53 degrees
Previous game: 1-1 tie for Columbus vs. TFC, 2-0 loss for RSL vs. Seattle.

No time is more prime for the Crew to notch their first victory in 2009. Alejandro Moreno and Frankie Hejduk are both coming off of 90 minutes for their international sides and both should be able to start tonight in Rio Tinto. The two veterans back in the lineup should give the Crew a much needed boost of veteran direction sorely lacking from the Toronto game. Also, it's possible that Robbie Rogers could be back tonight after a light ligament tear. If not it's likely that Alex Grendi will get another shot. If Grendi does start I would like to see more out of him. The rookie played a pretty good game for his first start against Toronto FC but now it is time to show more over 90 minutes.

Another positive for the Crew is that the early season jitters have to be almost gone and the Crew players are starting to get annoyed (just read Hesmer's comments after the Toronto game). Tonight I think the Crew will be amped and will just say, "you know what, let's just go out and get the win like we used to." Instead of being so nervous and not going for the juggular akin to their first two games.

My one complaint of the Crew so far in 2009 is that they haven't been as decisive and haven't had as much of that strong willed attitude as in 2008. So far in both games they haven't done much to make any Crew fans believe that another season like last year is possible. They haven't been bad and haven't made another season look impossible. But, so far, it just has been "meh." It hasn't been the same side yet.

Tonight I have a good feeling that the Crew change that.

Crew Positives:
**Frankie and Alejandro possibly back in starting lineup
**Early season jitters are gone.
**Possibility of Rogers getting back on the field.
**More time together as a squad and more relaxed together. The Crew should start to get last season's form back.
**A couple wins on the road and everyone is happy again.
**RSL's lack of finishing from last year's Western Conference final has seemed to extend to their 2-0 loss to expansion Seattle last week.
**The Crew should have more belief in themselves then Real Salt Lake has at the moment.

RSL Positives:
**No International Call Ups like the Crew, may possibly be alot fresher then some of the Crew's players who have been picking up the frequent flyer miles.
**Javier Morales is a baller.
**Home opener should probably have a nice atmosphere that will make the game a little tougher for the Crew. Although, Moron Country doesn't get that wild so I would expect that the Crew can handle it.
**Movsisyan is more likely to find his form at home in his second game.

LINEUPS:

COACHING EDGE:
Warzycha's tactics and changes were much better against the Houston Dynamo(which saved the game) compared to against Toronto(which probably had something to do with the loss), taking Schelotto out and replacing him with Elenio and Lenhart probably wasn't the best call. Nevertheless, even though Jason Kreis has been a head coach for longer, I think Warzycha's experience across the board gives him the coaching edge.

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PREDICTION: Crew 3- RSL 1: Goals by Schelotto, Marshall, and Moreno for the Crew. Goal by Movsisyan for RSL. The Crew get it together and get their first win as their quality is much better then RSL's overall. Crew's quality was better then Houston and Toronto's as well, the difference is this time the Crew finish their chances.