*I think...
Posted By: Smitty
In MLS this weekend, the Crew were able to sit and watch a lot of their fellow MLS brethren take the field, knowing full well that if just enough of them won, lost, or tied in the right combination, the Crew would be guaranteed a spot in the postseason. After seeing RSL lose to Chivas, Colorado tie New England, and Kansas City beat Toronto, I think we've got an answer. Now, while I haven't seen anything officially, by my math, there is no way the Crew can miss the playoffs. Of course, if the Crew win next weekend, none of this will matter. Here's what we've got:
First, going into last night's action, there were 3 teams that cannot catch our point total:
FC Dallas - 27 points; 45 possible
L.A. Galaxy - 29 points; 44 possible
Toronto F.C. - 27 points; 42 possible
The top 8 get into the playoffs, meaning we need to be mathematically better on points than 6 other teams can achieve. After last night's results, we have two more that can't catch us:
Real Salt Lake - 31 points; 46 possible
Colorado - 31 points; 46 possible
Still, it looks like we're not mathematically clear of that 6th team, because the next two could theoretically match or exceed us on points:
Chivas USA - 33 points; 48 possible
Kansas City - 32 points; 47 possible
(For a minute, let's forget that we SHOULD be clear of Kansas City, because if there were a tie, we would own the season series (2-0-1). After all, I did a hell of a lot of math to figure this out...)
We can say the Crew clinched a spot because next weekend, KC plays Chivas. Remember, both have to win out to achieve their possible points. One of them will not be able to win out. If there is a tie, neither of them can catch us. Since that match WILL happen, and since either a tie or win-loss scenario WILL happen, we can say without a doubt that the Crew WILL be in the playoffs this year.
I think...
But if they have made the playoffs, and it looks like they have, The Crew have achieved the goal that Sigi Schmid set before them at the start of the season. It's hard not to get greedy with a team that is this good, but for those who are newer to Crew Nation, who might not have endured 2007, 2006, and 2005, please realize that for some of us, this is what we were asking for. A team with a shot come postseason time. And for the first time in a long time, we're the only team in MLS who knows we'll be there for sure.
Damn, it feels good to be a gangsta...
Columbus Clinches* Playoff Spot
Crew Looking at Nigerian Striker.
Finally, this much talked about mystery man from Africa has been nearly identified. I say nearly because on a blog from Shawn Mitchell today, a rough outline of who this guy is has been given:
Here's what I know so far about the Nigerian striker the Crew is attempting to bring in for a look-see: He is 25 and played in Israel for several years. He signed with a team in Romania last season but suffered a knee injury and did not play. I don't have a lot of time to devote to identifying this player right now, which is a required part of the game that is played when talk to turns to foreign acquisitions. Anybody up for the task?
Well, since you asked, I think it's Ibezito Ogbonna. From his Wikipedia page:
Ibezito Ogbonna (born March 27, 1983) (Age 25) is a Nigerian football player. After spending four seasons in Israel with Hapoel Tel Aviv, Ogbonna signed a two year contract with CFR Cluj in Romania
He only managed to play approximately 4 minutes for the Romanians though, suffering a serious injury early in the season that kept him on the sideline for a year. Ogbonna was recently released on a free by CFR Cluj and is currently looking for a new club.
I'd say we've found our man. As far as what he can do, here's a crappy highlight reel:
Looks like he can get on the end of setpieces and corners, and he's fast enough to outrun defenders. At least, Israeli league defenders. So we'll see how he does in Columbus.
Also, what are we calling him? "Zito"? "Oggy"? I vote for "Ibezzy"...
Tuesday Update: Open Cup and Stadium Rumors.
With Jehrico and Crewfighter off to the mythical floodplains of Peoria, I thought I would just give a quick update of some news and rumors floating around Crew Nation.
The Crew are obviously playing the Chicago Fire in the U.S. Open Cup tonight. Unfortunately, I don't have any lineup info yet, but hopefully, I can get some updates from the guys on the field during the game tonight. We'll see.
Also, there's a rumor that the naming rights for Columbus Crew Stadium have been purchased, and that an announement is forthcoming today. That rumor comes purely off of the Big Soccer message boards, but I thought I'd give you a heads up in case it is true. Again, take it with a grain of salt until you hear it from someone reputable, like Dan Rather.
I'm working until 8pm tonight, but in the meantime check here,
here, or here for updates.
Dear John, Please Come Home
Seems like every week, we're trying to figure out who would look good as the next addition to the Black and Gold. This pastime becomes more frequent and necessary when the team starts losing, especially in the horrible fashion we lost last week to the Quakes. Last year, rumors of Riquelme and Palermo made us dreamers. More recently, Zurawski, Podolski, and "mythical Romanian midfielder" have made us swoon. Even a few weeks ago, there were ethereal fantasies of Brian "No, really, I still like you..." McBride coming to Columbus.
Funny that no one really was thinking this way when we were winning 6 out of the first 7.
Personally, I have posited only one name into this argument of who the Crew should go after, and that's this guy. I feel that rampant speculation and wishing only leads to more heartbreak when the seemingly impossible proves to be, in fact, impossible. But would you believe I think the Crew have a legitimate shot at a true scoring threat who had 19 goals in England last season and who has 67 goals in just over 100 caps for his national team? Believe it or not, the Crew not only have a shot at him, they already have a locker nameplate for him.
Ladies and gentlemen, the man of the hour, the person we should all be lobbying Mark McCullers, Sigi Schmid, and Brian Bliss to sign as our designated player, is named John.
Stern John.
Fresh off stints in Southampton, Sunderland, and Birmingham City, John is not an offensive-minded midfielder, or a wing-mid, or a two-way player who will get you 6-7 goals. Stern John is a true forward, nay....a STRIKER. Yes, striker. A player who really only cares about scoring, who comes to the park everyday knowing the reason he is on the team is to score goals. Believe it or not, some teams actually have these guys. And Stern John not only knows how to score, he scores in ways that absolutely demolish the other team. He gets hat tricks in the 2nd half. He scores in stoppage time. Consistently, when the team needs a goal, he finds a way to tickle the twine.
Now, before we get much further into this, I know this type of signing would darn near force Sigi into playing with two forwards, which apparently he hates to do. I can only guess he hates this approach, seeing as how we have a whole dive team of forwards sitting on the bench while Moreno gets hammered all alone at the top of the box. So to make this work for Sigi, we would need to only refer to him as "the Crew's new scoring-oriented D-mid who happens to only play in the offensive third."
Some older Crew fans know all too well what Stern John can do, because he did it here in Columbus first. In 1998, John had 26 goals for the Crew, including 7 multi-goal games. He followed it up the next year by christening the Crew Stadium grounds with 18 more goals. All in all, he had 44 goals in 55 appearances with the Black and Gold. By the way, that's two fewer games played than Eddie Gaven had at the start of this season, but 35 more goals than Gaven has for the Crew. Warrants mentioning.
If you never saw him in a Crew kit, here's one of John's masterpieces from that opening season in the House That Lamar Built:
Things I loved about this goal, which was similar to many of the goals he scored for Columbus:
- It turned zero points into one (actually three, because the Crew won that game in a shootout, back when in MLS had the "let's try to hook non-soccer fans" rules, which also included the running-down clock.) Stern John has scored clutch goals throughout his career.
- It got the entire stadium off their feet and jumping. Old people, young people, crippled people...everyone was going nuts when he hit that shot home. His goals mesmerized those crowds back in the day.
- It ripped the heart out of the opposing team. Even the broadcasters, who were San Jose locals, couldn't hide the anguish. And Joe Cannon (yes, the SAME Joe Cannon) laying prostrate on the ground will forever be burned into my gray matter.
- It was done with a cocky swagger. Stern John isn't going to out-hustle Frankie Hejduk, or out-think Brian Carrol. No, Stern John is going stand around, not track back, get caught offside, and argue with the refs. He's also going to have his collar popped, beat you with a disgusting, "I can't believe I just saw that!"-type of play, and then rip his shirt off or flex his muscles. If it were a country song, Stern John would have slept with your girlfriend, stole your dog and your truck, and even cut the strings on your guitar.
Granted, the legend of Stern John was built when he was much younger. He was 22 and 23 during his two seasons with the Crew. Still, he did just have 19 goals for a side that nearly got relegated from the Championship. Apparently, even if there isn't talent around him, he can get his goals. Also, no matter how old you get, you can't unlearn shots like this one, from 2006:
OK, so now that I've whet your appetite for the "A+" T&T forward, you're asking "How good of a shot do we have of getting him?" Well that depends on a few things, one of which we know, one we don't, and one we can reasonably surmise.
What we don't know: Does anyone in the Crew F.O. even know that this guy is still playing? Outside of Bob Rifle and Mike Lapper, I wouldn't be shocked if Sigi or McCullers scratch their heads at the mention of his name. And, I say this in the most literal sense, only God Himself knows if HSG would care to sign him for more than a couple of large Pizza Hut Pizzas even if the Crew want him.
Bottom line: We don't know what the Crew F.O. is thinking, so let's not get our hopes up just yet. But, to carry the discussion along further, let's pretend they are interested in John.
What we do know: He's going to be available, for the right price. Southampton, John's current team, is under new management. Nigel Pearson was relieved of his coaching duties and replaced by former Dutch National Teamer Jan Poortvliet, whose last name sounds like a French toilet. Typically, when there is a new coach in town, especially in Jolly Old Ingerland, they like to bring in the new blood along with the new coach. Plus, this statement from the board of Southampton may be intriguing as well:
"...The board have been looking closely at the situation on the playing side of the club whereby we are inevitably going to have to depend to a large extent on the quality of our youngsters in the academy and the reserve team. "
Not exactly a vote of confidence in the current roster, of which John is a part. And of course, we're not implying that he's gone, but if the Crew want to make an offer, you can bet Southampton would be listening. He's not young, but certainly not old, as he won't turn 32 until October of this year.
Bottom line: If you're looking to rebuild, 31 is not the age to start with. However, if you're looking for a seasoned goal scorer to ignite an already potent attack (assuming everyone is healthy), then 31 is just fine.
What we can surmise: If John was to leave England, he would want to play in Columbus. Think about it:
- He'd be closer to his family in the States and National Team in Trinidad and Tobago.
- He could make bank as a DP.
- He's 19 goals away from becoming the all-time leading goal scorer for the Crew.
- He still knows people here, and would get to work with some of his old teammates.
- He could win a championship.
Bottom Line: If John were to consider another go in MLS, Columbus would be perfect for him.
Will we get him? Who knows. But if the Crew don't sign a DP this offseason, it won't be because the Crew Nation is short on ideas.
Past, Present, and Crewture Tense...I Told You So!
By Smitty
On October 16th of 2007, on a Big Soccer thread entitled "Wishful Thinking" on the Crew forum, I posted the following comments in response to the idea of the Crew's ability to obtain Riquelme as our Designated Player:
Since we're in the wishful thinking category, what about German Denis? Here are the basics:
15 goals in the 13 games so far in the Apertura this year playing for Independiente. Also, he just got a call up to the Argentine National team.
(Note: This isn't the original vid I posted, as the one I used has been removed. Still, here are all 18 goals he ended up scoring last season.)
His Wikipedia page for further info...
Normally, I would say he's out of our league. But...
-He's 26, so he's not "old", but not a young prodigy. Could be a Juan Pablo Angel type player.
- He's already done the Europe thing.
- We have GBS, and thus, maybe, an "in".
Plus, he's a "German", so Sigi wouldn't have any problems...
The Crew have made no announcements regarding signing this player. BUT today they annouced the team we are playing in our first exhibition match. Yeah, it's none other than Independiente, a legendary club in South America. More importantly, it's the home of one German Denis.
Now consider that Brian Bliss just got on a plane today headed to "Brazil" (suuuuure...) to scout some players. Make no bones about it, I know what I'm talking about. Here's my step-by-step prediction of what's going to happen:
1. Bliss is putting up a smoke screen about Brazil. He'll make one or two stops, grab a cab in the middle of the night and head for Argentina.
2. The whole reason Bliss is in South America is to pitch German Denis on taking over the reigns once GBS hangs up the boots after this season.
3. The Crew can afford Denis because of the money they're not going to be spending on McBride (more on that in a moment), and the money they'll save once Guille walks away next year.
4. Independiente come to Columbus and allow Denis to get one good runout in front of Mark and the Fat Man against competition both will know well (The Crew).
5. Denis rips off his Independiente kit after the game, revealing a fresh #20 Banana kit that he took from the soon-to-be-released Nico Hernandez, and immediately has a press conference at the center circle in front of all the Argentine fans who came out to the match to see him.
- Denis becomes the perfect point man to finish all those beautiful crosses being sent in by Robbie Rogers, Frankie Hejduk, and Guillermo.
- The Crew beat L.A. 5-0 in the MLS Cup and get a taste of double, also swiping the U.S. Open Cup.
- Denis gets a hat trick in two seperate playoff games.
- Everyone buys me beer for calling this situation a whole year ago.
Just saying, don't be shocked when I'm right.
In other Crew news...
- Brian McBride has stated he's leaving Fulham. Wishful Crew fans are hoping it's to come back to the Black and Gold, but I have news for you: He's not. McBride will most likely end up with the Fire or Toronto, but Chicago does not have a DP, so it'll be interesting to see what they give up to get him. Still, McBride's agent and brother Matt is doing some PR, saying that McBride will always love Columbus, regardles of where he ends up. That means it won't be Columbus folks. He wouldn't have to tell us he loves us if he wasn't going somewhere else.
- Channel 6 did a story on the Youtube video last night. Thus continuing this douchebag's 15 minutes of "in"fame..
- I'll be posting my Silly Game Preview before Friday is out.
