SBNation.com User Blog: rickgethin

Jairo Arrieta Gets Spanked By The MLS

rickgethin — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:28:47 -0000

The following came down from Major League Soccer this afternoon...

"NEW YORK (May 17, 2013) – The MLS Disciplinary Committee has suspended Columbus Crew forward Jairo Arrieta for two games and fined him an undisclosed amount for violent conduct that endangered the safety of his opponent, Colorado Rapids defender Drew Moor, in the 18^th minute of their game on May 11.

Today the MLS Players Union informed the League that Arrieta will appeal the second game of the suspension. Arrieta will serve the first game of his suspension this Saturday when the Crew play at Toronto FC. The result of the appeal of the second game’s suspension will be announced at a later date."

Here's the play in question...

I was at this match, and while what Arrieta did deserved a Yellow Card (maybe even a Red), I do believe that the two game suspension on top of that is rather harsh. What are your thoughts?

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly...

rickgethin — Sun, 12 May 2013 15:51:06 -0000

As I wandered among the supporters before the match under sunny, yet chilly skies, I was struck by the hope that was evident for a win against the visiting Rapids and the admiration for the departing (and Columbus' favorite Kiwi) Duncan Oughton. Here was a group that was sure that the aging grounds of Crew Stadium and the power of their fandom would somehow energize "their boys" and secure three points for the home team.

The beer was flowing among the various supporters and families plying their tailgating prowess on the vast expanse in the shadow of the stadium. The mood was an upbeat one. They couldn't lose two in a row, at home, could they? Amid the smell of grills that were fired up and their laughter, it was a very comforting scene. Warm smiles and reunited friendships greeted me at every turn.

"The mood here is not very high right now, getting shutout our last two home games", said Eddie Gaven. "It's not what we wanted. It's that last pass and last shot that just wasn't there. It wasn't clean when we got to the last third of the field."

As I settled in, at midfield the pregame ceremony honoring the departing Duncan Oughton was getting underway. He was flanked by Crew legend Frankie Hejduk and Crew President Mark McCullers. After being presented with a framed jersey and receiving a standing ovation from the crowd, the match started.

With the frenetic pace to start the match, I began to wonder if I was watching race cars zoom back and forth across the pitch. Surely, this pace would reap dividends in the form of three points, I thought. Alas, it was not to be. With the long ball making a comeback to stretch the field, the finishing touches weren't there. The supporters mood quickly degenerated into an infinite melancholy sadness as their club was unable to finish with any quality.

"We can't just sit here and mope about it", Andy Gruenebaum said. "I think that we can be a good attacking team and we showed that a little bit. Our final passes, our final ball was off. We just have to do a better job in key moments in front of both goals."

After Colorado scored the first goal at the eight minute mark, I sat back and waited to see if the Crew would respond in kind. While they created a few good scoring chances, they couldn't seem to get the ball on target. The frustration level was building, to the point that Tony Tchani channeled his inner David Luiz and ripped a shot off from distance that wasn't really that close.

At the half, I wandered along the concourse and listened to the wavering hopes of the supporters. While there wasn't outright dread, there was a palpable trepidation in their voices as they discussed the match to this point. These were the hardcore among the fans, members of the Nordecke. They've seen this movie before and were not afraid to address the possibility of dropping another three points at home.

My walkabout now complete, I tried to concentrate on the game being played out before me. The question that loomed large in my mind? Would Robert Warzycha make a substitution earlier than he usually does to change the complexion of the match? Last week, he waited until the eighty-sixth minute to make his first sub. Surely, he wouldn't wait that long?

"I was thinking of making a change early, but I think we had the momentum", said Warzycha. "We were possessing the ball and winning the ball high on the field."

As the clock ticked towards full-time, I asked myself why he was waiting? They were already chasing the game and an earlier sub might have sparked the players on the pitch. Alas, his first sub came after the Rapids scored their second of the evening. Like the supporters in the stands, I too, had seen this movie. There would be no hero riding in to save the day. The Crew sputtered to full-time, losing 2-nil at home. The dejection was evident all around the stadium. Perhaps befitting to end the evening, the clouds opened after the final whistle and the rains came.

Robert Warzycha said afterwards, "We have to score the goals. It’s the second game where we didn’t and I think we had enough chances to score the goals. I think the intensity was good. So was the attitude and pressure. I think we were very aggressive, but the ball didn’t bounce our way."

As you can guess, when the dressing room was opened to the media, it was a subdued atmosphere. I couldn't immediately wrap my head around a missing piece of the evening. Then, it hit hit me. There was an anger missing from both the players and the head coach. I wondered why they weren't supremely pissed off that they had only earned three points out of a possible nine. They can't be content to play this way in front of their most ardent supporters, could they?

Is this a failure of leadership within the ranks of the players? Is a failure by the coaching staff? Has a malaise and complacency befallen your Black and Gold? There is no swagger to their step right now. I saw a dejected group of guys that, while saying the right things about the loss, can't seem to finish their scoring chances. Second place is the first loser. And, I can't even begin to imagine this squad finishing second right now. Nor can I make sense of the substitutions that are being made. It actually hurts my head to even think about it.

Are they resigned to finishing the season at the mid-table level or lower? I don't think so. But, if they don't do something about finishing their scoring chances by putting the ball in the back of the net, this will be a long, drawn out season. And, that is just plain unacceptable. Have the players, coaches and staff forgotten what their motto of being "America's Hardest Working Team" means? The supporters want to cheer on a winner. Hell, they will cheer the team on if they work hard, even if they lose.

At this point, I don't know what the future holds in store for the Black and Gold. Can they right a foundering ship? Will the Front Office target a finishing goal scorer during the Transfer Window? Can this club, as it is now, string together enough wins to put them back in contention for a Playoff spot? The answers to these questions and more, will become evident over the next few matches. I now need to gobble a handful of ibuprofen before my head explodes into a gooey mess.

Your Fiddle Is Ready...

rickgethin — Wed, 08 May 2013 02:58:42 -0000

As I slowly peer around the bumper of a parked car, who do I see standing next to him? Yes, it's none other than Columbus' favorite Kiwi, Duncan Oughton. With this being broadcast nationally, he's out of a job for the evening. I await my chance to pounce on the unsuspecting glitterazzi.

And then, a sight that has burned itself past my retinas and into the cerebral cortex of my very soul. I cannot unsee it. For there, emblazoned on the belly of Dancing Kevin and juxtaposed with a happy Kiwi, I see the phrase "YEEAAA BUDDY!" positively screaming for attention.

How apropos this is. I allow the photo op to run its' course, before diving in to find out what makes this fan travel from the Rockie Mountains of Colorado to the 'Bus. "I grew up in Dayton", he says. "It's a great place to be from, but I did my eighteen and got the f*ck out". At this point, he starts laughing maniacally. He continues with, "home is Columbus. I grew up in Dayton, but Columbus is home."

He blames the origins of his painted belly on his girlfriend, Melissa. "It's totally her fault. She wanted to get on the Jumbotron at a Blue Jackets game and I said a fat guy dancing will get you on the Jumbotron. So, she got up and I pushed her out of the way." the rest, as they say, is history.

He's been a fan and supporter of the Crew since game one in 1996. He was at the first game and fell in love with everything about the Black and Gold. "I bleed Crew." With ties to Columbus, he says that he has plans to eventually move back to Columbus, sometime in the not too distant future. I had to wrap this up, as it was getting more bizarre as supporters started crowding around the Glitterized One. I asked him if could say only one thing to the team, what would he say, and to whom? "Oduro," he says with a glint in his eye, "get the shot ON GOAL. You're fast, but sometimes, it's okay to pass it off." He then runs through the crowd to grab another beverage (adult-type, one each), laughing all the way.

By this point, I have to meander my way to the warm confines of the pressbox to watch this match and try to make sense of it all. The Crew dominated possession throughout the first half, and well into the second. With as many shots as the Crew players had on goal, you'd think that they would have been up 3 - nil at the half. Alas, they couldn't seem to get their shots on target. While set-pieces have been good to them in the past, they didn't help in this match. In the 80th minute of play, Tim Cahill scored for the Red Bulls, unassisted. To this point, head coach Robert Warzycha had made a grand total of zero substitutions. His first sub would come on the pitch at 86'.

I sat there, totally dumbfounded as to why he would wait that long to make a substitution. I could not comprehend what was going through his mind to wait that long. I mean, I'm not a head coach of anything, but I do kind of "get it" that you might want to make a change a bit earlier in the match. I actually wondered out loud what his response would be when asked why he waited so long. This was answered a short time later. Was I prepared for what he would say? Was anyone? While the post-match press conference with the head coach was a "normal" one by all accounts, there was one gem he uttered when asked about waiting until the 86th minute to make his first substitution. "Basically, sometimes you have to roll the dice." Yes, he really said that sometimes you have to roll the dice.

Did I miss something? I must have hit my head on something substantial so as to render me unconscious for a majority of the match. Did I really just hear him answer that question with THAT? At this point, I immediately passed out. I came to my senses with some help from our Staff Photographer, Sam Fahmi. Spalshing cold water in my face, he said "get your sh*t together, get in there and interview some players. You've got a job to do." I snapped back to a semblance of professionalism before stepping into the dressing room. Thanks Sam, I owe you one. A 1 - nil loss at home will almost always lead to a somewhat quiet room, of that, I was certain. This night was no exception. Eddie Gaven, a normally quiet guy, was a bit more subdued than usual. "At the end of the day, they were able to put one in and we didn't put ours in. It's really just that simple. It's tough, but that's soccer. They scored their goal and that just took the wind out of our sails. At that point it was so late in the game...", he trails off. The reaction was the same from Andy Gruenebaum. "It's definitely tough (losing at home). But, that's not the first time it's happened and it won't be the last. Soccer can be a cruel sport like that." At this point,

I knew I wouldn't get any different reaction from anyone else in the room. So, I followed Sam outside to the pitch to tape the Final Kick. How the hell would I spin this loss for the supporters? there was no way i could sugar-coat this loss, as it made no sense. Most head coaches would have made their subs in the 60-65th minute to spark something. Not so with Robert. He calmly played his fiddle while the Crew got burned for a goal. I also got the word that the "Man of the Match", Danny O'Rourke, was with the trainers in the rehab room and would not be available to be interviewed on camera.

Such is life in the world of professional sports. It couldn't be any weirder than this, of that, I was sure. It was time to cut my losses and get the hell out of Dodge. There was a beer with my name on it and daylight was fading. So, here's hoping that the Crew don't get tossed by the Rapids next week. Until next time, Stay Massive my friends.

Your Fiddle Is Ready...

rickgethin — Wed, 08 May 2013 02:44:46 -0000

As I gaze upon the concrete jungle that is the Crew Stadium parking lots, I find myself zeroing in on a rather large individual who is vaguely familiar. Like a moth to a flame, I am intrigued and start heading across the vast space. As I draw nearer, I recognize that it's "Dancing Kevin", of Blue Jackets and Crew notoriety, here to unleash who knows what heinous glitterized catch-phrase on the unsuspecting supporters of the beloved Black and Gold. As I slowly peer around the bumper of a parked car, who do I see standing next to him? Yes, it's none other than Columbus' favorite Kiwi, Duncan Oughton. With this being broadcast nationally, he's out of a job for the evening. I await my chance to pounce on the unsuspecting glitterazzi. And then, a sight that has burned itself past my retinas and into the cerebral cortex of my very soul. I cannot unsee it. For there, emblazoned on the belly of Dancing Kevin and juxtaposed with a happy Kiwi, I see the phrase "YEEAAA BUDDY!" positively screaming for attention. How apropos this is. I allow the photo op to run its' course, before diving in to find out what makes this fan travel from the Rockie Mountains of Colorado to the 'Bus. "I grew up in Dayton", he says. "It's a great place to be from, but I did my eighteen and got the f*ck out". At this point, he starts laughing maniacally. He continues with, "home is Columbus. I grew up in Dayton, but Columbus is home." He blames the origins of his painted belly on his girlfriend, Melissa. "It's totally her fault. She wanted to get on the Jumbotron at a Blue Jackets game and I said a fat guy dancing will get you on the Jumbotron. So, she got up and I pushed her out of the way." the rest, as they say, is history. He's been a fan and supporter of the Crew since game one in 1996. He was at the first game and fell in love with everything about the Black and Gold. "I bleed Crew." With ties to Columbus, he says that he has plans to eventually move back to Columbus, sometime in the not too distant future. I had to wrap this up, as it was getting more bizarre as supporters started crowding around the Glitterized One. I asked him if could say only one thing to the team, what would he say, and to whom? "Oduro," he says with a glint in his eye, "get the shot ON GOAL. You're fast, but sometimes, it's okay to pass it off." He then runs through the crowd to grab another beverage (adult-type, one each), laughing all the way. By this point, I have to meander my way to the warm confines of the pressbox to watch this match and try to make sense of it all. The Crew dominated possession throughout the first half, and well into the second. With as many shots as the Crew players had on goal, you'd think that they would have been up 3 - nil at the half. Alas, they couldn't seem to get their shots on target. While set-pieces have been good to them in the past, they didn't help in this match. In the 80th minute of play, Tim Cahill scored for the Red Bulls, unassisted. To this point, head coach Robert Warzycha had made a grand total of zero substitutions. His fist sub would come on the pitch at 86'. I sat there, totally dumbfounded as to why he would wait that long to make a substitution. I could not comprehend what was going through his mind to wait that long. I mean, I'm not a head coach of anything, but I do kind of "get it" that you might want to make a change a bit earlier in the match. I actually wondered out loud what his response would be when asked why he waited so long. This was answered a short time later. Was I prepared for what he would say? Was anyone? While the post-match press conference with the head coach was a "normal" one by all accounts, there was one gem he uttered when asked about waiting until the 86th minute to make his first substitution. "Basically, sometimes you have to roll the dice." Yes, he really said that sometimes you have to roll the dice. Did I miss something? I must have hit my head on something substantial so as to render me unconcious for a majority of the match. Did I really just hear him answer that question with THAT? At this point, I immediately passed out. I came to my senses with some help from our Staff Photographer, Sam Fahmi. Spalshing cold water in my face, he said "get your sh*t together, get in there and interview some players. You've got a job to do." I snapped back to a semblance of professionalism before stepping into the dressing room. Thanx Sam, I owe you one. A 1 - nil loss at home will almost always lead to a somewhat quiet room, of that, I was certain. This night was no exception. Eddie Gaven, a normally quiet guy, was a bit more subdued than usual. "At the end of the day, they were able to put one in and we didn't put ours in. It's really just that simple. It's tough, but that's soccer. They scored their goal and that just took the wind out of our sails. At that point it was so late in the game...", he trails off. The reaction was the same from Andy Gruenebaum. "It's definitely tough (losing at home). But, that's not the first time it's happened and it won't be the last. Soccer can be a cruel sport like that." At this point, I knew I wouldn't get any different reaction from anyone else in the room. So, I followed Sam outside to the pitch to tape the Final Kick. How the hell would I spin this loss for the supporters? there was no way i could sugar-coat this loss, as it made no sense. Most head coaches would have made their subs in the 60-65th minute to spark something. Not so with Robert. He calmly played his fiddle while the Crew got burned for a goal. I also got the word that the "Man of the Match", Danny O'Rourke, was with the trainers in the rehab room and would not be available to be interviewed on camera. Such is life in the world of professional sports. It couldn't be any weirder than this, of that, I was sure. It was time to cut my losses and get the hell out of Dodge. There was a beer with my name on it and daylight was fading. So, here's hoping that the Crew don't get tossed by the Rapids next week. Until next time, Stay Massive my friends.

Light 'Em Up? Frankie Says Yes...

rickgethin — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:18:57 -0000

As I walked into the locker room after the Black and Gold defeated D.C. United on Saturday evening, I shouldn't have been surprised to see Crew Legend and Brand Ambassador, Frank Daniel Hejduk (better known as "Frankie" to the legion of Crew supporters), making a beeline towards me. Do I run? Maybe turn and hide? Not a chance, as I could tell he was pretty damn pumped about the 3-0 win. "What a freakin' great game!!", he exclaimed while shaking my hand. I couldn't be sure if he was excited about the trouncing that was put on United or if he had been staring at the flames too long, as the scoreboard literally went up in smoke. Alas, it's always good to see Frankie, as he's the most grounded person I know and really does put things in perspective.

The reason that I, and many others, can joke about this, is that there was absolutely no one injured from this event. That is a testament to the training for emergencies that the Crew staff go through. Even Crew President and General Manager Mark McCullers was joking about it shortly after the match saying, to begin his press conference, "Come in for the fireworks?" Yes, we all laughed. This man, too, has a sense of humor.

The "Scoreboard Fire of '13" was a first for me, and most likely the last that I'll ever see. It just doesn't happen. Ever. The fate of the scoreboard, beloved by many and derided by some, is still to be determined. Mark McCullers isn't sure yet, either. "I think that the fire was pretty much contained in that area (the speaker cabinet), but obviously, with as much water as was put on the scoreboard, it could be just about any level of damage. From replacing the speakers to replacing the scoreboard, I would guess." Could we see a new scoreboard installed because of this? My guess would have to be "yes". With as much water as was put into the scoreboard, I don't see how much of anything inside of it would be working properly at this point. Prior to my life as a writer, I was a Fireman. I do have some experience with how much damage water will do to surrounding items when used to put out a fire.

How much havoc did this cause to your beloved Crew as they readied themselves to take on a rival in D.C. United? Not much, apparently. According to Goalkeeper Andy "The Hebrew Hammer" Gruenebaum (16 career shutouts), "I think last year, the Salt Lake game we played at home with the power outage, kind of prepped us for this one. There's was a lot of waiting around there as I recall (Salt Lake game). You know, we're professionals and both teams knew they had to come out and refocus and be ready to go."

You know how this story ends, so there's really no need to rehash the details once again. The question remains, though. Was the team that was on the field on Saturday night the "real deal"? Or, was this an aberration, wherein they revert back to a mid-table playing level? The old adage holds true: you should beat the teams below you in the standings and give yourself a chance to win against the teams above you. Time will tell this tale.

To round out this tale of smoke, fire and victory with anything less than utter shenanigans would positively be uncouth. Such is life. It was brought to my attention this afternoon that there was a suggestion put forth to amend the name of the Massive Report's Man of the Match award, "The Golden Shin Guard", to (and I'm quoting Steve Abreu from Twitter for this): "I vote that Golden Shinguard be changed to whatever Golden Shinguard is in Spanish. Sounds cool." To which Massive City FFC responded: "Espinillera de Oro". Um... no. While I do promise to learn how to say "Golden Shin Guard" in the native language of whichever player earns this honor on all future broadcasts of the Final Kick, the name will not be changed. Is this fair to the loyal readers and followers who yearn for what is reported in Massive Report? Probably not. Deal with it. As my father has always been fond of pounding into my head, starting at a very early age, "No one ever said that life was fair". The man does make a valid point.

What you see is what you get. So, until next time, Stay Massive, my friends.

Ghost Town Blues (Almost)...

rickgethin — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 14:35:35 -0000

It seems that the second home game of the season, traditionally, is not well attended. Saturday's match between the Columbus Crew and the Philadelphia Union was no exception, with a sparse crowd of 10,293 watching the teams play to a 1-1 draw. On a day when the weather was at least 30 degrees warmer than the home opener, the lack of bodies in the stands was puzzling. Likewise, the locker room was sparsely populated by the time the media were granted access.

With a bye week under their belts, you would think the team would be refreshed and full of energy. Alas, this was not the case. The Crew couldn't seem to get themselves out of first gear for the first 30 minutes, at home, in front of their supporters. It left many scratching their heads. Philly, meanwhile, took advantage of this listlessness from the Crew and made numerous runs, getting behind the Columbus backline.

Head Coach Robert Warzycha wasn't pleased with the way they played the first half. "I think it’s difficult to explain why we started the game like we started. I think the last seventeen years we were trying to be the team that started the game the right way, especially at home, and go and put the pressure [on the other team] and win games. Maybe that’s why sometimes we were not successful because we gave up the first goal, and that’s what happened in previous years."

Philadelphia made the Crew pay for their complacency in the 34th minute. A turnover by Columbus led to a Union three-on-one, with the Hebrew Hammer being that "one". Facing three possible points of attack, he didn't have much of a chance of stopping it, with McInerney reaching the back of the net. There was a hesitation from the Crew defenders as they looked to the refs for an offside call. The question is, why do the players on the pitch not play to the whistle? That hesitation led to the Union goal and, once again, the Crew found themselves chasing the match.

"You have to look at practice, maybe the bye week threw us off a little bit because we were in good form when we played against D.C. The second half we changed the formation a little bit, but mostly we had a little more energy. We started to play, chase the guys, win 50/50s – we had a little bit more idea of how we play."

Columbus had their chances, although the finishing touches weren't there. Oduro, Speas and Gaven all had a chance to tie the match before the half. Unfortunately, they couldn't convert. Warzycha on those chances, "We had three opportunities to score goals. So, we did some good things in the first half. But, the energy level was not good."

The second half started with a Columbus substitution, Arrieta on for Viana. With Oduro starting the match as the striker, Arrieta was relegated to watching the match from the bench. Was this a "sign" from Warzycha that complacency will not be tolerated and a players spot in the starting XI must be earned? Jairo Arrieta on not starting, "I had a conversation with Robert [Warzycha] and obviously I came here to be a starter like every player. Robert decided to go with another player. I accepted the decision of the coach and what I need to do now is work harder and try to convince the coach, Robert, that I can be the starter the next game. If not, I need to keep working hard until I get the chance again."

With Oduro and Speas playing well the last few matches, they have earned their starting spot. Might this portend a changing philosophy by the head coach in who starts each match and has he put them "on notice"? Robert Warzycha obliquely addressed this issue. "In the first half I think the guys got too comfortable, maybe, playing four games, some of them. They're thinking that they're going to be on the field all the time. That's not the case." Hard work will be rewarded is the message being sent.

The Black and Gold got the equalizer in the 72nd minute as Danny O'Rourke wins the ball in the Union end and then finds Gaven. He makes a sublime pass to Oduro, who positively smashes the ball past Union 'keeper MacMath on the near post. Dominic Oduro on his goal, "I saw Eddie [Gaven], we made eye contact, I made the movement and he made the right pass. I was just praying for glory, hitting the ball from that angle. I was hoping that it would go off somebody to tuck it in. I'm glad it went in."

That's the way the match would end, a 1-1 draw and one solitary point. The stand-out was the two-way play of Eddie Gaven. Coming off an injury prior to the DC United match, he had the bye week to fully heal. Although he missed finishing a chance, he was a man on a mission, seemingly all over the field. On more than one occasion, he bailed out the defense by coming back to make a play for the ball.

With Ben Speas playing opposite of Eddie Gaven and "Freaky Fast" Oduro up front, the options open up for Higuain to orchestrate the attack. The only thing that would be more "deadly", would be to have both Oduro and Arrieta up front to start the match. With Higuain being double-teamed on a constant basis, a two-striker front would be very hard for the opposition to defend against. For this to work, the communication must be much better than it was in the first half against the Union. Will we see this formation in the near future? I put the odds at 60/40 against this happening.

Chad Marshall played his 20,000 minute (coming in the 59th minute), becoming the first Crew player to reach that milestone. He joins a very small list (four players, including him) to have played all 20,000 minutes with one club. Congratulations to you, Good Sir.

With the draw, Columbus sits at 2-1-2 on the season in 4th place in the Eastern Conference. They begin a two game road trip next week that starts in Montreal. The Impact are the hot team right now and the Crew need to start from the first touch with their guns blazing. Smart passing, keeping possession and above all, communication to keep Montreal at bay. These "keys" should earn them three points north of the border.

Crew Draw To Stay Unbeaten In Last 9 Home Openers

rickgethin — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 02:02:49 -0000

In front of 16,528 Crew fans, the Black and Gold drew 1-1 with the San Jose Earthquakes to go 1-1-1 on the 2013 campaign. Not the result that they necessarily wanted, but better than a loss. Eddie Gaven missed his first home opener since the 2006 season.

The Crew showed an improved effort with their passing and play compared to one week ago in Vancouver. They utilized time and space to their advantage, spreading the San Jose defense to get behind them. The first half saw the Crew creating chances more so than San Jose, although they were unable to capitalize on them. As is the case more and more, Federico Higuain drew double coverage. With Ben Speas in the lineup for the injured Gaven, this created openings for the Crew Homegrown Player.

Head Coach Robert Warzycha on Speas, "that’s why I think Ben Speas was very successful inside because they (Higuain and Speas) switched roles. Speas was more inside than outside and that’s why we found Ben instead of Higuain – we planned that before the game."

The first half ended with the clubs tied at 0-0. If anything, it seemed to get a bit colder and more windy after that.

The second half started with fast paced, end to end runs by both teams. Unlike recent matches, Warzycha made his subs earlier with Tony Tchani coming in for Agustin Viana at 61' and Ethan Finlay stepping on for Dominic Oduro at 63'. During a roughly seven minute stretch from 60' to 67', San Jose kept some sustained pressure on the Crew. At the 68' mark, the Crew got a corner kick awarded. Higuain sent a beautiful ball into the box, which Glauber proceeded to head past San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch.

The celebration was short lived, as the Earthquakes Morrow sent a rocket past the Hebrew Hammer from outside the box at 74'. Tied at 1-1, the game became a battle against the elements.

Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum, "I think, honestly, we let the game get away from us a little bit. Even though we scored a goal, we weren't as sound in the second half, possession-wise. We made a few mistakes here and there. We have to win the games at home and I don't know if the weather was that much of a factor. Both teams had to deal with it. We're going to move forward and prepare for DC (United). No one's going to panic. There's teams in far worse situations, I'm sure."

The Columbus Crew is still a team trying to gel the chemistry among the players on the pitch. You can see it in the passing, as it's getting better every match. The addition of players such as Arrieta and Higuain, among others, shows that the vision is there. It all comes down to execution of the play. That is where the team will find more goals falling their way.

Far from a rebuild, this club is a work in progress. Hard work and communication will pay dividends throughout the season. With the sublime leadership of Federico Higuain, this team can realize his statement of "All of the Playoff". His vision and tactical sense should guide this club on a course from which anything is possible. If the MLS Cup could be hoisted by sheer will-power alone, his hands would already be grasping it.

The season is young, so hold on tight. You're in for a wild ride with the Black and Gold in 2013.

Can Lightning Strike Twice: The Intangibles

rickgethin — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:04:42 -0000

in·tan·gi·ble : adj. 1. Incapable of being perceived by the senses. 2. Incapable of being realized or defined. 3. Incorporeal.

We can all see the play on the pitch throughout the course of a match. You can see when players are subbed in by the manager, too. What the players do during practice and what they do off the field can also be seen. These are tangible things. They can be quantified and put neatly into little "statistics" columns.

Then, there are the intangibles. These are not so easily quantified or pigeonholed into neat little columns. Intangibles can make or break a team over the course of just one match or throughout an entire season. "Leadership" is one of the most recognizable traits when talking about intangibles.

One match into the 2013 MLS season and the intangibles are already at play for the Crew. On the surface, Federico Higuain has the "right stuff" when it comes to talking about intangibles. His poise, leadership and vision are on full display when he steps on the pitch. The little Argentine has quickly become a fan favorite of the supporters of the Black and Gold. From his prowess at set pieces, being in the right place at the right time and setting up an attack, he is exactly what you've come to expect from an experienced international and Designated Player.

But, what of the other players that have been added to the Crew roster since the arrival of Higuain? Are they imbued with intangibles, also? In a word, yes. Just looking at four players (Dominic Oduro, Agustin Viana, Matias Sanchez and Glauber Berti), they collectively bring 70 goals to the Columbus Crew. They also bring international experience with them. They have poise and vision to complement their play on the pitch. They have seemingly meshed well with the current Crew roster and are adding sound vision to the teams play.

The players know this, too. After the match against Chivas USA, Higuain had this to say: "We enjoyed a good game on all levels. When we needed to be aggressive on offense we were. When we needed to provide pressure we did it well. When we needed to manage the game by dominating the ball we also did it well and we were consistent overall... I think that the team had a great game on all levels. We hope to continue getting better."

As the season unfolds, look for the chemistry among the players to gel even further. The passing will get better and their vision will become sharper. These intangibles will serve to "bring up" the play of the entire team. The collective psyche of the club will see only one eventual end in sight, with that being the ultimate prize of winning the MLS Cup.

Can lightning strike twice, a la the 2008 season, for the Crew? From where I sit, the answer is a most resounding "yes".

Desde Argentina, Con Amor ...

rickgethin — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:34:23 -0000

They were born a scant 32 miles apart and stand within one centimeter of each other in height. They both play (or, in the case of Schelotto, played) the same position of Forward/Attacking Midfielder. In his first season with the Crew, Schelotto had 5 goals and 11 assists in 22 appearances. Higuain, while playing in fewer games his first season in the Black and Gold, notched 5 goals and 7 assists in 13 appearances. And yes, they both hail from Argentina.

Both Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Federico Fernando Higuain bring to Columbus poise, sportsmanship and a burning desire to win. They lead by example and are two men that their teammates try to emulate.

While Schelotto didn't win MLS Player of the Week in his first year (he was named to the MLS Best XI in 2007), by his second season with the Crew he amassed that honor four times. Contrast that with Higuain, who earned the MLS Player of the Week honors twice in two consecutive weeks and was named MLS Newcomer of the Year (2012). The similarities between these two men is striking. GBS was a supporter favorite and Higuain is well on his way to being afforded the same respect from fans.

In short, these two players are "game changers" when they don the canary yellow of the Columbus Crew. Their vision on the pitch is a sight to behold. Schelotto went on to earn MLS MVP, MLS Best XI and MLS Cup MVP in 2008, his second season with the club. What lies in store for Higuain as the 2013 season unfolds? Could he be "The One" to lead the Black and Gold back to the promised land of the MLS Cup? Will he wrack up the honors in his second season, as did Schelotto?

These are vibrant times, with the hope of a season yet to begin. Can the Crew put the right pieces in place to support Higuain? They've made some moves, but the thinking here is, is that they are not yet finished assembling the pieces. As I put on my prognosticator hat, I envision Higuain having a "breakout" season that is on par with that of Schelotto's second season. Federico knows what came before and he knows that the shoes he must fill are large. For a diminutive man, he's just the right size.

Women And Children First...

rickgethin — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:54:25 -0000

Perennial championship contending clubs always manage to inject new players at opportune times, while keeping a core group in the fold. This applies to all soccer leagues throughout the world, with the prime example being the powerhouses at the top of the table in the Premier League (England). They are there, year after year. They don't do that by dropping a third of their roster in the off-season.

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(For an excellent statistical breakdown on roster carryover, read LW Johnson's article "Roster Carryover, Important To MLS Success" on Massive Report)

The analogy that has come to the forefront in regards to the Crew, is that of "rats leaving a sinking ship". I'm not saying that Columbus is in danger of spinning wildly out of control, ready to crash and burn at a moments notice. But, the players that have elected to play elsewhere, weren't offered extensions or want a trade out of Columbus is disturbing. If this were solely a "rebuilding" exercise, they would have said so. There is something deeper at play here that hasn't come to light, yet.

Why are the players being allowed to walk, not wanting to return or begging for a trade? It certainly isn't the city of Columbus. While it doesn't have the alluring "media shine" of New York or Los Angeles, it has a sensible, Midwestern charm that many love to call "home". I've talked with many pro athletes that say only the best about this city.

It most assuredly isn't the ardent fanbase that fills the Nordecke for each home match of the Black and Gold. The players know this as fact. Why else would they come over to show their appreciation to this group whether they win or lose?

All signs are pointing to something going on within the club walls. There is no other rational or logical way to explain the loss of so many players in such a short span of time. The lack of an explanation for the loss of these players is filling this vocal fanbase with trepidation going into the 2013 season.

Once again, we return to the example of the Premier League. Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea FC (currently the top three), keep their core and add/subtract players as needed. You won't see them turning over a third of their roster in the span of three months. Their formula for success is tried and true. They are perennial powerhouses and contenders for silverware each and every season.

From the championship season of 2008, the Crew have been progressively getting worse. The stats don't lie. In the intervening years, they've lost some very good players that weren't replaced in kind, to a listlessness that has seemed to envelop the club. The question now becomes what to do about it. The addition of another International is welcome news (according to Crew President and GM Mark McCullers), although it's more of a band-aid than a cure.

There is no easy or simple answer to what ails this club. But, something needs to happen to keep the ship from sinking any further. Or, this will soon turn into a salvage operation. And as we all know, salvage operations are never pretty.