Our pre-season so far has been criticised by many, particularly the decision to go on a Stateside tour where the teams are in mid-season and the because of the geography of the country, the teams are many, many miles apart. The amount of plane journeys our lads have had to make, I’m sure, is exhausting and to add to that they have felt temperatures over 100F pretty much every day since they arrived. It can’t be easy and I’m sure it’s more tiring that you or I imagine.
The last game was a bit of a joke in my opinion and although Orlando played well, we were definitely at a big disadvantage playing on a **** pitch and having a stroppy Fraser Forster in front of the net as the Orlando supporters taunted him with a continuous wave of streamers.
However, we’re back onto a grass pitch tonight and I’m getting excited as to what this fixture will bring. The lads have been training hard in Ohio and I imagine they have adjusted to the heat levels in the States now as they prepare for their third and final US Tour match.
Columbus Crew or “The Crew” as they’re referred to by their banjo-duelling fans, have been established as a club since 1994. This motley crew currently play in the 20,455 capacity Crew Stadium that will host tonight’s game and in 2010 they finished 5th in the American Major League Soccer table.
Tonight should be a fun match and kicks off at 19:30 local time. That’s 00:30 UK time for you insomniacs out there.
Our last and only clash with Columbus was exactly 11 years ago today on July 26th 2000 (The Crew’s official website counts it as 10 years somehow?), when Sir Bobby lead our boys to a 2-2 draw in what was voted by mlssoccer.com as the 9th best match of all time at the Crew Stadium. Jeff Cunningham, who scored one of those goals for Columbus, will also be featuring in tonight’s squad so he’s one to look out for.
Not much info on who will be playing tonight but I imagine it will be Timmy Krul in goal and Ooh Ah Demba Ba up front. Ryan Taylor will miss out after picking up a slight groin strain whilst Fabricio and Coloccini and Cheik Tiote are rated as doubtful after picking up niggles against Orlando.
Danny Simpson is back on Tyneside because he got a bit homesick (understandable of course!), and perhaps because of the minor event of the birth of his new-born baby. It will also be interesting to see if where Jose will start today after the weeks events!
No news on match coverage yet for those staying up tonight but that’s what these little threads are for – so you guys can all share your news and updates when something like a live commentary or video stream becomes available!
Howay the lads!
Note from Toonsy – Thanks to Jamie Vicente for writing this up for us. Why not give him a follow on Twitter @jamievincente. I’ll once again be staying up although this time it will be because I’m at work until 1:30am so hopefully I’ll catch the second half.
Really excited for this game. I actually think Harper will be given a start as he hasn’t played for the whole US tour
AndrewT(Quote)
Audio commentary on the Columbus Crew website is about the best I’ve seen knocking about.
toonsy(Quote)
ColumbusCrew @ TOONLOWDOWN
@ milesstarforth Only audio
tonight. ran into technical
difficulties with video.
No video coverage … 🙁
deepak is an indian toon(Quote)
Beat me to it Toonsy …. 😉
deepak is an indian toon(Quote)
I think Harps is playing he whole match tonight.
I believe several of our regular posters are going to be in attendence tonight so hopefully we can get a detailed post-match report out of the them.
and hope fully OH and company behave 😉
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/2439908/West-Ham-fans-brawl-with-Columbus-Crew-as-football-hooliganism-hits-the-US.html
MDS(Quote)
I wouldn’t be surprised by another loss tonight. Columbus is a decent team, mid-season, all that.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Just read that report, MDS. Silly. There are some in the US who romanticize the hooligan era and want to ape it here.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
FSOTC- Call me crazy, but I’m willing to suggest blame of West Ham supporters for that night one. 😉
MDS(Quote)
Yeah, West Spam don’t have the best reputation, but there’s that bit in the article about the Columbus fan group wanting to emulate them, so there’s likely some blame to go around.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Pity no stream for tonight , Im off 2moro so would of stayed up with a few beers
Johno Toon(Quote)
Ressies just lost 3-2, according to Mr Barton. No word on scorers yet.
blip(Quote)
Blip – Ranger and Sammy Ameobi scored mate.And ya,there was no pitch invasion this time… 😉
deepak is an indian toon(Quote)
Bring over previous article,i somewhat believe the team needs strengthning the most at fullbacks, and maybe proper Midfielders who can cross the ball.
To me i pioritise Strikers as least impt as for now.
Simply i believe,if there is proper delivery of ball right to the spot of a striker,then the strikers we have currently can score.
Do rmb,there is quite a period when we kept relying on only shola and loverkrands,and is not that disaster period right?
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Pardew told the Gazette: “After the Andy Carroll thing I’m not going to use the word promise, that’s a dangerous word for me. But I’m confident we’re going to get a striker in. 😆 😆
hitman(Quote)
Atleast he is starting to learn hitman 🙂
Johno Toon(Quote)
It’s a dangerous word for anybody whose lied to by Ashley and dekka
AndrewT(Quote)
I think gosling will probably get a start in the center tonight. I would actually like to see Abeid given a start on the wing too, possibly even vuckic behind Ba as the lone striker
AndrewT(Quote)
Pardew’s latest statements to the press just add to his growing legend as a man who is completely clueless. Is this supposed to be a reassuring statement that we are ahead of the game? Watching his sides play over the years has not been a reassuring experience. I still believe we are being positioned by Ashley to finish in the middle of the table while bringing in ever-increasing amounts of revenue as he curbs the wage bill and spends very little. Once Smith, Xisco, Perch, Routledge, Jose, Barton, and Collocini are gone (this will take at least 1 or 2 more seasons) he will have the wage bill completely under control and income should be very stable at around 100 million per season. Then hold on to the club for another 3 or 4 season keeping it in the middle of the Prem table and sell for a tidy profit.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Your right Geordietwo we will be midtable for a few years , we are in the processes of re building and its going to take time. Along time. And yeah maybe we will have new owners before we challenge towards the top of the table but I think Ashley is setting us on the road to sustainabilty and setting down foundations for the club to grow, I know people will disagree with this but I do think in a few years we are going to see and reap the benefit of his tenure.
Johno Toon(Quote)
I think Forster did pretty well with it to be honest, people who throw those streamers on do my fcking head in. Considering the constant distraction, he made some very good saves imo. His kicks weren’t great, but the main thing was he always looked awkward when kicking..
Newkie(Quote)
Jamie good thread mate 😉 I cant see me staying up for this game the last one put me off not just because we were sh1te but it was worse having to watch with no sound at all.
TBH I dont think the results are the be all and end all as I think its more about getting the fitness upand the team geling, I just think the US was a bad idea and not well thought through as it defeats the point by not having all the first team there.
As for Pards statment I think it good to know that he has maybe learnt something from the Carroll fiasco 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Any word if Marveaux will start tonight?
AndrewT(Quote)
Cheers guys and thanks Toonsy for publishing this! 🙂 Game on!
Jamie Vincente(Quote)