Andres Mendoza (above) showed flashes last night early on of being able to team up well with Emilio Renteria in 2011.
The Columbus Crew played out to a 0-0 draw against Real Salt Lake tonight in the home leg of the CONCACAF quarterfinal. The game probably wasn't the most exciting affair to warm up the diehards in 20 degree weather, but despite a possible lack of excitement, the game was eye opening in a lot of respects.
I'm just going to list off some quick positives and negatives, and go to bed, a three hour drive home has me sleepy here...
POSITIVES:
*Some new additions played pretty well in my opinion, and have helped allay some of my concerns going into 2011. Sebastian Miranda looks like a real player, with an engine, I think he will be a good player in the back.
Grossman really impressed me too, especially for just getting thrown in there. Had a very nice couple of tackles. Grossman may be just one of those later rounders that turns into a star for us. Solid, young player.
Didn't see as much from Balchan. But, then again you don't want to see a lot from defenders. He did well with Iro in central defense, good first clean sheet outing from the rookie back.
Josh Gardner did well filling in on the left side for Shaun Francis. Gardner did shank that one cross, but that's to be expected when you're not left footed. I thought Gardner was a pretty good player when I saw him before at L.A., gives us some nice depth especially if he can fill in at the left back position.
Thought Andy Iro had a pretty good game, seems like he was quicker and more aggressive last night in defense.
Overall, great job defensively considering there was no Chad Marshall or Danny O'Rourke or Shaun Francis. Although I think I like Miranda and Balchan or Gardner better as our wing backs.
*The Crew played some good attack in the beginning.. They cut through the middle of RSL by playing quick, one touch balls in the heart of the RSL defense. This is the key, the Crew have to keep it on the ground and attack defense's more centrally. Attack the heart of the defense if they let you. As in the second half the Crew tried to push it out wide, and the crosses were bad, and the Crew ran out of ideas which led to a bunch of back passing.
Just instead of going right through the middle (thought RSL was letting the Crew in the beginning and they still could) in the second half their were no ideas and some back passing. Played better 11 on 11 actually.
*It was really fun giving Jeff Cunningham a round of applause last night when he entered, lifted me a little bit when my freezing toes were in excruciating pain. I like bringing him and Meram in later in the game. Have Renteria and Mendoza pound you, and then you look over and the second leading goalscorer in MLS is coming off the bench. It's like the calvary has just arrived.
NEGATIVES:
*Thought Ekpo and Rogers could have had better games. Rogers had some terrible crosses, and Ekpo went on a few dribbling forays that led to shots 30 yards over the crossbar.
*The Crew played worse a man up. Seems the Crew were more aggressive in attacking the RSL defense when it was 11 on 11. As soon as the Crew got a man up, they looked content on passing it around the defensive shell of RSL looking for an opening.
The problem was no one on the Crew, late in the game, made a bold move or took anyone on, they just continued to pass around looking for the perfect opportunity and it never came. Sometimes you have to make your own opportunities in the attack.
*Haven't found the person yet to replace Schelotto on crosses, although Grossman had a nice free kick on goal. The crosses were terrible be it Rogers or Griffit's (although I think Griffit did some good things last night).
OVERALL:
Could of been a lot worse. I really like that this team seems to have a lot more pace, and played a lot more directly at times earlier in the game. I liked how they went from defense to attacking in a snap of a finger at times early on.
Wasn't as impressed in the play when we were a man up.
But, definitely some things to hang your hat on. Further, I thought the Crew was the more positive team out of the two last night. I'm optimistic that the Crew can still pull out a win against RSL next week away.
OUTSIDE OPINION:
Seems like outside opinion on this game gives the Crew a lot to hang their hats on as well. Leander Schaerlaeckens ESPN blog commented on the courageous Crew and reeling Real here.
ekpo outside mid and eddie central attacking IMO is the way we need to go, ekpo is our speed guy not our central playmaker while gaven can play anywhere anytime but we need him in the middle
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