by Ethan Johnson
August 20, 2008

What is it about the Columbus Crew that fills me with such ennui? Anyway, here's the match report, days later:

This match was played on Saturday, August 16. I worked up the motivation to recap it today.

The big story going into this match was the signing of F Jeff Cunningham and MF Victor Sikora. Kenny Cooper is here for the remainder of the season. FCD came into this match from a fairly long hiatus.

Scoring:

35th minute: Jeff Cunningham scores his 100th career goal from an Adrian Serioux cross. The replay could be argued as an own goal for Columbus, but either way, 1-0 FCD.

62nd minute: Columbus crosses the ball to dead center. Shot on goal finds the net. 1-1.

64th minute: Columbus free kick (practically a corner kick) crossed into the box and into the net. Sala watches the ball into the net, which is my favorite Sala affectation. 1-2 Columbus. That's ballgame.

Comments:

Seriously, I can't get worked up about Columbus pro or con. FCD was effectively shut down in the second half, and coach Schellas Hyndman didn't win hearts and minds with questionable substitutions. Saragosa? Guarda? Really?

Here's the thing: I joke on the fan forum about my "poignant and relevant" experience playing PES 2008 on the Wii, but actually, from an armchair general perspective it is an educational experience. I have a 32-man roster going right now (Champions Road mode, yo) filled to the gills with the cream of the world soccer scene. But, I can only field up to 14 per game anyway (11 starters, 3 subs). Some games are tailor made for Not Didier Drogba, others for Not Michael Owen. As a Non Manager, I have to get a feel for who should be on the 16-man roster for any given match. One thing I learned is to not play favorites. Hyndman subbing in Saragosa and Guarda cannot be viewed through any other lens.

Another sticky proposition is incorporating the new talent into the roster. Cunningham and Sikora had to play sooner or later, but Sikora definitely has not assimilated well into the roster. I don't blame him, as such, but the other players (especially Cooper) really didn't seem to gel with the guy.

In the Wii world, if players don't "click", I can drop them from the team without messy salary cap or contract concerns. But the fact is, in the unreality of PES 2008, or the harsh reality of MLS, players won't always click. I got the impression that Cunningham was at the airport one minute being welcomed to Dallas, and the next being suited up for FCD practice, and the next starting against Columbus. Soccer is fairly modular and fluid, so yes, it is entirely possible to slip on any given team uniform and play pro soccer. The team dynamics may change from place to place, but the rules are the same and the fundamentals still apply. Which makes Sikora's rough transition all the more vexing.

And one more time for the people in the back: I LOVE it when Sala watches the ball go into the net. He had his arms at his sides during a corner kick. Isn't it time for Ray Burse to challenge him for the starting spot? That seems to raise Sala's game.

Anyway, good outing for Columbus, a frustrating one for FCD, next.

Next up: FCD is off to Kansas City August 23. Hooray! Another opponent that I can't get excited about. <EM>

(The full MLS article archive may be found here.)