ASN: New England vs. Columbus: Which Staff Advances?

What occurs if you put 5 American Soccer Now writers in a room-like container and pressure them to debate Saturday’s MLS playoff matchup between New England and Columbus? This.

BY

John Godfrey & “Friends”

Posted
October 31, 2014
2:46 PM

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JOHN GODFREY: Six months in the past, I’d not have walked to the top of my driveway to look at a New England Revolution – Columbus Crew matchup just like the one we’re speaking about in the present day (Recreation 1: 4pm Saturday; UDN, MLS Dwell). Neither workforce was notably compelling in the beginning of the season, and at the moment I did not contemplate both workforce a viable MLS Cup contender.

However now: Jermaine Jones! Lee Nguyen for MVP! Kelyn Rowe and Wil Trapp for the U.S. nationwide workforce! Michael Parkhurst is again and higher than ever!

I am genuinely enthusiastic about this contest. I am even modifying my weekend plans to look at it. Is there one thing mistaken with me?

BROOKE TUNSTALL: Nicely, there are in all probability many issues mistaken with you however wanting to look at this tilt is not one in all them.
It is a nice matchup with a lot of sub-plots: good younger coaches; up-and-coming gamers; two former defenders of the 12 months (one in all whom received it taking part in for the opposite workforce); they usually each function largely U.S. developed gamers, too—down the stretch each golf equipment have been beginning at the very least 9 People. It is actually American soccer, now.

Even with out all of the intriguing gamers and subplots, what in the end makes this such an fascinating contest is each groups enter the playoffs taking part in so properly. New England was 9-1-1 since mid-August however the Crew are 8-2-1 throughout the identical stretch. I can not keep in mind two hotter groups ever having met within the MLS playoffs.
So, yeah, you is likely to be loopy. However in case you’re a fan of American soccer you would be loopy to not watch this one.

JOHN GODFREY: OK—that’s sufficient enthusiasm for one submit. Inform us why you received’t be watching this one, Jon. Or at the very least inform us who’s going to win.

JON ARNOLD: Nicely, for one it’s on Saturday afternoon, squarely in the midst of faculty soccer season….

However let’s be sincere. You realize me, and I will be watching, however I can not get as enthused for this one as Brooke.

Jay Heaps and Gregg Berhalter have had quite a lot of assist from their staffs in retooling rosters and bringing in gamers who will excel in MLS. That is nice, however that does not imply we’ll get some form of ice-hockey-on-grass factor tactically. It is the primary leg of a home-and-home. They are going to be extra dialed again than regular, particularly with their younger groups coming into the postseason for the primary time with broad eyes.

And do you actually suppose there’s any animosity between Parkhurst and the Revs? Dude left and backpacked by Europe for a couple of years. Bob Kraft in all probability would not even keep in mind the man.

That Crew protection is salty, although, even with its Costa Rican contingent lower in half. And the place did this Tony Tchani come from?! Columbus wins this match however New England will transfer on.

BLAKE THOMSEN: After all Bob Kraft would not keep in mind Parkhurst. There is a real 50-50 likelihood he would not even know who Lee Nguyen is. Anyway, I believe I’ll cross on this one and save my Saturday MLS vitality for Los Angeles vs Salt Lake.

That is going to be a cagey affair that might simply finish 0-0 or 1-0, and it will be highlighted by about 50 million Wil Trapp passes and Jermaine Jones working round loads. I’ve seen Jones run round for the previous 4 years for the nationwide workforce and I am going to see Trapp metronome it up for the following 10, so for me there’s not a lot to see right here. And no, Nguyen can’t presumably rating once more on this recreation—the regulation of regression will chew him in the identical means it did for Vancouver’s protection.

All informed, the return leg is the fascinating one on this matchup, so depend me out.

JOHN GODFREY: Harsh. I prefer it. And the group hug portion of in the present day’s digital roundtable is now a distant reminiscence. Whereas I acknowledge the chance that this turns right into a chess match-like sluggish burner, I’m nonetheless holding out hope that we see New England’s children—and their cool Uncle Jermaine—let free and attempt to bury the Crew in their very own yard.

That technique may backfire, actually, however I do not suppose it’ll. I’ll hereby exit on a limb and predict a 3-0 Revs win, with objectives from Nguyen, Charlie Davies, and Rowe. Recreation, set, match…after which we received’t must pay a lot consideration to the second leg in that NFL stadium in Foxboro, Mass. Brian—who do you want?

BRIAN SCIARETTA: New England has seemed like the very best workforce within the East since Jones joined the membership. He has simply introduced out the very best in everybody else on the workforce and was the lacking ingredient for Heaps. That doesn’t imply Columbus doesn’t have a shot. They’ll play some terrific soccer when they’re on. Trapp has been a revelation and Steve Clark is likely one of the greatest keepers in MLS. However I believe the duty might be an excessive amount of and I’m going with a 2-1 win for the Revs within the first leg.

BROOKE TUNSTALL: Like Jon, I agree that Tchani might be a distinction maker. Trapp deservedly will get quite a lot of headlines however Tchani has performed quite a lot of the grunt work that has freed up Trapp to shine whereas serving to the Crew play tight protection. He’s lastly dwelling as much as the promise that had him taken so excessive out of the College of Virgnia within the 2010 draft and is, paradoxically given this matchup, taking part in like a poor man’s Shalrie Joseph or Jermaine Jones.

I additionally agree with Brian that Clark is likely one of the higher MLS goalkeepers, and taking part in at dwelling I believe Columbus has sufficient defensively to come back away with a 1-1 draw, although I absolutely anticipate New England to prevail at dwelling subsequent week.

That is how we see it, ASN readers. Agree? Disagree? Give us your take beneath.