
After watching the away opener to start the season, I hope this guy who posted a comment on
The Columbus Dispatch isn't right:
From Gilley:
Trust me Bobby - it's gonna get a lot worse.
I think I figured it out tonight - Crew mgmt has given up, they're just going thru the motions, marking time, punching the clock, and have freed themselves from
ambition.
Tonight reminded me of one of those times in the EPL when a
manager gets threatened w/ a charge of improper conduct for fielding a weak
team. It usually happens to small teams, with small squads who can't cope w/
fixture congestion. Bliss and McC couldn't possibly expect this side to compete
in MLS, so I assume that competing in MLS was not their goal.
I think they figured out that, even if they win MLS cup and/or supporters shield,
there's no riches or respect coming their way. In this market, with this
stadium, in that location there's no victory for them to enjoy, because
there's no suitable prize on offer. So like businessmen, they decided to
produce a barely passable product, with a level of quality just barely
sufficient to squeeze the blood from their Columbus turnip.
The Crew has become the Devil Rays of MLS - no ambition except to just open the store every day. They've dropped off the civic radar, and I'm told by political
insiders that they're not even maintaining minimal relationships with
political or local business partners.
I think one path to opportunity is a stadium in a social
location where you can have dinner before the match, and a drink after. Crew
management seemed to share that view in the past, but I'm told that they've
totally checked out of the civic relationships that could help make this, or
anything else, happen.
The Hunts are gonna just barely keep the wheels on this jalopy until
MLS demands the keys, and repo's the franchise. There's no
upward mobility available to the Crew regardless of on-field performance, so
they decided to stop chasing it.
I was all set to go to home matches for the love of
the game, without any expectation of Crew success. But now, to my
horror, I've realized that on many nights this year they'll probably be unable
to even make it an interesting match.
My first reaction is freak out much? But, since Sigi Schmid jumped ship for the Seattle Sounders I can't help but notice that even when I'm optimistic the Crew has bungled every chance in the past few years.
1.) The 2009 Playoffs (First Round Exit)
2.) The 2010 Playoffs (First Round Exit)
3.) 2010 Supporters Shield
4.) 2010 U.S. Open Cup
5.) Not taking Champions League serious this offseason.. Watching RSL, they took it as a big opportunity, I didn't get the same from Warzycha's comments.
6.) No killer ambition to win Champions League group with a real chance of doing so last season.
7.) No ambition to sign any real big names this offseason despite having the cap space. Relying instead on no names such as Rusmir to fill the gap.
And here we are. We went from losing big games to making moves to take ourselves completely out of competition to be involved in big games. Honestly, I expected us to lose deep down against RSL. I expected us to drop this home opener.
Let's be honest 2008 couldn't last forever. But, god I just want some fight and belief from management, the players, and even the fans. Yes, the fans whine and complain, but management, when you ask for "patience from the fans" like Bliss asked in the Dispatch yesterday, maybe you would like to do your jobs first, before expecting any optimism from the fans.
Sorry, but it's honestly been a D+ plus effort at replacing Schelotto and company this offseason.. When you drop all of your big names, you better have an innovative plan B in the books. What we found out this offseason was that there wasn't a plan.
I just don't get what the hell is going on overall? It's like we reverted back to 2005-2006 in a snap of a finger.
Were Columbus! And we need to start acting like Columbus. Everyone is acting lately without any heart or soul. Where's the fight?
I'm just sick of the pessimistic cloud around this organization lately. The fans expect to lose, management makes excuses before the game and expects to lose, and the players look like they lost from the whistle.
No matter what happens to Columbus Crew, I'll never forget the year 2008.. My dad passed away that year and the Columbus Crew's championship run got my mind off of that. I'm eternally grateful for the Schelotto's and Hejduk's. The Schelotto's and Hejduk's who were ushered out. Labeled as now the problem, despite connecting on the third goal in the MLS Cup that sealed the deal in 2008. It was real winners, with real passion, at every level.
Where the hell has that gone? I want Columbus Until I Die back. I want passion back. I want players who play for the shirt, I want managers and staff who stay up 24/7 to make the big deals happen to take us to that next level, and I want the fans at the level they were in 2008/early 2009 when we made Crew Stadium formidable and a place no one else could win at.
We all have dropped off as of late and we all need to take a long look in the mirror and re-commit to Columbus Until I Die.