I don't think Tressel should've been forced to resign. I'm disappointed that Gene Smith and Gordon Gee didn't stick by him when they said they would. However, I'm done with being his apologist. The Sports Illustrated Article that published late last night is pretty damning. There are ways pick at the article. Just like pretty much everything else that has become news about Ohio State since December the sources are dubious. Most of the sources really lack believability as they're anonymous, have an ax to grind or are criminals. That being said I won't deny any of the claims in that article. I've been denying for 6 months and everything is proving to be true thus far.
I suspect that Terrelle Pryor and probably the rest of the Players who were suspended will enter the NFL Supplemental Draft. First, I think they're loyalty was to Tressel. That's why they stayed. Second, with this entire shit storm, it's pretty clear that Pryor won't be playing at all next Season at Ohio State and I wouldn't be surprised if the others aren't implicated in this as well.
It was worrying when the allegations about the 6 players came out six months ago. When ever Journalists and the NCAA start digging around in a major College Football town, they're going to find stuff. There are too many boosters who want to feel like they're part of the success of the team and the players aren't mature enough to resist. Major College athletics is corrupted everywhere. It's not just Columbus, Ohio where stuff goes down no matter how much ESPN tries to say otherwise.
It's strange though how much the tenor has changed since we found out about the Tattoo scandal in December. Back then it was about how unfair it was that the players couldn't sell their own property. Now it's all encompassed in this business and those are such terrible violations of NCAA rules. A lot more has come out since then, but it all still points back to the dealings at the tattoo parlor. It seems to me this scandal is blown out of proportion.
I've already had my rant about the lack of legitimacy of the NCAA though.
However, I don't think Ohio State fans should fret too much. Just because Tressel and in all likely Pryor are gone doesn't mean next year is a waste. It still seems to me that OSU should be favorites for the Big-10 again. Even if some key players are missing, it's not a huge deal, because the back-ups at Ohio Sate are pretty damn good. Recruiting may be down for a while, but it'll recover.
The only thing that could really screw Ohio State up is the NCAA being to heavy handed with their ruling in August. There will be penalties and they're deserved, but all these media hype may make them want to slaughter the Buckeyes to try and show they aren't horribly corrupt and useless. Ohio State doesn't deserve penalties as severe as what USC received, because despite the hype these violations aren't as bad as what Reggie Bush did all by himself.
I think a fair* ruling would be Scholarship reductions similar to USC, increasing the player suspensions, vacating the wins from 2010, and a "show-cause" penalty for Tressel.
Thanks for reading
-Michael
*I'm not really objective here though and the NCAA has no concept of what "fair" is so it's kind of useless.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Columbus Crew 2011: The Rant
Robert Warzycha was almost without doubt the best wide player the Crew have ever had. He's the all-time assist leader for the club. He came to MLS from the EPL long before David Beckham and the Designated Player rule. His talent as a player is unquestionable, but it isn't translating that well to the role of manager. His particular short-coming seems to be in building a squad. It's not that he hasn't brought in talented players. It's that they don't fit well together and is a train wreck on the pitch.
The Crew have played ten games in MLS this season and have only managed eight goals. That's not horrendous until you get the kicker: four of those goals are from penalties. Four goals from the run of play. That's just pathetic especially in the MLS where, to put it nicely, defense is not the strength. The Crew definitely have players that are capable of producing goal. Cunningham alone is just short of becoming the MLS all-time leading scorer*.
The biggest problem with this team became evident to me in the first leg of the Crew's CONCACAF Champions League match-up against Real Salt Lake. That game was the worst soccer game I've ever watched. It's not that it was a nil-nil draw, because I will defend the value of 0-0 games until I'm blue in the face. There were virtually zero chances created. The Crew had plenty of control of the ball and the better of the play, but it would always breakdown in crucial moment.
There is a breakdown between the midfield and the attackers with the Crew this season. The Crew have had the better of the play frequently this season and a dominant defense as well. The midfield play has been poor, but I don't think that's because the midfielders themselves are bad at the game. These guys played well last year. It's that they are longer be utilized properly.
This year is the first year that The Crew has become Warzycha's team. The past two seasons it's been the roster that was built by Sigi Schmidt before he ditched** the Crew for Seattle. Following the 2010 MLS season Warzcha was able to let many of Sigi's signings go and he did just that. He also brought in a few players, but the cuts definitely outweighed the gains.
The problem with the midfield is the absence of a true center midfielder. Kevin Burns and Dejan Rusmir are central mids, but they are defensive and don't really help in the attack. The four other midfielders who see playing time are all wide players like Warzycha was. There is a myth that Expo can play CM, but he doesn't do it very well at all. His pace would be much better used on the wing and his lack luster passing and ball control would be better hidden. The Crew really need a player in the Center midfield who can control the ball and make plays and players like that were shown the door this winter.
Also, this didn't fit neatly into my argument, but I geniuenly hate the 4-5-1. The switch to the 4-4-2 last weekend was a start.
All that being said, the Roster can't be cured during the season. In theory a trade could happen, but I don't think that's likely. The Crew does have the talent to compete in the MLS, but it's going to require better utilization. I think Renteria can be used to help fill the hole in central midfield by putting him into a CAM or CF role. I think the Crew's roster could be best used in the 4-3-1-2 formation like this(more accurately what I would do):
I don't particularly love Gaven in that role, but I think he's the best option for it. He could be subbed out for Rusmir or Burns if the Crew can get a lead and it would be a more 4-1-2-1-2 look.
Forgive the sloppiness of it and thanks for reading
-Michael
*At this rate he won't get the record though.
**Never forgiven
The Crew have played ten games in MLS this season and have only managed eight goals. That's not horrendous until you get the kicker: four of those goals are from penalties. Four goals from the run of play. That's just pathetic especially in the MLS where, to put it nicely, defense is not the strength. The Crew definitely have players that are capable of producing goal. Cunningham alone is just short of becoming the MLS all-time leading scorer*.
The biggest problem with this team became evident to me in the first leg of the Crew's CONCACAF Champions League match-up against Real Salt Lake. That game was the worst soccer game I've ever watched. It's not that it was a nil-nil draw, because I will defend the value of 0-0 games until I'm blue in the face. There were virtually zero chances created. The Crew had plenty of control of the ball and the better of the play, but it would always breakdown in crucial moment.
There is a breakdown between the midfield and the attackers with the Crew this season. The Crew have had the better of the play frequently this season and a dominant defense as well. The midfield play has been poor, but I don't think that's because the midfielders themselves are bad at the game. These guys played well last year. It's that they are longer be utilized properly.
This year is the first year that The Crew has become Warzycha's team. The past two seasons it's been the roster that was built by Sigi Schmidt before he ditched** the Crew for Seattle. Following the 2010 MLS season Warzcha was able to let many of Sigi's signings go and he did just that. He also brought in a few players, but the cuts definitely outweighed the gains.
The problem with the midfield is the absence of a true center midfielder. Kevin Burns and Dejan Rusmir are central mids, but they are defensive and don't really help in the attack. The four other midfielders who see playing time are all wide players like Warzycha was. There is a myth that Expo can play CM, but he doesn't do it very well at all. His pace would be much better used on the wing and his lack luster passing and ball control would be better hidden. The Crew really need a player in the Center midfield who can control the ball and make plays and players like that were shown the door this winter.
Also, this didn't fit neatly into my argument, but I geniuenly hate the 4-5-1. The switch to the 4-4-2 last weekend was a start.
All that being said, the Roster can't be cured during the season. In theory a trade could happen, but I don't think that's likely. The Crew does have the talent to compete in the MLS, but it's going to require better utilization. I think Renteria can be used to help fill the hole in central midfield by putting him into a CAM or CF role. I think the Crew's roster could be best used in the 4-3-1-2 formation like this(more accurately what I would do):
Forgive the sloppiness of it and thanks for reading
-Michael
*At this rate he won't get the record though.
**Never forgiven
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