- Where are we with #savethecrew situation? What is best case, worst case and most likely case?

Greg B. - First off, there was no way that the mayor and Columbus Partnership folks were going to come home from NYC with an agreement. THere are just too many moving parts to something like this, and it doesn't happen all at once.

I would have preferred a bit more positivity in the statements, but I'm not terribly surprised. I'm not sure this can be saved, as there surely does seem to have been a longterm plan in place by PSV, but the #SaveTheCrew movement is absolutely setting the right tone. Positivity, activity...I'm REALLY impressed with them. Morgan Hughes' catchphrase, "If there's gonna be a funeral, we'll be too exhausted to attend" is gold, and really does seem to be the mantra

I think there are two critical parts to this...if the other owners are pressured enough, I don't think they'll vote to approve in order to keep the black eye offa their own faces. Secondly, the lawsuit by San Antonio has some real intrigue to it, and that isn't to be discounted.

I'm not giving up until there are trucks being packed.

Brian P. - I really struggle with this one. The efforts from the grassroots organization Save The Crew have truly been remarkable. They've essentially served as the club's marketing arm the past month. My heart wonders how the league could do this after the display of love for Crew SC here, and the amazing support from fans all over not only MLS, but clubs in lower levels, teams over seas etc.
Meanwhile I can see and I can read. The league seems to be backing ownership on this one, and seem determined to walk away from this city forever. This is bizarre to me.
Not ready to give up yet... The Columbus Foundation floated a proposal for a new facility between 5th and 6th near Mount Vernon Avenue. It's far from a done deal, but it's a proposal and that's something ownership contends has been lacking.
There's a very real posibility MLS Cup returns to Columbus. If the Crew get through we get the game here. Can you imagine! It's the movie Major League.

Meanwhile the actual Crew are back in the final four. What should we expect from this series? Who needs to step up?

Greg B. - This is gonna be a tough series. Lets not forget that Toronto ate our lunch in a 5-0 match earlier this season, and did so without Altidore or Giovinco. Having said that, Crew SC have been a totally different team the second half of the season. Hottest team in the league going into the playoffs, and I don't put a lot of stock in the 2-0 loss to a desperate NYCFC team. Keys? The back four have to be the wall that they have been at the top of the team's form this season. We have to contain and control Ricketts, who is all kinds of dangerous. Crew SC has to take advantage of their opportunities when presented with them, and make opportunities when not presented.

This team can definitely advance, but none of the soccer illuminati in the US expect it. They also didn't expect the team to advance past Atlanta. Or NYCFC. Crew SC in a close one. I sincerely believe we can host MLS Cup again, and the players deeply want to give that to the fans. This one's gonna be a monster atmosphere.

Brian P. - Such a great opportunity in game one. Toronto are missing Sebastian Giovinco (yellow card accumulation) and Jozy Altadore (sent off against Red Bulls, must sit out game as result). That's a ton of goal scoring power watching from the press box.
Columbus needs to play their game. Come out attack minded and keep the foot on the gas. They'll be getting a ton of energy from what will be a raucous crowd. One thing I will be watching is the center defense. Josh Williams and Jonthan Mensah need to do a much better job taking care of the ball. Way too many unforced turnovers of late. If we do that goalie Zack Steffen is more than capable of making the saves necessary.
Bottom line... Columbus will look to go into leg two in Canada with a big lead.

Brian Phillips hosts the CD1025 Morning Show and you have seen Greg Bartram's photos everywhere. They are both fans of the Columbus Crew.

Here we are, right on the precipice of the MLS Cup Final! A journey that began March 8th with a loss at Houston may culminate in the Big Match being contested right here in Columbus on December 6th. Here are some things you need to know heading into the Eastern Conference Finals Leg 2 in New Jersey vs Red Bulls Sunday at 7:30 on Fox Sports 1.

What's At Stake

MLS' two-leg playoff system can be a bit confusing. Essentially Crew SC lead a double-length game at the half 2-0. Because road goals are a tie-breaker, shutting out New York last Sunday at MAPFRE was almost as big as winning the match itself. Essentially Red Bulls will have to take game 2 by 3 goals or beat Columbus 2-0 through extra time and take it to a shootout. If Crew SC scores even one goal that may be plenty enough to eliminate New York.

Root for Portland at Dallas (5pm Sunday, ESPN) The Timbers beat FC Dallas 3-1 at home last weekend. If the Oregon side finishes the job a victorious Crew SC will host the MLS Cup Final on December 6th at 4pm. You can buy tickets now and of course if the game is elsewhere your money will be refunded.

Crew Game Plan Works Brilliantly

Last Sunday Crew SC set an MLS record for fastest ever playoff goal with Justin Meram's tally 9 (!) seconds into the match. The early score allowed Columbus to take a more defensive posture than I've seen all season. Red Bulls like to press forward and despite missing defender Gaston Sauro (suspended for yellow card accumulation) Crew SC were able lock down and frustrate the usually able New Yorkers. Kudos to Tyson Wahl, in for Sauro, for playing his best game as a professional when it counted most. I believe Columbus will look to play a similar style Sunday, especially with the big bodied Argentinian Sauro back in the starting 11. Look for an early wave of attacking from Columbus in search of a first half lead and then a more conservative approach to finish.

Front Office Kudos

Players win championships and the Crew SC brain trust has done an outstanding job of making this side better in-season. Not an easy job when you work in Columbus, Ohio. Superstar players like Montreal striker Didier Drogba (signed in July) are not going to be allocated here. Scouting is key and the list of players acquired since the season began is impressive. Harrison Afful (added in late July) is anything but awful. The speedy back teams with fellow wing defender Waylon Francis to push forward and create match-up nightmares in the attack.

Sauro (signed in August) was concussed five minutes into his Crew SC debut, but since his return has given the side a physical presence in the central defense missing since Chad Marshall left for Seattle.

Midfielder Cedrick Mabwati (signed last winter, but on loan to a Spanish club for much of the MLS campaign) has been coming off the bench like a lightning bolt since his arrival, and I guarantee an exhausted Red Bulls defense swallowed hard when he came on late last Sunday. His assist in the 85th was his goal in all but the box score.

And let's not forget striker Jack McInerney (over from Montreal in season). His work against DC in a 5-0 end of season thrashing was huge in that victory to cement the second seed.

Kei!

Kei Kamara is an awesome physical specimen and at the top of his game. We've seen all the goals, but what impressed me greatly on Sunday was how much he was back helping to shore up the defense. This was especially true when Crew SC were attempting to clear corner kicks. Not all strikers will do the dirty work, but Kamara does Brian McBride style.

Bottom line? Red Bulls are just too far in the hole to save their season. Dallas at least has a punchers chance with that road goal in their pocket.

Brian Phillips is the afternoon DJ at the legendary Independent Radio blowtorch WWCD102.5 FM. He also knows a bunch of stuff about a bunch of stuff.

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