2020 MLS Cup Final: Sounders at Crew - Saturday December 12th, 8 pm.

After an unprecedented season that saw many of the tops teams flame out early on in the playoffs including our Reds, the certain rises on 2020 with the Sounders making the trek to Ohio's state capital to take on the Crew in the MLS Cup Final on Saturday night. Some of the TFC related story lines include 2010 Red Patch Boys Player of the Year "Super" Stefan Frei going for his third title in five seasons and former Reds GM Tim Bezbatchenko now at the helm of the Crew as the team's president. After the Sounders huge comeback victory over the Loons in the Western Conference Final, you have expect anything can happen, so it will be interesting to see how this matchup shapes up.

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What was the back story on why Stefan moved on or TFC moved on from Stefan?

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Originally Posted by DaviRed

What was the back story on why Stefan moved on or TFC moved on from Stefan?

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Incompetence - Frei was due a raise, Bendik was cheaper.

Frei was mortal last night. In some ways, i think his team bailed him out. For sure he was late on the first set piece... dont get me wrong, love Frei, just saying.

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Originally Posted by Bushmancan

Frei was mortal last night. In some ways, i think his team bailed him out. For sure he was late on the first set piece... dont get me wrong, love Frei, just saying.

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Thats a bit harsh. it was right over the middle of the wall and off the post. Pretty tough save, certainly not an expected one. Plus the guy in the middle of the wall (who I think was the same one who committed the foul) didnt' jump..

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Originally Posted by OgtheDim

Incompetence - Frei was due a raise, Bendik was cheaper.

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Incompetence and impatience...he was a great player and ambassador for the team because he genuinely loved the City and would have stayed (I believe) but Frei was coming off injury and wasn't quite himself yet. His first few games back from injury weren't great as I recall.

One of my all time favs in red so I'm happy for his success-just wishing it had been with us.

I just shows how crucial it is to have an excellent front office in MLS: A President with a clear Mission and Vision, a General Manager with the skills and savvy to get the pieces they need, and a coach with brilliant philosophy, formation and tactics to best make use of the pieces given to him. In 2017 all three came together to create the best MLS club of all time.

The Snotbags vs. the Pisstains.

No fuckin' thanks!!! :prrr:

Yeah Seattle have set things up well...

But can they both lose on Saturday?

BTW I mentioned it in the other thread, but I was surprised at the number of familiar faces at the Crew: Bez, Pat Onstad, Corey Wray, Jordan Hamilton and Josh Williams.

I thought there was one more former TFC player, but perhaps I got that confused.

Despite seattle being 4 finals out of 5. This is another thing to think about. Since they came into mls they have always made the playoffs. They have always been in the mix and competitive. They are just reaping the rewards lately. Hate to say it but if they win on Saturday this will be a dynasty.

The Crew have a positive Covid test ahead of the final.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-le...attle-sounders

This is really hard to figure out who I want to win. Just because I don't want to give Seattle Dynasty status (and I guess due to their collective suffering over the past 3 years) I think I'll be cheering for Columbus.

#savethecrew. have to be honest, respect Seattle so much but i love that Precourt abandoned Columbus for Austin, its only fitting for them to win. Other than that screw them both. Hahaha

Nagbe and Pedro Santos ruled out of the cup with covid. 3rd star for Seattle en route.

An asterisk sure.

I really think all the talk of the Sounders being a dynasty is pretty immature. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong but have they ever done much in the CCL or the US Open? Just winning MLS cups is way too narrow of a definition if you ask me.

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Originally Posted by Kamp Berg

I really think all the talk of the Sounders being a dynasty is pretty immature. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong but have they ever done much in the CCL or the US Open? Just winning MLS cups is way too narrow of a definition if you ask me.

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Sounders have won 4 US Open Cups, their last was in 2014. The US Open is a strange beast as you never know what approach the teams take. The Galaxy were infamous for sending reserve sides especially against lower division sides and Bruce Arena on occasion would send one of his assistants to oversea the duties.

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Originally Posted by Smokecell

Nagbe and Pedro Santos ruled out of the cup with covid. 3rd star for Seattle en route.

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Uggh, this was never going to be perfect but that really dents the legitimacy of the final.

A beautiful day in Columbus LOL

Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/Morgan_Hughes/status/1337849021403193344

Nice to see Mapfre back to its usual capacity of 2000 people

Josh Williams gets his cup final - good for him.

I don't like the idea of Columbus with a trophy but the prospect of Sounders winning makes me more nautious.

This game looks awful familiar....

A good flow to the game so far.

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Originally Posted by OgtheDim

This game looks awful familiar....

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No kidding. Sometimes its a bit preposterous.

That was a cross and a half.

I feel dirty cheering for Columbus. blech

Can Seattle win an MLS cup after a first half goal against?

Zelarayan putting on a show tonight.

Columbus has Seattle on the ropes here.

Sounder defending in spots looks pretty poor and the Crew seem to know exactly where to press.

Zelarayan was sooo smooth there. Was beautiful to watch. The quote from Porter getting them moving side-to-side was really quite insightfull.

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Originally Posted by PaceyWinger

I don't like the idea of Columbus with a trophy but the prospect of Sounders winning makes me more nautious.

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It's who you dislike the least.

Columbus is playing pretty good, flowing football.

Seattle getting outcoached here - a lot like 2017.

Went with the same team and getting killed on the wings - assumed they would have the ball more.

Long way to go yet but as many up here are saying, Seattle has played bad for now 8 out of 9 halves they have played in MLS Cup Finals.

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Originally Posted by OgtheDim

Seattle getting outcoached here - a lot like 2017.

Went with the same team and getting killed on the wings - assumed they would have the ball more.

Long way to go yet but as many up here are saying, Seattle has played bad for now 8 out of 9 halves they have played in MLS Cup Finals.

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Schmetz already has one foot on his way to a job interview in hogtown. No thanks tho.

Don’t mind seeing Columbus, except they are going to be good for a while.

Starting Roldan over Leerdam is kind of dumb.

Yeah, no thanks to Schmetzer.

Columbus playing Porter ball to a tee - clog the middle, pace, second balls, long direct, defensive pressure, 2 strong CB's who move up into the passing lanes & then retreat.

Half way there but a well played game so far by them.

WOW, just wow, what I'm doing?
I found myself cheering big time for the piss-stains, lol...

Anyways, great first half for Columbus, and Seattle doing a big zero, nada in the first half.
Go Columbus!

I like that young Aiden Morris for Columbus. One to watch.

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Originally Posted by Bushmancan

Don’t mind seeing Columbus, except they are going to be good for a while.

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I guess we have to give credit to Bez. Whatever happens.