The Weekly Dis
Gazdaggit, Part II, and some other Dis
In Monday's post, I conjured something Columbus Crew general manager Issa Tall said before the start of the season: Tall likened the situation facing new coach Henrik Rydström with the situation at the start of 2023, when Wilfried Nancy came in fresh.
Nancy took a few months to assess his player personnel. Then, when the summer transfer window rolled around, changes were made.
"We've got 15 games to the summer window. By then, we'll have a good idea of what to do next," Tall said last month.
They have 12 games remaining before they take a two-month World Cup break. The number will be 11 after today's game against the Nashville SCs at the new Crew stadium. (Kickoff is 6:15 p.m.)
Which brings us to designated player Daniel Gazdag, who came to Columbus from Philadelphia in a $4-million cash deal and then signed a contract extension that runs through 2027 (with a club option for 2028).
The Crew have played three games and Gazdag has yet to play a full 90 minutes. He came off the bench in Game 1. He started and played 62 minutes in Game 2. He did not play in Game 3, which is something of a statement: Gazdag, a DP attacker, couldn't get off the bench in a 0-0 draw with Chicago, in the home opener.
Like his predecessor, Rydström is having a tough time unlocking Gazdag. At least, that's the case to this point.
Rydström was asked about it during his weekly press conference on Wednesday. Here's the presser in full, followed by the operative pull-out quote from Rydstrom, followed by a piece I wrote about Gazdag five weeks ago, during training camp.
Question about Gazdag, from Patrick Murphy of Massive Report, arises at 27:43.
"The first thing I would say is that I know that he's the one that is putting the most pressure on himself. Yeah, he's a designated player, and we know what that means, but he's also a very good guy that is putting the team first. I must say I'm so impressed by the way he acts because, exactly – I didn't play him so much in the first game, started him in the second, he didn't come in (in the third) and he hasn't said one bad word to me. They (bench players) trained after the game and that's not the most sexy thing you can do, like, but he accepted it and he did it (as a true) professional.
"I always try to see how can I help him more. How can I release his potential? Because we know it's there, and we saw it in Philadelphia. We didn't see it so much last year. So, I think it's a combination. I will help him, but at the end of day, it's the player's responsibility to take ownership in the actions. How can he be that player we know he can be? How can he put himself in situations when he gets the opportunity?
"I think he did a good work against Kansas, but I want more offensive contribution from him and he knows it. And then I changed (sat Gazdag) in the next game (against Chicago) because I wanted Taha (Habroune) in a more advanced position. And when we then did the subs, I probably should have changed maybe Diego (Rossi) because he was tired. He did amazing defensive work. But of course, I want Diego to be an offensive worker even more. But I know also what Diego can do in the game and Wes (Abou Ali), so it's not easy to make those changes. But we'll keep on working and then I hope that for Gazdag it will be that he takes the responsibility, because he has the ability."
Michael Arace
Posted at TheDisrespected.com on Feb. 9.
Watch the whole of the Rydstrom presser above
It's recommended viewing. This is an interesting cat.
At the start of it, he likens Nancy to a good-looking ex.
"This can be a bad metaphor," he said, and went on anyway.
When you're in a new relationship with a new lady, and her ex is really nice and good-looking ... you will always at some point – when you start to argue about things, and it's raining (points outside) – she will think about that nice-looking ex. That's Wilfried for some people. Maybe for some players, also."
At the end of it, he is asked about his two newest players – veteran central midfielder Andre Gomes, who has played for Barcelona and Everton, and young winger/forward Nariman Akhundzade. Will they be available for the Nashville game?
"That's what I hear," he said.
And there's a lot of good stuff in-between.
Posts
I try to write M-W-F for paid subscribers and The Weekly Dis, free to all, for Saturday. This week had a regular rhythm, although there was some extra podcast material produced (find "The Crewcible" and "Cannon Balls" at Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other platforms). My pods are on video and are also posted on my YouTube channel. The latest pod, featuring Blue Jackets radio voice Bob McElligott, has gotten more views (1.6K) than anything I've done to date. Like and subscribe, etc. Thank you.
Monday:
Recounting a crazy night on Nationwide Boulevard.
Michael Arace
Wednesday:
Two former Crew players, Yaw Yeboah and Derrick Jones, received lifetime suspensions from MLS for gambling on games. Here, my thoughts on instant phone-gambling. It sucks.
"When that happens, Rob Manfred, or whatever feckless jackaloot is running baseball, will issue another lifetime ban. And when that's done, he'll get on the horn to FanDuel (an official gambling partner of MLB) and check on the handle for the Red Sox-Yankees and then report to the Board of Governors how he intends to extract a bigger price from the official gambling partners of MLB."
Michael Arace
Recommended further reading:
"Practically overnight, the U.S. took an ancient vice, put in on everyone's phone, and made it as normal and frictionless as checking the weather, McKay Coppins writes. What could possibly go wrong?"
Friday:
Right winger Conor Garland scored seven goals in 50 games with the Vancouver Canucks this season. Then, at the trade deadline, he was moved to Columbus. This deal looks like a steal, and not only because Garland scored four goals in his first three games with the Jackets.
Michael Arace
It's Gameday for the CBJ, too
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Michael Arace
