The Weekly Dis
Does Andre Gomes have the weightiest Curriculum Vitae in Columbus Crew history? A first look at new midfielder, and other things ...
Central midfielder Andre Gomes joined the Crew from Lille of France's Ligue 1 on a free transfer on Feb. 6. After getting his work visa in his native Portugal, he arrived in Columbus in time to get in a few training sessions before he played his first MLS game last weekend.
The Crew lost at home 1-0 after Nashville scored in second-half stoppage time. Oof. Gomez, who played all of eight minutes over the first half of Lille's season in France, started for the Crew and wasn't subbed out until the 63rd minute.
"When he could train quite well, then we said (he'll play) the first 45 minutes," said Crew coach Henrik Rydström. "Sometimes, and don’t tell the performance department this, when they say 30 minutes then you know you can push them to 45. When you come to halftime … you ask them at halftime, like, ‘You OK?” Then you can push them to 50. Then, OK, 15 more minutes. Then, it’s 60. So, when they say 30, then it’s 60."
It's notable that Gomes, 32, who made just two Ligue 1 appearances in part because he was (reportedly) hampered by injuries, was able to step off a plane and, a few days later, go 63 minutes. It's uber-professional. The man kept himself in fine condition as he packed up his bags in France and Portugal and waited for his paperwork. He also did a fair amount of homework, given his ability to settle into the middle of Rydström's system (a work in progress) and his knowledge of the Crew.
After the Nashville game, in a locker-room scrum with reporters, Gomes was asked what he would be bringing to the position that was vacated by an MLS legend, Darlington Nagbe, who retired after last season.
"I think there is no comparison in the sense that (Nagbe) was really, really important for the club, with an amazing history and everything," Gomes said. "I was a captain as well (in the past) and, in that sense, nobody can come and fill his shoes. Is that the right expression?
"In my situation, personally, I have my good things and bad things. Like any other player, I try to be as perfect as possible, but I'm here to help the team as much as I can. I want to keep growing with the team for the next games and hopefully be another one trying to change the situation right now."
Before he got here, dude studied Nagbe. Think about that.
The Crew have had a number of prominent players over the course of their 30-plus-year history. Early Crew stars Brad Friedel, Stern John and Brian McBride left Columbus to achieve legendary or near-legendary status in England. The incomparable Guillermo Barros Schelotto is an iconic figure in the history of Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors, but he was 34 years old when he got to Columbus.
It may be that Gomes has a weightier CV than anyone who has been recruited here. Gomes played with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets in Barcelona, coached in the heyday by Luis Enrique, one of the best in the game. Gomes played for the Portuguese national team which won the 2016 UEFA Euro. He played for one of the greatest coaches of all time, "Don Carlo" Ancelotti, at Everton of the EPL. Etc.
It doesn't seem to fit, then, that Gomes is soft-spoken, deferential and clearly self-aware. But, then, those appear to be Crew-y attributes under Tim Bezbatchenko and his successor, Issa Tall.
Nearing the end of his career, Gomes was lured to flyover country to play for the Black & Gold. We've yet to have enough time with him to do a deep dive into the details of his thinking, but he has shed some light on the process. He is intrigued by the growth of MLS, the potential for the sport in the U.S. – especially at this moment, on the eve of the World Cup – and the Crew's chances at winning more trophies. He is impressed by general manager Tall, interested in Rydström's systems and excited about this new chapter in his professional career. He also sees it as a cultural adventure for his family.
"He's in love with football," Rydström said. "I think we coaches always look a lot at different games [in a wonky way, is what I think Rydström means here]. He can talk football for hours, so it's a good match. He's very humble, but you also saw that he directly talked with players. He talked with everyone. It's not that he only talked with me or Wes (Abou Ali).
"It’s Owen (Presthus, who is 20 years old) or if it's (Tristan) Brown (who is 18). And he also listens to different perspectives. He's never like, ‘Well, Ancelotti said this and then you should do this, coach.’ Or, 'Luis Enrique did this.’ So, he gives us lot of experience and different solutions. He's also the one I can talk with, ‘We want to press like this,’ and then he can be the one that also helps out on the pitch."
The Crew are 0-2-2 heading into their game at Toronto, which kicks off at 1 p.m. today. Rydström, who at the start of the year took over for hugely successful Wilfried Nancy, doesn't care much for losing. And he hates anemic offense. He has much work ahead of him before the Crew are operating the way he imagines they will. Here's a comment from mid-week:
I would say we are quite far away from playing the way the Columbus Crew is capable of doing. My teams usually play in the way they play. But I have never had a team where we play in the way we want them to play after six, seven weeks. I would love to have that. But then I think the only way to do that is play very simple. Then you have to, every time we win the ball, down the channel. Every time we lose the ball, home with the team (back up the bus). Then you will see a clear identity, but that's not the football we want.
As for Gomes, he says he's all in:
Of course I can realize the quality of the team since the first day I arrived. But the season is really long, so we are just at the beginning. I know the results are not the best in that sense, but we are improving week by week. So we are looking forward to start to get the results. Obviously, that will build the confidence on the team (combined with) the work we have been doing. I can see a bright future for us.
Posts
Monday:
I know how to change the oil in my car, but such skills have yet to transfer to audio engineering. ... Crew coach Henrik Rydström had to pump the brakes on his penchant for attacking, and now he's trying to find the accelerator. ... The race in the Eastern Conference and the Metropolitan Division is overheating. ... Note: There are no automotive metaphors in the following ...
Michael Arace
Wednesday:
Who wrote that headline? Where's my copy editor?
"Yeah, we know how they play," Bowness said. "Yeah, we'll see. How will they do against us? Right? That's the way I look at it, too. How are they going to do against our pressure? So yeah, they're a great hockey club."
The Blue Jackets put a 5-1 spanking on the Carolina Hurricanes, who have the best record in the Metro and the East.
Michael Arace
Friday:
On a wild and woolly Thursday night at the Nationwide Arena, the Jackets beat the Rangers 6-3. Some interesting stats about the Jackets' remarkable, 18-2-4 run since Jan. 11.
Michael Arace
This made me laugh
The clip below wasn't the best thing I stumbled upon this past week. It probably wasn't even the funniest bit on SNL last Saturday. But, man, it's goofy-funny in a throwback-SNL way. When Mrs. Arace saw it, her diaphragm came close to shredding.
Per usual ...
The Blue Jackets play the Seattle Kraken at Nationwide Arena this evening. Puck drops at the unusual time of 5 p.m. It'll be the fifth and final salute to former Jackets during this 25th anniversary season. On hand for the ceremonial puck drop will be the first captain, Lyle Odelein, and the first star, Rick Nash, as well as Andrew Cassels, Jack Johnson and Fedor Tyutin. A fine cast.
Per usual at this juncture of the NHL season, we end with the standings and the refrigerator magnet. (This just in: the Colorado Avalanche last night became the first team to clinch a playoff spot.)
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Michael Arace
