[retired_nico1121]

Johnson has been immense. He's had a hand in all 3 goals tonight.

[retired_curlleigh]

Originally posted by Peter Henchey:
Johnson has been immense. He's had a hand in all 3 goals tonight.

Their new right-back had a good game too.

As for the Crew, some positives but it could well turn out to be another long season.

[retired_google]

Originally posted by furtherseemsforever:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Peter Henchey:
Johnson has been immense. He's had a hand in all 3 goals tonight.

Their new right-back had a good game too.

As for the Crew, some positives but it could well turn out to be another long season. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Considering about 7 of tonight's starting XI weren't even with the team last season, I'm inclined to chalk it up needing a bit of time to gel.

Gaven in particular looked good from what I heard (I'll have to look at the video archive), and Keimara's goal was apparently very good for a guy playing his 1st MLS game.

The backline was by far the shakiest part (it sounds like Kotschau in particular had a 'mare of a game), but that will improve as they get used to each other.

[retired_nico1121]

Originally posted by Jason the Yank:

Considering about 7 of tonight's starting XI weren't even with the team last season, I'm inclined to chalk it up needing a bit of time to gel.

Gaven in particular looked good from what I heard (I'll have to look at the video archive), and Keimara's goal was apparently very good for a guy playing his 1st MLS game.

The backline was by far the shakiest part (it sounds like Kotschau in particular had a 'mare of a game), but that will improve as they get used to each other.

Absolutely. The teams were almost polar opposites, as Kansas City still had the majority of their squad from 2 seasons ago, while as you say Columbus has made a number of integral changes. Keeping a consistent roster is still at something of a premium in the league, and it had obvious ramifications on today's match.

Gaven certainly looked more effective, Kei Kamara looks very promising. Some of the newer players need time to gel, but Rusty Pierce has never seemed to be able to in the past so I wouldn't hold out much hope with him. Sometimes he looks like a solid two-way player...then makes some of the most bizarre decisions I've seen at this level. Martino leaves another game early, meh.

I've already gushed over EJ so I'll refrain from doing so further.

[retired_nico1121]

And it looks like the free streaming of the non-major broadcast games may be coming to an end on the 14th. I missed out on it when watching the Crew - Wizards game because my ad-blocker took it out. I paid for it a few years back when it was orignally through Yahoo, think it was 9.99 a month. If its that, I'll probably just grab the Direct Kick package. But it's still unclear to what they mean so we'll see.

[retired_google]

FC Dallas 3-2 Chicago
DAL: Alvarez (1) 31, Mina (1) 66, Cooper (1) 70
CHI: Barrett (1) 12, Rolfe (1) 54
Att: 19,377
Dallas has beaten Chicago in consecutive season openers.

Kansas City 3-1 Columbus
KC: Arnaud (1) 21, Jewsbury (1) 25, Johnson (1) 61
CLB: Kamara (1) 33
Att: 18,143

Los Angeles 0-1 New England
NE: Dempsey (1) 33
Att: 27,000

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Eastern ConferenceWDLGFGAPTSKansas City100313New England100103DC United000000Red Bull New York000000Chicago001230Columbus001130Western ConferenceWDLGFGAPTSDallas100323San Jose000000Colorado000000Real Salt Lake000000Chivas USA000000Los Angeles001010</pre>

[retired_google]

Hometown hero heads in a winner (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Opener a kick for Jesuit-ex in Dallas win (Dallas Morning News)

Dallas' Vanney filled with new energy (Dallas Morning News)

Fire get burned in Dallas again (Chicago Tribune)

Wizards begin '06 with a win (Kansas City Star)

Young Crew no match for Wizards in opener (Columbus Dispatch)

Galaxy honors Hamilton (Los Angeles Daily News)

Championship rings hollow as Galaxy fall (Torrance Daily Breeze)

Galaxy kicks off with a loss (Los Angeles Daily News)

Common themes here (Boston Globe)

Dempsey returns to give Revs the win (Boston Herald)

Red Bulls taking fans to DC for opener (North Jersey Media Group)

Red Bull busing fans to opener (Asbury Park Press)

High hopes for 2 newcomers (Salt Lake Tribune)

Garlick added to recipe (Salt Lake Tribune)

Coach has more to work with (Salt Lake Tribune)

Cup may play havoc with RSL (Salt Lake Tribune)

Blue Jackets' jet comes to the rescue (Columbus Dispatch)

Dynamo kick off championship pursuit (Houston Chronicle)

History will be made at Robertson tonight (Houston Chronicle)

Dynamo notebook: Serioux adds to band of Canadian teammates (Houston Chronicle)

Luck: Soccer in Houston not for Hispanics only (Houston Chronicle)

Galaxy faces tough road, especially minus Hamilton (Chicago Sun-Times)

Adu ready to kick up his game (Washington Times)

Boswell set to make start (Washington Post)

New MLS season begins with Galaxy in mourning (Miami Herald)

Rhinos promise to pay their way (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

Hey Romario? Why South Florida and the USL? (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

[retired_jo12289]

That's a lot of linkage, Jase

[retired_google]

It'll probably slow up during the week.

[retired_the gizmo]

I wonder if the joke is that the FC Miami management think Romario will staick around for more than one season or if they think he'll bag 35 goals in one.