Crew Season Review

The Crew's beat writer, Shawn Mitchell, did a fair assessment of the team's season, in which they once again failed to make the playoffs. My comments are below each section.

Top performers

Alejandro Moreno (seven goals, seven assists), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (five goals, 11 assists), Eddie Gaven (five goals, seven assists)

Agreed on all counts. Moreno and Schelotto were the no-brainers here, but I was impressed with Eddie Gaven this season - he has given his all since coming to the Crew, and it was nice to see him produce this season. I'd be interested in seeing how his numbers improved after the arrival of Schelotto - that obviously took a lot of pressure off him to be "the man" after his fantastic start in the league at the MetroBulls.

High point

Juiced by a healthy Schelotto, the Crew reeled off three consecutive wins June 20 through June 30 and was 5-1-3 from June 16 through Aug. 4. On July 27, Schelotto scored twice and Columbus dominated Toronto FC in a 2-0 victory in Crew Stadium. It put the Crew three points out of first place, and it would get no closer.

"It's just like them to do real well and give us hope!" (paraphrased from Colin Firth in Fever Pitch)

Low point

The Crew looked to be playoff shoo-ins midsummer but fell hard after the all-star break. It blew a late lead and lost at FC Dallas on Aug. 11, beginning a stretch in which it went 1-6-2 and gave up a tying or winning goal in the 75th minute or later five times.

So much for that hope. The temporary loss of Schelotto was too much to overcome.

Point of order

The presence of expansion Toronto probably kept Columbus from finishing in the Eastern Conference basement for the third consecutive season. To be fair, Columbus played much better soccer than it did last season and had higher totals for wins (nine), points (37) and goals (39) despite playing two fewer games. In 2006, the Crew had eight wins, 33 points and 30 goals.

And you could see the improvement on the field, too - especially after Schelotto took over things. It was much more fun to go and watch these guys than it was last season. Last season, I think I uttered my famous (among my friends) quote: "So, this is what it feels like to be a Browns fan.

In and out

Longtime keeper Jon Busch was waived in the preseason, Joseph Ngwenya was traded to Houston for Moreno, and Danny Szetela departed to Racing Santander of Spain. The arrivals of Moreno and Schelotto, who more often than not were a potent offensive pairing, overshadowed the absences.

I thought losing Busch would be harder on us than it was. Ngwenya wasn't nearly as much of a loss, I think - his penchant for being offside wasn't ever overcome by any sort of goal-scoring ability, IMHO. I feel bad about this... but I didn't even know Szetela was gone. Chalk that up to having a kid part way through the season, I guess - my attention was elsewhere at that point.

Hurting kind

Winger Jacob Thomas was supposed to be the Crew's speediest threat, but a calf injury kept him out of the first 13 games, and a variety of other injuries limited him to a total of nine games. Andy Herron, projected to be the Crew's top scorer, started only 10 games and missed most of the season because of injury or suspension. Brandon Moss started 17 games as a rookie in 2006 but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason.

I missed Thomas. I love watching that guy play, and I hope he'll be around and healthy next season. Herron was fun to watch, but I never saw much enough of him to form an opinion other than he runs hot and cold. Moss always struck me as a hack - good as a defender, but not so much as a player who's supposed to make the transition from defense to offense.

One for the team

After starting 16 games the previous two seasons, keeper Bill Gaudette did not play a single minute. Kudos to him and fellow backup Andy Gruenebaum for remaining stoic in their roles after Will Hesmer took the starting job from Gruenebaum in June.

Gruenebaum and Hesmer were both good - I felt solid (not fantastic, but solid) about our keepers this year. Gaudette was too tentative, IMHO.

Helpers

Ngwenya's trade to the Dynamo for Moreno helped both teams, but the Crew might have come out ahead. Unless Ngwenya lights up the playoffs, Moreno's seven goals and seven assists were worth more to the Columbus than Ngwenya's seven goals and three assists were to Houston.

Houston didn't need the help as much as we did, I think. And I already mentioned that I think Ngwenya's offsides frustrated things more than his goals ever helped.

World class

Storied Aston Villa looked impressive in its 3-1 exhibition win on July 28 in Crew Stadium, but Schelotto conducted a skills clinic all season long. Starting with his home debut May 12, he almost always was the best player on the field.

Schelotto was the story this season. End of story. Who gives a rat's ass about the Villa game? It was just a friendly.

Odd but true

The Crew was one of three teams to score more goals on the road (22) than at home (17). Only Kansas City (23) scored more road goals.

Perhaps a commentary on the negative nature of Columbus sports fans? I know that Crew fans are among the most negative bunch I've ever encountered. I stopped visiting the Crew forums several years ago because of this and it's only gotten worse, especially in the section I'm in at the stadium.

I actually sat and listened to one guy say "why do I pay money for this shit, every season?" over and over. And yet, he was back the next game.

Hey, if you don't like it, don't come. But spare us your complaining.

Blue Jackets fans seem similar, though not quite as bad. And OSU fans do nothing BUT complain (mostly about how they get no respect). But this isn't about OSU or the Jackets, so here endeth that rant.

Odd but true, part 2

It took 364 games and more than 11½ seasons, but the Crew finally won a game on the road after trailing at halftime. On Sept. 22, Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the second minute, but second-half goals by Jacob Thomas and Jason Garey helped Columbus to a 2-1 victory in BMO Field.

At least we're not paying attention to when we win or lose at RFK any more.

Healthy Hejduk

Defender Frankie Hejduk should be the Major League Soccer comeback player of the year. After missing most of last season because of a torn knee ligament, he re-established himself as one of the league's top two-way players at right back. He scored against Canada, his first international goal since 2000, and helped win the Gold Cup.

Hejduk had, the past couple of seasons he was active, not impressed me. He had a tendency to think that playing harder and running faster was enough. This season, though, he slowed down but played smarter. Absolute kudos to Frankie this season.

Busy bodies

The Crew front office had a hectic year. It secured Glidden paints as a jersey sponsor, made plans for a suburban training facility and soccer park, expanded its juniors program and began work on a concert stage in the stadium. It also has to secure a postseason exhibition to fulfill ticket-package requirements. Expect the Crew to play Nexaca of Mexico in November.

All good point... though I wish the jersey sponsor thing hadn't been as big a deal. That's just a personal thing, though: I hate advertising.

And it's Necaxa. C before X.

Digital

16,770: Average MLS attendance, the highest since the 1996 inaugural season

15,230: Average Crew Stadium attendance, the highest since 2004

93: Fouls suffered by Moreno, most in MLS

65: Fouls suffered by Schelotto, second most in MLS

5: MLS games played by David Beckham

18: MLS games in which Beckham was eligible to play

-- Shawn Mitchell

smitchell@dispatch.com

I'm surprised average attendance was so high. It never seemed to be that many folks. And Moreno should talk to McBride about getting fouled so much... let's just hope it never leads to him having a robot face like Bake did.

Beckham? Much ado about nothing... though I wish he'd kicked Jesse Marsch's face in after that stupid foul.