THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY...AND OTHER MUSINGS

Robert Rovick
May 7, 2007

Face it, the Crew deserved to lose that game Saturday afternoon against Kansas City. In fact, if they had managed to get out of there with a tie, I'd bet Arrowhead Security and the Missouri State Police wouldn't let the Crew leave town before handing over the stolen point. It's only due to team defense that the Crew were so close to pulling off such a great theft. The Crew did none of the things that have made them some what successful in the past four games or somewhat entertaining for that matter. The team completely allowed KC to control the tempo of the game, as they played right into their hands with hopeless long ball after long ball. Honestly, I can't think of more than one or maybe two moments that the Black and Yellow looked at all dangerous on the day. It was as if their alarm clocks didn't go off Saturday morning and they just kind of strolled into a game unbeknownst to them. Well guys, I hope you're awake now.

The Good

Free Kicks/Corners: One of the few things the Crew did well on the day were Ricardo Virtuoso's free kicks and corners. New Crew acquisition Guillermo Schelotto also came in and had a quality corner near the end of the game as well. This is a positive sign since before today, set pieces had mostly been wanting from all those who have stepped up to take them this year. While the set pieces did not result in goals, which is the ultimate measuring stick to how good these plays are or aren't, the kicks had good pace and placement. Kevin Hartman and the KC defense were at least challenged to defend them. The Crew have been looking for consistent set piece play really ever since assistant coach Robert Warzycha retired. If Schelotto and Virtuoso can consistently give a right and left footed option of the caliber they provided Saturday, eventually they'll find a Crew head or foot.

Team Defense: One of the few things the Crew have perfectly correct at the moment and don't need to tinker with is their team defense. At the very least, all 11 players work hard defensively and they don't make defeating them easy; even when the other team completely dominates them in every other facet of the game it seems. This kind of mentality is so important with such an inexperienced goalkeeper in goal. It has to be calming for Andy Gruenebaum to know that he doesn't have to be everywhere and do everything in the back He can cover what he needs to cover of the goal to cut off the easy angles, and the other 11 guys around are there to do their part. It leads to no second guessing on Andy's part, no reason to "cheat" leaving an easy angle open. It's just truly shameful the team can't seem to produce enough goals to make the defensive effort they put forth every game equal three points. And make no mistake about it, the team CAN do both.

Nice To See Ya: It was nice to see 25 or so minutes of Schelotto in this game. While the debut was not exactly noteworthy, the Argentine great did show Crew fans flashes of what to expect from him and what the Columbus coaching staff saw in him to bring him here. He's got quick feet and he's fearless. Fearless is something the Crew could really use around the opponents goal. Can't wait to see more.

The Bad

Do you know you have a midfield? There was just so many things that were bad Saturday afternoon and they all have their origin in bypassing the midfield completely. It's just inexcusable for this team to pass up the midfield as much as they did in that game. It went against everything the Crew have been working on in the preseason and were doing effectively in the first four games. With the personnel the Crew have on the field, it just simply isn't a long ball type offense. There just isn't any support for it up top. So what you get is either hopeless long ball over the top of Kei Kamara's, like most of them were, or a loss of possession because Kei couldn't hold the ball up against two defenders on his back or there was no one in support around him to flick the ball too. By bypassing the midfield, the team completely negates Ned Grabavoy who is the one player as a team you want to have the ball because he can make things happen. Instead he's stuck endlessly behind the midfield strip defending KC's attack because the team keeps just handing over possession.

A counter attack or straight up long ball out of the back is effective every once in a while, but only when the other team is pushing numbers forward hard and/or somewhat disorganized in the back like DC were last week. That's not KC, however. Yes, KC gets numbers forward and they play a high line, pressure defense that could be exploited by quick wingers and forwards getting in over the top, but their defense is also well organized and will hardly ever be beaten over top like that. That team wants you to try to play the ball over the top of them and give up possession cheaply because they are perfectly in position to turn that give away into offense. You don't beat a pressure defense like that by giving up possession; you do it by playing quick 1 or 2 touch soccer and switching the point of attack in the midfield that forces the defense to un-bunch. Eventually a hole will develop. The Crew could have got in behind that defense, but it wasn't going to come over the top. If it was going to come, it was going to come off the foot of Grabavoy on the ground, except Grabavoy hardly ever saw the ball. It takes patience and skill to break KC's defense. Despite not seeing either from the Crew on this day, I don't think this team lacks for either. They have to do better.

Subs: For the first time this year, I find myself questioning Sigi's substitutions. I like that he brought in Schelotto, but it should have been for Eddie Gaven, not Virtuoso; one of the few players that was playing decently. I also question why he didn't bring in someone like Duncan Oughton or Stefani Miglioranzi to stabilize the midfield and push Grabavoy higher where he might see the ball a little more. Why did he wait until 3 minutes till the whistle to bring in his final substitute? For the first time this year, his substitutions just made very little impact on the overall play of the team.

The Ugly

A Waste of Space: I've played kid gloves with Eddie Gaven for a while now, but let's face it: a waste of space is exactly what Eddie Gaven is at the moment. Oh, it's not because Gaven doesn't have tremendous talent. It's not even because he is 100% ineffective when he plays. Quite simply, it's because he has no confidence in his skills whatsoever and the only thing consistent about his play is the poor decisions he makes game after game around the box. The Crew just can't afford to have a player out on the field that gets so many of the touches he does, that plays the game that way. The position he plays demands someone who is fearless and confident in his abilities; a player that makes those around him better. Right now, Gaven's play is in no shape or form ready to make anyone around him better, least of all himself. What makes his play even worse is over the year he's spent with the Crew, he seems to be the least likely to be held responsible for his poor form by Sigi and the coaching staff. Everyone else on this team has at some point been pulled for performance reasons, except Eddie Gaven. Yet, no one has deserved it more then young Gaven. Eddie needs to sit on the bench for a while and think about exactly what he wants out of this career he's chosen for himself, or if he even wants this career.

The Entire Game: Unless you're a KC Wizards fan.

Musings

In five league games, we've seen three different Crew teams. One that knocks the ball around effectively, maintains possession, and creates quality chances for themselves; one that can give up possession, but play the quick counter using their midfield; and the one Crew fans saw against KC, an inept team searching for an idea of how to play soccer. Which one is the real Crew? The Chivas USA game at home can do a lot to answer that question. Here's hoping we see the return of the team that played the first three games, with only a little bit of the second one mixed in. This team can play so much better than what they have shown over the last couple games, but what's it going to take to see it? Schelotto instead of Gaven at the attacking midfield spot could be one answer. Another is possibly moving Grabavoy up to the attacking mid spot, playing either Oughton or Miglioranzi at the second holding midfield role, and placing Schelotto on the wing. Another possibility is to change formation completely and go with a straight 4-4-2 with Schelotto and either Kamara or Jason Garey at forward. What ever the answer is, some kind of shake up is needed to get this offense going. The Crew have to go back to the basics we saw in the preseason. Move the ball around quickly, target your dangerous players like Grabavoy and Schelotto, and find ways to get the ball at their feet where they can be dangerous. No matter what formation we play, the forwards and wingers have to be more active and decisive up front in the runs they make as well or nothing will really change.