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Columbus Crew: What Happened In 2009?
A tough end to 2009 for the former MLS Champs.
Dec 24, 2009 1:25:33 PM
Winning the 2008 MLS Cup was an extremely exciting moment for one of the league’s founding clubs. To go with the cup they had the MVP, the defender of the year, and the coach of the year.
But that was 2008 and 2009 brought a whole set of new of issues for the defending champions, including a new head coach and strong opposition from the rest of the league.
Unable to retain their crown this season, the Crew experienced a positive regular season under new management. They sputtered in the playoffs however and were ousted by their eventual successors, Real Salt Lake.
What Went Wrong?
To start the season, quite a bit went awry for the Crew. The defending champions didn’t experience their first win until the third month of the season, some eight matches in. Questions were raised about whether Robert Warzycha was a suitable replacement for the now Seattle Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid.
They were able to right the ship in the months leading up to the All-Star break however and by the time the mid-season match was upon them, they were right in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference.
A successful second half wasn’t enough however as they sputtered into the playoffs and were promptly eliminated by Real Salt Lake in their Eastern Conference Semifinal match-up. Disagreements within the team and poor play were big factors in their shock departure from the postseason.
"I'm proud of the team," said Warzycha following their defeat to RSL. "We won the Supporters' Shield. We are in the second round of the Champions League. We won the Eastern Conference -- all goals we talked about before the season. The last one was the championship. We came up short."
Benching Alejandro Moreno and Guillermo Barros Schelotto in the first match of the semis was a big reason for that.
What Went Right?
Despite not making it back to the MLS Cup Final, Columbus did have a successful season. Winners of the 2009 Supporters Shield given to the team with the best record at the end of the regular season, the Crew muscled their way to first in the league with 49 points.
Their defense was strong once more, and led by Chad Marshall, the repeat MLS defender of the year, the Crew only surrendered 31 goals, good for a tie for second overall. Scoring 41 goals also helped them to a tie for the league high in goal differential with +10.
Posting nine shutouts during the season, the Crew rarely let much past them, including a stretch where they kept the opposition scoreless in four consecutive league matches. The emergence of Eric Brunner in the central defense was a big part of this as he deputized Chad Marshall when he was hurt and formed a strong bond with him when they eventually became partners.
Brunner was one of a few changes in the line-up that captain Frankie Hejduk believes helped the team grow stronger.
"We all believe in each other. The important thing is we have a system and everyone fits into the system. We all know our roles," Hejduk said. "When someone leaves or is injured or gone with the national team we have a good system that someone can step in and it doesn't make a big change."
What The Team Should Do Differently?
It’s obvious that the Crew have the talent and the stability to make another run in 2010. The real question is whether they can keep it all together. Assuming they do, another year under Warzycha will help the process.
They were inconsistent at times in 2009 and a lot of that can be attributed to a new coach and the changes in the system that were put in. Though Warzycha didn’t do much as far as tinkering, it can be difficult to adapt to a new coaches style and the Crew showed that with their streaky performances. A full offseason under his guidance should help them going forward.
With the loss of Moreno to the Philadelphia Union in the expansion draft, the Crew will now rely heavily on the presence of strikers Steven Lenhart, Emilio Renteria and newly re-signed Jason Garey. The trio will need to put in the hard work exhibited by Moreno so that the rest of the players on the pitch can work off of them.
What Changes Will Be Made?
There is uncertainty in the team as former league MVP and leading goalscorer Schelotto has yet to sign a new contract with a club, though negotiations are ongoing.
Losing Schelotto would be a huge loss for the Crew as he is arguably their best player and one of the best in the league. They’d miss not just his goals, but vision, creativity and drive on the pitch.
If they are able to retain Schelotto, that’d be huge. Unfortunately, the same might not be said about winger Robbie Rogers who has been attracting interest from over seas lately. His pace down the flanks was vital part of the team’s success over the last few seasons and without him they may need to adapt a different approach for getting the ball downfield.
Outside of that pair, things look good for the team as they Garey back on board, with goalkeeper Will Hesmer reportedly agreeing to a new deal as well. Talks of a new contract for Jed Zayner are apparently accurate as well.
What Will Happen Next Year?
The Crew have what it takes to make a run at a second MLS Cup title in three years, provided their key players are back for the start of the 2010 season.
With another season under his belt as the head man at Crew Stadium, Robert Warzycha should have his players start out the season in better form then they did in 2009 and it could lead to a third straight Supporters Shield trophy if they can keep the injuries to a minimum.
Though there is competition from the rest of the Eastern Conference, Columbus should be right in the thick of things come November of 2010.
Shane Evans, Goal.com
Shane Evans is an Associate Editor of Goal.com.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page!
But that was 2008 and 2009 brought a whole set of new of issues for the defending champions, including a new head coach and strong opposition from the rest of the league.
Unable to retain their crown this season, the Crew experienced a positive regular season under new management. They sputtered in the playoffs however and were ousted by their eventual successors, Real Salt Lake.
What Went Wrong?
To start the season, quite a bit went awry for the Crew. The defending champions didn’t experience their first win until the third month of the season, some eight matches in. Questions were raised about whether Robert Warzycha was a suitable replacement for the now Seattle Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid.
They were able to right the ship in the months leading up to the All-Star break however and by the time the mid-season match was upon them, they were right in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference.
A successful second half wasn’t enough however as they sputtered into the playoffs and were promptly eliminated by Real Salt Lake in their Eastern Conference Semifinal match-up. Disagreements within the team and poor play were big factors in their shock departure from the postseason.
"I'm proud of the team," said Warzycha following their defeat to RSL. "We won the Supporters' Shield. We are in the second round of the Champions League. We won the Eastern Conference -- all goals we talked about before the season. The last one was the championship. We came up short."
Benching Alejandro Moreno and Guillermo Barros Schelotto in the first match of the semis was a big reason for that.
What Went Right?
Despite not making it back to the MLS Cup Final, Columbus did have a successful season. Winners of the 2009 Supporters Shield given to the team with the best record at the end of the regular season, the Crew muscled their way to first in the league with 49 points.
Their defense was strong once more, and led by Chad Marshall, the repeat MLS defender of the year, the Crew only surrendered 31 goals, good for a tie for second overall. Scoring 41 goals also helped them to a tie for the league high in goal differential with +10.
Posting nine shutouts during the season, the Crew rarely let much past them, including a stretch where they kept the opposition scoreless in four consecutive league matches. The emergence of Eric Brunner in the central defense was a big part of this as he deputized Chad Marshall when he was hurt and formed a strong bond with him when they eventually became partners.
Brunner was one of a few changes in the line-up that captain Frankie Hejduk believes helped the team grow stronger.
"We all believe in each other. The important thing is we have a system and everyone fits into the system. We all know our roles," Hejduk said. "When someone leaves or is injured or gone with the national team we have a good system that someone can step in and it doesn't make a big change."
What The Team Should Do Differently?
It’s obvious that the Crew have the talent and the stability to make another run in 2010. The real question is whether they can keep it all together. Assuming they do, another year under Warzycha will help the process.
They were inconsistent at times in 2009 and a lot of that can be attributed to a new coach and the changes in the system that were put in. Though Warzycha didn’t do much as far as tinkering, it can be difficult to adapt to a new coaches style and the Crew showed that with their streaky performances. A full offseason under his guidance should help them going forward.
With the loss of Moreno to the Philadelphia Union in the expansion draft, the Crew will now rely heavily on the presence of strikers Steven Lenhart, Emilio Renteria and newly re-signed Jason Garey. The trio will need to put in the hard work exhibited by Moreno so that the rest of the players on the pitch can work off of them.
What Changes Will Be Made?
There is uncertainty in the team as former league MVP and leading goalscorer Schelotto has yet to sign a new contract with a club, though negotiations are ongoing.
Losing Schelotto would be a huge loss for the Crew as he is arguably their best player and one of the best in the league. They’d miss not just his goals, but vision, creativity and drive on the pitch.
If they are able to retain Schelotto, that’d be huge. Unfortunately, the same might not be said about winger Robbie Rogers who has been attracting interest from over seas lately. His pace down the flanks was vital part of the team’s success over the last few seasons and without him they may need to adapt a different approach for getting the ball downfield.
Outside of that pair, things look good for the team as they Garey back on board, with goalkeeper Will Hesmer reportedly agreeing to a new deal as well. Talks of a new contract for Jed Zayner are apparently accurate as well.
What Will Happen Next Year?
The Crew have what it takes to make a run at a second MLS Cup title in three years, provided their key players are back for the start of the 2010 season.
With another season under his belt as the head man at Crew Stadium, Robert Warzycha should have his players start out the season in better form then they did in 2009 and it could lead to a third straight Supporters Shield trophy if they can keep the injuries to a minimum.
Though there is competition from the rest of the Eastern Conference, Columbus should be right in the thick of things come November of 2010.
Shane Evans, Goal.com
Shane Evans is an Associate Editor of Goal.com.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page!
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