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Five big questions for the Columbus Crew
With the 2009 season completed, here are the answers to some of the biggest questions surrounding the Columbus Crew as the club prepares for 2010.
WHAT DO THE CREW NEED TO DO TO RETURN TO MLS CUP?
Coach Robert Warzycha managed the roster for MLS and Champions League play with aplomb until hitting the skids at the end. If he can push the right buttons again, the Crew should be in the hunt for another title.
Of course, the key will getting Guillermo Barros Schelotto under contract for another season and then hope he stays healthy. The team will be hungry -- it can be the first to win three consecutive Supporters' Shield -- but the Crew would trade that for their second MLS Cup in three years.
WHAT WAS THE TEAM'S BEST MOMENT IN '09?
Being honored as the MLS champions at the White House on July 13 was pretty cool but on the field the highlight was a 2-0 dismantling of Los Angeles before a sold-out Crew Stadium on Sept. 26.
Sure, the Galaxy were without the injured David Beckham but the Crew were playing for the fifth time in 13 days. They dominated to improve to 12-2-8 over a 22-game stretch as well as assume control of the race for the Supporters' Shield.
The Crew would score once over the next four games while losing three.
WHO SHOWED THE BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON?
When defender Eric Brunner was acquired from New York a week before the season opener he was thought to be an addition to the bench because of his lack of experience (nine games in the USL First Division in 200 cool .
The center back from Ohio State instead started all but five games as he partnered with MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall.
"Who would have thought Brunner would have been as successful this year and an integral part of the team as he was but that was because we had some injuries and we needed guys to step up," midfielder Brian Carroll said.
WHAT RESERVES ARE MOST READY TO CRACK THE STARTING LINEUP?
Defender Jed Zayner appeared in only eight games in the previous three seasons, mainly because of injuries, before Warzycha gave him a chance. Zayner played in 20 games, 16 starts, and proved to be a capable replacement for Frankie Hejduk at right back.
Zayner isn't anywhere near the offensive threat as Hejduk but that's all right -- he showed more willingness to go forward as the season progressed while making few defensive miscues.
WHAT AREA OF THE TEAM NEEDS THE MOST IMPROVEMENT?
Scoring didn't figure to be a problem after the Crew scored 50 times in 2008 but the output dropped by nine this season as injuries and national team duties caused constant shuffling among the forwards.
Guillermo Barros Schelotto had 12, seven more than when he won the 2008 MVP award, but nearly everyone else had off years.
The midfielder production dropped, too. The Crew do not have a go-to striker to complement Schelotto and lacks a threat in the center midfield.
