[MLS 2014: Eastern Conference] When he bought the Crew and its stadium last July from Hunt Sports Group for $68 million, ownerAnthony Precourt vowed to change the team’s image in all respects.
An extensive rebranding is pending. The Crew Stadium scoreboard, whichcaught fire before a game last year, has been upgraded. To arrest a slide on the competitive side, former U.S. international Gregg Berhalter, who spent most ofhis playing career in the Netherlands, England and Germany, has replaced former head coach Robert Warzycha.
2013Columbus Crew
Record: 12-17-5
Finish: 8th in Eastern Conf.
Playoffs: did not qualify.
Warzycha, who inherited the 2008 MLS Cup championship team from predecessor Sigi Schmid, was dismissed inearly September with the Crew in eighth place, where it eventually finished. Berhalter has revamped the defense by trading two long-time contributors and replacing them with players experienced inEurope. Centerback Chad Marshall is out; former Rev Michael Parkhurst returns to MLS after playing in Denmark andGermany. Goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum, who played 21 of 34 games last year, has moved on; Steve Clark was acquired in atrade with Seattle after spending the last four years in Norway with Honefoss FC.
“New ownership, new coach, hopefully we can turn things around from last year,” saysParkhurst, who helped the Revs reach three straight MLS Cups (2005-07) and is on the bubble for the 2014 USA World Cup roster. “That’s one good thing about MLS; you’re able torebuild quickly if you do it right. I think Gregg’s gonna put us on the right path, so time will tell.”
Eastern Conference Preview:
Chicago
WHY BE OPTIMISTIC? Berhalterfinished his MLS career as player-coach with the Galaxy, where he mentored Omar Gonzalez and his teammates on a daily basis before leaving to coach in Swedenwith Hammarby IF, which dismissed him last summer after 18 months in charge. His familiarity with the league’s nuances and methods is an asset, and his reputation as focused and direct was borneout when he challenged Argentine playmaker Federico Higuain to increase his influence. Fans remember the team’s best era occurred when another Argentine,
Concacaf has been a vital source of players to MLS teams, andBerhalter has signed up Costa Rican international defenders Giancarlo Gonzalez and Waylon Francis. The Crew tied for11th place by scoring 42 goals last year, so netting four goals apiece in last two games of preseason, during which it finished 4-0-1 and concluded by thumping defending champion Sporting Kansas City,4-1, is a positive sign.
Parkhurst, 30, won Rookie of the Year, Defender of the Year,and Best XI honors in his four MLS seasons. The league is faster and tougher, but if he can match hisprevious level of play, the Crew won’t miss Marshall at all. In his first season with the Crew, Dominic Oduro led the team with 13 goals and signed a newcontract. Hector Jimenez, a former Galaxy teammate of Berhalter who joined him in a January trade, played impressively in the defeat of SKC.
WHY BE PESSIMISTIC? Columbus finished ahead of only Toronto FC and D.C. United last year and both of those teams haveundergone renovations that exceed those in Columbus. So has Chicago, which finished eight points ahead of Columbus. The Crew roster may not be deep enough to generate points while missing players tointernational duty in a World Cup year. Many keepers have struggled adjusting to MLS, so Matt Lampson (13 games last year) has to be ready if Clark stumbles.
PROJECTED FINISH: 7th-9th place. Berhalter has a clear vision of how he wants the team to play, and if Jairo Arrieta, Higuain, Oduro,Clark and Parkhurst all step up the Crew will be in the hunt, yet consistent results will be hard to come by this first season.
PROJECTED LINEUP: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper:
NO. PLAYER (AGE)/COUNTRY
1-Steve Clark (27)/USA (Honefoss)
Defenders:
NO. PLAYER (AGE)/COUNTRY
3-Josh Williams (25)/USA (5th season)
19-Giancarlo Gonzalez (26)/Costa Rica(Valerenga)
4-Michael Parkhurst (30)/USA (Augsburg)
5-Waylon Francis (23)/Costa Rica (Herediano)
Midfielders:
NO. PLAYER (AGE)/COUNTRY
12-Hector Jimenez (25)/USA (LA Galaxy)
20-Wil Trapp (21)/USA (2nd season)
6-Tony Tchani (24)/USA (4th season)
7-Bernardo Anor (25)/Venezuela (4th season)
NO. PLAYER (AGE)/COUNTRY
10-Federico Higuain (29)/Argentina (3rd season)
First off the bench:
NO. PLAYER (AGE)/COUNTRY
21-Chad Barson (23)/USA (2nd season)
8-DominicOduro (28)/Ghana (2nd season)
9-Justin Meram (25)/USA (3rd season)
24-Agustin Viana 30/USA (2ndseason)
Columbus Crew: complete roster.
Note: returning players in bold.
MARCH SCHEDULE:
March 8: at D.C. United, 7 pm ET
March 22: Philadelphia, 6 pm ET
March 29: at Seattle, 10 pmET
Columbus Crew: complete schedule.