For the Columbus Crew, 2008 will be a year of reckoning. After narrowly missing out on the MLS Cup Playoffs a season ago, the Black and Gold still have a bitter taste in their collective mouths.
For the new season, the Crew will have the majority of their roster intact from a year, and the team made some late moves in the preseason to add some experienced veterans in an effort to plug the remaining holes in the Crew lineup.
But in the end, there will be one thing that defines the 2008 campaign.
"We've had two years to rebuild this thing. We made good strides forward last year, but all those strides forward are not worth anything unless we reach the ultimate goal which is to make the playoffs this year," said Crew head coach Sigi Schmid.
It is a goal that is echoed throughout the organization, and although it might be eight months away, it is something that the team has been dwelling on since last October.
"Certainly you have to talk about the playoffs," said veteran midfielder Duncan Oughton. "It's what the whole regular season boils down to and it doesn't matter if you finish in last place or only one point out of the playoffs, 'cause then it is a whole new season that starts."
Added defender Chad Marshall: "That's the least we can do. We've got to make the playoffs and compete for a championship, but first and foremost we have to make the playoffs to give ourselves a chance at it."
After winning 2-0 against Toronto FC in Columbus on July 22, the Crew were about .500 and sitting in a playoff spot, fourth place in the Eastern Conference. But they didn't win another game for two months. Six losses in a nine-game span then made back-to-back victories against the top two teams in the East, D.C. United and New England, meaningless as the season came to an end.
"I think mentally this team is stronger than a year ago," said Rogers. "We learned from last year how to close games out and that we certainly can create chances. Now we just need to finish some chances and continue to keep the other team at zero and we should win some games."
The main drama in the offseason was the reportedly expected departure of playmaker Guillermo Barros Schelotto, but in reality it was never a question. Schmid added a pair of countrymen for Schelotto in the preseason, acquiring forward Nicolas Hernandez from the Colorado Rapids and signing defender Gino Padula.
Hernandez was picked up in exchange for defender Tim Ward and the Crew's natural third-round selection in the 2009 MLS Supplemental Draft. Padula was most recently with Montpellier of the French second division, after playing in England for seven years, Spain and his native Argentina.
Padula will help bolster a back line that might be the question mark for the Crew at the outset of the season. Frankie Hejduk's experience and commitment are unquestioned, but with the departure of Marcos Gonzalez back to his native Chile in the offseason, a surprise could be the insertion of Danny O'Rourke in central defense next to Chad Marshall.M
O'Rourke made 27 starts last season -- all in the midfield -- while Marshall was limited to just 12 appearances because of injuries.
"It's easy playing between Chad and Frankie," said O'Rourke. "They're two, I think, national team caliber defenders. I just have to step in there and play my role, win the ball and make some things happen. That's just what I've got to do."
Said Marshall: "He's been a midfielder for a while so sometimes you have to rope him back, but he's been doing great back there."
The Crew started last season very strong defensively and had a run of four shutouts in five games in July and early August, but ended the year allowing 21 goals over the last 11 matches, winning just three of those as the playoffs slipped away.
"We've been working hard this preseason with our formation in the back four, and always working to cover for each other," Marshall said.
The remainder of the team is filled with a number of young players on the rise. Goalkeeper Will Hesmer received the call to duty for his country in the offseason, spending most of the month of January training with the U.S. national team in Los Angeles.
Eddie Gaven spent part of the preseason with the U.S. under-23 national team which earned a place in the Beijing Olympics. But he and Robbie Rogers have already shown hints of dangerous attacking ability on the flanks, setting up Alejandro Moreno and Hernandez in attack.
"My natural position is a winger so they want me play out there and swing in as many crosses as I can, and I can be dangerous if I can use my speed and get guys behind me," Rogers said.
Oughton, Ezra Hendrickson and Stefani Miglioranzi are all adaptable veterans who are back for another season, each capable of playing different positions.
"I think we've brought in some good players," said Oughton. "Brian Carroll (picked up from D.C. United via a trade with expansion San Jose) has shown that he is really good in the midfield, he's won some championships. The rest of the guys have had a chance to play together a little bit more and some of the younger guys are coming through."
If there is a change in mentality this season, the Crew hope it will be in their approach to games at Crew Stadium, now sporting a new stage at one end after construction that has been ongoing throughout the winter. The Crew lost four of their last five home games last season in the late-season fade and have not had a winning home record in the past three seasons.
"We need to win most of our home games. We need to make this stadium our fortress, and we won't accept anything less than the playoffs," said Rogers.
Everyone in black and gold seems to have the same idea, but O'Rourke has a plan.
"For us, it is 'let's make the playoffs and see what happens,'" said the Crew defender. "That always has to be our bottom line but I think we have to take it like the [NFL New England] Patriots did, game by game. Not talking about it or having this record by the all-star break or getting this many points at home -- let's win this game and move on to the next."
Nathan Linton is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
