COLUMBUS, Ohio - Through the first third of the season, the Columbus Crew have already started five different players at striker, and with the addition of John Wolyniec, a sixth cannot be too far in the future. The constant change has made it difficult for playmaker Kyle Martino to get settled with the strikers.
"It is tough because you would like to get a rhythm and a chemistry going with whomever you are going to be playing with every weekend," said the 2002 MLS Rookie of the Year. "Day in and day out, it is difficult to get a chemistry and make sure you know how a forward wants to play."
Only Martino and Simon Elliott have started every match for the Crew this season. The pair also has nearly half of the Crew's assists. However, the Crew are tied with Real Salt Lake with the fewest goals in MLS play this season.
"Once we get settled on a pair of forwards, it will be better for Kyle," said Crew boss Greg Andrulis.
In Martino's view, the Crew's offensive woes are lack of familiarity and confidence rather than talent and effort.
"I think we have a great bunch of guys who are willing to do whatever it takes to be successful," said Martino. "I know that they are going to work to get on the ends of my balls and try to make things happen."
Martino came close to his first goal of the season last weekend, but his shot struck the woodwork in an eventual 1-0 victory against the Rapids.
"Kyle has been playing very well lately. He is always dangerous," said Andrulis. "As we saw against Colorado, he had a couple great offensive runs."
Still, the University of Virginia product remains scoreless on the campaign as he comes off a career-high five goals in 2004.
"He is just saving them up for the second half of the season," joked Andrulis.
While the Crew are currently in last place in the Eastern Conference standings, a win against the MetroStars on Saturday would put them ahead of last year's pace after 12 games. However, a year ago, Columbus didn't lose a match for the remainder of the regular season, so the comparison is likely unfair for this year's squad. Still, Martino draws on his experience from last year in hopes of getting the Crew back on the right track.
"Once we get comfortable and realize that we are a good team and stop doubting ourselves, I think we can turn things around," said Martino. "Last year, we didn't do anything special. We just started to believe that we were a good team and things turned around."
The Crew midfielder would like to keep his club on their winning ways during the weekend trip to the Meadowlands.
"Their coach Bob Bradley has them scratching, fighting, and clawing," Martino said. "We would like to go in their place and do the same stuff to them at their place not only because they did it at our place, but also because we need three points on the road."
The MetroStars dominated the Crew in a 3-0 victory at Columbus Crew Stadium two weeks ago.
NOTE: Chad Marshall is set to return to the starting 11 after missing one game with a tear of finger ligament. Despite the strong play of Stephen Herdsman against the Rapids, Marshall should start in the center of defense with Robin Fraser. Herdsman and Chris Wingert are battling for the nod at left back. With the injury, Marshall joins Frankie Hejduk in donning right hand casts.
John Kuhn is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
