Fulham FC manager Chris Coleman nearly handed Brian McBride the captain's armband Wednesday night, but reason won out over the sentimental.
McBride, fresh off a long break and with just one training session under his belt prior to Fulham's friendly against his former club came on at halftime for the Whites and played 45 minutes in his first match of the preseason. But he saw his old club knock off his current team as the Columbus Crew claimed a 2-1 victory.
"Ideally, I would have started Brian from the start and made him captain because it would have been great for him to come back and lead the team out," Coleman said after the match. "But I spoke with him before the game and it's more important I have him ready to face Birmingham (in Fulham's season opener), because if he shows the form that he showed, certainly towards the last 10 games of last season, then he's going to be a starter."
McBride, ever the team player, agreed with his coach, not wanting to jeopardize his fitness. Still, the U.S. international felt nostalgic about returning to Ohio.
"It's somewhat like home. It just seems so normal," McBride said. "It almost seems like I've been on a long road trip or something, but on the soccer side of things it's reality that I've got to prepare myself to be ready for the season with Fulham.
"To ... sit on the other bench is a little strange," said McBride, who joked at the announcement of this year's All-Star matchup that he might walk into the wrong locker room. "I've been in that locker room before. It's just that bench that was awfully different."
In the first half, the stadium video board showed occasional shots of McBride as he sat on the bench, drawing applause from the crowd. When he came on after the break, the Columbus fans gave him a hero's welcome, as if to thank him for his 62 career goals in the Black-and-Gold.
McBride wasn't able to immediately repay the favor, mustering only two shots in his time on the field. Neither effort was on target.
"It's so nice. They've always been so supportive," McBride said. "I really appreciate that and respect that. I just hope I can give a little back with the U.S. team when we come back."
On Wednesday night, the Crew team McBride faced was drastically different from the one he played with for eight seasons. Only six players currently on the Crew roster actually played with McBride in Columbus, and only two -- Kyle Martino and Edson Buddle -- played Wednesday night. Three of the remaining four -- Jon Busch, Duncan Oughton and Ross Paule -- are out for the season due to injury, while MLS All-Star Frankie Hejduk did not dress.
"I think he had a great career here," Buddle said. "It's good to see him come back. He's always consistent; he still does the things that got him to where he is now.
"He'll get a warm reception every time he's in America, but Columbus especially. They're always going to love him."
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
