It is almost unfair to say the Columbus Crew are looking to rebound from a disappointing 2005 season. Sure, the Crew finished in the Eastern Conference cellar just one year after setting a record for the longest unbeaten streak in MLS history, but the roster has been overhauled so much under new coach Sigi Schmid that it is barely recognizable from last year, much less from 2004.
"Unfortunately, we still wear the same jerseys so we have the same negative things for people to say about us," said midfielder Kyle Martino. "It is a whole new year with a whole new team where anything can happen."
The large turnover made the fifth-year veteran feel like a rookie due to the number of fresh faces in camp.
"Coming in after [U.S.] national team camp, it felt a lot like my rookie year because of the many new faces," said Martino. "The chemistry is definitely growing which is great, since that is one of the concerns about having so many new players."
With the impressionable roster, Schmid is trying to develop a winning -- almost cocky -- attitude.
"A major challenge is establishing that swagger and mentality that winning teams have," said Schmid.
The younger roster has increased the fight for playing time and led to a high training level.
"A lot of the young guys seem really excited about coming into a team where everyone is starting at the same level," said Martino. "I think the competition and intensity in the training is great."
While the youthfulness might lead to improved training sessions, the inexperience and unfamiliarity could have quite the opposite effect once the real games start. The Crew are relying on several young players to make a large impact on the forward line. Columbus drafted four strikers, including two first-round picks in Jason Garey and Kei Kamara.
While Schmid pointed out Garey has been fighting injuries through camp and is now only about 80 percent healthy, he thinks Kamara is developing satisfactorily thus far.
"Kei Kamara is coming along very well," said Schmid. "He is making great strides."
Returnees Knox Cameron and John Wolyniec are also in the fight for playing time alongside Edson Buddle, who will shoulder much of the attack early for the Crew as his fellow attackers become comfortable in the partnership.
"Edson has been in the league for a while and knows what is expected of him," said Martino. "He has shown he can be a really dangerous goal scorer."
If the others cannot contribute quickly, opposing defenses will be allowed to focus on Buddle.
"There are so many new young faces that it is going to be difficult to ask so much of so many young players," said Martino. "It is going to be a challenge to get them to step up and realize that they don't have time to make the rookie mistakes."
A big challenge is getting the young attackers to immediately supply an attacking presence so that some pressure is relieved from key players such as Martino and Buddle. While Martino acknowledges that the group has talent and potential, he knows a learning curve still exists.
"The MLS level is going to be a surprise for them. We played against Real Salt Lake. It is the only test so far against MLS talent. It was a little bit rocky," said Martino. "(RSL's Eddie) Pope and the other backs are some of the best the league has to offer. I think it was a reality check. They can definitely step up and contribute to the team, but it is not going to be easy."
Schmid added: "One of the biggest challenges is getting our offense oriented."
With the attack, which Schmid still calls a work in progress, potentially struggling to score, they will rely heavily on the defense to keep them in games while the offensive kinks get worked out. Fortunately, the Crew's strength lies in the back and can go essentially two-deep in the rearguard.
The strength and depth is epitomized between the pipes as Jon Busch and Jonny Walker have both been mentioned among the best in MLS during their careers. Busch, recovering from a right ACL tear that forced him out of most of last season, appears to have the inside track because of Walker's difficulty in overcoming a back injury.
Entering the offseason, the main question about the defense dealt with life after Robin Fraser. With the former captain retired, the Crew acquired Chilean international Marcos Gonzalez to pair with Chad Marshall in the center defense.
"Marcos has been everything we expected him to be," said Schmid. "He is bringing leadership as well."
Marshall, the other half of the partnership, is predictably sliding into the center of defense after playing mostly as a left back during the last two years.
"Chad is a tremendous player with a really good upside," said Schmid. "He has still not reached his potential."
The pair is meshing well together thus far despite some communication barriers.
"They are both great ball winners and very tenacious in the air. The communication is difficult because Marcos doesn't speak great English," said Martino. "So far, they have been working well together and establishing a great duo."
While Frankie Hejduk, a likely participant in the 2006 World Cup, will patrol his normal spot at right back, the Crew added Ritchie Kotschau to solidify the left back position. Depth was also built during the winter with the additions of Tim Ward, Joel Kitamirike and second-round pick Jed Zayner.
"Our backline looks really solid. Everyone on our backline has experience either with a national team or in the league," said Martino. "Right from the start, I noticed our back four and 'keeper are going to be really strong and tough for other teams to break them down."
The biggest unknown currently for the Crew is in the midfield. Although they auditioned several players, the Crew has yet to find a replacement for Simon Elliott, their biggest offseason loss. The Crew did recently sign Jose Retiz who can play in that position. However, Retiz is envisioned to be a player that can plug into nearly any position.
"He is a solid left-footed player. He can play in the back or the midfield. He gives a lot of hard work," said Martino. "He is skillful and can whip a great ball in. He can fit in anywhere."
As of now, Brandon Moss is the choice for the role as midfield general. The rookie has been having an exceptional camp and will try to hold down the position once the season begins.
"Brandon Moss is very good at breaking up plays and has an unbelievable fitness level. He is a real pest to play against. He does a great job of disrupting plays and making it difficult for attacking players to get through the midfield," said Martino. "It is asking a lot of him to step in right away. Eventually, I think Brandon will be able to fill that responsibility."
The performance of the midfield also significantly depends on the form of Martino and Danny Szetela. The Crew desperately these two returnees to link the backline to Sebastian Rozental and the forwards and to create chances themselves.
Schmid expects Szetela to show great progress by 'simplifying his game'.
"Danny is looking to make a big jump this season," said the Crew boss.
With the addition of Rozental, the Crew have a legitimate playmaker, which will free Martino from the burden of having much of the attacking going through him.
"Kyle plays better in the wide position. Kyle is more of a one-on-one player," said Schmid. "Sebastian is the type of player that likes to spring people with his passes."
Although Martino will have more defensive responsibility than during the last couple of seasons, it gives him a chance to settle into a more consistent and defined role.
"It gives me the opportunity to get one-on-one outside," said Martino. "Sebastian is extremely skillful on the ball and does a great job with his vision to find people early. Having someone of his caliber to find you is a huge positive."
The Crew will use a diamond in the midfield with Martino on the left and Rozenthal at the top. In the formation, the outside midfielders will be more centrally located to allow for the outside backs to join into the attack.
"We have had Ritchie Kotschau and Tim Ward on the left behind me and both have done an amazing job getting forward," said Martino. "It makes so much easier for me knowing that when I tuck in the middle they are going to be a threat outside."
With Schmid at the helm, the Crew will certainly be improved over last year and in the mix for the MLS Cup Playoffs. At the beginning of the season, it will be vital for the Crew to pick up points while they hammer out answers to the team chemistry and personnel questions that come along with so many few faces.
At best, the Crew will frustrate teams with their defense and pick up wins with timely goals from an offense that comes together quickly and shows maturity and consistency. At the other end of the spectrum, the Crew will struggle if the young strikers fail to contribute and Buddle becomes even more inconsistent under the added pressure while inexperience and miscommunication in the back inundate Busch with goal-scoring chances.
John Kuhn is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
