Show of commitment

McBride's return from Everton sets example for Crew

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By Will Kuhns, Soccer America

The Columbus Crew and its fans could not ask for a more inspiring start to the 2003 season than Brian McBride provided.

By ending his loan with Everton early, passing up the chance to play against Arsenal at Highbury and helping the Crew advance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, McBride made a bold statement of loyalty.

That level of personal sacrifice for the team's sake is rare in modern sports. His teammates know how precious a chance to play against Arsenal is because none of them expect to ever get that chance. McBride's actions place a stamp of significance on the Crew's team goals and bind him even more proudly to the club's identity, like Alan Shearer at Newcastle.

It all has to be good for team morale.

For seven years, the team that dubbed itself "the hardest working team" in MLS also seemed to have the hardest luck, finishing second in their conference four times and never reaching the MLS Cup. The first title came last October when the Crew ground out a 1-0 victory over Los Angeles to win the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in Hunt's own stadium.

The core of that group returns this year to continue the Crew's search for its first MLS Cup. Entering the season opener, the Crew have one of the most established lineups in the Eastern Conference. Notable departures include John Harkes, John Wilmar Perez and Dante Washington. The prime newcomer is U.S. veteran Frankie Hejduk.

Perez's absence means the playmaking duties fall squarely on the shoulders of 22-year-old Kyle Martino, the 2002 MLS Rookie of the Year. If successful, Martino would be the first young American product to handle such a role for an MLS club for an entire season. No American-born central midfielder has ever finished among the top five in assists in a season.

Columbus coach Greg Andrulis wants to shrink the peaks and valleys Martino will again face.

"A lot of it will be how he handles going back and forth to the national team," Andrulis said, "and how he handles the pounding, because some guys in the league are going to try to beat the heck out of him."

Columbus' fate probably rests with its defense, which went through several personnel changes last year and ended up ranked fifth in goals-against average. Hejduk adds speed, grit and most importantly, experience. He also likes to fly up the wing -- "you can't put shackles on Frankie and I don't want to," says Andrulis -- and therefore needs cover. Daniel Torres will battle Eric Denton for the starting left back spot. Recently acquired Ross Paule will provide depth in the midfield area, where Duncan Oughton will miss the first few games with a knee injury.

The offense looks poised for production. Jeff Cunningham has upped his career-high in points each of the past two seasons (37 last year), and Edson Buddle scored two goals in the win against Arabe Unido and received his first national team call up.

McBride, meanwhile, is in top form after being riddled with injuries in recent years. Despite missing 36 percent of the Crew's games in his career, he has averaged more than a point a game. He is one of the more visible faces in MLS, but his fame has been mitigated by four factors: the injuries, the "small market" effect, his modesty and the lack of a championship.

The first two he can't change, the third he won't, but if the last one does, it will be behind his quiet leadership.

At a Glance

Worth Your Money: Kyle Martino. He'll find teammates you didn't see and weight passes that'll make you shiver.

Make or Break: Brian Dunseth. Former Olympian needs to play like the seventh-year veteran he is.

Best Youngster: Edson Buddle. Last year's 23 points may look like his breakout season until you see this one.

Underrated: Ross Paule. Should fare better this year with a more settled team.
Overrated: Brian West. Maybe the fastest guy in MLS, but often muddles the final touch.

Roster

Goalkeepers: 1 Jon Busch, 22 Tom Presthus (USA), 31 Michael Ueltschey.

Defenders: 18 Nelson Akwari (P40), 3 Mike Clark, 6 Eric Denton, 13 Brian Dunseth, 2 Frankie Hejduk (USA), 5 Chad McCarty (USA), 4 Daniel Torres (SI).

Midfielders: 15 Freddy Garcia (Guatemala/GC), 10 Brian Maisonneuve (USA), 21 Kyle Martino (USA), 8 Duncan Oughton (New Zealand/SI), 16 Ross Paule, 26 Trevor Perea, 7 Diego Walsh (TI).

Forwards: 12 Edson Buddle, 11 Jeff Cunningham (USA), 20 Brian McBride (USA), 25 Michael Ritch, 17 Brian West (USA).

Head coach: Greg Andrulis (MLS record: 23-16-9, 2 seasons).

(Countries for which players have been capped (through March 25) are in parentheses.)

Will Kuhns is a senior editor at Soccer America magazine.

 

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