Along with the usual roster, the Crew will also be taking over two trialists to England after the two impressed the team enough in Florida to earn another look. Both Ty Shipalane and Tom Heinemann will try to continue to impress Coach Robert Warzycha to continue to keep them around, but it is a tall order with the reduction in reserve and developmental roster spots by the MLS.

The Crew’s second match of the day saw them unleash six goals against an unsuspected University of Central Florida squad. This match featured a completely different line-up than the first game. Pat Noonan, Kevin Burns, Duncan Oughton, Ty Shipalane, Jordan Seabrook, and Jason Garey all added goals for the Crew. Andy Gruenebaum, the Crew’s backup keeper, was also back on the pitch after picking up an injury the week before.
Crew Lineup
Andy Gruenebaum, Chris Clements, Anthony Peters, Andy Iro, Alex Grendi, Steven Lenhart (Ty Shipalane 45), Kevin Burns, Duncan Oughton, Cory Elenio (Jordan Seabrook 30), Jason Garey, Pat Noonan

The Crew will be traveling back to Columbus today for a few more days of training before shipping off to jolly ole England to take on a few EPL reserve teams, including the Everton reserves.

Being a fan of both European soccer and American sports, it’s always fun explaining to both groups the methods of player selection in each. Trying to explain a player draft to European soccer followers and you will soon see a glazed look over their eyes. You might as well be speaking French to Americans when you try and tell them that most often the highest bidder gets first crack at young talent in soccer (though fans of the New York Yankees might be able to understand this concept better). The SUPERDRAFT!!!!1111!!!!oneone!!!!!1! (caps and punctuation for effect) of the MLS is one example of the 1996 MLS brasses effort to “americanize” soccer for Joe Six Pack (along with Shoot-outs at the end of every match…*shudders). While the SuperDraft is more than just an attempt to “americanize” footy, rather make sure super clubs don’t develop and there is relative parody in MLS. However, an even bigger problem has developed with the draft, mainly that top American soccer prospects must choose between getting an education and playing professional soccer, but Bill Archer can explain that probably much more eloquently than I ever could.

Anyways, the Crew “don’t believe there are any holes in the lineup entering the 2009 season but there are a few areas that could using shoring up.” With the only real loss from the MLS Cup winning season(I don’t think I’ll get tired of linking that picture) being Brad Evans to Seattle through the expansion draft, that statement seems true but the Crew were hoping these new editions will provide some depth. With the Crew also being in this year’s CONCACAF Champions League, depth will be key in order to stay competitive in all of the competitions and still be fresh for another MLS Cup run.

Perhaps the area that most needed backup was on the left wing. After starters Gino Padula and Robbie Rogers, the Crew are a bit thin on the left side and the Crew looked for some relief in the form of leftback Paul Gerstenberger from Boston College. Gerstenberger played all four years during his time at BC, scoring four times and notching ten assists in his time with the Eagles. Gerstenberger said of his own abilities, “I’m a two-way player. Obviously, I have to be strong defensively but I’m willing to take risks to get into the attack when needed.” If he is to make the squad, he would have to focus on his defending though as Crew fans have grown accustomed to the hard nosed defending that Gino Padula has provided on the left. Coach Robert Warzycha said of the BC leftback, “He’s a very talented player. He has good size (6-0, 180) and has good speed. His first priority is defending. He’s smart enough to understand that.”

With their remaining two picks in the draft, the Crew selected University of Pennsylvania midfielder Alex Grendi and Tulsa defender Chris Clements. The Crew also traded Stefani Miglioranzi to Los Angeles in exchange for conditional pick in 2010 MLS SuperDraft.

However, some (many who fancy Starbucks and…er…rain?) people are scheduling May 30th and October 3rd when the Crew and Seattle meet to be this steel cage death match between Sigi and the Crew. I know that MLS is trying to create rivalries to get butts in the seats and on the couch to hear the docile tones of ESPN 2, but unfortunately most of Crew nation is responding with a resounding “yaaaaawn”. Isn’t trying to create one rivalry enough MLS? At least Toronto is geographically close, has some pricks in their fan base, and like to pee on churches and fences. I know at least for me, and many of the Crew fans I know, that we are eternally grateful to Sigi for leading us to the promise land and wish him godspeed in his journeys west. The guy took the Crew from worst to first and deserves the big bucks, but I can see why the Hunt’s in these uncertain economic times might be more concerned with not pulling a Gretna (SPL reference #1 in this here blog) and making sure that the lion share of the available cash is available for the players.

So in conclusion, thanks for letting us put the little star over the three factory workers, enjoy the rain, and we’ll see you twice this year. Oh, and you can keep the scarf…