Moffat and Noonan likely to miss start of the season

By: Matt | March 9th, 2009

When speaking to friends who follow other MLS teams (OMG, not allowed, amirite?), I have been talking up the Crew’s tremendous midfield depth. The MLS, to put it bluntly, has sucked some big ones in the last couple of years in the CONCACAF Champions League (Houston last/this year being the notable exception). However, all offseason I’ve been telling anyone that would listen that I think the Crew had the depth to rest their MLS starters and still field a pretty competitive team in the CL. Gaven, Moffat, Ekpo, and Noonan could all play musical Starting XI throughout the season. Well, strike out two of those names, at least for the beginning of the season. It was announced today that Scottish midfielder (and Patrick Thistle supporter, but we don’t hold that against him) Adam Moffat and the most highly sought after bench player in MLS, Pat Noonan will both miss at least the opening games of the season. After scoring two goals in six games and being an all around bad ass last year, Moffat’s potential break out year was quickly ended by a ligament tear to his left knee. It was expected that Moffat would be recovered by the beginning of this season but the Scot has experienced inflammation and tendinitis in said knee and has not played in any of the Crew’s preseason matches. Crew trainer Jason Mathews had this to say about Moffat, “”I still think he’ll be fully fit by the beginning of the season but he won’t have played any minutes in any games and that’s going to make it tough for him. If he can get an early reserve game or get two or three straight weeks of training then by that third or fourth game I don’t think there will be any issues.”

Pat Noonan will definitely be missing the season opener against Houston and could be possibly miss substantial time after wards as well. Apparently Noonan suffered a herniated disk while moving items in his home. I know that most MLS players are not making Beckham money, but looking at the salaries of MLS players, Noonan is making $175,000 a year. He can afford to hire a mover. Heck, I would have done it for some free Crew gear. Unfortunately, Noonan’s Izzy Mandelbaum (Seinfeld reference #2 of my blogging career, #1 on this blog) might keep Noonan off the field anywhere from two weeks to two months.

Hopefully my studies will permit me to start my planned season preview this week. I am hoping to break down the keepers, the defense, the midfield, strikers, and coaching staff of the Black and Gold before the season begins. College professors seemingly have all assignments due the same week, but I am pretty much done with my midterm obligations. I do have some other blogging obligations, as you may well know I got into the blogging game as the Celtic Offside correspondent and the Bhoys take on their city rivals Rangers in a cup final this weekend, which apparently is a big deal (who knew?). But rest assured, I hope to provide all 12 of you reading out there (I saw the numbers for last month…ouch.) the best Crew preview money can buy….for free!