The Crew is Crazy (Not in a Good Way)

By: Chris | October 18th, 2009

nuts Benjamin Franklin once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

If that’s true, then the coach and attacking players for Columbus’ MLS side are certifiably insane.

Fellas: No matter how many times you take the ball down the wing to the corner and cross it in hoping for someone to miracle it into the goal, it ain’t gonna happen. Not the way we’ve been playing for the past month or so.

Here’s an idea (keep in mind I’ve been a defensive player for my whole life so I might be missing something): Take the ball from the defensive third of the field into the attacking third, and then attack the goal. Cram it down the defense’s throat. Go right at them, forcing them to make decisions and mistakes. Put as much pressure as possible on the opposing fullbacks and keeper. I know that when I play the game that pisses me off, I’d much rather have the time to get set and evaluate what’s happening and where the attackers are. I’m pretty sure the guys who get paid to play feel the same way.

There are two main ways to score in soccer, or any sport for that matter: Hope for the defense to screw up and allow a goal, or force the defense to allow a goal by making them uncomfortable. And for God knows how long the Crew have been using the first method.

When Robbie Rogers takes the ball to the corner and then swings it in, which he does better than most in the league, he is allowing his offensive teammates to get set in front of the goal. However, the defense is also setting up as the ball’s coming in. So although Steven Lenhart is a Big Nasty forward, the defense has time to double team him and make sure his blonde ‘fro doesn’t put the ball anywhere near the net.

How about, maybe next week against New England, Guillermo takes the ball up the middle (or somewhere near the middle) with Steven and Eddie and Robbie and maybe even Brian spread out around him, and Danny behind in case Guillermo needs to drop it back, and attacks the defense. Take it right at ‘em, without giving them a chance to set up and call out names and coverages and drive the ball at the goal before the keeper has time to realize that Frankie’s sprinting up the wing to help.

It can’t do any worse than taking it to the corner, slowing it down, and then crossing it into the box.

Hell, Kevin Freaking Burns had the right idea last night against DC, when he lofted a shot from outside the box trying to chip the keeper. He looked up and took the defense by surprise, catching the keeper off guard and making him uncomfortable. The shot was blocked, but it resulted in a Crew corner, which is never a bad thing.

Our defense is formidable, our midfield is strong, and our attackers certainly don’t lack for much. We can usually score from set pieces with wild abandon. Our problem, as of late, is our mindset. I know that Coach Bob likes to play the wings, but everyone in the league knows that. We need to change things up. We can’t expect that all of a sudden the opposing back four will suddenly allow Big Steve to run free towards an incoming cross, or that Ale Mo will suddenly sprout wings and rise above a central defender to head one in. We need to make things happen for ourselves.

I’m not a strategist, but I do know that if Plan A isn’t working too well then it’s time to look at Plan B. Columbus’ Plan B needs to be “Operation Scare the Piss Out Of The Other Team With Our Aggressive Strikers And Our God-Like Center Mid.” That might work. It certainly couldn’t hurt to try.