August 11th, 2007 . 7:41 am . By: Jason Benfield

INTRODUCING COLUMBUS

The Crew got off to a rocky start in 2007, only winning once in their first 11 matches.  In those contests, they only scored 9 goals and really struggled to create opportunities.  But then things changed.  The insertion of Marshall and Hesmer into the lineup solidified the defense, and the team began to attack with numbers out of the midfield.  After scoring three goals in a draw at New England, the Crew went on a run.  Since the rough start, Columbus has put up a record of 5 wins, 3 ties, and one loss, while scoring 14 goals in the 9 games.  The Crew are now a team on the rise, and their current form has them within reach of a home playoff game.

Columbus have run out a 4-3-3 the entire season, but have tweaked the formation a bit as the year has progressed.  In the beginning, they positioned the midfield very similar to the way FCD runs theirs – two defensive midfielders and one attacking midfielder.  However, after they got their starting defensive players back from injury, they changed the look of the midfield in order to send more players into the attack.  Now, they play with a single defensive midfielder and two central midfielders who have both offensive and defensive responsibilities, but try to attack as much as possible.  This change has allowed the forwards to stay high, instead of having to come back deep for the ball, and provides more links between the defense and the attack.  The result has been more chances created and more goals.

THE GOALIES

Hesmer could not get off the bench in KC, but has been fantastic in goal for the Crew.  He has the second best GAA in the league, is first in save percentage, and his record of 5 wins, 1 loss, and 3 draws is the best winning percentage for any keeper in the league.  He has been fantastic in goal for Columbus.  Gruenebaum started the season in the net; he wasn’t horrible, but his lack of experience and positioning cost him a few times.  He was also the victim of some shoddy defending by the reserve defenders who had to play a lot at the start of the season.

Sala is most likely out for Dallas.  Burse will be making his second consecutive start.  The second year player out of Ohio State was fantastic against the Rapids, as he made full use of his athleticism to make several difficult saves.  He still makes mistakes, but is a very athletically gifted keeper.

Advantage: Columbus.  Hesmer has more experience than Burse and is playing as well as any goalie in the league.

THE DEFENSE

Hejduk is the starter on the right side.  The US International has been very good so far this season, providing a ton of energy on the outside.  He has lost a step, but not many players in the league can get behind him.  He still puts in a horrible cross, but now makes better decisions on the ball and is a much better tackler.  He has been perhaps the best right back in the league this season.  Gonzales and Marshall pair together in the middle.  Gonzales is a Chilean International whose solid play has gone unnoticed the past couple of seasons, but this year he has been fantastic.  He is the best defender on the team and one of the best center backs in the league.  Marshall is finally back from all of his injury concerns and looks good.  He has gotten better with each game and was fantastic against the Fire last weekend.  As long as he can stay injury free, his will be in the mix for the National Team.  Miglioranzi has established himself as the starter on the left side.  He played in the lower divisions in England before heading back to the States and playing in MLS.  He has finally come into his own this season and has been a good asset for the club.  He started the year in the midfield rotation, but has been very strong coming out of the back as a left defender.

The Crew have pretty decent depth in the back.  Hendrickson is an MLS veteran who can still play at a decent level at right back or in the middle.  Pierce is their first sub on the left side and is a solid, feisty veteran.  Ward is a young player who saw time with the U-20s at the World Cup this year.  The left back had a great rookie season with New York, but has been largely disappointing since and is now third string.  Zayner was very highly rated coming out of college, but an injured knee put him out for his entire rookie season.

FC Dallas will once again have their full starting defense available.  Moor is on the right; after a rough patch, he is returning to the form that saw him get called up to the National Team earlier this season.  Gbandi is on the left and continues his solid campaign.  Goodson and Serioux are getting to know each other in the middle of the field.  Goodson has been every bit as good as any center back in the league, and Serioux will join him at that level once he completes his return from injury.

Advantage: Push.  Columbus is stronger on the right, FCD on the left, and both teams are very strong in the middle.

The Midfield

O’Rourke starts at the defensive midfielder position.  The 24 year old is already on his third MLS team, but started in all three places and had a positive impact.  He plays in a Chris Armas type role for the Crew – hard working, physical play, and is strong in the short passing game.  He does not join the attack at all and is not a threat going forward.  2007 has been a breakout season for Grabavoy.  He got off to a great start and was involved in almost every goal scoring opportunity for the Crew early in the season.  His offensive production has slipped a bit, but it is a result of stepping into more of a two way role rather than limited effectiveness.  He is a smart player who can get in on the tackle and has the vision to do something with the ball once he gets it.  He has become a very solid midfielder in MLS.  Szetela is now finally starting for the Crew as the third midfielder.  Like Grabavoy, he is playing in a two way spot, although he tends to stay back a bit more when they go on the road.  After a fantastic U-20 World Cup performance, he is having a more consistent impact on MLS games and looks to take his confident play overseas after this season.  He has a stellar touch on the ball and when he is allowed to join the attack, he is a great crosser and has a nice shot from distance.

Oughton is a former starter for the Crew who, after a series of knee operations, is now a solid reserve in the defensive midfield spot.  Moss is also a sub at defensive mid, but is out with injury.  If any other midfielders need to be replaced, either Gaven is dropped back from forward or Migz is brought up from the defense.

Dallas will be without its world class player, Juan Toja.  The MVP candidate has been outstanding all season, and his grit and energy will be missed on a hot afternoon.  McCarthy will be the most likely replacement.  Dax is a two way player who provides great energy, similar to Toja, but his performances have been a bit inconsistent this season.  He works well in a secondary role to the superstar, but it will be interesting to see how he does when more attention is paid his way.  Saragosa and Ricchetti will start in the two defensive positions.  Neither player provides much to the offense, but both are strong defensive players.  Ricchetti is an experienced veteran who always puts himself in the right place and helps to organize the entire defense.  He also has the presence necessary to slow the game down when it is needed.

Advantage: Columbus.  Toja is a huge loss for Dallas; he has been the heart and soul of the team.  Richetti is a good player, but Szetela is better than Dax and Grabavoy better than Saragosa.

The Attack

Columbus utilizes their forwards a little bit differently than Dallas does.  Whereas the Dallas attackers are asked to cut inside and shoot, the Columbus players tend to stay more on their natural side and provide service into the middle, where the forward, opposite winger, and central midfielder crash the box.  The center forward in the Crew attack is Moreno.  The Venezuelan was awful at the start of the season for Houston, but has played much better since the trade.  He is a small player for a target, but is a solid finisher and very physical; in many ways, he is a less talented Ruiz.  On the left, Eddie Gaven has finally found a spot.  Still young, Gaven can seem a bit gangly at times.  He also continues to make some poor decisions on the ball about when to pass, run, or shoot.  But his play has picked up as the season has progressed, and he is becoming more dangerous when he is attacking a player with the ball at his feet.  Schelotto is really having a positive impact on the team from the right side.  He takes all corners and free kicks for the Crew, and is a great passer with his right foot.  He is a smart player who makes quick decisions on the ball.  He is definitely one of the players who have helped turn the season around.  He is second in the league in assists.  Make no question about it, most of the offense is generated through Grabavoy and Schelotto.  If either player is off his game or not very involved, the team struggles to create chances.

Columbus also has a decent amount of depth up top.  Virtuoso is great with the ball at his feet on the left, and has a wicked shot.  Thomas is injury prone, and out for the Dallas game, but has great speed.  Kamara is an athletic player with speed, but very inconsistent; he can play out wide or as the target.  Garey was a good player in college, but has not shown much as a target forward in MLS.  Herron is the best option off the bench; he has been pushed out of his starting spot by Gaven.  He is a bit of an odd fit in the 4-3-3 because he is much more adept to playing as a forward in a 4-4-2.  He is not comfortable out wide, but is not a pure target either.  It is a bit puzzling that Columbus have not tried to move him this season, because he could be really effective in the right system.

For Dallas, Alvarez, Oduro, and Ruiz should start.  Alvarez is really coming into his own this season.  Oduro is inconsistent, but a solid option until Ricardinho or Cooper return from injury.  Ruiz has been awful in several games this season, but has shown signs lately of breaking out of his slump.

Advantage: Dallas.  Schelotto is good, but Gaven and Moreno would have trouble starting for most teams in the league.

POSSIBLE LINEUPS

FC Dallas

Columbus Crew

WHEN DALLAS ATTACKS

If you are looking for a match up that won’t be lacking for pace or energy, the Hejduk-Oduro battle  should provide plenty of entertainment.  Oduro has enough pace to get by Hejduk, but the US National Team player is relentless and should be able to contain the young winger.  On the opposite side, Migz will play against Alvarez.  Arturo has an advantage here and is really the best option for the Dallas attack.  Ruiz is going to have a tough time getting touches with Gonzalez and Marshall marking him, but if Dallas can break down the outside defensive players, it will leave him more space.  With each team playing a 4-3-3, there should be room for Dax to operate in the midfield, but he will need some help.  If the Dallas attack struggles, expect Rhine to come on as a midfielder for Saragosa in the second half to provide another option going forward.

WHEN COLUMBUS ATTACKS

Again, there are very interesting match ups on the outside.  Moreno should be handled easily by Goodson or Serioux in the middle.  And the players who attack from the midfield should be marked well by Ricchetti and Saragosa.  The key will be on the wings.  Gaven is a much more athletic player than Moor, but tends to fade in and out of a game.  On the right side of the Columbus attack, it should be very entertaining to see Schelotto battle Gbandi.  The veteran is very good at drawing fouls, so the Dallas left back will need to be cautious with his tackles.  At the same time, Gbandi, who tends to sag off and not pressure the ball at times, will need to be in Schelotto’s face; given time and space, the Argentine provides great service into the area.  Schelotto is also excellent on free kicks, so fouls near the box have to be avoided.

FINAL ANALYSIS

The Toja injury is just a killer for Dallas.  He is easily the MVP of the team and has been their best player in almost every game.  His absence will limit Dallas to only sending 4 players into the attack, whereas Columbus will occasionally send 5.  This could bog down into a pretty defensive affair, where neither team sends the numbers forward necessary to take advantage of some match ups on the wing.  This should be a pretty tight match, and I think the teams are pretty even right now.

FCD 1, Columbus 1

Categories: Match Preview.

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