SoccerColumbus Crew more than a 1-man show

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In goal, Will Hesmer has put up some impressive numbers. His 33 goals against in 29 regular-season games was good for a 1.14 goals-against average, third in the league behind Houston’s Canadian international Pat Onstad and Chicago’s Goalkeeper of the Year, Jon Busch. Hesmer has been a solid, reliable shot stopper for the Crew, and he will need to be on form on Sunday if he is to repel Juan Pablo Angel and company.

Comeback season for Marshall

At the back, Columbus has been led by Defender of the Year Chad Marshall. His influence helped the Crew to the third-best defensive record in the league, allowing only 36 goals against in 30 league games.

It was a comeback season for Marshall in some respects. He missed 17 games in 2007 with concussions, but in 2008 he was absent from the Crew lineup only once and finished second on the team in minutes played. Marshall also chipped in with four goals and used his height and aerial ability to good effect in both penalty boxes. A big, strong, commanding centre half is always a key component to a stingy defence, and in this respect Marshall fits the bill.

Frankie Hejduk also had a strong season at the back for the Crew. The long-haired native of California is a surfing fanatic, and he is always good value in an interview. Having played against Hejduk on numerous occasions, I can tell you that he is a fierce competitor and a strong leader, and he will be desperate to lift the MLS Cup in front of his family and friends.

Rogers big in tight games

In midfield, Columbus has a solid group of players who have all made contributions to the team’s success.

Robbie Rogers is an electric, exciting winger who not only delivers quality crosses from wide areas, but is also capable of scoring goals himself. His six goals put him third in scoring on the Crew, behind strikers Alejandro Moreno and Schelotto. What is noticeable though is that half of his goals have been game-winning goals, proof that Rogers is a player the Crew rely on in tight games.

Brad Evans has also chipped in with some important goals. While teams are focusing their attention on stopping Schelotto and Moreno, Evans quietly sneaks forward from midfield to get into good positions. It is a tactic that works well for the Crew, given the balance they have in the middle of the park.

On the right side, Eddie Gaven is a hard-working, two way player. His understanding with right back Hejduk makes the Crew difficult to break down on that side of the field. At just 22, Gaven is someone Columbus can look forward to relying on for years to come.

For me, the key component of the Crew midfield is Brian Carroll. He doesn’t get any headlines, as he isn’t a goal scorer like Schelotto or an exciting winger like Rogers. He is a steady, calming influence who sits in front of the back four and covers his other midfielders, allowing Columbus to attack with five players without giving up much at the other end. He is similar in a lot of ways to Carl Robinson of Toronto FC, and while there is no glamour being a defensive midfielder, it is a role that must be fulfilled if a team wants to enjoy consistent success.

Moreno, Schelotto a handful

Up front, Alejandro Moreno is a perfect foil for Schelotto. He isn’t the biggest - five-foot-nine and only 170 pounds - but he holds the ball up well and brings others into play. He is also quite handy in front of goal, and his nine markers led Columbus in scoring this season. He is never likely to score 20 goals for you, but when you get goals from other members of your squad like Columbus does, his output is more than sufficient.

Which brings me to Schelotto.

His numbers are impressive, with seven goals and a league leading 19 assists. But it is his overall play that speaks most about his influence for the Crew. He goes wherever he has to go to get on the ball, and he is the focal point of the Columbus attack. His vision and passing is superb, and he does it while being a marked man. Other teams know he is the danger man, yet no one has managed to shut him down on a consistent basis.

I’ll be shocked if he isn’t named league MVP, as he has had a bigger impact on the success of his team than any other player in the league. While the performance of his teammates is important, if Schelotto has a good game on Sunday against New York, it is very likely that the MLS Cup will be heading back to Columbus.

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