[TrueCrew]

Before we kick off, I thought I'd post a quick hit on some possible team and individual milestones for the upcoming season.
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I. Team Milestones

1. Trophies:

The Crew have joined DC, LA, Chicago, and Kansas City as the only teams in MLS to win all three domestic trophies (MLS Cup, Supporter's Shield, and USOC) at least once.

With some success this year, we could climb into even rarer air.

Here's the number of trophies for all the MLS era clubs. (MLS, SS, USOC, CCL).

DC = 11. (4,4,2,1). Plus the Inter American Cup.
LA = 7. (2,2,2,1).
Fire = 6 (1,1,4,0).
Crew = 4 (1,2,1,0).
San Jose = 3 (2,1,0,0).
KC = 3 (1,1,1,0).
Houston = 2 (2,0,0,0).
Miami = 1 (0,1,0,0)
Tampa Bay = 1 (0,1,0,0).
New England = 1 (0,0,1,0)
FCD = 1 (0,0,1,0).
Rochester = 1 (0,0,1,0).

Total: With multiple trophies this year, the Crew could pull even with the Fire, or even the Galaxy on the All-time MLS list. And since almost all of Chicago's are USOC's, our haul would be superior.

Internationally: The Crew could join DC and LA as the only American teams (or MLS teams) to win the the CONCACAF Champions League (or Champions Cup) with a win in that competition. DC also beat the South American Champ in the InterAmerican Cup the year they won.

MLS Cup: The Crew could join DC (4), LA (2), San Jose (2), and Houston (2) as the only teams to win it more than once.

Supporter's Shield. The Crew are already one of three teams to win it at least twice (DC = 4, LA = 2). A win this year would put us behind only DC for regular season honors.

USOC. It's been mostly dry since winning in '02. Still, another chance to join the three other teams to win it more than once (Fire = 4, DC = 2, LA = 2).
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2. Overall Win-Loss Records

In terms of wins and losses, and goal difference, the Crew have a chance to hit all-time high water marks with a good season. The USOC seems the only competition we can't better our all-time high water mark in every area (W-L, GD, Rounds advanced).

A. MLS. 166-67-165 (+1 vs. .500); GD = +18. High Water = +5, +32 (both after '04).

We currently sit one game above .500, the all-time high water mark for the franchise is 5 games over after the '04 season. A good year this year (5 games over) sets the all-time high water mark for the franchise.

In terms of goal difference, we currently sit at +18. After '04 we sat at +32. Last year we were +14. We need to match that this year to match the all time high water mark for the franchise.

GD will be tough, but W-L will hit an all-time high this year.

B. Playoffs. 14-4-12 (+2 vs. .500); GD -3, Rounds advanced/lost 7-7. High water = Now.

The title run put us over .500 in the playoffs for the first time ever. Ditto, it also evened out the number of rounds advanced to rounds lost at 7, and put our goal differential the closest to even its been since we were -4 back after 1996.

Point being, with a run to the finals, our playoff record, rounds advanced, and goal difference would all be at all time highs (again), and could all be positive for the first time in team history.

Again, I'd expect we make the playoffs again, and have a good chance to improve upon the high water mark we established last year.

C. USOC. 16-10 (+6 vs. .500); GD +21. High Water = +9, +22 ('02).

After winning at least two games in each of the first five appearances of the USOC, culminating with a win in '02, we haven't won 2 games in one year since. We've been plagued by OT losses in this event. Six OT/extra time/PK losses in total. Three to Chicago ('98 Final in SDOT, '04 in SDOT, '08 AET), plus NY (7-6 on PK's in '00), FCD (3-1 AET on horrid call on Szetela red), and DC ('07 AET). Throw in a couple of horrific leads blown ('99 allowing 2 goals in the last 5 minutes to lose the SF to Rochester with the final at Crew Stadium and blowing a 3-1 lead to NY to lose 4-3 in '03).

While we'd have to win the thing (3-0/4-0 (how many rounds?) to match or better our high water mark after '02, we could easily better the GD mark with anything positive. While not a high priority, I'd like to see us make a decent run for the first time in seven years. I think we'll hit it in terms of GD, but W-L will be tough, though our depth will help us.

D. International. 2-1-3 (-1 vs. .500); GD -5. Rd. Adv/Not 1-2. High water = -1 (Now), -3 ('01), -1 (now).

Our international experience has been limited to the '01 Giants Cup (out to Saprissa with a loss away and home draw) and the '03 Champion's Cup (advanced past Arabe Unido on GD, eliminated by Morelia on GD, 6-0 away loss).

A strong performance in the group stage and could push to our all time bests in this area. We'd have to be two games over for the tournament to leave us positive, and we'd have to make it to the finals to finish over .500 in rounds advanced, with the semis for even. Might be hard to have a +5 GD, unless we just paste a minnow in group.

E. Overall. 198-72-190 (+8 vs. .500), GD +31. High Water: +11 ('04), +40 ('04).

Again, with a good season in MLS, and a decent USOC and CONCACAF showings, our W-L records and GD totals should be at an all-time high. Also, with a strong showing in CONCACAF, we could be in a situation where our W-L, GD, and Rounds advanced records are all .500 or better in every type of competition (MLS, Playoffs, USOC, CONCACAF) we can enter. That would certainly be a nice feather in our caps as well (I have no idea of another MLS team can match that or not, but I'd suspect DC, LA, and Houston).

And a word of caution lest we start to get too big for our collective britches, note how almost all the high water marks are in '04, and what happened after....
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II. Player Milestones

What constitutes a milestone in certain areas is certainly open for debate, but I like to look at 100 Games Played and Games Started, and 10,000 minutes played as milestones. I'll also look at some current Crew players moving up the scoring charts (Points, Goals, Assists, Goals Created (for Sirk)).

Also, after the first generation of players all left from '02-'04, the Crew record book was devoid of active players for a couple years, and its nice to see some current Crew moving up the list, and it would be nice to recognize them.

A. Games Played

16 Crew players have hit or exceeded the 100 Games played plateau, in all competitions, 3 are active. Here's the list.

Player: Games Played
1. Mike Clark - 265
2. Jeff Cunningham - 219
3. Brian Maisonneuve - 208
4. Brian McBride - 203
5. Robert Warzycha - 186
T6. Todd Yeagley - 167
T6. Brian West - 167
8. Duncan Oughton - 146
9. Ansil Elcock - 141
10. Mike Lapper - 130
T11. Chad Marshall - 125
T11. Frankie Hejduk - 125
T11. Edson Buddle
14. Kyle Martino - 121
15. Jason Farrell - 120
16. Jon Busch - 100

Oughton sits 8th and it seems unlikely he'll get 21 games this year, but breaking 150 will be a nice milestone. 40 games for the team this year is certainly a possibility, but as Hejduk will miss some games for Nat duty, and Marshall might as well, I don't think they'll catch Yeagley and West at 167 either, but like St. Dunc I think 150 is nearly a sure thing, passing Lapper and Elcock to break into the top 10.

Eddie Gaven currently sits at 90 games played, and seems a sure bet to hit 100 this year as well. Ale has 58 and Hesmer has 54. While 42/46 games seem unlikely for one season, it's not altogether impossible: 30 MLS, 6-11 CONCACAF, +playoffs (4 Max), + USOC. I don't think either will make it due to player rotation, but it IS possible with some deep runs, especially for Hesmer.

B. Minutes Played

12 players have logged 10,000 minutes for the Crew, including 3 who are active. Again, I may be off by a minute or two, depending on differences in scoring (USOC + Internationals) and an error or two.

1. Mike Clark - 22,795
2. Brian McBride - 17,312
3. Brian Maisonneuve - 16,509
4. Robert Warzycha - 14,232
5. Jeff Cunningham - 14,045
6. Todd Yeagley - 12,550
7. Chad Marshall - 11,932
8. Frankie Hejduk - 10,901
9. Mike Lapper - 10,814
10. Brian West - 10,673
11. Ansil Elcock - 10,513
12. Duncan Oughton - 10,396

A full 30 games season playing every minute would be 2,770, throw in 500 for a deep playoff run. Add in USOC and CONCACAF and frontline players could log close to 4,000 minutes if they played nearly all of them. I'd put in more modest projections, still, Marshall and Hejduk could/probably will pass Yeags, Cunningham, and Warzycha, trailing only Mais, Bake, Clark. Oughton doesn't figure to play a lot, but cracking 11,000 isn't out of the question.

As if there was any doubt, Hejduk, Mashall, and Oughton are Crew legends.

C. Points Scored (2 for a goal, 1 for an assist).

1. Brian McBride - 209
2. Jeff Cunningham - 198
3. Edson Buddle - 122
4. Stern John - 119
5. Robert Warzycha - 115
6. Brian Maisonneuve - 91
7. Dante Washington - 81
8. Brian West - 77
9. Guillermo Barros Schelotto - 60
10. John Wilmar Perez - 54

Crew scoring is definitely divided into 4 tiers. Tier 1: McBride and Cunny. Tier 2: Buddle, John, and Warzycha. Tier 3: Mais, Dante, West. Tier 4: Guille, Perez, Farrell (52), Martino (51), Moreno (48), Marino (47), Gaven (41).

Guille seems poised to jump Tier 3 altogether with a good year and cement himself in the Crew books even more. With the number of games this year, he could make a run at 100 pts with another MVP type hear (he had 39 points in all competitions last year).

Ale with 48 will certainly push Pelusa out of the top 10 and Gaven with 41 could also make a push. Chad (29) and Rogers (27) are next on the active list.

D. Goals Scored

Alejandro Moreno has 17, currently placing him 10th. With another solid year, he seems likely to pass Marino (19), West (21), Warzycha (22), and Mais (25). 9 goals seems a safe bet given the # of competitions were in, and would put Ale 6th all-time, trailing only Dante (33), Buddle (52), John (55), Cunningham (71), and McBride (79).

Guille has 12 and could bump Sneaky Pete for 10th with a good year. Gaven (13) and Rogers (11) could also make a run up the charts, and Chad also has (11). Garey (10) and Frankie (8) are next.

E. Assists

Guille seems ready to push into rare air here. He has 36 now, placing him 5th all-time, trailing Mais (41), McBride (51), Cunningham (56), and Warzycha (71). 21 assists in all competitions (25 last year) would move him into second on the all-time Crew list.

Behind Guille, West (35), Martino (25), Williams and Pelusa (22), and Elliott (21) round out the top 10. Next among active players are Gaven (15), Oughton (15), Moreno (14), and Hejduk (12). Eddie and Ale could definitely hit 20 this year.

F. Goals Created (For Sirk: Goal = Assist)

Again, Guille can make big progress up the board this year. He currently sits in a tie for 8th with Dante at 48. Another very good year would see him vault into 4th, passing West (56), John (64), Maisonneuve (66), and Buddle (70). The top 3 are out of reach: Warzycha (93), Cunningham (127), McBride (130).

Kyle Martino with 38 sits 10th, and could be bumped (mercifully) by some other active players, led by Moreno (31), and Gaven (28). Hejduk (20) leads the remaining active players, followed by Oughton (18), Marshall (18), Rogers (16), and Garey (12).

G. Goalkeeper Wins

We've been blessed with more good GK's than any other team in the league. World class, national team, and all-star/MLS champion keepers nearly every year. Friedel, Dougherty, Presthus, Sommer, Busch, Walker, Hesmer. It is an impressive list. However, no one's tenure has been that long as a result.

Busch leads all Crew keepers in appearances with an even 100. Hesmer sits on 54 and needs 46 to tie. It is possible next year. Will appeared in 35 games last year. With 6 more CONCACAF group games on the schedule, a deep CONCACAF run, with a deep USOC run could see him get to 46.

Busch also leads Crew keepers in wins, with 42. Hesmer has 28. 15 in all competitions seems doable to make Hesmer the winningest GK in Crew history.
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In all, last year was historic. The Crew did the double, winning our first MLS Cup and the SS. Schelotto collected our first MVP and also marked the first time a Crew player lead the league in assists. 3 Crew on the best XI (Guille, Chad, and Robbie). If there were 4 defenders, Frankie makes it as well.

This year, more hardware really starts to put the Crew into the MLS elite (DC, LA, Fire), especially if the hardware includes another MLS title. The team also has the chance to establish all-time high water marks in terms of W-L record and goal difference, in virtually every competition.

On the individual level, Chad Marshall, Frankie Hejduk, and Duncan Oughton rank among the Crew's all-time greats in terms of appearances and minutes played, and they will continue to march up those leaderboards this year, putting them in the Clark, McBride, Mais, Warzycha, and Cunnigham class.

Eddie Gaven will become the 17th Crew player to record 100 appearances, and Will Hesmer and Alejandro Moreno could also conceivably hit that mark this year as well.

In terms of scoring, with a good year, Guille can become 2nd in assists, 5th in goals created, 6th in points, and maybe even hit 10th in goals. Alejandro could hit 6th in goals scored, will likely break into the top 10 in points, goals created and assists. Eddie Gaven is also knocking on the top 10 in several areas.

And Will Hesmer could become the Crew's all-time winningest keeper with a good year.

Hopefully, all the individuals play well and move up, and that translates into the team excelling. I'd love to end the year with as much hardware as Chicago (6-4 down now, that '98 USOC really stings).

Sorry for the length, I'll try to keep on top of stuff as it happens, but I can't guarantee it.

[WTAMUCrew]

Thanks for putting all that info together. Definitly a good read. I could see us adding two more pieces of hardware this year. I would like to say three, but given current roster sizes and the limitations that a salary cap presents, we will be forced to prioritize and then use the other tournaments in a player development role. Good things are ahead for the Crew.

[osubowler]

Originally Posted by TrueCrew

[snip]

great read.
can someone rep the man for me, i must spread.

[cleazer]

repped

[Dave Brull]

Double repped, although I feel I should get bonus Grouchy points for reading the whole thing. Although in lieu of Grouchy Points I will accept Stanley Nickels.

[Sirk]

TrueCrew,

Thanks for saving me some research.....I eat up this type of stuff. Great work!

As for "Goals Created", I think I am shifting toward calling it Goals Produced. "Created" sounds too much like assisting......whereas goals and assists are part of the "production" of a goal. I think Goals Produced is a better term for the number of goals a player was statistically involved with.

Sirk

[TheUltra]

Repped Awesome piece.

[TrueCrew]

Thanks everyone.

I should have also noted that Eddie Gaven could make a run at the 10,000 minute mark this year. He's at 7,020 right now. 34 90 minute outings will get him there. Between MLS, CONCACAF, USOC, and playoffs (hopefully), I think he has a chance.

[TrueCrew]

Well, with our unexpected early season swoon, I haven't had a chance to update like I said I would. But with my car in the shop today, I have some time, so here goes.

I. Team Milestones.

We continue to hover around the .500 mark all-time in MLS, the win got us there last week, and we can again be in the black with a win in LA.

II. Inidvidual Milestones.

There has been some movement here, especially recently.

A. Games Played

With his 4th appearance of the year last week, Duncan Oughton became the 8th Crew player to appear in 150 games for the Crew. (Clark 265, Cunningham 219, Maisonnueve 208, McBride 203, Warzycha 186, West & Yeagley 167).

Chad Marshall currently sits 9th all-time with 144, and should hit 150 later this year.

Frankie Hejduk currently sits 12th at 127, with Mike Lapper (130) and Ansil Elcock (141) both within reach this year if he stays healthy.

Eddie Gaven currently has 98 appearances for the Crew, and will become the 17th player to appear 100 times for the Crew later this month. The others who haven't been mentioned are Buddle (125), Martino (121), Farrell (120), and Busch (100).
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B. Minutes Played.

Same cast of characters moving up.

Chad Marshall passed Todd Yeagley for 6th all time during last week's game, and currently sits at 12,561 minutes played. Next up, Jeff Cunningham (14,045) and Robert Warzycha (14,232). Mais (16,509), McBride (17,312), and Clark (22,795) are still a ways off.

Frankie currently sits 8th at 11,081 and should also pass Yeagley later this year.

Duncan Oughton currently sits 12th at 10,445, and is under 90 minutes away from passing Ansil Elcock for 11th (10,513). Brian West (10,673) and Mike Lapper (10,814) are also within reach, but we may need a deep USOC run for St. Dunc to get some more minutes.

Eddie Gaven remains the closest active player to 10,000 minutes, but has a ways to go as he sits a 7,773. However, seeing as how he is a mainstay, and how we may have a lot of games this year, he could get to 10k.
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C. Games Started

Again, pretty much the same threesome in the news here.

Chad Marshall's start last week moved him into a tie for 5th all-time with Cunningham and Yeagley at 140. The expected start this week will put him alone in 5th. Next up, Warzycha at 156. The top three (Clark 260, McBride 195, Maisonneuve 191) remain a ways off.

Frankie is 8th with 122. 140 could be reachable this year if he stays injury free.

Oughton is 12th at 107, but doesn't start much. He'd need 6 more to tie Elcock and Lapper for 10th at 113.
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In terms of scoring, Guille has made some moves up the charts, and Ale is poised to.

A. Goals

Alejandro Moreno needs one goal to tie Sneaky Pete Marino for 9th all-time with 19 goals (seems kind of low, doesn't it?). Brain West (21), Robert Warzycha (22), and even Mais (25) all seem within reach this year. Dante (33) will have to wait a while. And Buddle (52), John (55), Cunningham (71), and McBride (79) are in no danger.

Guille's outburst this year has seen his total bulge to 16, so he'd need a hat trick to catch Pete. How about a FK, PK, and one from the run of play this week?
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B. Goals Created (G+A).

Sirk's favorite. Guille's first goal of the year broke a tie with Dante for 9th with 48 goals created. He now sits 8th with 53, three behinds West's 56.
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That's it in terms of movement..

C. Points. (2 pts for a goal, 1 for an assist)

Guille still sits 9th all-time with 69 points, 8 behind Brian West's 77. Alejandro Moreno needs four points to tie Pelusa for 10th all time at 54.
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D. Assists.

Guille remains 5th all time with 37 assists, four behind Brian Maisonneuve's 41. I thought he had a chance to move up more before the season, but he's really going to have to move quick to catch McBride for third (51) or Cunningham for second (56). Warzycha's 71 remain out of reach.

There are some current members of the squad who could make a run at 10th place (Elliiot 21), or 8th (Perez and Williams 22). But they are a ways off, and it will have to be late season. Gaven and Oughton currently have 15, Moreno 14, and Hejduk 13. Mabye Eddie or Ale have a shot.
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Well, that's all for the near future. And remember to salute:

1) St. Dunc for hitting 150 appearances last week (8th all time).
2) Chad for moving into 6th in minutes played last week (12,561), and
3) Chad for his 141st start this week, moving him past Yeagley and Cunningham and into 5th all time.

[NutHouse4life01]

Not quite a milestone yet (knock on wood), but we are close to equalling San Jose's MLS record streak for consecutive home matches w/o defeat. And, the world is taking notice:

FIFA.com fueling The MASSIVE