Harkes and Maisonneuve spark attacks
HOW THEY BEAT YOU: MLSÆs hardest-working team ù or so says its slogan ù didnÆt always work that hard or that smart until former head coach Tom Fitzgerald got the ax.
Replacement Greg Andrulis has released the brilliance of John Wilmar Perez and Jeff Cunningham and harnessed the savvy of John Harkes and the reborn class of Brian Maisonneuve.
Both Harkes and Maisonneuve have sparked attacks with their quick distribution, but they can also keep the ball until something opens up.
No longer does this team quit when it loses possession. Instead, seven or eight players are usually behind the ball by the time the opposing attack crosses midfield.
Perez is so skilled and quick he can nick his way out of double-teams and thus completely disrupt the defenseÆs shape. Cunningham can cut through even a massed defense with his control at top speed.
Robert Warzycha seldom goes to the byline, but his serves from the midfield flanks add another element. His dead balls also are effective.
Keeper Tom Presthus is athletic enough to pull off the miracle save. His strong goalkeeping early in the season helped the team find its feet during the coaching transition.
HOW YOU BEAT THEM: The outside defenders, Mike Lapper and Michael Clark, sometimes give away too much cushion inside the box and are beatable if isolated 1-v.-1.
Central defender Tenywa Bonseu has a tendency to go for the earthquake tackle rather than wait for the safe steal. He also can be lured into leaving his feet when he shouldnÆt.
By shutting down Perez ù he canÆt be allowed to turn and face the defense ù and staying tight on Cunningham, a team can impair the CrewÆs attack, especially if Dante Washington is struggling through one of his funks.