Gaven's star rising in Columbus
Midfielder key contributor in Crew's run to defend MLS title
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Despite an a fluid lineup under first-year coach Robert Warzycha, the Crew are still leading the pack for a second consecutive Supporters' Shield and a shot at defending their MLS title.
There have been plenty of heroes along the way, not that there weren't some last season, but there is no clear-cut favorite as in 2008 when forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto was named MVP not only for the team but the league as well.
"Too many players could be MVP this year because we are a team," defender Gino Padula said. "You can feel that when you watch a Columbus Crew game. We play very compact. Everybody is very important to the team."
Schelotto was an early favorite to repeat, especially after leading the league with 10 goals in the Crew's first 13 games, but injuries have limited his playing time and he has just two goals since June 14.
He is still a viable candidate for the league award even though the Crew are 6-1-1 when he does not start.
Chad Marshall, the 2008 MLS Defender of the Year, also was in the running to be MVP this year but he has missed eight of 26 games because of U.S. duty and most recently a left knee sprain. He said Thursday that returning for the Oct. 17 match at D.C. United "would really be optimistic but the last game against New England (Oct. 25) for sure."
If the Crew's MVP comes down to an unsung player the list would have to include defender/midfielder Danny O'Rourke for his versatility; defensive midfielder Brian Carroll for his consistency; forward Steven Lenhart with his energetic play and maybe a surprise -- midfielder Eddie Gaven.
"He's been in the right spot at the right time. He's been playing well. We like to see that out of Eddie. We'd like to see him continue that," Carroll said. "We don't really care how it gets done but if Eddie's picking up the slack that's fine with us." Gaven did that during an important stretch in September by scoring the winner in three of his four starts.
With Schelotto having been substituted, the duty of converting a stoppage time penalty kick against Houston on Sept. 13 fell to Gaven. He calmly scored for a 2-1 victory that kept the Crew atop the overall standings.
Three days later in Costa Rica he scored the lone goal of the CONCACAF Champions League match in the fifth minute to enable the Crew to become the first MLS team in seven tries to win at Saprissa. The triumph has allowed the Crew to hold a two-point lead over Saprissa for the final quarterfinal berth out of Group C with one match left.
Last Saturday, Gaven was in a lineup lacking five starters but his score in the 33th minute -- a bad-angle header from an Emmanuel Ekpo service that became a goal of the week nominee -- was the opener for a 2-0 win vs. Los Angeles to once again turn back a challenger to the Supporters' Shield.
"At the beginning of the season (Gaven) wasn't that great," Warzycha said. "He's started to score goals and started to produce. That's what it's all about. I want him to be dangerous. As a winger you have to have goals and get assists. The same as Manu. He had an assist last game and Eddie scored a goal."
Gaven is the only Crew player to appear in every game and is tied with O'Rourke and Gino Padula at 24 starts. His six goals -- two shy of a career best -- are second to Schelotto's and he, Schelotto and Marshall have three winners apiece in league play. Only O'Rourke has played more minutes than Gaven's 2,137.
Yet, Gaven shuns any talk of being the MVP.
"It comes down to the fact this team has been playing really well. Anytime the team is playing well guys start to shine more. We've had so many guys that could be MVP," he said. "We still have four games left and hopefully four more in the playoffs including the MLS Cup. It's been great so many guys are doing well. We're going to need that if we want to go far."
His greatest contributions don't show up in the statistics. The Crew got off to a 1-2-3 start while trying to find someone to replace Brad Evans in the central midfield after he was acquired by Seattle Sounders FC in the expansion draft.
Adam Moffat was slated to fill the role but he made a slow recovery from knee surgeries in 2008 and then injured his hamstring in his second game back. Ekpo started the season in the center but looked uncomfortable there.
Warzycha finally decided to take Gaven off the flank and put him in the middle. The Crew went 4-1-3 with him there until Danny O'Rourke took over when Gaven moved to the left wing for Robbie Rogers, who was away with the U.S. for the Gold Cup.
"He was a big part of our turnaround," Warzycha said of Gaven. "He's a guy that can run forever. He's very busy and technically gifted. He jelled everything between the midfielders and forwards and midfielders and defenders."
Warzycha now has the luxury of three quality outside midfielders.
"Having Robbie, Ekpo and Gaven playing wide you have to sit one. The best thing you can do is keep all three in the rotation," he said.
Gaven is one of the old men on the team in terms of experience despite not turning 23 until the final day of the season. This is his seventh MLS season, the last four in Columbus.
"I don't take too much time to sit and look back," he said. "I still have fun every single day training and in every single game. I've played seven years in the league and hopefully I'll have plenty more."
Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com
