On Friday, I wrote that perhaps the Columbus Crew missed Sigi Schmid more than they would like to admit. Early results have been disappointing, the club is certainly not performing on a level befitting a defending league champion.
Robert Warzycha may not be the reason for the slow start, but it's clear that his inexperience as the head man hasn't helped. Despite having a squad almost unchanged from last year's cup winner, the Crew have played inconsistent soccer. Good play is followed up by poor play, and the effects are clearly seen in the Eastern Conference standings.
Last night, the Crew were less than ten minutes away from what could be a turnaround victory.
Instead, the Crew's two goal evaporated, and Columbus could only manage a home draw with undefeated Chicago. Despite dominating play for most of the match, even after being reduced to ten men by a Gino Padula red card in the fifty-seventh minute, Columbus folded in the face of a furious attack by the Fire.
So how much blame for the lost victory should fall to Warzycha?
Hard to say. Columbus is still a good team, that much is clear. They still have ample time to turn around their season. They're still, despite the poor start, likely to make the playoffs (in my opinion). Warzycha's job seems safe for the time being, though he can't be entirely comfortable. MLS is not typically the place for rapid fire coaching changes, and the Crew's improvement this week should be enough for him to enjoy a stay of execution.
Still, four points from six matches is bordering on disaster; if the Crew go more than one or two more weeks without a win, Columbus may be looking for a new manager before long.
Good teams close out two goal leads at home with ten minutes to go. Good managers put their teams in position to hold on to that victory. Warzycha may yet become a good manager, but floundering with a team that has all of the necessary components to be successful makes it seems as though he doesn't yet grasp the job.
Perhaps the club would be better served by a more experience coach.
I can't help it, it just keeps popping into my head:
What would Sigi do?
