One fan's Crew goals for 2009

Repeating as the league champion in any sport or in any league isn't an easy task. In many cases winning the championship isn't simply the result of one over-riding factor, like merely having the league's best talent for example. Rather, championships are often the result of a confluence of a number of factors coming together at one time, resulting in something truly special. The Crew's 2008 season, in my opinion, is no different. There are too many factors to the Crew's MLS Cup victory to list, but one can quickly identify some significant factors - acquiring Brian Carroll, Guillermo Barros Schelotto's MVP season, Chad Marshall's outstanding defensive season, William Hesmer's performance in goal. Those are just easily identifiable personnel issues, and they don't begin to account for things like a reported amazing team chemistry, the first true connection between the players and the fans, and other intangible qualities that are always found in championship teams.

It took Columbus thirteen seasons to win its first title, and even though I was in Los Angeles to witness the victory it's still somewhat unreal that the Crew capped off 2008 with the victory. Even though the optimist in me sees that so far the Crew have maintained a significant chunk of its 2008 core, which bodes extremely well for 2009, the realist (maybe the pessimist?) in me acknowledges that a 2009 MLS Cup victory is not only unexpected but probably unlikely. There have been twelve MLS Cup winners who had the chance to win consecutive titles and only two - DC United in 1997 and Houston in 2007 - were able to complete the task. In addition to those two repeat winners, DC United's 1998 MLS Cup berth is the only other time a defending MLS Cup winner has advanced to the title game the following season.

With those not favorable odds in mind, I'm not punting the 2009 season, throwing up my hands, and expecting a return to the wilderness years immediately prior to 2008. Furthermore, as a fan I'm not completely writing off the Crew's chances to repeat as MLS Cup winners. While topping any championship season is difficult, I think the Crew's 2008 season will be especially difficult to top from a fan's perspective. However, as a fan, I have identified some rather modest goals for the 2009 season, goals that I think would result in an entertaining and enjoyable season should they be reached by the Crew.

• Retain Trillium Cup and not lose any games to Toronto FC
• Legitimately contend for Supporters' Shield and finish no lower than second in the Eastern Conference
• Legitimately contend for the US Open Cup, advancing to at least the quarterfinals
• Legitimately contend for the MLS Cup, advancing to at least the tournament's semifinals
• Win at least ten home league matches
• Finish in the top three of goals scored and goal difference
• Place at least one player on the league's year-end Best XI
• Place at least two players in the final three of the league's year-end individual honors
• Place at least one player on various US World Cup Qualifier game-day rosters
• Finish in the top half of the league's average home attendance
• Advance past the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League

Other fans will have other goals, and other fans will be entertained by the 2009 Crew in other ways. For me, however, I honestly believe that the goals I've listed above could really result in a fun, entertaining, and enjoyable 2009 season. Can the MLS season just start already?