Crew's Gaven thriving in central role
Columbus midfielder enjoying success at new position
Eddie Gaven customarily cruises the right flank but Warzycha liked what he saw of his play in the middle last season in a U.S. Open Cup match and had Gaven switch spots at Toronto FC and home vs. Kansas City.
Working with Robbie Rogers on the left wing and Emmanuel Ekpo in his former position, Gaven helped the Crew to a tie on the road and their first win of the season last Saturday, 3-2 against the Wizards. Ekpo had a goal in each and Gaven scored the winner against Kansas City off an assist by Rogers.
"It's jelling. He's had good games against Toronto and the last one," Warzycha said of Gaven. "His endurance is unbelievable. He can run forever. He's always active. He's got a good first touch and he just works, works, works. That's what you need."
Warzycha said the move of Gaven to the middle was not out of desperation but inspiration.
"More than anything we were trying to put the best team on the field. With Robbie and Ekpo playing well, Eddie Gaven was also playing well so we were trying to keep him on the field," he said. "Obviously, with Ekpo being inside that didn't work as well we thought it would. That was a switch that probably was necessary."
Ekpo began the season in the middle after Brad Evans went to Seattle Sounders FC in the expansion draft and Moffat was still rounding into shape after knee surgery in June. Ekpo never got comfortable there before Moffat made his season debut in the fifth game against Colorado.
Moffat was injured in his second game back and Gaven got the call.
"I like it. To be honest I just want to help the team whether I'm playing out wide or playing in the middle," he said.
Gaven credits Rogers and Ekpo for helping out when he occasionally drifts out of the middle and said defensive midfielder Brian Carroll has provided guidance.
"Brian does a great job of talking, keeping me focused on where I should be going. Hopefully, we can keep it going and build off what we've accomplished so far," Gaven said. "If I go out wide Robbie or Manu are going to come back in and help me in that spot. That's been really good as well."
Playing in the middle presents many challenges, said Gaven.
"Maybe when you're out wide you can take a bit of a mental break, where in the middle if you take that mental break you get punished a little bit more," he said.
The move has worked out well for Ekpo as well and the same alignment should be in place when the Crew play at the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday.
"I'm the kind of player who can play pretty much anywhere as long as it's on the attacking side but I'm feeling more comfortable in my new position and I'm getting used to the defensive aspect," he said. "Eddie and I, we're working good. Eddie is a guy who doesn't kick a long ball. He prefers to put it on the foot and I think we're getting along well."
Warzycha said veteran Duncan Oughton and rookie Kevin Burns were his other options to replace Moffat.
"Because Eddie was playing all the games he was probably the fittest of all the guys," said Warzycha. "We said if this doesn't work then well go with one of those guys but so far it's working."
Still, there are times when Gaven lacks the bite required in the middle so it will be interesting to see what happens if the more aggressive Moffat is ready as expected for the home match on May 27 vs. San Jose.
"Sometimes we need a physical presence in the middle," Warzycha said. "Sometimes we need a guy who makes a statement in there, especially when we're playing defensively."
He called upon Oughton in the closing minutes against Kansas City and the Crew held on after losing late leads four times this season.
"There was still about 15 minutes left so I was getting a little nervous because we've blown so many leads this year," Gaven said. "I don't know if it was our best game of the year but since we won it was our best job of holding onto a lead. Sometimes it's better to play ugly and win than to play really nice soccer and tie or lose so that was really nice to see."
Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
