MLS rookie Kevin Burns looking to improve
Crew midfielder earning minutes, respect from teammates
For 1-1/3 seasons since his arrival from D.C. United, Carroll had been an anchor on the defense except for eight minutes in two meaningless games after the Crew had clinched the 2008 Supporters' Shield.
While the team suffered through a variety of changes throughout the lineup this season, Carroll could be counted on for a steady 90 minutes every match. The need for a backup was almost nonexistent.
That changed May 27 when Carroll left the match against San Jose in the 69th minute with a separated shoulder and Kevin Burns entered in his MLS debut and helped the Crew preserve a 2-1 win.
Carroll was replaced by Danny O'Rourke the next two matches because coach Robert Warzycha felt Burns lacked the experience to start.
However, when Carroll left in the 64th of his return against Chivas USA on June 14, Burns once again was called upon. The Crew scored a late goal for a 2-1 win and the coach's confidence in Burns continued to grow.
"He's getting minutes because of what he is showing on the practice field. He's showing he is ready to play," Warzycha said. "Game fitness is different. I don't know if he could stay on the field for 90 minutes but he is one we can count one."
It's vastly different from the beginning of the season when Burns admitted he had no business playing in a league match while trying to recover from a right ankle injury that kept him out of the 2008 season.
Even if he has played only 47 minutes so far, he's happy to be contributing.
"It shows a little bit of trust in me. Because of injuries this is my time," Burns said. "You don't get many chances like this so I have to make sure I do well even with the small amount of minutes I get.
"Both times I really didn't get nervous. I went in there pretty confident now that my fitness is there. If I had gone in there at the beginning of the year I probably wouldn't have been as comfortable. I'm fit now and doing well in training."
The defensive midfield position forces Burns to be as cerebral as he is fit.
"The most important things are the spacing and communication not only with the defenders and midfielders but everybody on the field," Warzycha said. "He's got to communicate. It's not like he's new and closes his mouth and says nothing. It's not only showing the physical side of the game -- the running and passing -- but he's also got to direct the people in front of him."
Midfielder Eddie Gaven has been impressed in the brief period he's played with Burns.
"He's done really well in the times he's come on," he said. "We always joke that both the games he came on we won. That kind of tells you right there that he does a great job. He comes in and holds the ball for us. Wins balls for us. As he gets on the field more and plays more he's going to gain more confidence and that will make him a much better player."
Burns spent his down time last season observing Carroll.
"I watched every game last year while I was hurt," he said. "Positionally, he's incredible. He shifts so well. He pushes guys out, which sometimes I make mistakes in. He's an absolute true professional all the way around the board. You can always learn from a guy like that. He's one of the best holding midfielders in the league."
Carroll is eager to help his understudy.
"Sometimes he has some questions for me and I answer them. Other times he's trying to pick and choose from everybody's game. He's doing what he can to get better. That will only make our team better," he said. "We now know he can come in and do what he needs to do to help the team win. It's always good to have that."
Carroll was back to his usual 90 minutes last week in the heat at FC Dallas in his second match back so Burns will likely be nailed to the bench again when the Crew play host to New York on Saturday.
"I'm happy to see BC back but I still want to play," he said. "It's really hard to show what you can do in 20 minutes but I have to make the most of it."
Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
