2012 Columbus Crew season

Background

Main article: 2011 Columbus Crew season

Review

The Crew missed the playoffs in 2012 for the first time since 2007, marking a further step backwards from the height of 2008. The roster moves which took place leading into the season were ultimately unsuccessful, with both high-profile signings - Milovan Mirosevic and Olman Vargas - playing only a single season for the club.

The lackluster performance of Vargas and Mirosevic led the team to a series of midseason signings, which nearly salvaged the season. Costa Rican forward Jairo Arrieta joined the team in June, while Argentine midfielder Federico Higuain signed a Designated Player contract a month later. The tandem revitalized the Crew's offense, leading to a 4-game winning streak and thoughts of post-season glory. After this initial honeymoon, however, the team's performance declined; the team just missed out on a playoff berth.

After the season, coach Robert Warzycha began yet another rebuilding effort, jettisoning several veteran players including William Hesmer, Sebastian Miranda and Emilio Renteria.

The year's most significant event, however, had nothing to do with on-field performance. Rookie midfielder Kirk Urso collapsed and died on August 5 from a genetic heart defect (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy), providing an emotional rallying cry for the remainder of the season and beyond.

Roster

As of August 29, 2012. -- Do NOT add new players before their signing is officially announced by the club -- and do NOT assign unreferenced jersey numbers as well. -- Do NOT create articles for new draft picks until they make either their MLS or U.S. Open Cup debut, and do not add red wikilinks to these players as it prevents the creation of articles by people who don't understand the WP:FOOTY notability guidelines -- Players with international caps should NOT be bolded - as per Wikipedia:WikiProject_Football/Clubs -- This is Wikipedia, not a football gazette. -- Any unconfirmed and unsourced signing/transfer will be reverted at sight. -- Thanks in advance.

Technical Staff

Non-competitive

Preseason

The Crew started preseason in Columbus and played games in Florida and South Carolina before returning to Ohio. The Crew brought in the following trialists during training camp: Javier Alvial, Lance Laing, Travis Wall, Silvio Spann, Nermin Crnkić, John Daniele, Kasali Casal, Nemanja Vuković and Stéphane Auvray.

Unsigned draft picks Aubrey Perry, Kevan George, Kirk Urso, Jamie Finch, Darren Amoo and Andrew Bulls also joined the team for preseason.

• Renteria

• Ranegie

• Durmaz

• Gaven

• Mirosevic

• Renteria

• Meram

• Vargas

• George

• Horton

• Heinemann

• Anor

• Tchani

• Heinemann

• Hurtado

• Alonso

• Montero

• Gonzalez

• Sanyang

• Cato

• Falvey

• Kelly

• Flatley

• Cuevas

• Gaven

• Mendes

• Mirosevic

• Tchani

• Mendes

• Vargas

• Gehrig

• Tchani

• Sanyang

• Segares

• Puppo

Midseason

Jamie Finch and Blas Iribarren were guest players against West Virginia Mountaineers.

• Vargas ,

• Mishu

• Priede

• Mirošević

• Vargas

• Urso Montague

• Horton

• Grossman ,

• Añor

• Renteria

• Horton

• Speas

• Walters

Competitive

Overview

MLS

Main article: 2012 Major League Soccer season

Standings

[[Eastern Conference (MLS)|Eastern Conference]]

Overall table

Results summary

Results by round

Match results

• Moor

• Amarikwa

• Mirošević

• Vargas

• Wynne

• Rentería
  Bill Dittmar

• Mirošević

• Vargas

• Urso

• Francis

• Brovsky

• Nyassi

• Gardner

• Warner Steve Taylor

• de Guzman

• Gaven

• Añor

• Schoenfeld Kevin Duliba

• Añor

• Marshall

• Cooper ,

• Henry ,

• Keel Jeff Muschik

• Gómez ,

• Carroll

• Farfan

• Martínez

• Gehrig

• Gaven
  Bill Dittmar

• Tchani

• Gaven ,

• Hainault

• Bruin

• Ching Frank Anderson

• Marshall

• O'Rourke

• Harvey

• Koffie

• Young-Pyo James Conlee

• Palmer

• Songo'o

• Chara Miranda Jeremy Hanson

• Meram ,

• Miranda

• Mirošević

• Castillo ,

• Loyd

• Jacobson Jason Cullum

• Lenhart

• Gordon ,

• Corrales

• Meram

• Tchani Colin Arblaster

• Meram

• Duka

• Mendes

• Rentería

• Burch

• Osvaldo Jeff Hosking

• Gaven

• Rentería

• Añor

• Berry Jeff Muschik

• Soares

• Moreno Miranda Eric Proctor

• Pappa

• Oduro

• Segares

• Gargan

• Tchani

• George

• Schoenfeld Adam Garner

• Tchani

• Vuković

• Gaven

• George

• Espíndola

• Steele Matt Nelson

• Nyassi

• Warner

• Valentin

• Bernier

• Vuković

• Tchani

• Mirošević

• Rentería Jeff Muschik

• Añor

• Rentería

• Birchall

• Peterson

• Joseph

• Nagamura

• Bunbury James Conlee

• Birchall

• Miranda Matt Nelson

• Kamara

• Arrieta ,

• Grossman Jeff Muschik

• Pontius

• Neal

• Duka

• Meram Steve Taylor

• Arrieta

• Keane

• Marcelo Sarvas Brian Dunn

• Davis

• Moffat

• Grossman

• Duka

• Gaven

• Higuaín Jeff Muschik

• Gaven

• Higuaín ,

• O'Dea

• Silva

• Morgan Kevin Klinger

• Higuaín ,

• Arrieta ,

• Guy

• Bengtson

• Alston

• Nguyen James Conlee

• Valdés

• Hoppenot

• Birchall

• Williams ,

• Gaven Brian Dunn

• O'Rourke

• Marshall

• Rentería

• Warner

• Di Vaio Eric Proctor

• Imbongo ,

• Marshall

• O'Rourke Scott Kachmarik

• Henry ,

• Cahill

• McCarty

• Mirošević

• James Scott Kachmarik

• Meram ,

• Minda

• Valencia

• Correa Brian Dunn

• Rolfe ,

• Johnson

• Arrieta

• O'Rourke

• Rentería Baboucarr Jallow

• Arrieta ,

• O'Rourke

• Gruenebaum

• Mirošević

• Okugo

• Cruz

• McInerney Matt Nelson

• James

• Gaven

• Sapong James Conlee

• DeLeon

• Saragosa

• Neal

• Arrieta ,

• Gaven

• Mendes

• Williams James Conlee

• Higuaín ,

• Wiedeman

• Dunfield Claudiu Badea

MLS Cup Playoffs

Main article: 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs

The Columbus Crew failed to qualify for the playoffs in this season.

U.S. Open Cup

Main article: 2012 U.S. Open Cup

• Finlay
• Vargas
• Bardsley ,
• Bartels
• Knotek

Reserve League

Eastern

Match results

• Grossman

• Perry

• Neagle

• Montaño

• Mannella

• Grossman

• Finlay ,

• Tchani

• George

• Schoenfeld

• Meram

• Borrajo

• Lade

• Pálsson

• Ruthven

• Rentería , , ,

• Grossman

• Tchani

• Meram

• Hoppenot

• Jordan

• Hernández

• Pfeffer

• Añor ,

• Boucher John Safar

Nyassi

• James

• Vargas Joseph Poremba

• Stahler

• Ballouchy

• Arrieta

• Vargas

• Meram Adam Alfi

• Vargas ,

• Schoenfeld

• Gehrig

• Crognale

• Horton

• Morsink

• Tan

• Dudar

• Mkosana

• Pfeffer

• Hernández

• Hoffman

• Rentería

• Vargas

• Meram

• Grossman Tre Gaither

• Augusto

• Tchani

• Duka

• Finlay

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Under "Apps" for each section, the first number represents the number of starts, and the second number represents appearances as a substitute.

Disciplinary record

Clean sheets

Reserve League Statistics

Appearances and goals

Under "Apps" for each section, the first number represents the number of starts, and the second number represents appearances as a substitute.

|}

Disciplinary record

Clean sheets

Transfers

In

Out

Loans out

MLS Draft picks

Main article: 2012 MLS SuperDraft, 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft

Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as transfers in. The picks for the Columbus Crew are listed below:

Awards

MLS Player of the Week

MLS Save of the Week

Postseason

;MLS Newcomer of the Year

• FW Federico Higuaín

Crew Team Awards

• Most Valuable Player – Andy Gruenebaum
• Defensive Player of the Year – Andy Gruenebaum
• Scoring Champion – Jairo Arrieta & Eddie Gaven
• Breakout Performance of the Year – Jairo Arrieta
• Goal of the Year – Sebastian Miranda
• Humanitarian of the Year – Eddie Gaven
• Comeback Player of the Year – Julius James
• Kirk Urso Heart Award – Kirk Urso
• Special Recognition, The 200 Club – Eddie Gaven & Chad Marshall
• Jim Nelson Fan of the Year – Alex Thomas
• Academy U15/U16 Player of the Year – Ben Swanson
• Academy U17/U18 Player of the Year – Zach Mason
• Academy U19/U20 Player of the Year – Sage Gardner

References

References

1. "Massive Report > Data > Season".
2. Merz, Craig. (March 10, 2012). "Crew vow to be more aggressive after subpar showing".
3. "Players | Columbus Crew".
4. "Front Office Staff | Columbus Crew".
5. mlssoccer. "Crew ink Chilean playmaker Mirosevic to multi-year deal {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
6. mlssoccer. "Crew hope Vargas will buck recent trend of foreign signings {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
7. mlssoccer. "NCAA hero Speas inks Home Grown contract with Crew {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
8. mlssoccer. "Crew hope Finlay will add to new offensive impetus {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
9. mlssoccer. "Crew aim to build depth with Supplemental picks {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
10. "Crew signs Perry and Urso, as club submits roster on compliance day | Columbus Crew".
11. "George inks deal with the Crew | Columbus Crew".
12. mlssoccer. "Vukovic expected to compete for Crew's left back spot {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
13. "Crew signs forward Aaron Schoenfeld | Columbus Crew".
14. mlssoccer. "New striker Arrieta set to arrive in Columbus on June 27 {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
15. mlssoccer. "Columbus get experience they need in Birchall signing {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
16. mlssoccer. "Columbus ink Argentine forward Federico Higuain as DP {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
17. "8/1/2012: Columbus Paid Considerable Transfer Fee for Higuain | Crewture".
18. "Crew Re-signs Tchani".
19. "Keeping Trapp in Black & Gold was a priority for Bliss | Columbus Crew".
20. mlssoccer. "Columbus preparing to make major signing, possible DP {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
21. mlssoccer. "Columbus Crew mourn passing of midfielder Kirk Urso {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
22. mlssoccer. "List of players available for Monday MLS Waiver Draft {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
23. mlssoccer. "RSL nab ex-Crew midfielder with sole MLS Waiver pick {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
24. mlssoccer. "In need of defensive revamp, Columbus cut seven players {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
25. "Crew loans forward Aaron Horton to Dayton Dutch Lions | Columbus Crew".
26. "2012 MLS SuperDraft".
27. "2012 MLS Supplemental Draft".
28. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 3): The last shall be first {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
29. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 4): The beasts from the East {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
30. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 6): MLS road warriors take a bow {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
31. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 7): USMNT candidates make their case {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
32. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 8): When stars step aside {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
33. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 9): Midweek stars make the cut {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
34. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 10): Old faces & new come together {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
35. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 11): United's big week rewarded {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
36. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 12): FWs put in huge performances {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
37. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wks 13-15): Canada stands apart {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
38. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 16): Comeback kings honored {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
39. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 17): Quakes, TFC rule our selection {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
40. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 18): Union youth lead the charge {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
41. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 20): Midseason changes pay off {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
42. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 21): Ticos terrorize MLS backlines {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
43. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 24): Midfielders take the reins {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
44. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 25): Attacking players light up MLS {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
45. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 26): 10 MLS teams represented {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
46. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 27): Plenty to like over short week {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
47. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 28): Playoff race brings out best {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
48. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 29): Supporters' Shield in view {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
49. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 30): Cream rises to the top {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
50. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 31): Stars shine in the West race {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
51. mlssoccer. "Team of the Week (Wk 32): Midfielders make presence felt {{!}} MLSSoccer.com".
52. Rosano, Nicholas. (November 28, 2012). "Crew's Higuain lands MLS Newcomer of the Year award". MLS.
53. (October 24, 2012). "Crew Announces Team Awards".