COLUMBUS -- Columbus Crew second-year forward Robbie Rogers would rather take the sum of his season's work and not his current goalless streak in MLS play that has reached eight games.
Apparently so do the fans, media, coaches and general managers who voted him to the Pepsi MLS All-Star Game First XI this week.
"I'm a midfielder. I have five goals midway through the season. I'll take that in a year," said Rogers, who had three goals in 10 games as a rookie. "I haven't scored in the last few games but we've been playing pretty well. If we keep getting points I don't care."
Neither does his coach, who likes the way the former University of Maryland standout has created scoring chances for others with his speed and deft dribbling on the left flank.
"I'm not worried about him as long as he continues to play with a forward mind, continue to go at forwards and create things," said Schmid. "You look at the game against LA (June 21) where he draws a penalty kick and sets up the goal off the free kick. Those are as valuable as goals."
Schmid also noted that Rogers has scored in non-league matches, most recently Wednesday against Independiente of Argentina.
"He also had one against Salt Lake in an Open Cup game. In England they like to count all competitions so based upon that he's done all right," the coach said. "If he's a wide midfielder and he's getting somewhere between eight and 12 goals in a season it's going to be very good. We expect to get five more goals from him in the second half even if it's going to be shortened possibly a little bit if he's on the Olympic team."
The Crew start the second half of the season Saturday at Real Salt Lake, riding a 2-0-2 stretch in which they have scored 10 goals. They might have to do without Rogers for long periods if he is named next week to the U.S. Olympic team that will compete in China in August.
"I've put a lot of work into it. To represent my country in the Olympics would be an amazing feeling. We'll see how it goes," he said.
No one could accuse him of not being ready for the rigors of the tournament if he's selected.
While Crew forwards Alejandro Moreno and Guillermo Barros Schelotto are tied for the league lead in fouls suffered with 40, Rogers is not far behind at 36.
"At first I was getting frustrated but I've experienced that now and it's not affecting me as much. I try to prepare for it, too, if it does happen," Rogers said.
Some of the fouls are his own doing because his quickness forces defenders to grab at him from behind. Others are meant to send a message.
"Sometimes the teams are playing against him in a much more aggressive manner," Schmid said. "In the Chicago game he got fouled twice within 30 seconds so you've got to feel that's a little bit of an intimidation tactic.
"He responded well to that. He's been able to deal with tackles, continue to play. It hasn't taken away his appetite for the game. That's important. It's a sign of respect and as the other teams focus more and more on him it opens up space for other people."
Moreno, who leads the club with six goals, knows the value of having Rogers involved in the attack.
"If he gets fouls around the box in dangerous situations then it's useful for us. What's important for us is he's not getting contact around the middle of the field; that does nothing for us," Moreno said. "But if he is threatening and getting behind the defenders and forcing the defenders to make decisions around the box or in the box then it's going to put them in difficult situations.
"The more he does that to press the issue the better off he is and the better off we are as a team. When he's running in the box and forcing defenders to chase him and make decisions it frees up me and Guillermo. Even if he doesn't get a shot, even if he gets a cross off that extra step Guillermo or I might get could allow us to get the ball into the back of the net."
Still, the Crew need Rogers to score in MLS action again.
"It's also important that he is scoring goals because it also allows us another goal-scoring threat and allows for me and Guillermo to have more space and it really makes us a more dynamic team," Moreno said.
Rogers is trying. He is third in the league in shots (46) and tied for fourth with 24 shots on goal.
"He's doing OK. Goals come and go," said Moreno. "For a while it seemed like they were coming in spurts for him. It's a matter of continuing to do what he is doing and he will continue to get chances. A couple of games ago against Colorado if perhaps he made better decisions he scores a couple of goals, but if he continues to get in those situations I'm confident enough he'll score." He may get some chances Saturday because the Rice-Eccles Stadium artificial turf has no give. Rogers could use his speed to get on the end of some quick through balls out of the midfield. Salt Lake has used the field to its advantage for a 4-0-5 home record.
"It's a really tough field; fast, hard turf," he said. "They're used to it so it really benefits them. We got a tie there last year. We're sure hoping to be the first team to beat them there. We have to go in with the same attitude -- positive with a lot of energy."
For the second week in a row the Crew will be involved in match that does not include the head coach. On July 5, Crew assistant Robert Warzycha was in charge against Chicago while Schmid attended his daughter's wedding.
Saturday, Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis starts a two-game suspension for his comments about the officiating. Assistant Robin Fraser, who played for Schmid in Los Angeles before being trade to Columbus in 2004, will help guide the team.
"It's just like when Robert coached," Schmid said. "I'm sure Jason is setting the game plan and put everything in place. They're at home so he'll be there in the locker room all the way up to the game. He just can't shout out while the game is going on."
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