Crew focus on staying hungry

COLUMBUS -- Players-only meetings are supposed to be the cure-all for a team on a downward spiral. So what in the name of the Supporters' Shield were the Crew doing behind closed doors earlier this week at their Obetz training facility? Isn't this the club that has secured the best record in MLS, home field for the playoffs and is 7-0-2 in the past nine games?

Yes, but malaise might have been a problem. The Crew were sloppy at times in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Chicago -- coach Sigi Schmid thought his team took a lot of "shortcuts" in the first half -- and practice this week has not been particularly crisp in preparation for Saturday's match at New York.

Part of it could have been due the absence of defender Frankie Hejduk, midfielder Brian Carroll and forward Alejandro Moreno for World Cup qualifiers and the nagging back injury to midfielder Robbie Rogers.

But there was a general feeling that the team that had been such an underdog to make the postseason had taken a collective siesta heading into the final two matches of the regular season.

"We addressed it a little bit a couple of days ago. The guys spoke briefly as a team. They haven't had that many team meetings this year," Schmid said. "Maybe some of the older guys needed to remind everybody where it's at."

Forward Pat Noonan can relate to the Crew trying to avoid a letdown. He was with the New England Revolution for their appearances in the MLS Cup the past three seasons.

"We want to be in the right frame of mind these last two games so we're not slacking off," he said. "Obviously, some guys are going to be resting the next couple of days, next couple of weeks but at the same time you still have a lot of guys that are going to be playing that are going to be playing in the playoffs as well off the bench so we need everybody sharp and ready to go.

"You don't want to be losing going into the playoffs. There are going to be a lot of tough games leading up to the playoffs. D.C. and New York are both fighting for a playoff spot. They're going to bring their best game and we've got to be able to match that and feel a playoff atmosphere."

Schmid thinks the message was driven home based on what he saw in practice Friday.

"I was happy with our response today simply because we've sort of been off in our training but today we came out with great spirit. I think they're ready to go," he said.

Even though the Red Bulls will be missing suspended goalkeeper Jon Conway and defender Jeff Parke because of violations to the league's drug policy, Crew midfielder Eddie Gaven said New York won't be taken lightly.

"We can't take one half off. If we do that in the playoffs we're going to get punished. Hopefully, we've learned our lesson and it won't happen again," he said.

Even though Hejduk and Rogers won't play Saturday and Moreno's minutes might be limited, forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto will try to extend his minutes while recovering from a hamstring injury. Schmid said his goal is to have the postseason lineup play against D.C. United in the season finale.

"We will try to win both games because we have to be professionals," defender Gino Padula said. "It's very important for everyone. If you relax now you don't play 100 percent in the playoffs. We need to play like we aren't in the playoffs yet."

Taking that approach is made easier by the depth of the roster. Noonan, midfielders Emmanuel Ekpo and Stefani Miglioranzi and defenders Andy Iro and Danny O'Rourke will be stating their case to start in the playoffs and others are not far off.

"For the reserves, we're always trying to talk smack before we play 11 v. 11 on Thursdays. We're always saying how we're going to dominate them," defender Ryan Junge said. "The last few weeks have been pretty intense. It's shown in games. The last few games we have buckled down. We're pushing pretty hard in the 11 v 11. It's similar to what they see on Saturdays."

Schmid said there are enough incentives to drive every player.

"Everyone says the veterans are pushing. I think the guys who should be pushing are at the bottom end of the pay scale because for them winning the MLS Cup, if you're a developmental player, you might make your whole salary just on your playoff bonus. Or, you're going to make a third of your salary if you're a minimum salary guy. It's a pretty hefty chunk of change and those are the guys that should be pushing for it."

A sidebar to Saturday's matchup is that the teams could meet again in the playoffs. Each has beaten the other once this season.

"We can't go in expecting to tie or lose and be OK with it," said Noonan. "We've got to have the frame of mind we're going to win and do the same thing in the playoffs. There's a lot of guys that are trying to get in that starting lineup and come playoff time when you're pushing each other in practice it can only help. That competitive atmosphere is crucial."