Contents:
Team Rating
Team Roster
Team Summary
Get through the First Season


Team Rating
Offense: 50
Defense: 53
Goalkeeping: 56
Average Age: 27


Team Roster
G-Brad Friedel-450K-25 years old-0 offense/470 defense
G-David Winner-175K-26-0/260
D-Thomas Dooley-500K-35-70/150 
D-Mike Lapper-275K-26-30/130
D-Sergio Miguez-250K-29-20/130 * (denotes international)
D-Michael Clark-175K-24-10/120 
D-Janusz Michallik-175K-30-20/110 
M-Doctor Khumalo-425K-29-100/90 *
M-Robert Warzycha-350K-33-100/80 *
M-Brian Maisoneuve-275K-23-90/70
M-Jorge Salcedo-275K-24-60/100
M-Ancil Elcock-225K-28-40/100
M-Todd Yeagley-175K-24-50/70
F-Brian McBride-375K-24-150/30 
F-Billy Thompson-225K-28-110/30 
F-Pete Marino-200K-23-130/10 
F-A.J. Wood-200K-23-120/20
F-Marcelo Carrera-200K-33-100/40

Team Summary
  The Crew are one of the few teams in the league that are set for future
success and not just the immediate victory.  They have tons of young
players that will either be stars or quality players for your team for
years.  First off, McBride.  Two words come to mind..."the man".  He's
only 24, he's got skill now, and the salary isn't outrageous.  Possibly
the best player to start with when building a team.  Then there's Friedel.
Who cares if he's not starting for the U.S., he's still the second best
goalie in America.  In addition, he's 25, which means he'll be around at
least another ten years.  Maisoneuve and Salcedo will be other stars, and
Lapper and Marino will grow to be solid, consistant players.  With only
4 internationals on the team, the Crew don't have to worry about fitting
in playing time.  The problem is that the current inters (beside the 
Doctor) are pretty weak, and the midfield is lacking depth.  Fixing these
problems, though, shouldn't be too hard.

Getting Through the First Season
  The Crew don't have much work to do as far as trading.  Since they play,
in the East, you might have trouble winning the division.  Don't let
that discourgae you, though; the team is built for long term success.
First, cut Ancil Elcock, Janusz Michallik, and Marcelo Carrera.  Ideally,
you would get a better U.S.I.S.L. player than Todd Yeagley, but now with
the real U.S.I.S.L. players, you shouldn't get too excited.
  He may be your best defender, but you should still trade away Tom
Dooley.  It's just like Valderrama:  good player in real life, but too
old for this game.  Get a fellow US National Team defender, chances are
you'll end up with John Doyle.  If you feel that trading for Doyle is
giving up too many points, just stick with Dooley.  He'll be gone in a 
few years anyway.  Just remember, when the players retire, they get a
poor player to replace them, and filling the void of your top defender
is a tough task.  Good luck getting anything for Warzycha.  If you can
get anything for him, e-mail me.  He is the classic example of an MLS
international: too old and not enough skill(although he, along with the
Doctor, got 10 more points).  After these moves, you should improve a
point or two overall.
  It's unfortunate that the Crew play in the East.  You will make the
playoffs, but making the Cup finals is extremely difficult in the first
year.  D.C. United and the MetroStars are very tough to beat in this game,
and more often than not, one of them will be in the conference finals.
After the season, pick up a striker.  Marino and Wood are decent prospects,
but you need more talent to dominate.  Go for Ronaldo, Raul, Kluivert, any
of the big guns.  Since you only have 3 internationals (since you dropped
Elcock), don't worry about maxing out on them.  The next inter you get
should be a midfielder, and then shore up the backline.  If the timing is
right, you should get a defender just as Doyle is winding down his 
career.  Once this team grows, they will be tough to beat.  Stay on the
lookout for unsigned free agents that are in the early 30's, but can
bolster the team.  The Crew have enough youth to supplement an older 
player.        

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Friedal has heard the chants of "Kasey Keller" times this year in the MLS


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