A last-place standing in the Eastern Conference and a propensity for blowing leads and tying games leaves this team with little resemblance to the one that racked up 17 victories and the Supporters Shield last year.

Whatever happened to that Crew, the one that by late last summer had left little doubt about which team was the best in American soccer?

"We still have the same perception of this team that we had going in," general manager McCullers said. "What their potential is, what roles the players will play and why we have them on the roster to begin with, none of that has changed.

"But it's our responsibility to get results and we have to figure out a way to do that."

There is truth to McCullers' contention that the Crew is still a dangerous and capable team regardless of its 1-2-6 record and its maddening inability to protect leads.

It has played to five 1-1 ties and allowed a tying goal in the second half five times but has had the better of the play in every game save for losses at Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA.

If the Crew had finished more of the ample scoring chances it has created, the opposition might never have been in a position to tie the game with a single late goal. The cross bar, the goal posts and their own two feet have turned sure-thing goals into frustrating near-misses.

"We just need to finish," coach Robert Warzycha said. "When you're scoring only one goal a game you're always going to ask yourself if you have players on the bench who can score more goals. Maybe you use them. ... Or maybe you bring somebody new in."

For all of the Crew's troubles, Warzycha, McCullers and Crew technical director Brian Bliss are still in mulling mode. A shakeup to a roster full of players who won a championship six months ago isn't afoot. Yet.

"At some point you have to do something different," Warzycha said. "We're playing good soccer but if we're not going to win games we're going to have to change something.

"We have the next game at home (against San Jose on Wednesday). We have to score goals. We have to find a solution."

The only constant to the Crew's attack has been MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who has five goals and continues to flummox opponents.

Alejandro Moreno and Eddie Gaven have one goal each. Left winger Robbie Rogers has yet to score. Right winger Emmanuel Ekpo has two goals but should have at least twice as many.

Rogers is among several Crew players that have drawn interest from other clubs and the Crew, with very little room under the salary cap, would have to clear salary space through a trade if it wishes to add offensive punch.

What might the Crew be in the market for? While Moreno is one of the best in the league at holding the ball until help arrives, he is not a marquee scorer. He has never scored more than nine goals in a season and isn't the fleetest of foot.

The Crew, unsuccessful in its bids to acquire proven scorers Brian McBride and Maciej Zurawski in recent years, could use a goal producer, preferably one fast enough to track down service from Schelotto in the middle of the attack. Who might it part with to get such a player?

The Crew has a quality veteran languishing on the bench behind Schelotto in Pat Noonan, although team brass would like to get the versatile but highly-paid Noonan more minutes in other positions to see if he can put his stamp on the attack.

It could also attempt to deal Moreno, although the Venezuelan is a valued workhorse who has been adept at drawing fouls, giving the ever-dangerous Schelotto free-kick opportunities.

The Crew would prefer to not part with any of its current players. It might not feel it has to if it can string together some victories, ideally before Moreno, Duncan Oughton, captain Frankie Hejduk and possibly other top talents are called away for a busy summer with their national teams.

"We didn't score those (50) goals by accident last year but anybody will tell you that goal scoring is semi-witchcraft," Bliss said. "Some of the best players in the world slump but that doesn't mean all of the sudden they're a bad player."

smitchell@dispatch.com