The best ways to draw a crowd to a sporting event is to win games or have 10-cent beer night, every night. It is one or the other, for a simple reason: When beer costs approach 10 bucks, it's impossible to wash down a loser.

The best ways to draw a crowd to a sporting event is to win games or have 10-cent beer night, every night. It is one or the other, for a simple reason: When beer costs approach 10 bucks, it�s impossible to wash down a loser.

Crew SC wants to feel the love from its fans. It craves unconditional support. It wants its supporters to pack Mapfre Stadium to create an intimidating environment. The Crew's problem is that it is not very good.

Owner Anthony Precourt can tweet: �I only see one way to handle tough times, and that�s to remain optimistic. (I am) calling this the low point of the season.�

Coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter can say, �We�re always evaluating. We have a very specific way to play. We believe in the way we play. Our way we play, it�s proven to get results. It�s proven to get goal-scoring opportunities. So we look at all that. It�s there. Now we just need to get the results. We have in the past and there�s no reason for me to believe we can�t in the future.�

Such assurances are difficult to swallow given that the Crew does not win. It is 3-7-7. If you go back to the end of last season, when it dropped the second leg of a semifinal playoff series and then lost in the MLS Cup final, the Crew has won three of its past 19 games.

They have pulled draws from the jaws of victory. They have pulled losses from the maws of draws. Saturday night in New England, they lost 3-1 to the Revolution. The game was topped off by none other than Kei Kamara, their high-scoring former teammate, who was left with a loose ball just a few yards away from the net. If you are a Crew fan, you cringed. Kei used to be on your team. Now, he�s killing you.

The Crew has not won an MLS game since May 28 (0-3-2). If you were born on May 28, you have gained eight pounds and are already sleeping through the night.

The Crew is only two points out of last place in the Eastern Conference. They are the 19th-best team in 20-team MLS.

Midfielder Justin Meram can say, �That�s unacceptable. The fans should be upset. But I�m a little disappointed in how negative they can be. We�re giving it all we have. It�s frustrating. I just want the fans to hang in. We need to buckle down the next two games at home and get some life. The negativity is not helping. You saw it. We�re working. It�s not like we�re coming on the road and laying an egg.�

Props to Meram for being honest. At the same time, he is flirting with a danger. Some fans may read his words and say, �I�m the problem?�

I feel for the players. If there is anything amiss in the locker room, they can�t say anything or they will get traded. But something is not right. Was the Crew just lucky at the end of last season? Are they overrated this season? Are they suffering from any form of dysfunction? Is Berhalter�s system the problem?

Berhalter has a lot of allocation money he got in the deal that sent Kamara to New England. The help might come too late, anyway.

The Crew�s next three games are at home against Eastern Conference teams hovering just above or just below the playoff line: Toronto FC, D.C. United and Orlando City. The Crew has to find two or three three-point games in this span. If they don�t, only Disco Demolition Night can save them.

marace@dispatch.com

@MichaelArace1