The last few minutes were crazy, but the Crew fully deserved the aggregate win. They put in an almost perfect away performance to close out the game. Red Bulls never really created anything and Crew had all the best chances. I think the final will be a great game between the two teams that have built up a head of steam over the last couple of months.

 

WHAT A GAME!!  WHAT A FINISH!!  WHAT A SERIES!!

 

Game video & recap:  http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-11-29-new-york-red-bulls-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

From the #crewsc twitter feed:

 

In the run up to the MLS Cup, the two Crew SC players named to the MLS Best XI - Kei Kamara and Ethan Finlay - made the media rounds in New York City.  From https://twitter.com/ColumbusCrewSC and the #crewsc twitter feed:

 

Kamara at CNN:

 

Then on to the 'Men in Blazers' show on NBCSN:

 

Where they presented them with Crew SC jerseys:

 

And on to the game broadcaster ESPN, where various shows posed with team jerseys:

 

But fellow Ohioan Jay Crawford would only pose with the Crew jersey!

Meanwhile, Columbus is getting ready for the MLS Cup.  A sampling from https://twitter.com/ColumbusCrewSC and the #crewsc twitter feed:

 

The High Street skywalk going into the Convention Center:

 

Broad & High:

 

High & Spring:

 

Arena District:

 

Fleet of mobile ads heading up High Street across from the Ohio State campus:

 

One of many spots where viewing parties will be held on Sunday:

 

Because we're wishing for a Merry Crewsmas!

Interesting article about how many University of Akron players are on team rosters in this MLS Cup.  Six players total: three for Columbus (Trapp, Speas, Barson) and three for Portland (Nagbe, Nanchoff, Zemanski).

 

Plus one head coach - Caleb Porter for the Portland Timbers.  Porter led Akron to an NCAA Championship in 2010, then left after their 2012 season to begin coaching Portland.  Two players from his 2010 championship team are key midfielders for each team in this MLS Cup (Darlington Nagbe for Portland and Wil Trapp for Columbus).

 

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/sports/2015/12/04/perfect-fit-from-zips-to-crew.html

A little more about the University of Akron connection between Portland coach Caleb Porter and Columbus midfielder Wil Trapp:

 

http://www.massivereport.com/2015/12/4/9851850/hometown-hero-wil-trapp-has-a-strange-person-to-thank-this-weekend

If you're a Crew fan, you probably remember how last season's playoffs didn't turn out like this season's playoffs.  In fact, it was a bitter disappointment that featured multiple defensive breakdowns.  Below is an article from Massive Report that talks about how this year's Crew haven't forgotten last year's playoff result.  And also how they have used that memory to fuel this year's magnificent run:

 

Last Season's Postseason Disappointment Fueled Columbus Crew SC's Fire in 2015:  http://www.massivereport.com/2015/12/3/9846280/postseason-disappointment-fueled-columbus-crew-scs-fire

OH, C'MON!!  Kamara's right leg was injured in the final practice before tomorrow's MLS Cup!!!  THE. FINAL. PRACTICE.  Here's the initial reporting:

 

http://www.massivereport.com/2015/12/5/9854282/kei-kamara-picks-up-knock-in-final-practice-before-mls-cup

 

http://www.espnfc.com/columbus-crew-sc/story/2741737/columbus-crew-sc-kei-kamara-injury-evaluated-for-mls-cup

 

---

And here's the latest update from the Crew twitter feed:

 

@ColumbusCrewSC - 2:20 PM - 5 Dec 2015:  Update: Kei Kamara suffered a right leg knock during Saturday's training session and will be a game-time decision on Sunday.

 

Kamara injured but expected to play:  http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/sports/2015/12/05/1205-kamara-appers-to-injure-ankle.html

 

Here's the latest about Kamara from the Dispatch article linked above:

 

"Kamara suffered a “right-leg knock,” according to an update provided by the team.  The incident occurred before all reporters gained full access to practice, but a source told The Dispatch that the injury occurred near the end of the session during a set-piece drill."

 

"Kamara “didn’t look good” after jumping for a header and landing awkwardly, but he appeared to be in better shape as he walked to the locker room without help, The Dispatch was told."

Interesting SI article about how Columbus and Portland constructed their rosters.  Some big market teams, like NYCFC, LA and Toronto, spent heavily on big name DP players.  Columbus and Portland spent more modest amounts on their DP players and used their budgets for more roster depth:

 

Portland, Columbus both spend wisely to cultivate their MLS Cup rosters:  http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2015/12/03/portland-timbers-columbus-crew-mls-cup-rosters-spending

Okay.  Here are the MLS Cup previews:

• MLS Final Preview:  http://matchcenter.columbuscrewsc.com/matchcenter/2015-12-06-columbus-crew-sc-vs-portland-timbers/preview

• MLS Position Breakdown:  http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/12/02/2015-mls-cup-head-head-position-breakdown-columbus-crew-sc-vs-portland-timbers

• Massive Report Preview - Columbus Crew SC vs. Portland Timbers FC in MLS Cup:  http://www.massivereport.com/2015/12/5/9849908/soccers-finest-hour-columbus-crew-sc-vs-portland-timbers-fc-in-mls-cup

• Game Projections - Projections give edge to Columbus Crew SC over Portland Timbers in MLS Cup:  http://www.massivereport.com/2015/12/3/9839396/projections-give-edge-to-columbus-crew-sc-over-portland-timbers-in

 

And the key articles from the special MLS Cup section in today's Dispatch:

• MLS title on the line: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/sports/2015/12/06/title-on-the-line.html

• Federico Higuain’s single focus is winning MLS title for Crew:  http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/sports/2015/12/06/close-to-the-goal.html

• Timbers want to give Portland a title:  http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/sports/2015/12/06/1206-crew-timbers-feature.html

• Crew - Keys to the Cup:  http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/sports/2015/12/06/1206-crew-keys-to-the-cup.html

• Timbers - Keys to the Cup:  http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/sports/2015/12/06/1206-crew-timbers-keys.html

And of course, today's broadcast:

 

Crew SC vs. Timbers - MLS Cup 2015: Time, TV schedule and how to watch MLS Cup online

 

Finally, some good weather this weekend.  Just in time for the MLS Cup:

 

Pre-game flyover by the Ohio Air National Guard fueling aircraft - from both angles:

 

Then a massive mistake by Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark allows a Portland goal only 37 seconds into the match!  Followed by a diving Portland header in the 7th minute to give the Timbers a two goal lead.  Columbus recovered from the shock to halve the lead on a Kamara goal in the 18th minute.  Portland leads 2-1 at halftime.

 

Tremendous season and playoff run ends with a disappointing 2-1 loss to the Portland Timbers in the MLS Cup.  The Crew seemed to have some momentum going into halftime after a terrible start and tried to keep the pressure on Portland in the second half.  But it was Portland that had the better scoring chances in the final half.

 

The Timbers saw two chances hit off the Crew goal posts.  And a point-blank header from the bearded Borchers was saved hockey goalie style by Clark to deny another chance.  In the end, the Timber defense kept the Crew's chances outside of the prime scoring areas and held on to their 2-1 lead to earn the 2015 MLS Cup.

 

Wow what a disappointing start. I'm glad the Crew were able to make the game interesting. Next year!

Never recovered from that terrible start. Didn't really find a rhythm and didn't create a single clear cut chance. Portland didn't do much either in what was a pretty low-quality, but exciting, game. Overall, Timbers were worth the win

Very disappointing way to lose the Final. It would be easier to accept if we didn't forfeit a goal so quickly, and then have the refs fail to signal the ball went out of bounds. Neither team looked great yesterday.

Very disappointing way to lose the Final. It would be easier to accept if we didn't forfeit a goal so quickly, and then have the refs fail to signal the ball went out of bounds. Neither team looked great yesterday.

 

That non call was utterly ridiculous. However I was in a crowded bar that was 95 percent Portland fans and so there wasn't much complaining going on.

Well, I've been posting the video highlight link for each game this season.  So here's the one for last night's MLS Cup:

 

MLS CUP HIGHLIGHTS:  Columbus Crew SC 1, Portland Timbers 2 | MLS Cup Match Recap

As disappointing as the final score was last night, hosting the MLS Cup was really something special.  Such a fun event to host.  So here's a selection of some of the best of #crewsc twitter pics to document the day:

 

The gameday saw tailgaters outside the stadium from the early morning...

 

... to later in the day nearing gametime.

 

Pre-game show by UniMas...

 

Getting closer to the start...

 

The 1000+ strong Timbers Army showed up in the south stands cheer on their team...

 

And they marched en masse early into their seats.  They were allotted most of the south stands (note the one section in the south stands they couldn't get tickets for).  In retrospect they probably should have been given the entire south stands.  I kinda felt bad for the smaller Crew fan section on that side:

 

The Portland fan support was impressive.  One of their home field traditions is that after a goal is scored, their mascot - Timber Joey, fires up his chainsaw and cuts a piece from a huge log behind the end line.  They wanted to do the same thing in Columbus for the MLS Cup.  So they actually transported a log across the country to bring into Mapfre Stadium.  (Someone grabbed this pic of that truck outside the stadium grounds):

 

And on Timber Joey's twitter feed, he posed with the log in front of the Statehouse along Third Street...

 

But the Crew said, "No logs or chainsaws allowed inside Mapfre Stadium"...

 

So Timber Joey had to watch the game in the south stands along with the rest of the Timbers Army:

 

Now it's time for the game.

 

And the Nordecke unveils stylized banners of the Columbus skyline (with the LeVeque Tower in the center)...

 

...followed by the Timbers Army unveiling their own banners celebrating their log truck!

 

While these guys paid homage to the old Crew logo...

 

Then the game started.  And only 27 seconds in, a Clark gaffe gives Portland a 1-0 lead: http://www.massivereport.com/2015/12/6/9858422/oh-no-columbus-crew-sc-concede-two-goals-in-opening-seven-minutes-of/in/9620131

 

Not even enough time for the pre-game fireworks smoke to clear!  Then Portland goes up 2-0 in the 7th minute on a sideline play where the ball went briefly out-of-bounds, but the side official missed it.  While Tchani stopped playing to complain, Portland advanced the ball, passed it in front of the Crew net, and scored on a diving header: http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-12-06-columbus-crew-sc-vs-portland-timbers/recap

 

Here are the screenshots of the ball going over the sideline (someone even diagrammed it).

 

This goal caused the low moment of the night.  After Portland scored they began the celebrate in front of the Nordecke.  The awful horrible no-good start, the non-call, and this celebration caused some to lash out and throw beer cans onto the field.  No one was hurt and order was quickly restored.  But the incident is still reverberating through twitter and redditt: http://www.massivereport.com/2015/12/7/9859690/a-night-to-forget-for-the-nordecke

 

Things got better in the 18th minute when Kamara got a goal for the Crew to halve the lead 2-1: http://www.massivereport.com/2015/12/6/9858502/kei-kamara-goal-gives-columbus-crew-sc-life-in-mls-cup/in/9620131

 

And as the daylight was fading and the downtown skyline was bathed in a beautiful sunset, the second half started...

 

...and the Crew went looking for the tying goal.

 

However, it was the Timbers who found the better scoring chances in the second half - including a flurry that saw the ball hit the Crew net frame twice before it was cleared.  This link has a video which shows a possible handball on Parkhurst that was not called on that play: http://www.massivereport.com/2015/12/6/9858712/handball-or-fair-play-michael-parkhurst-mls-cup-2015-columbus-crew-sc-portland-timbers/in/9620131

 

The Timbers had another shot clank off the side post and then had a point-blank header that was amazingly saved by Clark.  Someone on twitter said Clark made a "Not Top 10" and a "Top 10" play in the same game!  This link has a video of Clark's amazing save: http://www.massivereport.com/2015/12/6/9858804/how-did-he-do-that-steve-clark-keeps-columbus-crew-sc-in-mls-cup-with/in/9620131

 

As the night wore out and the 90' mark loomed, the Crew faithful hoped for a miracle...

 

...but it never came.  The Portland defense was a fortress in front of their goal, keeping the Crew's scoring chances outside of the 18-yard box and shutting down anything that came inside it.  The cold reality is expressed in this final shot chart for the game.  The Crew ended up with only one shot-on-target, Kamara's goal in the 18th minute.  While Portland peppered the Crew net with eight:

 

As disappointing as the final score was last night.  The Crew had a great season and tremendous playoff run.  But so did Portland, and they just had the better game last night.  I wish it had turned out differently.  But props to Portland for a fine game.  I like Portland's style of play and the Ohio ties they have.  And the Timbers fans did their team proud with the support and enthusiasm they brought to last night's game and to MLS with their raucous home games.

 

Portland deserved the win last night and I don't feel bad about them winning the Cup - despite the disappointment for the Crew.  And I think Crew fans would agree with that sentiment.

 

 

Okay.  Maybe not everyone would agree!!

So that will do it for an eventful 2015 season.  Time to put Mapfre Stadium to bed for winter.

 

 

Hope to see a repeat appearance in the 2016 MLS Cup!!  GO CREW!!!

 

Thanks! I always enjoy your recaps.

 

That one was very thorough. Disappointing match all around. We'll get 'em next year. We've still got a good team with almost everyone returning.

^ You're welcome.  I try to have some fun with them (even after a disappointing loss).

 

And as thorough as that MLS Cup recap was, I still couldn't find a way to work this pic into the narrative:

 

 

It looks like Canadian hockey legend Don Cherry is a Crew fan too!  To the befuddlement of his Hockey Night In Canada partner Ron MacLean!!!

We've still got a good team with almost everyone returning.

 

http://www.massivereport.com/2015/12/7/9868056/columbus-crew-sc-exercises-options-makes-cuts-as-2016-already-begins

 

http://www.columbuscrewsc.com/post/2015/12/07/core-eastern-conference-champion-columbus-crew-sc-roster-return-2016-club-exercises

 

Defender Emanuel Pogatetz and midfielder Kristinn Steindorsson did not get their contract options extended for next year.  No surprise as each player's game time dwindled away to nothing through the 2015 season.  The Crew also allowed two homegrown signing contracts to expire, midfielder Ben Speas and goalkeeper Matt Lampson.

 

Midfielder Kevan George plus forwards Jack McInerney and Aaron Schoenfeld are also out of contract.  But the team is in discussions with those three players and some may return for 2016.  Currently, this is 2016 roster for Crew SC:

 

Goalkeepers ( 2 ):  Steve Clark, Brad Stuver

 

Defenders ( 8 ):  Harrison Afful, Chad Barson, Sergio Campbell, Waylon Francis, Chris Klute, Michael Parkhurst, Gaston Sauro, Tyson Wahl

 

Midfielders (10):  Ethan Finlay, Romain Gall, Federico Higuain, Hector Jimenez, Cedrick Mabwati, Justin Meram, Mohammed Saeid, Ben Swanson, Tony Tchani, Wil Trapp

 

Forwards ( 1 ):  Kei Kamara

I... am a Timbers fan (sorry guys) and was fortunate enough to get GA tickets to the Timber's Army section on Sunday.

 

The game was amazing of course, but I can't say enough how much the visiting fans appreciated the Ohio hospitality. Despite a few loose beer cups in frustration, everyone was super welcoming (including the Union cafe bar (I think that's what it was called) that welcomed 100s of Timbers fans after the game with absolutely no notice whatsoever on a Sunday night.

^ Well, you guys seem a likeable bunch.  If I had to pick my second-favorite MLS team (after Columbus of course) it would be Portland.

 

Portland deserved the win.  This was Caleb Porter's third year with Portland.  And it seems like this was the year he put everything together and broke through.  Next year will be Gregg Berhalter's third year with Columbus.  And Berhalter seems like the kind of coach who could do the same thing next season.

Some 2016 roster items:

 

-- Columbus Crew SC Trade Defender Chris Klute to the Portland Timbers for Allocation Money:  Klute was acquired in a 2015 draft day trade with Colorado that saw the Rapids and Crew also swap their first-round picks.  Klute never really worked his way into the defensive rotation, only starting 8 games and making 14 appearances during 2015.

 

-- Justin Meram drawing interest from clubs abroad, but could still return to Columbus Crew SC:  The Crew picked up Meram's option for 2016.  But there are reports that Meram is receiving interest from European and Middle Eastern teams.  Might be enticing for him to play there next year given that Meram will be a mainstay on the Iraqi national team during next year's World Cup qualifying matches.  Those schedules and proximity mesh better than the MLS play does.  Although the Crew would like Meram to return, Cedrick has shown he could fit into Meram's roster spot quite nicely.

Crew SC partners with Pittsburgh Riverhounds for USL-Pro affiliation

 

The above Massive Report link reports on the Columbus Crew announcing an agreement with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to serve as the team's USL-Pro affiliate for the 2016 season.

 

In 2013 and 2014, the Crew's USL affiliate was the Dayton Dutch Lions - a partnership that worked well for the Crew.  Unfortunately Dayton moved a step below USL-Pro last year and forced the Crew to look elsewhere.  The long distance relationship between the Columbus and Austin never worked well last year.

 

This Pittsburgh organization seems to be stable and well run.  Hopefully this new closer team can give some Crew reserves the playing time they need.  The Crew need a USL team to develop young players like Ben Swanson and Romain Gall - players that could be a big part of future Crew rosters but are not yet ready for the MLS.

The Crew found a Klute replacement on the defensive wing.  29-year-old Corey Ashe is a 9-year MLS veteran, eight-and-a-half seasons with the Houston Dynamo and the second half of last season with Orlando City SC.  He's been an MLS All-Star twice.  He's being described as a wing back in the style of Francis and Afful who might press them for a starting spot and/or serve as a late game sub for them in 2016

 

-- http://www.massivereport.com/2015/12/18/10584762/crew-sc-sign-corey-ashe

 

-- http://www.massivereport.com/2015/12/19/10626188/addition-of-corey-ashe-is-part-of-the-plan-to-improve-columbus-crew-sc

MLS announced the 2016 opening home games for every team yesterday:

 

- The Crew will play their first game on the road at Portland on Sunday, March 6.  This rematch of the 2015 MLS Cup will be televised nationally on ESPN.

 

- The Crew's home opener will be the following week on Saturday March 12, when Crew SC will host Philadelphia.

Some off-season news going into this Thursday's 2016 MLS SuperDraft:

 

-- Gregg Berhalter is Given a Contract Extension by Columbus Crew SC - The exact length of the extension was not made public.  But the Crew picked up Berhalter's option through the 2017 season prior to this announcement.  So this extension is at least to the 2018 season.

 

-- National Team Bound: Three Crew SC Players to get USMNT Looks - Ethan Finlay, Tony Tchani, and Wil Trapp got call ups to the January USMNT Camp.  If they stick with the USMNT, they might feature in upcoming two friendly matches (vs. Iceland on 1/31; and vs. Canada on 2/5).

 

-- Ethan Finlay Gets a Contract Extension from Columbus Crew SC - A well-earned contract extension.  After 2014's breakout season of 11 goals and 7 assists, Finlay followed it up with 12 goals and 23 assists in the 2015 season.

 

-- 2016 MLS Schedule - The full 2016 MLS schedule was released and this is the team schedule link at the Crew SC website.

Some news about two backup Crew forwards from last year who are currently out-of-contract:  http://www.massivereport.com/2016/1/11/10750970/jack-mcinerney-to-be-traded-to-the-portland-timbers-per-espn-report

 

-- According to the above linked Massive Report article, ESPNfc.com is reporting that Crew SC are set to trade Jack McInerney's rights to the Portland Timbers in exchange for allocation money.

 

-- The Massive Report article also reports that Aaron Schoenfeld is negotiating with an Israeli team.

Recap of the Crew selections from rounds 1 & 2 of yesterday's 2016 MLS SuperDraft:

 

-- http://www.columbuscrewsc.com/post/2016/01/14/crew-sc-selects-four-players-opening-rounds-2016-mls-superdraft

 

-- http://www.columbuscrewsc.com/post/2016/01/14/get-know-crew-scs-2016-superdraft-picks

 

-- http://www.massivereport.com/2016/1/14/10768124/2016-mls-superdraft

 

-- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_MLS_SuperDraft

More Crew off-season news:

 

-- Crew's final pick in the MLS draft - 3rd round, 41st overall:  http://www.massivereport.com/2016/1/14/10772450/crew-sc-add-marshall-hollingsworth-with-41st-pick-in-the-mls-draft

 

-- Big Celery officially signs with an Israeli team:  http://www.massivereport.com/2016/1/19/10789788/aaron-schoenfeld-signs-with-maccabi-netanya-in-israel

 

-- 24-year-old Danish midfielder Emil Larsen signed by the Crew; expected to push Meram, Finlay and Cedrick for playing time as attacking winger:  http://www.massivereport.com/2016/1/22/10816612/columbus-crew-sc-officially-announce-the-signing-of-danish-midfielder

Some good news and potentially troubling news involving the Crew's forward/striker position:

 

The good news - Crew SC fills a need for a backup forward by signing 34-year-old veteran MLS Conor Casey:

 

-- http://www.massivereport.com/2016/1/26/10832664/columbus-crew-sc-signs-veteran-forward-conor-casey

-- http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/sports/2016/01/26/0126-crew-conor-casey.html

 

The potentially troubling news - Washington Post is reporting that Kei Kamara is holding out of early training camp in order to obtain a better contract.  Currently he is the third highest paid player of the Crew, behind Federico Higuain and Gaston Sauro.  Right now, the Washington Post is the only source for this report.  The Crew and Kamara have not confirmed this:

 

-- https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2016/01/25/mls-mvp-finalist-kei-kamara-in-contract-dispute-with-columbus-crew/

-- http://www.massivereport.com/2016/1/25/10831706/report-kei-kamara-is-holding-out-from-preseason-for-improved-contract

Looks like WaPo jumped the gun in reporting that Kei Kamara was holding out of training camp:

 

http://www.massivereport.com/2016/1/27/10842948/Kei-Kamara-Arrives-Camp-Columbus-Crew-SC

More forward/striker intrigue:

 

http://www.massivereport.com/2016/1/28/10866394/panamanian-reports-link-crew-sc-with-striker-ricardo-clarke

WaPo still on the Kamara contract case.  Apparently he still wants a revised deal and in talks with the Crew, but doesn’t foresee holding out or requesting a trade:

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2016/01/30/mls-star-kei-kamara-says-he-wants-a-new-contract-from-columbus-crew/

Crew SC signed 23-year-old, American-born, Egyptian defender Amro Tarek.  Tarek's current team, Real Betis in the Spanish first division, agreed to loan Tarek to the Crew for the duration of the 2016 MLS season.  The 6'-2" defender has been playing left back in recent years but can also play in the center back position:

 

http://www.massivereport.com/2016/2/3/10906926/crew-sc-confirm-signing-of-egyptian-defender-amro-tarek

 

http://www.columbuscrewsc.com/post/2016/02/03/crew-sc-acquires-defender-amro-tarek-loan/

More roster moves:

 

-- 2016 1st-round draft pick, 22-year-old midfielder Rodrigo Saravia signed:  http://www.massivereport.com/2016/2/4/10916594/columbus-crew-sc-sign-first-round-draft-pick-rodrigo-saravia

 

-- Crew SC signs a "second Kamara", 26-year-old forward Ola Kamara:  http://www.columbuscrewsc.com/post/2016/02/04/crew-sc-acquires-forward-ola-kamara

 

-- More about the "second Kamara" signing:  http://www.massivereport.com/2016/2/4/10918470/crew-sc-further-augment-forward-line-with-ola-kamara-signing

 

Ola Kamara (no relation to Kei) is a Sierra Leone-born, 26-year-old forward who has played for a variety of European teams since 2006.  His last stop was in Norway on loan from his Austrian team.  As the two reports posted above about him show, Ola Kamara's goal production has been up-and-down from location to location.  But when its been up, its been impressive.

 

Both Ola Kamara and Rodrigo Saravia will take international roster spots on the Crew roster.  Something that will require an additional move from the Crew to bring their roster into MLS compliance by the season opener in March.  Currently the Crew have nine players occupying international spots and only eight spots are allowed by MLS.  Its likely that either Saravia (this year's 1st-round pick) or defender Sergio Campbell (last year's 1st-round pick) will get loaned to another team to bring the season opening roster into compliance.

Currently the Crew have nine players occupying international spots and only eight spots are allowed by MLS.  Its likely that either Saravia (this year's 1st-round pick) or defender Sergio Campbell (last year's 1st-round pick) will get loaned to another team to bring the season opening roster into compliance.

 

Or Sergio Campbell could just be waived.  Plus Romain Gall too: 

 

The waiving of Gall is a surprise.  The team was talking him up as a major part of the Crew's future last year.  Things must've changed:  http://www.massivereport.com/2016/2/8/10940244/crew-sc-make-roster-moves-after-first-leg-of-preseason

Crew SC has an unveiling of a new alternate jersey later today at City Hall.  But ahead of the official unveiling, two bits of jersey news got dropped.

 

- The first bit of jersey news came from the team president.  He he team will keep the 2015 black jersey as the primary and introduce a new secondary jersey that will be based off the city flag.  The new wrinkle is that the gold shirts will be retained as a third option for “select home games”.

 

More at http://www.massivereport.com/2016/2/9/10956760/loughnane-crew-sc-will-keep-banana-kits-as-option-for-2016

The second bit of jersey news comes from http://www.footyheadlines.com/2016/02/columbus-crew-2016-away-kit.html

 

 

Footyheadlines posted a leaked version of the new Crew SC away/alternate third jersey with this description:  "Based on Adidas' 2016-17 template, the Columbus Crew SC 2016 away shirt combines a white base with a striking tonal gradient on the front.  The lateral Adidas stripes on the new Columbus Crew kit are red, while the sleeve cuffs and crew-neck collar are half red, half blue, informed by the color scheme of the Columbus city flag, which is also present on the left hem of the shirt."

 

Massive Report also has more about this at http://www.massivereport.com/2016/2/10/10957956/new-crew-sc-secondary-jersey-leaks

I was going to wait until I saw the new away/alternate jersey with the shorts and socks before passing judgement.  Well, below is the full kit unveiled today in the City Council Chamber(!)

 

Just awful!!!  A rare misstep for Precourt and his team.