^ However, since you can't replace (or execute) the entire team, Crew management is starting to making some roster moves - with promises to do more after the summer transfer window opened on July 9.  Here are the two roster moves made prior to the July transfer window opening:

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/1/20677813/columbus-crew-sc-trade-romario-williams-atlanta-united-mls-2019 -- Addition of a 24-year-old forward from Atlanta, who will likely serve as striker depth behind Zardes along with rookie JJ Williams.

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/2/20678809/columbus-crew-sc-luis-diaz-young-designated-player-c-s-herediano-mls-2019 -- Addition of a 20-year-old winger Luis Diaz from Costa Rica who is being signed as a Young Designated Player.  Diaz looks to be a long-term starter at an offensive wing position once this deal is made official on July 9.

 

We've also heard team president Tim Bezbatchenko say in multiples sources (The Dispatch, The Athletic, Massive Report) that he is searching for a "Higuain replacement" at midfield and a "Steffen replacement" at goalkeeper during the summer transfer window.  These are not easy tasks - so maybe the Crew will make these moves in time to impact the remaining 2019 season, or maybe these moves will come after the 2019 season is over.  Given how far back the Crew are this year, I wouldn't be upset if they took their time to improve for future seasons, rather than just make a rush move for 2019.

GAME #19:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-07-03-real-salt-lake-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/4/20681910/columbus-crew-sc-loses-to-real-salt-lake-mls-2019

 

One of the most frustrating aspects of this 2019 season is that despite the Crew's dismal 5-12-2 record, they aren't getting completely outmatched in these games.  Last night's game at RSL is a good example.  The Crew started out looking good - holding possession and generating some halfway decent scoring chances.  But the chances weren't good enough to score (even if the finishing touch was there) so when there is a minor defense gaffe on an RSL long ball in the 38th minute, they go down 1-0.  And with the Crew's anemic offense, one goal is all it has taken lately to hand us another loss.  Otherwise, the Crew played a decent mid-week game in a tough road venue at altitude.  But when another loss extends a 1-11-1 stretch since game #6 - it doesn't seem to matter.

On 7/3/2019 at 1:34 PM, Columbo said:

We've also heard team president Tim Bezbatchenko say in multiples sources (The Dispatch, The Athletic, Massive Report) that he is searching for a "Higuain replacement" at midfield and a "Steffen replacement" at goalkeeper during the summer transfer window.

 

UPDATE:  They got their "Steffen replacement" at goalkeeper:

 

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/07/05/columbus-crew-sc-sign-curacao-goalkeeper-eloy-room

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/5/20683013/columbus-crew-sc-eloy-room-curacao-zack-steffen-psv-eindhoven-mls-2019

 

The Crew signed 30-year-old goalkeeper Eloy Room.  Room is of Dutch nationality and has played most of his career in the Dutch First Division - most recently 2017-2019 as the starting goalkeeper for top-flight PSV Eindhoven in that league.  But Crew fans might know him from his starting keeper work representing the former Dutch colony of Curacao in the 2019 Gold Cup.  Room had a tournament-high 26 saves in 4 games of group and quarterfinal play to backstop Curacao’s underdog run in the Gold Cup.  He was a stand-out in Curacao's narrow 1-0 loss to the United States in the quarters.

 

Room will be officially added to the Crew roster once the summer transfer window opens on July 9.

GAME #20:  https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/6/20684621/columbus-crew-sc-seattle-sounders-mls-2019

 

https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-07-06-columbus-crew-sc-vs-seattle-sounders-fc/recap

 

Another game where the Crew played a pretty even match with their opponent - but finished with zero points to show for it.

 

The Crew broke a 313-minute scoring drought(!) when Pedro Santos drew a foul in the Seattle box and converted the awarded PK in the 13th minute to put the Crew up 1-0.  That lead held through halftime, but then Seattle converted their own PK in the 56th minute to equalize at 1-1.  After a full 90 minutes it looked like the Crew might at least get a draw point.  But then 9 minutes of stoppage time was added!

 

And in the sixth minute of that stoppage time, Seattle caught a massively lucky break on a throw-in.  That throw-in was headed away from our goal by a Crew defender - and into an area where only one Seattle player was within 20 yards of the ball.  Unfortunately, the one player happened to be Seattle's best goal-scorer and he beat the Crew defender marking him and our keeper with a pinpoint finish to give Seattle a 2-1 road win.

 

Seriously though - this season!  Can we at least catch a few breaks this season?

Crew President Tim Bezbatchenko continued his reshaping of the roster this week by trading away a pair of underperforming forwards.  In return, the Crew added a homegrown player that Bez signed as the general manager of Toronto FC and opened up two international roster slots to add Dutch goalkeeper Eloy Room and Costa Rican winger Luis Diaz to the roster:

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/10/20689539/columbus-crew-jordan-hamilton-toronto-fc-patrick-mullins-international-slot-mls-2019 -- The Crew sent striker Patrick Mullins to Toronto in exchange for striker Jordan Hamilton.  The Crew also received an international roster slot, $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and the right of first refusal on an unnamed player.  Mullins, 27, was acquired last summer from DC.  He had 1 goal and 1 assist in 10 games last year, but zero goals and assists in 9 games this year for the Crew.  Hamilton, 23, a former homegrown player signed by Bez, has 4 goals in 14 games with Toronto this year.

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/10/20689687/columbus-crew-sc-trade-robinho-orlando-city-target-allocation-money -- The Crew sent forward winger Robinho to Orlando in return for $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money.  The Crew could receive an additional $100,000 in TAM if certain performance conditions are met.  Robinho was acquired from a Brazilian team in January 2019, but had zero goals and two assists in his 19 games with the Crew.

 

Moving Robinho also opens a roster spot for 20-year-old Costa Rican winger Luis Diaz, newly acquired in the summer transfer window.  The addition of 23-year-old Hamilton, as well as previous recent addition of 24-year-old forward Romario Williams from Atlanta, will provide veteran depth behind striker Gyasi Zardes.  It would also allow the Crew to loan out 21-year-old rookie JJ Williams to help with his development.

GAME #21:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-07-13-orlando-city-sc-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/14/20693307/columbus-crew-lose-orlando-city-1-0-winless-streak-at-9

 

More of the same for the Crew in this ridiculously terrible 2019 season.  This game at Orlando is a perfect example of just how ridiculous a season it has become.

 

The Crew outpossess Orlando 57% to 43%; outshoot Orlando 11 to 4; have 10 corner kicks to only 1 for Orlando; and get a red card called on Orlando.  But because the Crew have two shots hit the crossbar while Orlando brilliantly cashes in on their best scoring chance for a goal in the 84th minute - and because the Orlando red card comes in the 93rd minute (too late to benefit the Crew) - Columbus drops another 1-0 loss.

As ridiculously terrible as this 2019 season has become - it is instructive to remember that the only thing worse than a bad season for a team you care about - is no season for a team you care about.  The below linked article from a Columbus Alive columnist, who was also involved in the #SaveTheCrew movement, points this out:

 

https://www.columbusalive.com/sports/20190708/crew-view-gratitude-amid-lost-season

GAME #22:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-07-17-chicago-fire-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/17/20698665/columbus-crew-draw-chicago-fire-2-2-gyasi-zardes-romaio-williams

 

With the way this 2019 season has gone, this 2-2 draw at Chicago(Bridgeview) feels like a win.  Particularly since the offensively challenged Crew scored two goals and came back twice from a deficit to get a road point.

 

Chicago scored first in 28th minute and took that lead into halftime.  However, in the first two minutes of the second half (47') Zardes finished a nice low cross from Argudo to tie it up at 1-1.  Then Chicago took another lead in the 63rd minute and took control of the game until it was nearly stoppage time.  But the Crew had one more goal in them last night when two second half subs combined for a game-tying goal in the 90th minute.  Newly acquired 20-year-old DP Luis Díaz lofted a ball into the box that Romario Williams (newly acquired from Atlanta) nicely headed into the net to retie it at 2-2.

 

Just breaking their 5-game losing streak is enough reason to celebrate this game's outcome.  But scoring two goals and having two new acquisitions score the final score is even more reason to be encouraged by this game.  Unfortunately, the Crew have dug themselves into such a hole that only a miraculous run over their final 12 games could make up the 11 points between them and the Eastern playoff line.  But it is interesting to think how different this 2019 season could have gone if the Crew had managed a minimal amount of goals during their 1-13-1 run.  During that run, the Crew lost 8 games by a one-goal margin.  And 6 of those one-goal losses were 1-0 losses!

 

This also appears to be the final game the Crew will play at Chicago's Bridgeview location.  The Fire announced they have bought out the City of Bridgeview's lease with the team and will play elsewhere next season.  They haven't confirmed it, but all reports indicate that the Chicago Fire will return to Soldier Field in Downtown Chicago.  During last night's broadcast I thought I heard the announcers say that the Crew only had 2 wins in the 16 games they played at Bridgeview since it opened in 2006(!)  So farewell Bridgeview!

The reshaping of the roster continues:

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/19/20700660/columbus-crew-sc-sign-youness-mokhtar-mls-2019-tim-bezbatchenko-caleb-porter -- The Crew signed Dutch-born Moroccan winger Youness Mokhtar on a free transfer deal.  The 27-year-old offensive winger has made 170 appearances in first division leagues across the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey and Saudi Arabia - but was out of contract before signing with the Crew.  This seems like a depth move for the offense with some upside potential.

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/19/20700780/columbus-crew-sc-trade-joe-bendik-to-philadelphia-union-mls-2019 -- The Crew also traded goalkeeper Joe Bendik to Philadelphia in exchange for 2020 second-round pick.  With newly acquired goalkeeper Eloy Room set to become the new starter for the Crew, the team was carrying four goalkeepers on the roster.  Bendik became the odd man out and apparently Philly was in need of a backup keeper.

GAME #23:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-07-20-columbus-crew-sc-vs-montreal-impact/recap

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/20/20702279/columbus-crew-break-ten-game-unbeaten-streak-with-win-over-montreal

 

A WIN!  Just shows what a little bit of goal scoring can do for a team.  Back-to-back two-goal games for the Crew lead to the first back-to-back positive results in 2019 since back-to-back wins on 3/30 and 4/6.

 

The Crew stuck early in the 6th minute when big center back Josh Williams headed in a well-paced free kick from Wil Trapp to go up 1-0.  But the Crew couldn't hold that lead into halftime when Montreal scored from a header off a corner kick in the second minute of first half stoppage time.

 

But just like Wednesday at Chicago, the Crew had one more goal in them.  It came in the first minute of the second half (46') when the Crew caught Montreal napping on a quick strike down the left side in which a Santos pass led Accam unmarked into the 18-yard-box.  Accam nicely finished it past the on-rushing Montreal keeper.  Then the side judge ruled Accam offside, disallowing the goal.  But after video review, Accam was judge onside and the goal stood.

 

It turned out to be the game-winner, as Accam was fouled from behind on a goal-scoring opportunity in the 55th minute and the Montreal defender was shown a straight red card.  With Montreal down to 10 players, they didn't seriously threaten a tying goal for the rest of the game.  The Crew had a couple of decent chances to add a third goal to clinch the win, but they only had two goals in them tonight, not three.  But it was enough to get their first win since May 8.

Another roster move.  However, we'll need to wait until 2020 to see the impact of this one:

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/23/20707321/columbus-crew-sign-midfielder-chris-cadden-loan-him-for-remainder-of-2019-motherwall-oxford-united

 

Quote

Columbus Crew SC has made a number of signings this summer transfer window that either have or will have an impact on the 2019 season.  Now the Black & Gold are adding a piece for the 2020 season.

 

The Crew signed Scottish midfielder Chris Cadden, who most recently played for Motherwell FC of the Scottish Premiership.  Cadden was immediately sent on loan to Oxford United FC of England’s League One, a team which he already joined, and become part of the Columbus roster for the 2020 season.

 

GAME #24:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-07-27-new-york-red-bulls-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/27/8933387/columbus-crew-sc-new-york-red-bulls-pedro-sanots-luis-argudo-caleb-porter-mls-2019

 

An impressive road win for the Crew last night at NYRB that once again showed what a little bit of goal scoring can do for this team.  The Crew started strong - generating two great early scoring chances.  Artur had a shot in the 9th minute go off a post, then a nifty Zardes drop-pass to Argudo forced NYRB goalkeeper Robles into a difficult save only two minutes later.

 

But in the 15th minute, against the run of play, NYRB scored first to take a 1-0 lead.  During their 1-13-1 stretch, a bad turn of events like this seemed to doom the Crew for the rest of the game.  But in recent games, the Crew has shown much more fight.  And so it was in this game, when the Crew took the restart to score in the 16th minute off a long ball driven downfield to Zardes, who headed the ball back to an unmarked Argudo, who beat Robles this time to equalize the game at 1-1.  The Crew showed even more fight when they scored their second goal of the night within the first minute of the second half.  This 46th minute goal came off a quick drive up the left side to Argudo, whose drive into the box was deflected away from him, but into the pass of Pedro Santos, who blasted it into the net for a 2-1 lead.

 

But the Crew would be tested later.  In the 59th minute, NYRB players protested that Argudo fouled a Red Bull in the box off a corner kick.  The ref ruled play-on.  But the VAR asked the ref to review the play, and after a video review, the ref ruled a foul and gave NYRB a penalty kick.  NYRB converted the PK in the 63rd minute to re-tie the game at 2-2.  Although a road draw would have been a good result for the Crew, they still had one more goal left in them.  In the 84th minute, second-half sub Diaz broke Zardes free with a pass down the right side.  Zardes drove into the box and fired a shot that was saved by Robles, but deflected onto the path of Santos, who scored the game-winning goal (and his second goal of the night!).

 

Back-to-back wins for the first time since April 6 - and a three-game point streak (2-0-1) going into another road game at San Jose next Saturday.

GAME #25:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-08-03-san-jose-earthquakes-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/8/4/20753415/columbus-crew-sc-san-jose-earthquakes-gyasi-zardes-magnus-eriksson-mls-2019

 

The Crew got a 1-1 road draw in San Jose.  San Jose scored first in the 42nd minute on a converted PK that was awarded from a Crew handball in the box.  The Crew found back with a tying goal in the 65th minute off a pass from Luis Diaz that Zardes nicely headed into the net.  New Crew goalkeeper couldn't pull off the Steffen magic of saving the PK, but he did have four saves on the night, including two crucial second half stops to preserve the draw.

 

With this four-game unbeaten streak (2-0-2) the Crew look like they've righted the ship going into next weekend's Ohio derby with FC Cincinnati.  Of course, with this being the 2019 season, it wasn't all good news.  Dependable veteran defender Hector Jimenez went down with a serious looking leg injury in the 5th minute.  It was serious enough that he needed to be carted off the field.  He was replaced by Jonathan Mensah who saw his first action with the Crew since returning from Africa Cup action (in which he picked an injury - because, of course, this is the 2019 season).

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/8/7/20758470/columbus-crew-sc-gaston-sauro-liga-mx-deportivo-toluca-fc-mls-2019

 

One more deal made before the closing of the summer transfer window.  Team management announced the transfer of Gaston Sauro from the Crew to Mexican team Deportivo Toluca FC of the top tier Liga MX for an undisclosed transfer fee.

 

The Crew acquired Sauro in August 2015, in which he made four regular season starts and started in all four of the Crew’s postseason games, helping the Crew win the Eastern Conference and make the 2015 MLS Cup final.  In 2016, he suffered a knee injury and a torn PCL and missed most of that season.  Later he was diagnosed with damaged cartilage in his knee, which required potentially career ending cartilage replacement surgery.  Doctors gave Sauro only 50-50 chance he would ever play again.  He missed the entire 2017 season and part of the next season before he returned to action in May 2018.  He worked his way back into the starting lineup at the beginning of 2019, making 15 starts before a quadriceps injury sidelined him in mid-July.

 

The 29-year-old Sauro would have been out of contract at the end of this 2019 season.  With the Crew also having four rostered center backs (Jonathan Mensah, Josh Williams, Alex Crognale and Aboubacar Keita) for the remainder of 2019 — and also having Lalas Abubakar, who is also a member of the team but on a season-long loan to the Colorado Rapids — the team decided to make this deal rather than lose him for nothing at the end of the season.

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/8/8/20759389/columbus-crew-sc-trade-niko-hansen-houston-dyanmo-mls-2019

 

The Crew sneaked in one more deal before yesterday's closing of the summer transfer window.  They traded third-year winger Niko Hansen to Houston for 75K in TAM.  This deal was somewhat similar to the Gaston Sauro deal, in that Hansen was also out of contract at the end of this season and wasn't in the future plans for the team - so they got something for him instead of losing him for nothing.

 

 

 

I've never seen the Mapfre Stadlium field look more dazzling then it is for tonight's Hell is Real derby!

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/TheMassive/comments/coiixt/field_pattern_for_today/

 

Last night's Battle of Ohio/Hell is Real derby at Mapfre Stadium.  But before the game began, a remembrance of the tragic shooting event in Dayton from both teams:

 

GAME #26:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-08-10-columbus-crew-sc-vs-fc-cincinnati/recap

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/8/10/20800383/furious-columbus-crew-comeback-falls-short-in-2-2-tie-to-fc-cincinnati

 

WOW!  What a way to start an all-Ohio MLS rivalry.

 

However, this game didn't start out well for the Crew.  FC Cincinnati came out with energy and a high press that disrupted the Crew attack and got them two early goals.  The first came off a corner kick in the 16th minute with some very poor marking by the Crew that allowed a wide open FCC player to head it past Eloy Room.  The second came in the 23rd minute with some bad luck on a FCC crossing pass that went untouched through a clot of players in the 18-yard box and onto a wide open FCC player wide right of goal.  A very nice finish from a sharp angle made it past Room to give FCC a 2-0 lead.

 

The Crew stabilized after that and got a lifeline just before halftime when Gyasi Zardes was fouled in the box and awarded a penalty kick.  Zardes converted the PK in the 45th minute to halve the FCC lead to 2-1 at halftime.  In the second half, the Crew put the pressure on FCC.  In the 62nd minute, a FCC turnover, foul, and quick Crew restart found Pedro Santos wide open in the middle of the field about 30 yards from the FCC goal.  Then Santos got his best goal ever for the Crew when he uncorked a rocket shot that swerved into the upper left corner to tie the game at 2-2!

 

After that FCC desperately hung on defensively to deny the Crew a home win.  But the Crew had some golden opportunities late in the game.  The best was in the 90th minute when Romario Williams found new signee Youness Mokhtar (making his Crew debut) on a counterattack down the right side.  Mokhtar fed a beautiful low ball through the 6-yard box and to the feet of Zardes only 3 yards in front of the net - who skyed it high off the crossbar and over the net(!!!!)

 

In the 93rd minute, David Accam got off a shot that deflected off a FCC defender and off the crossbar.  And then FCC goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton got a chance to play the hero.  In the 99th minute, Afful zinged a pass back to Zardes that he headed on goal, but was two-handed deflected by Tyton over the net.  Then in the 100th minute (yes the 100th minute because it was quite a chaotic extra time!), a Mokhtar corner kick was headed by Zardes and barely saved by a diving Tyton to finish the game at a 2-2 draw.

 

What a way to start this MLS rivalry.  A playoff-like atmosphere witnessed by a SRO sell-out crowd of 20,865 and bolstered by the 2,000+ FC Cincinnati supporters who made the trip up I-71.  After the Crew host Toronto next Saturday and travel to NYCFC on Wed. 8/21, they close out the 2019 Hell is Real derby at Cincinnati on Sunday, August 25.

GAME #27:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-08-17-columbus-crew-sc-vs-toronto-fc/recap

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/8/17/20810522/columbus-crew-sc-toronto-fc-jozy-altidore-pedro-santos-david-accam-2-2-draw-mls-2019

 

Trillium is Real!  Another thrilling game.  But another disappointing 2-2 draw.

 

The first half was mostly aimless.  The Crew had a decent scoring chance at the 23rd minute when Mokhtar, making his first start for Columbus, zinged a crossing pass to Pedro Santos about 12 yards from the Toronto goal that Santos quick-kicked just left of the goal.  But it was Toronto that scored first on a play that came out of nowhere in the 42nd minute.  Midfielder Jonathan Osorio received a pass about 35 yards in front of the Crew goal.  But he was unmarked, advanced 10 yards closer and uncorked a rocket shot that bent around a Crew defender and past Eloy Room to give Toronto a 1-0 lead at halftime.

 

Columbus responded quickly in the second half on their own play that came out of nowhere in the 48th minute.  Wil Trapp sent a beautiful 30-yard lofting ball that Santos ran onto 12 yards from the Toronto goal.  Santos one-timed the ball from the air and past the Toronto keeper for as pretty a goal as you'll see to tie the game 1-1.  Zardes had a couple of grand chances around the six-yard box to give the Crew their second goal of the night - in the 56th minute from a Santos pass that he headed past the Toronto keeper but into the ground and bounced over the net - in the 70th minute from another Santos pass that Zardes redirected over the net (again!).

 

With Columbus needing a win to have any playoff chance, Coach Porter brought on two offensive players in the 79th minute with his final subs.  It paid off in the 82nd minute when one of those players - David Accam - used his speed to blaze past two Toronto defenders and get into the 18-yard box for a nicely finished shot past the keeper to give the Crew a 2-1 lead.  This looked like it would be the game-winner as the clock neared 90:00.  But late in the 90th minute, Toronto edged the ball to the right of the Crew's 18-yard box and lofted a crossing pass to their striker Jozy Altidore at the 6-yard box.  Altidore clinically headed the ball into the back of the Crew net to tie it 2-2 and deny a Crew victory.

 

This game ultimately came down to TFC's striker (Altidore) converting on his one prime chance - and the Crew's striker (Zardes) once again missing on multiple prime scoring chances.  On the positive side, the newly acquired Crew players are looking good - and the Crew offense is back on track.  The 2019 season is a goner, but the future is looking brighter.

 

GAME 28:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-08-21-new-york-city-fc-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/8/21/20827441/columbus-crew-sc-new-york-city-fc-unbeaten-run-ends-1-0-valentin-castellanos-eloy-room-mls-2019

 

A mid-week match in the Bronx hosted by NYCFC.  In its fifth MLS season, NYCFC is still playing in the Yankee Stadium outfield and calling it a soccer field.  I forget just how bad this arrangement is until the Crew play their one game there each season.  Bad sightlines for the seats, the narrowest field in MLS (because of the pitching mound) and temporary sod laid over a dirt infield that takes up a significant portion of this "soccer field".  Plus it just looks dumb (see the image above from behind home plate).

 

What was once tolerable as a temporary location is alot less so in NYCFC's fifth season.  Particularly since they've make almost no progress toward building a soccer specific stadium in those five years.  This "temporary location" is looking alot more permanent as each season passes.  At this rate, by 2021 the Crew will have built two soccer specific stadiums before NYCFC gets even one!

 

Anyway, a game was played there last night.  NYCFC won 1-0 in a match as ugly as their field.  Sorry, outfield.

 

Does FC Cincinnati have a Spanish-language broadcast?  These announcers for Columbus are hilarious:

 

The fight in the goal was totally weak.  It's obvious that like none of these guys are American because if they were it would have been closed-fists and some serious blows instead of whatever little girlie scrum it is that we see here.  I was listening on the radio and the FC Cincinnati announcers kind of chuckled at how weak the thing was. 

 

Have you seen football players fight? They push each other's facemasks, act tough, and then scamper back to their sidelines. Give me a break.  

 

If you throw a punch, you get a straight red (automatic one game suspension) and likely additional suspensions/fines. The players aren't stupid. 

Crew fans (myself included) had a great time in the college football stadium yesterday. 

 

 

You guys sounded and looked good yesterday.    While my boys fell flat on their face, I have to admit this rivalry is going to be fun for years to come!!! 

6 minutes ago, oakiehigh said:

You guys sounded and looked good yesterday.    While my boys fell flat on their face, I have to admit this rivalry is going to be fun for years to come!!! 

 

I'm so excited for next year's games already. Unfortunately I had to miss the game in Columbus, but I'm so happy I was able to go down to Cincy yesterday. Hopefully next year we aren't two of the worst teams in the league. When something is actually on the line, the games are going to be insane. 

From today's Dispatch sports page:

 

 

GAME #29:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-08-25-fc-cincinnati-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/8/25/20832504/columbus-crew-sc-fc-cincinnati-hell-is-real-gyasi-zardes-luis-diaz-caleb-porter-mls-2019

 

In Hell is Real part 2, the Crew came out playing like they did in the second half of part 1 - putting pressure on the FC Cincinnati defense.  But the first goal of the game started in the 22nd minute on a long goal kick from Crew keeper Eloy Room.  Room kicked a long ball to midfield, where Gyasi Zardes controlled the ball, passed it sideways to Pedro Santos, and sprinted toward the FCC goal.  Santos moved it quickly upfield and passed it to Luis Diaz just before he was tackled.  Then Diaz shoots a perfectly weighted crossing pass onto the path of Zardes, who knocks it into the FCC goal from 8 yards out.

 

In the 33rd minute, Zardes stuck again.  This time it was Harrison Afful with a 30-yard pass to the edge of the 18 that Zardes sprinted to.  Zardes split the two central defenders, controlled the bouncing ball with his chest and finished it past the keeper for his second goal of the night.  However, the backbreaker came only seconds before halftime.  The Crew once again found joy down the right side, when at midfield Zardes headed the ball over to Santos, who lofted a pass to Diaz, who controlled the ball and held off the marking defender to sprint into the 18-yard box.  Diaz scored on a hot shot from a sharp angle to give the Crew a 3-0 lead at halftime!

 

It seemed like the Crew took their foot off the gas in the second half, and FCC started to get some decent scoring chances.  But Room made some fine saves to keep FCC off the scoreboard until Kekuta Manneh scored in the 89th minute.  Then a shoving match broke out after the goal over possession of the ball - because Hell is Real.  But it didn't change the final outcome of the match, as the Crew won 3-1.

 

As entertaining as these first two Hell is Real matches were - they are only a sample of the future for this series.  Picture both the Crew and FCC at the top the eastern standings instead of the bottom in a future season.  Crew supporters said last year "Save the Crew and Keep Hell Real".  Now everyone knows what that means.

^ That's an awesome picture.

 

Here's a few other pretty cool pictures I've seen floating around. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAME #30:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-08-31-columbus-crew-sc-vs-chicago-fire/recap

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/8/31/20842662/columbus-crew-chicago-fire-1-1-draw-pedro-santos

 

Quick recap:  Columbus dominates the first half and Santos scores a beautiful goal in the 27th to put the Crew up 1-0.  Chicago dominates the second half, but Room makes some fine saves to keep the lead.  The game goes into stoppage time and it looks the Crew get the win.  Until Chicago scores in the 94th minute (4th minute of 6 minutes of stoppage time) to end it in a 1-1 draw.

 

I would be more upset at this result if the Crew were fighting for a playoff spot.  But they're not.  So this is just another in a long series of "2019's" that have occurred this season, because 2019.  Instead, let me focus your attention to the most hated player on the Crew roster this season - David Guzman.  Guzman is a 29-year-old MLS veteran midfielder who played multiple seasons for Caleb Porter when he coached Portland.  Guzman was acquired mid-season for depth but ended up starting many games during that 1-13-1 part of this season.  As a result of this - and his terrible no-good play during those games - Guzman has incurred the wrath of rabid Crew fans.

 

But wait.  Hasn't the Crew been winning games lately and what about that impressive 3-1 win at Cincinnati?  Guzman hasn't appeared in those recent wins.  And he was on a one-game yellow card accumulation suspension for the FCC game(!)  Whenever Guzman appears on the roster, or looks like he'll enter as a sub - the Crew faithful cringe.  And so it was when Guzman entered last night's Chicago match in the 87th minute with the Crew up 1-0 (presumably as a defensive replacement).  Instead, Guzman had a glorious goal opportunity in the 92nd minute to put the Crew up two goals and clinch the win.  Santos found Guzman at the edge of the 18-yard box with no one between him and the goalkeeper - plus two other Crew players to his left.  And with this golden chance, Guzman winds up to shoot - AND SHOOTS IT WIDE LEFT OF THE CHICAGO GOAL!!!!

 

Here is how it played out on the Crew twitter feed last night:

 

GAME #31:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-09-14-atlanta-united-fc-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/9/14/20866340/columbus-crew-sc-atlanta-united-gyasi-zardes-luis-diaz-josef-martinez-mls-2019

 

This has been a strange season for the Crew.  First, it didn't look like we'd even have a 2019 season.  Then, the Crew are saved and we start out with a 4-1-1 record and are even first in the East for a week.  Then, injuries, call-ups and the offense stops scoring in a 1-13-1 mid-season stretch.  Then, the roster is reshaped during the summer transfer window, they regain their offensive punch, and go 3-1-5 in their next nine games.  However, this included multiple games where draws should have been wins and, because of those lost points, the Crew stand on the brink of playoff elimination with four games remaining in the 2019 regular season.

 

Which is why when Atlanta had a good first half to go up 1-0 at halftime in front of 68,000+ in the Benz (BTW props to ATL for keeping up their amazing attendance run), most people figured the second half would just be a countdown to mathematical elimination.  But instead, the Crew fought back.  In the 53rd minute, Santos found Zardes relatively unmarked down the field.  Zardes held up the ball, drew the Atlanta defense to him, and found an unmarked Diaz down the right side of the 18-yd box.  Diaz one-times a hard shot on goal that Guzan parries away - but it goes to a now-unmarked Zardes 12-yards in front of the ATL goal, who blasts it into the upper corner to tie it 1-1.

 

Then in the 60th minute, Diaz makes a long run down the right side and attempts a crossing pass to Zardes in the 6-yd box.  That pass gets blocked back to Diaz, who one-on-one against an ATL defender, dribbles left and uncorks a wicked left-footed 18-yard shot that beats Guzan upper corner to give the Columbus a 2-1 lead!  The Crew held on to that lead until the 85th minute, when Diaz was once again involved in a goal.  This time Santos found Diaz down the right side and his crossing pass was intercepted by an ATL defender but deflected into the ATL net for an own-goal to set the final score at 3-1.

 

This game 31 win at Atlanta gives Columbus a season sweep over the Five Stripes - as the Crew previously won game 5 on the March 30th "Monsoon Game" in Columbus.  Which once again demonstrates what a strange season 2019 has been.  Prior to 2019, the only win Columbus had over Atlanta was the epic 120' shootout win in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.  After that, Atlanta defeated the Crew in the next six regular-season games before they won 2018 MLS Cup.  The Crew are the only team to sweep Atlanta this season, and we're still on the brink of playoff elimination going into Vancouver next Saturday(!)  Because 2019.

GAME #32:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-09-21-vancouver-whitecaps-fc-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/9/21/20877610/columbus-crew-concedes-last-minute-equalizer-draws-with-vancouver

 

Another game that serves as a microcosm for the late 2019 season Crew yesterday in Vancouver.  The Crew go up 1-0 in the 18th minute on a PK awarded for a foul on Santos that was converted by Zardes.  Then the Crew hold on to that lead through the entire game - only to inexplicably give up an equalizing goal ON THE VERY LAST PLAY OF THE GAME (!!!)

 

I mean seriously, VAN did nothing for the whole freaking game - and on the very last play scores.  Because 2019.

 

Despite giving up the win (and two more standing points) Columbus is still not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs yet(!)

 

The Crew have gone 4-1-6 in their last 11 games.  That's only one loss in their last 11 games.  But four of those draws have been wins given up on very late goals (sometimes in stoppage time!).  That's 8 standing points given away - and the team is only 6 points behind the final playoff team in the East.  Amazingly, and even with that horrific 1-13-1 mid-season stretch, the Crew could be above the playoff line, if not for all of these late season wins-turned-into-draws(!)

 

The still-not-mathematically-eliminated Crew play their final 2019 home match and penultimate regular season game next Sunday against Philly at Mapfre.  What a bizarre season this has been.

3 hours ago, Columbo said:

GAME #32:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-09-21-vancouver-whitecaps-fc-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/9/21/20877610/columbus-crew-concedes-last-minute-equalizer-draws-with-vancouver

 

Another game that serves as a microcosm for the late 2019 season Crew yesterday in Vancouver.  The Crew go up 1-0 in the 18th minute on a PK awarded for a foul on Santos that was converted by Zardes.  Then the Crew hold on to that lead through the entire game - only to inexplicably give up an equalizing goal ON THE VERY LAST PLAY OF THE GAME (!!!)

 

I mean seriously, VAN did nothing for the whole freaking game - and on the very last play scores.  Because 2019.

 

Despite giving up the win (and two more standing points) Columbus is still not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs yet(!)

 

The Crew have gone 4-1-6 in their last 11 games.  That's only one loss in their last 11 games.  But four of those draws have been wins given up on very late goals (sometimes in stoppage time!).  That's 8 standing points given away - and the team is only 6 points behind the final playoff team in the East.  Amazingly, and even with that horrific 1-13-1 mid-season stretch, the Crew could be above the playoff line, if not for all of these late season wins-turned-into-draws(!)

 

The still-not-mathematically-eliminated Crew play their final 2019 home match and penultimate regular season game next Sunday against Philly at Mapfre.  What a bizarre season this has been.

Well even if the last game is Sunday we still have to root for the Browns since their owners saved the Crew. Have to be loyal and all now. All hail the Crew, The Blue Jackets, The Clippers, tOSU, and yes, now (and very firmly) the Browns. jmo of course

 

*I hope the rumor about the new stadium looking like something out of Star Wars is true.

Edited September 23, 20195 yr by Toddguy

On 9/22/2019 at 6:07 PM, Columbo said:

The still-not-mathematically-eliminated Crew play their final 2019 home match and penultimate regular season game next Sunday against Philly at Mapfre.  What a bizarre season this has been.

 

About that still-not-mathematically-eliminated thing.  It's not a thing anymore:  https://www.massivereport.com/2019/9/26/20885032/columbus-crew-sc-eliminated-from-mls-cup-playoffs-new-england-revolution

 

The Revs got a road draw at Portland last night.  The draw point puts the 7th-place Revs seven points up on us - one point more than the maximum the Crew can reach with two games remaining. ☹️

 

But the new renderings for the new Crew Stadium got released on Tuesday (along with a Downtown Commission approval for the new stadium as well!).  So it's all good(!) ???⚽

 

If you haven't seen the new renderings for the new Crew Stadium at 560 W. Nationwide Blvd. in downtown, go to https://forum.urbanohio.com/topic/1415-columbus-downtown-columbus-crew-arena-confluence-village/?do=findComment&comment=913630 in the Columbus: Downtown: Columbus Crew Arena / Confluence Village thread over in the Projects & Construction section.  You will not be disappointed.

 

GAME #33:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-09-29-columbus-crew-sc-vs-philadelphia-union/recap

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/9/29/20890188/columbus-crew-sc-philadelphia-union-final-home-game-pedro-santos-youness-mokhtar-mls-2019

 

The last home game and the penultimate game of the Crew's 2019 season.  The Crew were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs before this game began.  Then after the game began it started to rain, and rain, and then rain some more.  But both teams slogged thru the first 45 minutes and got to halftime 0-0.  Then, there was an extra-long halftime due to a lightning delay - because 2019.  This marked the third game of 2019 to feature a weather delay☔⛈️?️

 

Fortunately, no more rain after play resumed for the second half.  Philadelphia, who still had some standings position to play for, started out strong.  But it was the Crew who would score first in the 69th minute on a beautiful fast-break counter-attack that started in the Crew defensive box with a Zardes pass to Diaz.  Diaz sprinted upfield with the ball, while Zardes sprinted at full-speed from box to box (about 80 yards).  That Zardes run drew two defenders to him and opened up the middle for a Diaz pass to Santos.  Then Santos passes it to Youness Mohktar on the left wing inside the Philly's 18-yd box.  Mohktar dribbles toward to center, past two defenders and hits a pinpoint shot past them and their keeper to give the Crew a 1-0 lead.

 

That goal gave the Crew momentum.  At the 72nd minute, Artur nearly scored on a blast from 25 yards out that Philly's keeper Blake made a fingertip save on.  The ensuring corner kick in the 73rd minute was punched out by Blake to just outside their 18-yd box.  But it bounced to an awaiting Pedro Santos, who deftly left-footed it thru a clot of players past Blake and into the net to put the Crew up 2-0.

 

Crew goalkeeper Eloy Room had three saves on the night - including a fine save in the 87th minute - to earn the clean-sheet (his first for the Crew).  Mohktar's game-winning goal was his first goal for the Crew.  Both of these players were acquired over the late summer transfer window and have looked good - along with Diaz who was also acquired around the same time.

 

All three of those players will be part of the 2020 Crew roster, along with most of the starters from this game.  This season got tanked because of that terrible 1-13-1 mid-season stretch.  But the 5-1-6 stretch over these final 12 games with this revamped roster should give Crew fans encouragement for the 2020 season.  And if they can cut out those late game goals that turned four of those games from wins to draws, the 2020 Crew should be a playoff team.

GAME #34:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-10-06-toronto-fc-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/10/6/20901680/columbus-crew-sc-toronto-fc-1-0-trillium-cup-mls-cup-playoffs

 

Toronto hosted the Crew's final game of the 2019 regular season.  TOR won it 1-0 on a 58' PK - along with the "hallowed" Trillium Cup ?

 

The Crew finished in 10th-place and did not qualify for the MLS playoffs this season - after making the playoffs and reaching the conference final and semi-final in the previous two seasons.  This season's 10-16-8 record was an culmination of three distinct stretches - a promising 4-1-1 opening six games - a terrible 1-13-1 mid-season stretch that was beset with injuries and call-ups that depleted the roster - and an encouraging 5-2-6 stretch over the final 13 games with a revamped roster.

 

As disappointing as this 2019 season turned out, I can't feel too badly about it though.  For over a year's time in 2017 and 2018, we Crew fans didn't know if there would even be a "2019 Columbus Crew season"(!)  Just having a 2019 season to be disappointed about is a victory!!!

 

Plus, the future of the Crew both on and off the field in Columbus is looking good.  The last-season surge with the added players who will be on 2020 roster is encouraging.  But even more encouraging is the news surrounding the new downtown stadium.  The updated renderings have been released - look great - and have been approved for construction.  Site prep work has already begun at the western Arena District location - and an official stadium groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Thursday!

 

So farewell to 2019 - the season that might never have been - but turned out to be a season to set the stage for the Crew's future.  I'll take that.

4,296 in attendance for the ground breaking ceremony.

 

 

Welp, back to the on-the-field business side of the Crew.  The team made a number of decisions on players retained, contract options declined and players out-of-contract.  Below is the general update from Massive Report:

 

Columbus Crew announces 2020 roster updates

 

The Black & Gold are bringing back a number of the core pieces to their roster after exercising the contract options of defenders Waylon Francis and Jonathan Mensah, versatile player Hector Jimenez and midfielders Luis Argudo, Pedro Santos and Wil Trapp.  The Crew also came to terms on new contracts with goalkeeper Jon Kempin and defender Josh Williams that will see both players remain with the club through 2020.

 

Columbus also announced that the team declined the contract options on goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard, defender Alex Crognale and midfielders David Guzman, Edward Opoku and Eduardo Sosa.  Midfielders Federico Higuain and Ricardo Clark are both out of contract.

 

The Crew is in negotiations with out-of-contract defender Harrison Afful.  According to the press release from the club, “decisions regarding options on defender Connor Maloney and forward Jordan Hamilton as well as on out-of-contract forward Romario Williams will be decided in November when roster decisions are due.”

 

Columbus Crew SC’s current 2020 roster:

Goalkeepers (2): Jon Kempin, Eloy Room

Defenders (8): Lalas Abubakar, Chris Cadden, Waylon Francis, Hector Jimenez, Aboubacar Keita, Jonathan Mensah, Milton Valenzuela, Josh Williams

Midfielders (6): Luis Argudo, Artur, Luis Diaz, Youness Mokhtar, Pedro Santos, Wil Trapp

Forwards (2): JJ Williams, Gyasi Zardes

 

MORE:  https://www.massivereport.com/2019/10/21/20924556/columbus-crew-sc-roster-decisions-federico-higuain-wil-trapp-pedro-santos-hector-jimenez-mls-2020

One of the bigger names not retained for 2020 is homegrown central defender Alex Crognale - who is a tough loss given him (and his mom) being outspoken about SaveTheCrew.  But also understandable because the team still has 4 CD's on the 2020 roster w/o Crognale.  Hope he lands somewhere good.  Quality person.

 

But, of course, the biggest name not retained for 2020 is veteran midfielder Federico Higuain.  When Pipa went down with a season-ending injury, there was immediate speculation that his 7 1/2 year tenure with the Crew was over.  This week Crew management confirmed this.  Higuain will be 35 years old on 10/25 and this was his second season-ending injury in the past four seasons.

 

Federico Higuain will go down as one of the greatest players to ever play for the Columbus Crew.  Only fellow Argentine, the incomparable Guillermo Barros Schelotto, can eclipse Pipa's time in Columbus.  GM Bezbatchenko said the team committed to having conversations with Higuain about a role with the club if he chooses to retire.  But for now, it is farewell to a Crew legend:

 

https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20191030/defender-harrison-afful-re-signs-with-columbus-crew

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/10/30/20939820/columbus-crew-sc-re-sign-harrison-afful-caleb-porter-mls-2019

It is being reported that the Crew have agreed to a trade with Atlanta United that will see midfielder Darlington Nagbe come to Columbus in exchange for an undisclosed large sum of allocation money.  Apparently, MLS is in a roster freeze and this trade could be announced during a two-day trade window that opens on Monday, Nov. 11.

 

If true, this would be a major move for the Crew.  The 29-year-old holding midfielder has a long history with Coach Caleb Porter.  Nagbe played four seasons for Porter with the Akron Zips (winning an NCAA title in 2010) and played six seasons for Porter with the Portland Timbers (winning an MLS Cup in 2015).  After Porter left the Timbers at the end of 2017 season, Nagbe was traded to Atlanta and helped them win an MLS Cup in 2018.  Nagbe has also been a mainstay on the USMNT roster since 2015.

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/11/6/20952687/columbus-crew-sc-darlington-nagbe-atlanta-united-trade-mls-2019

Another MLS Expansion Draft was held this week.  Two new teams joining MLS next year - Nashville and Miami - got to choose five unprotected players each from the 24 current MLS teams.  So, only 10 players chosen from 24 teams.  And the Crew's deal to send Accam to Nashville in 2020 likely included a clause for Nashville to not select a Crew player in this expansion draft.

 

So with only a 5/24 chance, the Crew's chances to not lose a player to Miami looked pretty good?!?  But, of course, this is the expansion draft.  And the Crew ALWAYS LOSES A PLAYER IN THE EXPANSION DRAFT(!)

 

And so it was that Miami chose 23-year-old midfielder Luis Argudo in this week's expansion draft.  Argudo was drafted in the 3rd-round of the 2018 SuperDraft after playing two season for Wake Forest.  Argudo appeared as a backup/sub in 2018.  He was loaned out to start 2019, until roster injuries saw Argudo start 10 games for the Crew.  Once players like Luis Diaz and Youness Mokhtar were acquired, Argudo resumed a backup/sub role.

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/11/19/20973256/mls-explansion-draft-2019-luis-argudo-inter-miami-columbus-crew-sc

 

(Not the worst loss to the Crew - but c'mon - can we get though these expansion drafts just one time without losing a player?)

The Crew lost another player this week - but this one was by choice.  Centerback Lalas Abubakar was traded to the Colorado Rapids for $400,000 in 2020 General Allocation Money and a 2020 international roster spot.  The 24-year-old Ghanaian was a first-round, fifth-overall pick in the 2017 SuperDraft after Abubakar spending three years with the University of Dayton and winning an A-10 Championship in 2015 and being named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.

 

Abubakar played sparingly for the Crew in 2017, but worked his way into the starting lineup in 2018 with 20 starts.  However, in 2019, he only made one appearance with the Crew before being loaned to the Colorado Rapids in the Western Conference.  Abubakar was a key fixture on the Rapids backline, starting 22 games.  After the 2019 season finished, he became part of the Crew roster again.  But there were rumors that Colorado wanted to permanently acquire the 6'-1" central defender.

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/11/20/20974577/lalas-abubakar-columbus-crew-sc-trade-colorado-rapids-allocation-money-mls-2019

 

And so Colorado worked out this deal with the Crew.  This is big add for Colorado and a loss for the Crew - although it is a well-compensated loss.

 

The Crew still have veteran centerbacks Jonathan Mensah and Josh Williams on the roster as well as 19-year-old Homegrown centerback Aboubacar Keita, who emerged and made 8 starts for the Crew in 2019.  However, this trade adds GAM funds and another international roster spot - while also removing Abubakar's international roster spot.  So I wouldn't be surprised if this is the prelude to more off-season deals.

The Crew made a couple of prominent signings this week - one on offense and one on defense:

 

Here's the defensive signing:  https://www.massivereport.com/2019/12/18/21027099/columbus-crew-sign-vito-wormgoor-mls-2019-jonathan-mensah

 

Vito Wormgoor is a 6'-2" 31-year-old Dutch-national who is a 6-year veteran of the Netherlands first-division league and a 4-year veteran of Norway's first-division league - the last three as captain of his team.  Wormgoor joins a central defender group that now includes starter Jonathan Mensah (who will turn 30 in July), veteran backup/spot starter Josh Williams (who will turn 32 in April), Homegrown Player signee Aboubacar Keita (who will turn 20 in April) and towering 6'-7" 28-year-old Axel Sjoberg - who was selected from the MLS waiver list earlier in the month.

 

Wormgoor looks likely to be the primary backline mate with Mensah for 2020 - and it would be a stout veteran pairing.  Williams and Sjoberg will probably be the primary backups/spot starters on the backline.  Which leaves Homegrown signee Aboubacar Keita - who is a raw talent and looks like a future starter - some time to develop.

 

Here is the offensive-side signing - the Crew have signed their Higuain replacement(!)

 

https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20191218/columbus-crew-pays-team-record-transfer-fee-for-midfielder-lucas-zelarayan

 

https://www.massivereport.com/2019/12/18/21029173/columbus-crew-sc-sign-argentinean-playmaker-lucas-zelarayan-mls-2019-federico-higuain

 

Lucas Zelarayan is an Argentinian central attacking midfielder who will turn 28 in June.  The Crew are acquiring him from the Liga MX team Tigres in the top Mexican league.  The Dispatch is reporting Zelarayan is being acquired for a club-record transfer fee of more than $7 million.  That shatters the Crew's previous transfer-fee record of more than $2 million that was paid to acquire Santos in 2017.

 

Zelarayan fills the largest hole on the 2020 roster as an offensive playmaker who would bolster an attack that struggled for much of last season.  Zelarayan becomes the third Argentinian attacking midfielder the club has signed over the years - after Federico Higuain and Guillermo Barros Schelotto.  So no pressure or expectations, right? ?

 

Zelarayan is in the prime of his career and an elite distributor.  However, his playing style is said to be more like Santos (when he filled in at the CAM role last season) then Higuain or Schelotto.  It is a more direct style that suits the way Coach Porter would like to play.

 

The Dispatch is reporting that Zelarayan would be on a three-year contract as a designated player with an option for a fourth year.  He would occupy an international roster spot and will be with the club when training camp starts in January.  However, before Zelarayan is added to the roster, the Crew must buy down the contracts of at least two players from among Gyasi Zardes, Pedro Santos, Luis Diaz or Milton Valenzuela with allocation money so they free up a third designated player spot.  But the deals GM Tim Bezbatchenko has been making - most notably the Lalas Abubakar trade to Colorado that brought back allocation money and an international roster spot - have been preparing for this.

 

With this acquisition, the new Haslam-led Crew ownership is showing they are willing to spend for quality players to keep up with the rest of MLS.  Which is a great sign (and a marked improvement from the previous owner) because spending on quality players is important.  But a proven path to success in MLS is taking that spending and pairing it with a savvy GM who can use the many MLS rules - like allocation funds, roster spots, DP rules - to build a quality team.  Just like our current GM Bezbatchenko did when he was with Toronto.

 

The Crew now have 23 of 30 roster spots filled.  So there be a few more roster moves before the opening of the 2020 season.  But the Zelarayan signing is likely to be the biggest move for the 2020 roster.

On 12/19/2019 at 2:38 PM, Columbo said:

With this acquisition, the new Haslam-led Crew ownership is showing they are willing to spend for quality players to keep up with the rest of MLS.  Which is a great sign (and a marked improvement from the previous owner) because spending on quality players is important.  But a proven path to success in MLS is taking that spending and pairing it with a savvy GM who can use the many MLS rules - like allocation funds, roster spots, DP rules - to build a quality team.  Just like our current GM Bezbatchenko did when he was with Toronto.

 

The Crew now have 23 of 30 roster spots filled.  So there be a few more roster moves before the opening of the 2020 season.  But the Zelarayan signing is likely to be the biggest move for the 2020 roster.

 

The acquisition of Bezbatchenko was possibly the most important signing this new ownership has made. There may not be another management figure in or around this league with as much knowledge and experience with all of the convoluted roster and salary rules and mechanisms than Bez. He worked in the league office helping to create and manage a lot of that stuff, and then, as you said took his experience and built one of the best rosters this league has seen in Toronto.

 

Hopefully we can build a roster that not only can consistently go deep in the playoffs and win an MLS Cup or 2 or 3...but also have the depth to actually take the US Open Cup seriously and possibly be competitive and stand a chance in the CONCACAF Champions League if we happen to qualify.

Hard to believe in the middle of our very gray Central Ohio winter - but the beginning of the 2020 Crew season is only a little over a month away.  The team has been training for over a week in California in preparation for the March 1st opening game in Mapfre.  This week there was some on-field and off-field news:

 

First, the off-field news:

 

https://www.thisweeknews.com/sports/20200127/after-24-years-dwight-burgess-stepping-aside-from-columbus-crew-broadcasts

https://www.columbuscrewsc.com/post/2020/01/27/columbus-crew-scs-longtime-television-voice-dwight-burgess-announces-he-stepping

 

Longtime Crew broadcaster Dwight Burgess announced his retirement from the Crew broadcasting team.  Burgess, 59, had missed some games in 2018 when he suffered stroke, and some games in 2019 when he experienced what he called anxiety attacks that mimic stroke symptoms.  Because of these health issues and the time demands of being a Crew broadcaster - he is also a coach for the men’s soccer team at Wittenberg University in Springfield - Burgess decided to step back from broadcasting.

 

The Crew will recognize Burgess at its March 1 season opener in Mapfre Stadium.

Now, the on-field news:

 

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/01/27/official-columbus-crew-sc-claim-fanendo-adi-setting-caleb-porter-reunion

 

The Crew claimed 29-year-old 6'-4" Nigerian striker Fanendo Adi off the MLS Waiver List after he was waived by FC Cincinnati.  Adi was a key part of Coach Porter's 2015 MLS Cup winning Portland Timbers team.  He's the second key Timber player to reunite with Porter for this season - Darlington Nagbe was also acquired over this off-season.

 

Adi had back-to-back 16-goal seasons with Porter in 2015 and 2016.  Porter left Portland after in the 2017 season and Adi was traded to FC Cincinnati in the middle of the 2018 season.  Adi played for FCC in the USL for the rest of the 2018 season and started for them in their inaugural MLS season in 2019.  However, Adi suffered an ankle injury in the third game of 2019.  While rehabbing, Adi was stopped for driving 102 mph in a 65 mph zone and showed a blood alcohol content of 0.124 in a breathalyzer test.  FCC suspended Adi and he entered MLS' Substance Abuse program.

 

Adi returned to the roster after a couple months off, but only scored one goal in 4 starts and 9 appearances in the remainder of the 2019 season.  FCC placed Adi on waivers 1/17 and the Crew claimed him on 1/27.  Acquiring Adi adds a quality striker that can either be a veteran backup or a spot starter for Zardes - something that was desperately needed last year.  But the best part of this acquisition is that GM Bezbatchenko took advantage of MLS rules to add a player making DP-level salary at a bargain rate: