Forget 2016,
considered for the Black and Gold gang as one negative campaign to forget, and
especially for its Boss Greg Berthalter, who saw his project tumbling down in
an odd way.
As he is looking
forward to restore his club pride this upcoming 2017.
Indeed, this is one
challenging task ahead for the third year man under the helm of the Columbus squad,
which in 2015 he did the ultimate of feats going all the way to the league
final.
Despite losing to a
hot streaking Portland Timbers, the merit of making it all the way was a one of
a kind achievement for the Crew, their problem a year later is that they saw
their momentum dwindle.
Last campaign that
was a different story and at Mapfre Stadium, its followers saw one of its worst campaigns from its squad
with just eight wins, fourteen losses and ten draws.
Now the aims for the
Crew are on the upcoming super draft and the wheeling and dealing of new blood
to come and reinforce these squad lines, to make front in what seemed a much-contested
MLS campaign.
With a 2017 that will
see the inception of two new squads, the Crew already got a hold of twenty
players in their roster as well, getting three more defenders to reinforce this
area considered vulnerable for the Ohioans.
So far, Manager
Berthalter keeps some of his defensive side in Gaston Sauro, Harrison Afful,
Nicolai Naess and Waylon Francis alongside the incorporation of Jonathan
Mensah, Jukka Raitala, Homegrown player Alex Crognale and the return of Josh
Williams.
Seeing how this area
considered the most needed to address, the defensive side will see a
competition in who will net a starting post and make the goal posts secure for
Zach Steffen and Brad Stuver, these two making a run for the starting job.
The midfield of the
Columbus squad looks very complete and still the need of another orchestrator
of the likes of their talisman Federico Higuaín will be a nice addition to this
eleven and complement their attack adding a new dimension.
Alongside the return
of Dilly Duka, Ethan Finley, Marshall Hollingsworth, Hector Jimenez, Cristian
Martinez, Justin Meram, Mohammed Saeid, Rodrigo Saravia, Ben Swanson, Toni
Tchani and Will Trapp.
The midfield is no
worries for the Crew Boss.
The striker force is
made of Adam Jahn, Federico Higuain, Justim Meram and Ola Kamara, here is
another department in no need of improvement as this foursome can deliver, and
still the addition of a young academy player can be important in the end.
For now, the work ahead
for Manager Berthalter is to rally his troops and look forward to put in display
an spectacular campaign as the ones this club is familiar with.
Come march 4, the
Crew will be ready to face off a new Chicago Fire in the interstate Derby were
both squads will like to start the campaign with a win and on a high note to
face off in what looks to be a much contested and disputed campaign.
Still the Columbus
squad tuned up with a busy preseason at Sao Paolo, Brazil and returning to the
States to compete in the Carolina Challenge Cup from February 16-25.
Here they will test
the waters against USL Charleston Battery and MLS Atlanta United and the
defending champions the Seattle Sounders, considered a good test for Manager
Bethalter to see and decide on his definite initial eleven.
At the end this club
can bounce back to its old self and give us a one of a kind campaign with the
loads of talented players they have and contend for the league title if these
will make it one of their utmost priorities and maybe deliver another shield.
One thing for sure the
Columbus Crew will be netting a spot in the league postseason and fighting for
among the top four in the Eastern Conference, no room for error or near the
cellar.
Post Contents and Property of Fern
Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Crest Credit and Property of Columbus
Crew Soccer Club 2017
Photos Credit and Property of © 2017
Major League Soccer
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