After last campaign slow start suddenly the Crew got back in track and made it all the way to the postseason. With the usual character, this club possesses as they almost made it to the conference finals, before losing to the TFC.
Finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference, the Black and Gold started the postseason in the so-called knockout rounds and against newcomers Atlanta United coming with the label of all around favorites.
Moving on to eliminate another favorite with the NYCFC, the stage was set for them for the Eastern Conference and against the Toronto FC, but at the end succumbed to a brilliant and defensive game the Canadian side showed.
Despite the squad success in a revival staged in the final months of the campaign, the Crew had some problems of its own especially with its ownership threatening to relocate the squad to another city after seeing some feeble attendances.
If you recall this squad considered as one of the pioneers since the inception of Major League Soccer in 1996, the removal of this squad to a new location will be a total desecration and a total disrespect to its numerous fan base that has been since day one supporting its Crew.
Still this squad for now is preparing for what seems and what I have been talking about in what looks like a one of kind contested campaign after many of the squads of this association have been arming themselves with heavy-duty players.
For Greg Berhalter entering in its sixth year at the helm of Columbus, after losing the grand finale in 2015 against the Portland Timbers and in 2016 not making the postseason, in 2017 the Crew recovered its game.
So far, the Crew has been active in this preseason with participations in a couple of tournaments in the Pacific Rim Cup and later competing in the Carolina Cup. Not only in the field but also in its front office by making all sorts deals to land the best players to front this 2018.
With new acquisitions in free agent midfielder Ricardo Clark, defender on loan from Newell Old Boys Milton Valenzuela as a DP, Venezuelan midfielder Eduardo Sosa from Venezuelan side Zamora.
Another notable arrivals are former LA Galaxy forward Gyazi Zardes, Brazilian midfielder from Sao Paulo Artur, NY Red Bulls midfielder Mike Grella and goalkeeper Jon Kempin.
Also by getting defender Gaston Sauro and goalkeeper Logan Ketterer to new contracts, this club is ready to front his campaign and with many possibilities of making a total impact and by making a return to the league postseason.
With a successful draft and in the preseason wheeling and dealing with other squads has netted the club more Targeted Allocation Monies and future drafts, this club is looking to build its future base with young guns that one day will capture many headlines.
To conclude the Columbus Crew once again will be one of the leagues squads that will highlight its 2018 campaign with a competitive and all around fighting squad that at the end can repeat their last campaign run to the conference semifinals.
Post Contents and Property of Fern Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Photos Credit and Property of Columbus Crew Football Club 2018
Photos Credit and Property of © 2018 Major League Soccer
No comments:
Post a Comment