Columbus Crew are pushing for a return to the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2023.
With Wilfried Nancy arriving from CF Montreal to replace Caleb Porter on the sidelines, and a number of longtime players leaving – including Pedro Santos, Artur, and Jonathan Mensah – we’re set to see a very different team take to the field on February 25.
The Crew have missed out on the Playoffs in three of the last four seasons though, of course, they did go all the way in 2020. Even so, they’ll be keen to improve on that record and re-establish themselves among the MLS elite.
So, here’s everything you need to know about the Columbus Crew ahead of the new MLS season, including tactics, key players, and predictions.
Transfers in
Player |
Former Club |
Fee |
---|---|---|
Jimmy Medranda |
Seattle Sounders |
Free transfer |
Keegan Hughes |
Stanford Cardinal |
Free transfer |
Max Arfsten |
San Jose Earthquakes II |
SuperDraft |
Xavier Zengue |
Dayton Flyers |
SuperDraft |
Christian Ramirez |
Aberdeen |
Undisclosed |
Transfers out
Player |
Club Joined |
Fee |
---|---|---|
Artur |
Houston Dynamo |
$300k |
Jonathan Mensah |
San Jose Earthquakes |
$200k (rising to $500k) |
Derrick Etienne Jr |
Atlanta United |
Free transfer |
Pedro Santos |
DC United |
Free transfer |
Erik Hurtado |
– |
Released |
Marlon Hairston |
– |
Released |
Perry Kitchen |
– |
Retired |
Jalil Anibaba |
– |
Released |
During his time with Montreal, Nancy mostly used a three-at-the-back system. However, at the time of writing, Columbus simply don’t have the numbers to do so, meaning a back four is looking likely pending further investment.
What won’t change are Nancy’s principles. He likes his teams to dominate the ball and use it to methodically open gaps in the opposition defense with quick combinations centrally and, when the chance arises, big switches of play.
In Cucho Hernandez and Lucas Zelarayan, Nancy has his perfect partnership between a dynamic, powerful forward and a creative No.10. The latter could be just as important to him as Djordje Mihailovic was at Montreal.
Columbus Crew predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Room; Moreira, Degenek, Williams, Medranda; Nagbe, Morris; Diaz, Zelarayan, Yeboah; Hernandez.
Lucas Zelarayan
We’ve already seen a short snapshot of what Hernandez could bring to MLS. However, the Crew will still lean heavily on the much more tried and tested Lucas Zelarayan.
The Armenia international has been among the best players in the league since joining in 2020, hitting 31 goals (some of them incredible strikes) and 17 assists in 86 games across all competitions, winning MLS Cup and Campeones…
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