2020 MLS Cup Champions 2021 Roster Thread

Discussion in 'Columbus Crew' started by TrueCrew, Dec 14, 2020.

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  1. Bill Archer

    Bill Archer BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 19, 2002
    Washington, NC
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #251 Bill Archer, Dec 26, 2020
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2020
    I think the better question is what kind of a trainers room guy he is.

    The big downside with him is that he simply can't stay healthy. He's been one long trip to the doctor for the last 3 years.

    That sort of thing tends not to change. He could be God's gift but he can't do squat for us from a bed over at Riverside
     
  2. MLSinSTL

    MLSinSTL Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Mar 20, 2009
    Ohio - near a city
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That’s a good piint too. It doesn’t matter how good he is for chemistry if he’s never able to play.
     
  3. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think the biggest question I have about Yedlin is fit. I have not watched a ton of him lately, but the guy I remember was a burner who was so-so (at best) in possession with defensive lapses of attention.

    I assume his lapses have improved with more maturity. However, our FBs do not really get to the endline much. Especially on the right (Diaz, Etienne). So the RB tends to tuck in a bit and play as a de facto MF. Afful is really good at this. If Yedlin is not really comfortable in possession, he is not a good fit.
     
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  4. crew2112

    crew2112 Member+

    Jan 25, 2008
    Dayton, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Afful was not our biggest problem this past season. I realize he’s getting up there and could fall off at any time. Maybe he has 1 more good season? It’s difficult to justify brining in a new starter when you have a solid one already on the team.
    As for Cadden, the Twitter comments from Scotland were all about brining him in and what a good move. I almost responded “did you watch him play in the last year?” Oh well if we get a good offer I say sell him.
     
  5. Smithsoccer1721

    Smithsoccer1721 Member+

    Feb 16, 2007
    Middle of the Table
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If I has to pick a position to upgrade it would be right back followed closely by right wing.
     
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  6. Tobias C

    Tobias C Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Mar 6, 2014
    Toledo, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm kinda torn on it honestly. Guys like Afful and Santos are definitely over the hill and could run out of gas at any point now. I love the idea of upgrading, really anywhere in the roster, but do you bail on the person who brought you to the dance though? Especially if they're most recent run of games was relatively solid, just because you're predicting considerable decline due to age. Do you keep the same people all together who won a title to maintain that cohesion and chemistry to try to make it happen again? Or is that resting on your laurels? Makes me think of Berhalter feeling rather remiss after the 2015 season not immediately reinforcing the team with more talent. Does an aggressively ambitious team just stick with what worked? If it's not broke dont fix it. Or should they continuously try to improve anywhere and everywhere they possibly can? Maybe it's not so black and white and theres a balance between the two to be had.

    I'm definitely interested to see how they approach all of this going into next season.
     
  7. Jaybir

    Jaybir Member+

    Feb 24, 2014
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    96?
     
  8. Crew96Fan

    Crew96Fan Member+

    Jul 27, 2013
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don’t think it’s black and white but with the way the league is moving forward, if you choose not to make any upgrades you’re going to be left behind.

    Let’s not forget that this is a club that did not win a road game all season. Sure they were one of the top teams from start to finish and ended with a Cup but there’s still a lot of ways to make this team better.
     
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  9. TRUJDUB

    TRUJDUB Member+

    Nov 22, 2015
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    The answer is you keep your best XI players but if you can improve the roster and have competition to have 22 players you trim the bottom of the roster and bolster the top. So to me even if you sign DP or high salary players , starting is not automatic for them or for Santos /Afful/ Woormgoor etc...
     
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  10. Dan Milton

    Dan Milton Member

    Nov 25, 1998
    The real answer is you get the best players that are available and let things sort their way out! I love Afful and I love the way he played end line to end line! But Father time is beginning to catch up with him! if it's not this year or next year it will be sometime! If there is no one better he stays another season!
     
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  11. CBusAlex

    CBusAlex Member

    Jun 17, 2011
    Orlando, FL
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Easy, you just make deep enough runs in the open cup and CCL that you have plenty of minutes to give both your returning players and the new upgrades.
     
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  12. Minnman

    Minnman Member+

    Feb 11, 2000
    Columbus, OH, USA
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States


    No real shock, if true. And I hope it is. For many of us, Francis was the top name on the "out of contract/option declined" list who it seemed most logical to bring back.
     
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  13. Bill Archer

    Bill Archer BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 19, 2002
    Washington, NC
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    True enough.

    He'll never be a fireball running the line, but hes a first rate marking back. He may not contribute something brilliant in the attack but he won't hurt you defensively and lots of times thats all you need.
     
  14. Smithsoccer1721

    Smithsoccer1721 Member+

    Feb 16, 2007
    Middle of the Table
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good depth and defensive stopper late in the game all at a reasonable price.
     
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  15. Minnman

    Minnman Member+

    Feb 11, 2000
    Columbus, OH, USA
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Plus, he wants to be here and knows the system. No brainer.
     
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  16. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    He was once an MLS all-star because of his offensive contributions. Something like 5 assists in the first half of a season.
     
  17. Bill Archer

    Bill Archer BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 19, 2002
    Washington, NC
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That was before a long series of hamstring and knee injuries.
     
  18. TRUJDUB

    TRUJDUB Member+

    Nov 22, 2015
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    He also flourished offensively by just crossing it to Kamara . Zardes is a better striker but not as good a threat in the air and Francis is a bit slower than he was
     
  19. Minnman

    Minnman Member+

    Feb 11, 2000
    Columbus, OH, USA
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    On that theme, obviously the team knows the full story here, but the only reason I'm okay (as if my opinion matters) with this signing is that Francis, who'd been injured much of the past TWO seasons, came back and played some minutes toward the end of '20.

    He suffered a "left thigh injury" on July 20, 2019, that ended his season. I don't think he played again until a start on Oct. 28, 2020. He made four appearances as a sub in November and December, logging a whopping 196 minutes this regular season. But, despite the injury, he played nearly 1,400 minutes in 2019. And is still only 30. Hopefully, he's fully healed and will be ready to go in 2021.

    Health-wise, one guy that really concerns me is Wormgoor. From what little I've seen, the guy throws his body around like he thinks he's indestructible. And maybe he used to be. But at 32, I'm worried he's just one lunging tackle away from another long-term injury.
     
  20. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    Yeah, Wormgoor seems fragile and I wouldn't be surprised if he's not on the team next year. Though maybe his contract is guaranteed.
     
  21. Bill Archer

    Bill Archer BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 19, 2002
    Washington, NC
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Wasn't that what we heard when he was first signed? That he has a long history of injury? Sometimes that stuff is just bad luck but after a while.....
     
  22. TRUJDUB

    TRUJDUB Member+

    Nov 22, 2015
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Believe it’s a 2 year deal so he won’t be cut but this is a make or break deal. He doesn’t stay healthy he won’t be back in 2022
     
  23. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    Most MLS contracts aren't guaranteed. As a veteran player who changed continents that might not be the case for Wormgoor. But it also easily could be.
     
  24. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If the Francis story is accurate, I think he is probably the last of the OOC/option declined guys we retain. Though Boateng is possible.

    Hector is in Austin. We swapped out Tarbell (who will get a chance to start) for Bush. BWP's arrival means Adi/Nemeth/Hamilton can do no better than #3 striker. Adi showed nothing. Hamilton has shown nothing in two years. Nemeth was decent but #3 striker in a 1 striker setup does not seem a good use of an INT slot.

    Speaking of poor uses of INT slots, no way Mokhtar is back. He has a huge salary, eats an INT spot, and was 5th on the depth chart at the end of the year. That leaves Boateng, who seems a decent squad player, but is 4th on the wing depth chart, and not a like for like replacement for Santos.

    I think that is everyone. Glad Francis is back. Close to 2 deep everywhere save CM. Forgot Alashe.
     
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  25. CybrSlydr

    CybrSlydr Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Jun 30, 2013
    Casper, WY
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Welp, transfer window is open. Any rumors on players coming in?
     

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