Just watched my first compilation of Akhundzade, and I think the Rossi comparison is decent. He's definitely a wide forward, not a traditional winger. There is ZERO chance this dude is a wingback. Zero. He's clearly a wide forward / second striker type of attacker. More finisher than creator. Decent ability to beat his man, sucks them in and then quickly rolls them a lot using his body to protect the ball, but I don't think he's running with the ball over long stretches. Sort of looks like a bigger Rossi, but plays at the pace of someone like LZ. Rossi runs and runs, Akhundzade looks like he takes his time and picks his moments.
I think the implication is that Farsi is set to be a winger this season, at least nominally in a 4-3-3. I dont think formations will matter tho, and to discuss them might be not very productive
Keep forgetting to mention that both Amundsen and Cheberko are not taking up international roster spots due to green cards.
Depends. If you are craving a drive in cheeseburger followed by adult entertainment, it can be quite productive
So, Amundsen has a green card? That may solve the “not an international” mystery in @TrueCrew ’s roster updates.
My friend calls that the Steak Brothel, we’ve come full circle. Speaking of which, the team and FO eats there for free, so you’ll often see them there. Edit: Sorry confused Ruth’s Chris and Jeff Ruby’s, clearly I don’t eat a lot of red meat.
But is a filet a steak? Before you answer, let me "fill" you in. @cleazer used to run a game here called Sheep League. He'd pose a few questions each week during the Sheep League season and forum members would PM him their answers. Questions didn't necessarily have to be Crew or soccer-related. One of his favorite to ask about was national parks. The band U2 also made frequent cameos. Answers would be given based on what people think the group would have answered...not necessarily what the person thinks is the best answer. What is the best national park besides ParkA, ParkB or ParkC? List of national parks here. Who was the best player in the Crew @ Timbers game? Which team will lose MLS Cup 2026? (ie: The team that sulks off the field after the final whistle.) Which month is the best? Which month is the worst? How far will the USA advance in the World Cup? Which Crew player will be the next to score a goal? Which pizza place should I take my cousin to? ...and so forth. Fridays were known as F5 Fridays because he'd generally post answers throughout the day. Standings were maintained throughout the season. Points were assigned based on various things, including, IIRC, how many people answered with the winning answer. Well, one week, he decided to pose: "Is a filet a steak?" Needless to say, it ruffled a few feathers. Technically speaking, a "filet" refers to a cut, as in a fish filet, amirite @eboe?
Actually, as I recall, there was a question about food where some folks answered steak and others answered filet, and @cleazer chose not to equate the two in the results.
It does, but we knew he had to have had one. The mystery remains how he got one so quickly after arriving in MLS. No matter, he doesn’t take up an int’l slot and neither does Cheberko. Good news all around.
No, that's my neighborhood. It has long since been demolished and in now one of those 3-4 story apartment buildings.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2026-mls-roster-rules-and-regulations I know there were some questions about our roster being full. Well you can sign HG players under 21 to a full first team deal, but as long as you dont play them in more than 6 league games, they are completely off the roster (spots 1-31). I confirmed this with SKC's beat reporter. So we will not need to cut someone for now.
The mlsnp call ups remain a thing, distinct from the off roster HG rule, called "Affiliate Short-Term Agreements"
Official https://www.columbuscrew.com/news/columbus-crew-acquire-forward-nariman-akhundzada-from-qarabag-fk
You're not far from Beer Zone or Kenny Road Market ...one of the greatest beer stores in Columbus. (But you already knew that. I just wanted to give those guys a mention.)
Thanks for that. We knew Malte did not count for a while, but could not figure out why. That is an important update on Cheberko though. We have an INT spot ipen, then.