2017 Columbus Crew SC Report Card: Week 5

Individual Grades:

Before we issue the match grade for the Columbus Crew SC, we will analyze and grade three key individual performances we feel impacted the match in one way or another.

Before we get into that though, it’s time for a confession: I am not a MLS Live subscriber. I know, I know, shame on me. The reason I state this is to inform you that I, like many of you, had to watch this match on a Facebook Live stream.

Some Pros to watching soccer on a Facebook Live stream:

• At least I got to watch the match, that’s an improvement over previous years when you were just S.O.L.
• It’s kind of cool getting to see people interact live during the match.

Some Cons to watching soccer on a Facebook Live stream:

• Unimas thinks we need to see the commentators commenting more than we need to see half of the field.
• It’s distracting seeing people interact live during the match when you disagree with the majority of what they’re saying, and just want to type “NUH UH” over and over again.
• Apparently the “HD” button at the bottom of the feed was just there for decoration, but it was really cool when that one blurry guy shot the blurry ball past the blurry goalkeeper.
• Freezing and green-screens occurred almost as regularly as not.

This is not me having sour grapes, this is just simply me explaining it’s hard to recap and grade a match that you only got to witness as if you were an 85 year old who had lost his bifocals trying to watch a video on dial-up. So, my grades are going to be phoned-in this week based on what the commentators told me, what I was able to gather from the blurry people, stats (nobody likes stats), and what social media said.

Zack Steffen: A+

It didn’t seem like the young goalkeeper ever had much of a real challenge on Saturday’s match, but having your second shutout in three matches is huge for any keeper.

So, kudos to Zack Steffen, who has racked up 10 saves in 3 matches, 4 of which were against Orlando City SC.

Artur: A

Columbus made a lot of noise in the offseason when they signed Brazilian midfielder Artur, and he’s proving himself worth the hype. Artur and recently-promoted Captain Will Trapp have a palpable chemistry that’s been forming through the early season, and all these scribbles will prove me right:

See? Told you.

Justin Meram: A+

I see you, Justin Meram.

The 28 year old Iraqi native is showing why he just locked down a contract extension and a nice little raise. It’s because the man produces week in and week out. 3 goals in 5 matches, with 2 assists as a little cherry on top. Justin Meram is making his case for Crew SC player of the year in this early season.

The attacking trio of Higuain, Meram, and Ola Kamara have been on fire in the past 3 matches, and it’s resulted in 7 goals in 3 matches for 3 wins and 9 big points.

Tonight was Justin Meram’s game though, as number 9 scored both of Columbus’s goals and took the Acura Man of the Match by a landslide.

And I actually agree this time.