2017 Columbus Crew SC Report Card: Week 5
Team Grade:
Before we issue the match grade, let’s chat about what led us to our final conclusion.
Shutout number 2:
In 2016, Columbus Crew SC couldn’t lock down a win to save their lives (or their season at least). Match after match the Black & Gold would get a lead early, blow it in the second half, lather, rinse, repeat. This resulted in a season that saw Columbus only win 8 matches.
In 2017, Columbus Crew SC have won 3 matches out of 5, almost half of what they mustered up the entire last season. This isn’t because we have some new and improved offense, because if you take a look at the front half of the field it’s virtually identical to last year’s lineup. However, take a look at the back half and it’s a whole new crew (pun intended).
Columbus spent their offseason rebuilding the disaster of a defense they had in 2016, and it is proving to pay off. 2 shutouts in 3 matches is huge for building confidence in a defense that needs to prove their worth.
And as a Columbus fan I can’t tell you how nice it is to see goals not being scored against us in the second half. So, thanks for that, Steffen.
Win-Win-Win:
The Black & Gold are on a roll, winning matches with authority. The Crew SC are winning matches that they should win (DC, Orlando), on top of winning matches that people say they can’t (Portland).
It’s early in the season, and anything can change at any point in MLS with trades or new acquisitions, and clubs who are struggling now will begin to find their groove, but it can’t be overstated how important these early points can be when it comes time for the playoff-picture to start shaping up.
If Columbus Crew SC can keep racking up these early wins, you very well may see my “2017 Columbus Crew SC will made it to the playoffs” prediction come true in a big way.
With the longest winning streak of any club in MLS right now, Columbus are working hard to wipe away the image of 2016 and are putting Major League Soccer on notice.
Final Thoughts:
- Maybe Mapfre Stadium should just start leaving the doors unlocked. At this point, I’d rather see stands full of squatters than all those yellow seats.
- It can’t be overstated how much I don’t enjoy watching matches online. Watching the preseason’s Carolina Challenge Cup was annoying enough, but the stream from Charleston was better than what Unimas offered up this week. The idea is there, the execution is just lacking. Hopefully, as the season progresses, so will the feed quality.
- On a completely unrelated note, does anybody else think the Loons winning was just a really good April Fool’s joke by MLS?
Final Grade: A+
It’s hard to not give a perfect grade to a perfect win. If the Crew SC can go to Bridgeview and knock off the Chicago Fire next week I may just invent a new grade better than A+ to celebrate how much I’m enjoying this 2017 Columbus Crew SC.
Match Grade: A+
Average Season Grade: B+
Next: Big jump for the US in latest FIFA Rankings
What did you think about Columbus Crew SC in Week 5? Do you agree with our grade? Keep the conversation going in the comment section at the bottom of the page.