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2018 Season Preview: Columbus Crew SC

By Josh Bouland

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 29: Columbus Crew players pose for a team picture before the second leg of the MLS Cup eastern conference final between Toronto FC and Columbus Crew on November 29, 2017, at BMO Field in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photograph by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 29: Columbus Crew players pose for a team picture before the second leg of the MLS Cup eastern conference final between Toronto FC and Columbus Crew on November 29, 2017, at BMO Field in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photograph by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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2017 was a whirlwind of a season for Columbus Crew. A look at their updated roster, predictions for the season, and the storylines surrounding the club.

Columbus began 2017 with a strong start, losing just one of their first five matches. As the season dragged on, however, the roller coaster ride started. Between April and August, the Crew won or drew eight of those eighteen matches, but never consecutively. In their last ten matches, things finally clicked and they went undefeated, amassing twenty-two points and handily making the playoffs.

Of course, it was too good to be true, as the news about a relocation to Austin, Texas made its way into the headlines just as Columbus was prepping for the playoffs. The MLS and US community rallied around the team with the rallying cry #savetheCrew and Columbus found themselves in the Eastern Conference Final, just one away goal from an MLS Cup berth. This season, they look to capitalize on a stellar season amidst what is sure to be a drawn-out relocation saga.

2017 Recap

Record: 16-12-6

Finishing position: 5th in MLS, 5th in Eastern Conference

Post-season: 0-1 (agg.) Eastern Conference Finals loss to Toronto FC

Transfers In

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  • Milton Valenzuela (Newell’s Old Boys)
  • Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo)
  • Mike Grella (Colorado Rapids)
  • Jon Kempin (Los Angeles Galaxy)
  • Gyasi Zardes (Los Angeles Galaxy)
  • Ben Lundgaard (draft-Virginia)
  • Edward Opoku (draft-Virginia Tech)

Transfers Out

  • Kekuta Manneh (Pachuca)
  • Marshall Hollingsworth (declined)
  • Rodrigo Saravia (Swope Park)
  • Ben Swanson (declined)
  • Abuchi Obinwa (declined)
  • Ola Kamara (Los Angeles Galaxy)
  • Waylon Francis (Seattle Sounders)
  • Justin Meram (Orlando City)
  • Brad Stuver (NYCFC)
  • Jukka Raitala (LAFC)

Predicted Starting XI for Opening Weekend

2018 Predictions

Columbus should have another strong season despite losing major players Meram and Kamara. Gregg Berhalter is a strong tactician who knows how to adjust to his team’s strengths; just look at last season’s formation shift in an attempt to evolve and not remain stagnant.

Zack Steffen put himself on everyone’s radar with his outstanding performance in last year’s knockout round match against Atlanta. He has already been called up by the USMNT and should be able to build off of his recent accomplishments. Look for Milton Valenzuela to make some noise for MLS Newcomer of the Year and it is very possible Gyasi Zardes could rebound from a disappointing campaign last year in LA and make a splash for Golden Boot.

As for off the field predictions, I will boldly predict that Columbus will stay right where they are and owner Anthony Precourt will be forced to sell the team.  There are already rumblings from Austin that the deal could fall through. That, and the fact that since there was a large pushback from the MLS community, there has been relatively no significant news about the relocation since it originally broke.

Next: MLSM Podcast S2E2 - Previewing Week 1

Finishing position: 5th in Eastern Conference, 7th in MLS, Eastern conference semifinals appearance

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