Gregg Berhalter had moments where he fiddled around in preseason.
Especially in the Pacific Rim Cup and in the first half of the preseason game against USL opponents, the Charleston Battery.
But, eventually Berhalter always seemed to come back to playing this eleven together.
Why you may ask?
In my opinion, this eleven looks stronger as a unit compared to any eleven of last year’s Crew.
When you consider Columbus traded away 31 goals this offseason, that sounds preposterously psychotic.
Further, at the inception of preseason, I never saw those thoughts escaping my head.
Yet in another regard may be stranger. As in reality not many positions are remarkably different from 2017. There were only three (four if you count Santos on the left side) positions taken up by new players in a starting eleven this preseason.
However, those additions complement the whole puzzle very well.
I think Cristian Martinez and Pedro Santos next to, with Wil Trapp and Artur behind Federico Higuain just complements Federico and makes him extremely comfortable and at ease.
Before the preseason began, the big question was how would the Crew replace Justin Meram on the left hand side of midfield?
Well, Berhalter moved Pedro Santos from the right hand side to the left.
Santos could be even better on the left side. Or just more comfortable this year with the Columbus Crew.
While Berhalter’s three year project, Panamanian U-20 player Cristian Martinez, appears to be fully in his maturation stage on that right hand side.
Regardless both players can play both sides and switch.
Martinez, Sanchez switched right and left midfield midway through the first half in the Charleston Battery game.
What could I be forgetting? Oh Gyasi Zardes. ?
The addition of Gyasi Zardes looks somehow to even be an improvement. As Berhalter has a magic lamp and keeps finding the next Kei, the next Ola.
Zardes scored six goals in preseason.
Zardes looks stronger, faster, and perhaps even a better finisher compared to Ola.
Ola Kamara was great, would love to still have him. But, Ola had a head scratcher or two in the finishing department last year.
Yet, the biggest improvement offensively and defensively could be Milton Valenzuela at left back.
Seems crazy that he is a nineteen year old and looks like a seasoned professional.
Throughout preseason, to an uninformed observer Valenzuela looks more like the Crew’s left back for years.
And I add offensively because Valenzuela is able to get up the field (similar to Harrison Afful) he has an engine and that’s where it all begins for Columbus.
The starting eleven could change eventually. Yet I’m much happier than I expected to be.
Once the Crew’s depth gets healthier, could see a position or two up for grabs nevertheless.
I could see Gaston Sauro fighting Lalas Abubukar for the other starting CB spot.
I also could see Mike Grella giving Cristian Martinez some competition.
Grella is more of a left midfielder. However, that could mean Pedro Santos would just return back to his perhaps preferred right midfield.
Further, would not be surprised if Ricardo Clark finds himself with some starts as he has looked strong in preseason when he has been on the field.
Regardless, I think this starting eleven can take their six out of seven preseason wins and plus 8 goal differential to Toronto and put up a result this Saturday.
This group are strong enough to give Michael Bradley, Kurt Larson, and that glorious band of red trouble on March 3rd. Can shake up the power rankings straight away.
Plus, I think Toronto will still be stuck celebrating last year. Perhaps like us in 2016, although doubt it will last anywhere near as long.
Predicted result: 2-0 Crew win. Goals by Zardes and Santos.
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