Consistency and depth don’t always coincide; with depth comes opportunity, and with opportunity comes change. But for Columbus Crew SC, depth in its roster is exactly what has helped the team win three of its last four matches since July 4.
That was the day Crew SC midfielder Wil Trapp returned to MLS regular-season play after missing nearly three months due to concussion-related symptoms.
It is no secret the Black & Gold are a more potent team with Trapp back on the roster, but the team’s recent success doesn’t start and end there.
A "next-man-up" mentality has radiated throughout the team, including the team's backline. Tyson Wahl started the last two matches, playing well in central defense next to Captain Michael Parkhurst; and defenders Chad Barson and Chris Klute stepped in for Hector Jimenez in the right-back position.
“It’s great to have this amount of competition in the midfield, as well as at the center back position,” Trapp said. “It just keeps you on your toes and I think all the guys who are competing for spots have shown that they can compete, and that on the field they can produce.
"It’s a good problem to have for us. We’re excited and we know that whoever’s out on the field has done the best in training that week and is feeling the best going into the games.”
Crew SC has allowed only one goal, a deflected freekick, in its last two matches and has excelled in its passing game. Columbus is second in the League in passing accuracy in its own half with 89.72 percent, while continuing the trend further upfield, ranking second in passing accuracy in the opponent’s half with 73.28 percent.
“I don’t want to attribute it all to one thing,” Trapp said of Crew SC’s impressive possession percentages. “I just think we’re prepared. Every game we’re prepared.
"The coaching staff does a great job, and when we’re on the field, it’s automatic. We’re not over-thinking, it’s just a stream-lined, efficient process that we go through. Every cog in that wheel matters, so I’m happy to be back, and I think we’re catching form at the right time.”
As of late, Trapp has been the receiver and the distributor in central midfield. In last Sunday’s match against the Chicago Fire, the holding midfielder had a 90.8 percent passing accuracy percentage, the highest percentage of any Crew SC player with more than 55 passes completed. He also completed the most passes of any player on the field with 79.
“I bring a lot of communication, a lot of organization. I’ve always found that the way I want to play is just to help those in front of me, put them in the best possible spots to be successful,” Trapp said. “Whether it’s Federico, whether it’s Tony, whether it’s Mo, Ethan, Justin or Kei, [I’m] just trying to find them at the right time, in the right space, so that they can create something.
"As well as on the defensive side, organizing those around me and helping Michael and Tyson or Pogy, Steve, out. It’s that linking play that goes unnoticed sometimes, but it’s pretty important.”
As a team looking to attack with short passes through the middle of the field, the start of Crew SC’s combination play lies in good hands. Defender Michael Parkhurst leads the League in successful passes from the defensive half with 624. He has recorded 130 passes more than the League’s second-place player, Crew SC defender Emanuel Pogatetz.
Communication in the backfield has been critical for Crew SC’s ability to push the ball forward.
“The defenders, we met as a group and had an individual meeting with the defensive group and after the past couple of weeks we knew we could play better,” Wahl said. “We met and we talked about some things and I think we really emphasized communication and getting back to being organized while we are attacking, because we attack with so many players, so I think that paid dividends for us.”
And dividends it has paid.
With even more players stepping up and Crew SC’s bench getting deeper, the Black & Gold are looking to become even more dangerous through the latter half of the season.
