Strength by Committee
Two sessions into preparation for Week 6's first Trillium Cup meeting of 2017, Columbus Crew SC boasts an element of mystery with Toronto FC visiting MAPFRE Stadium on Saturday for the 8 p.m. kickoff. Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has utilized at least three different shapes and 18 different players through the Black & Gold's 3-2-1 start to the 2017 MLS regular season.
The element of surprise is on Crew SC's side — only goalkeeper Zack Steffen and central defender Nicolai Naess have played every minute of every game. For the team sitting atop the Eastern Conference table with a plus-2 goal differential, versatility and a shared responsibility has been key.
"We want to do it by committee," Berhalter said following Tuesday's training session at the EAS Training Center at Obetz. "It’s not just one guy’s job; we rely on multiple guys to help out. ... I think it starts with our opponents adapting to us. It’s our counter-adapting. Teams are trying to become familiar with what we do and they’re trying to stop us from doing what we do best. We have to stay one step ahead of that."
J9 as No. 10
In Week 5's narrow loss to the Chicago Fire, Crew SC midfielder Justin Meram featured centrally rather than his usual left wing. The positional shift produced 40 successful passes — 34 coming in the opposition's half and 13 in the final third. He also won three corner kicks and tracked back for a total of nine defensive duels.
The 2016 Crew SC Most Valuable Player has three goals scored and two assists with 10 shots taken this season.
"I think he did ok," Berhalter said. "It's going to be him getting used to the positioning and his spacing of that position — its a little bit different than playing wide, on the wing. He certainly has the skill set to be able to be successful in both roles."
#ForColumbus
Crew SC crosstown top-tier professional franchise, the Columbus Blue Jackets, are set to begin their 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs run on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. When asked about Crew SC's support for their fellow Columbus-based professionals, Berhalter said Crew SC is in full support:
"We do pay attention, we definitely are watching and rooting for them. They’ve had a great season and its good to see now that they’re in position in the playoffs to make a run. We’re going to be in full support of them as they try to reach the Stanley Cup Final."
The Black & Gold return home for the first leg of the Trillium Cup against Toronto FC on April 15 for an 8 p.m. kickoff at MAPFRE Stadium. The match is the first Trillium Cup meeting of the year in the regular-season series that determines the victor of the trophy. The two teams will play on May 10 at MAPFRE Stadium before a May 26 clash at BMO Field. The Black & Gold have won the Trillium Cup six out of the nine years it has been contested. The two clubs began battling for the trophy during the 2008 campaign and the Black & Gold were victorious in the regular-season series for the first three years of Trillium Cup action.
