Jeff Cunningham became the all-time, MLS leading goalscorer in a Crew jersey, now with that record in the rearview is Jeffro headed to Guatemala?

According to Univision, all-time MLS goalscorer and Crew legend Jeff Cunningham isn't putting up his boots yet and is instead headed to Communicaciones in Guatemala.

The 35-year-old Cunningham is one of four new players the Guatemalan club is attempting to sign to replace Uruguayan goalscorer Carlos Ramirez.

That's if Major League Soccer and the Crew accept the move. The article says that the Columbus Crew still hold Cunningham's rights; apparently because no other MLS team picked up Cunningham, who appears to be on his last legs, in the re-entry draft.

More than likely Communicaciones offer is going to be accepted or denied by Major League Soccer, not the Crew, and more than likely accepted since there isn't a lot of MLS teams looking for Cunningham's services at the moment.

Cunningham had a less than remarkable overall season with the Crew in 2011, but Communicaciones appears to be excited about reviving the MLS all-time leading goalscorer's career again:

"Communicaciones submitted a bid, now we just hope that they say yes, so we can send the airline tickets."

According to Pasion Morada, a Saprissa ultras/fan website, that spoke to Jairo Arrieta's agent; Jairo Arrieta had an offer from the Columbus Crew that was rejected by Saprissa.

The striker Jairo continue in the ranks of Deportivo Saprissa next season after the dwelling leadership not to accept the offer of the Columbus Crew of MLS. Jose Luis Rodriguez, agent of the attacker, as well as Mario Segura confirmed that failed to reach an agreement with the purple, so Arrieta will stay until Summer 2012. "No agreement was reached after two times I met for transferring Arrieta to Columbus but still have the option of consolidating all in June," said Rodriguez. In addition, because Saprissa has no players for this tournament is not going to allow another player to leave the ranks.

"It would be in Columbus, he is very good for the MLS ... we are trying to close the option of signing a preliminary contract, but there we are, the goal is to bring him right now to Columbus to be co-Olman in the front, we hope to finalize this transfer in the coming months," concluded the agent.

1/11/2012: Renteria To Play In Copa Libertadores, As Well As Internationally, To Return In Top Form For Columbus
By Ryan Kozlowski
Crewture.com

Crew striker Emilio Renteria, beloved by the Nordecke, is determined to re-negotiate with the Crew and return in top form for the 2012 season.

Out of contract since December 30th, both the Crew and Renteria appear to want a new contract in place for the deer. But, despite intentions to rejoin the Crew; there is the possibility of Renteria joining his previous club, Caracas F.C., temporarily for Copa Libertadores to get in top form for the Columbus Crew's MLS debut on March 24th:

"There is the possibility of playing two months in Caracas until the MLS starts," admitted El Venado to FutbolMLS.com . And although he joined the practice of his former team before joining the MLS, Renteria said, "It's just a way of thanks because I played two years here and I have great affection. I trained with them to stay and get well for Columbus. To play and that there is nothing settled yet. "

Renteria, will end his contract with the American club on December 30 this year. On short-term plans in his career as a professional footballer, said: "Yes, but I want to stay abroad, among the possibilities is the return to Caracas FC, they are part of my family and my agent is looking at some deals."

Next to perform three seasons with the Crew, The Deer Renteria at the time expressed that his goals are straightforward: "I want to get well physically at Columbus Crew because my idea is to be top scorer of the season and together with my colleagues to take the team as far in the championship and become champion."

"Really, very happy! Good luck and welcome to the Columbus Crew with a big hug. I saw his games and is almost the same set of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, has very good ball handling and it's nice to come a player of his caliber to Columbus."

"The quality of course. For me, much better."

1/11/2012: Former Crew Player Andres Mendoza Headed Back To Mexican Football With Atlante
By Ryan Kozlowski
Crewture.com

In the light of all the recent positive news out of Crew camp, I'm sure every Crew fan has wondered what's going on with Andres Mendoza these days.

Sarcasm aside.. According to the Daily Aztec, Andres Mendoza arrived at Atlante well over a week ago in a return to Mexican football this time with Atlante.

In the Daily Aztec article titled "12 foreigners arrive to win the league," the middle of the article stated that:

"Atlante buys the return of Andres "Condor" Mendoza. The Peruvian striker
who already played for Morelia and Monarchs, scored 15 goals last season
with the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer."

1/11/2012: Crew's Robbie Rogers Signs With Leeds United
By Ryan Kozlowski
Crewture.com

Columbus Crew's Robbie Rogers has formally signed with Leeds United until 2014, on the condition that his English work permit goes through.

The Columbus Crew winger who electrifyed Crew fans in the early parts of 2008, had a down tick in form with the Crew in parts of 2009 and 2010, before upping his game once again for the Crew in 2011.

That upping of Rogers game in 2011 has led to U.S. National team appearances for Robbie Rogers, from former Orange County Blue Star teammate and national team coach Juergen Klinsmann.

Rogers (mostly) positive performances for the U.S. National Team and his improved performances for the Crew domestically in 2011 has led him to test out the overseas waters once again this offseason. As Rogers was out of contract with the Crew and showed more interest in pursuing Europe first, and if that didn't work a contract with the Crew second in these last few months.

Leeds United showed an interest in Rogers as early as mid-December. Rogers declined earlier that he had signed for Leeds United, despite staying in Leeds and trialing at Elland Road (below). But, it appears that Rogers and Leeds were just working out the contract formalities and have come to an agreement today.



Leeds Manager Simon Grayson on the Rogers deal:

“He has been playing in the MLS, where he has done well, he wants to
continue his career in Europe, and we believe he will make an impact here. As
soon as the work-permit business is complete, he will be an immediate part of
our plans and have an opportunity with the first team.”

1/11/2012: "I Only Would Leave For Crew," Speas Signs Homegrown Player Contract
By Ryan Kozlowski
Crewture.com

Ben Speas stated today that he would not have left North Carolina early for anyone but the Columbus Crew. The Stow, Ohio native grew up watching games at Crew Stadium; “I remember seeing Brian Maisonneuve and Robert (Warzycha) and all them and Jeff Cunningham. I’ve been to quite a few games in my time," said Speas. Because of Speas connection to the Crew both in the stands and on the field as a former Crew academy star, it's only natural that Speas would want to spend an indefinite ammount of his career in the Crew black and yellow.

Crew Technical Director Brian Bliss believes that the Columbus Crew pulled off a coup, as Ben Speas dramatically improved his game at North Carolina in his junior year, was phenomenal in the national tournament, and would have improved greatly enough in his senior year to possibly head to Europe.

As Bliss opined;

“If we didn’t come up with a package that makes sense, I don’t think he
would’ve gone to Europe but he might’ve elected to stay in school and if he
had stayed in school for another season then there might’ve been a better
likelihood of him going to Europe because he would’ve had more time to set
up something like that,” Bliss said. “I wasn’t afraid he was going to go to
Europe now, it was more if he stayed in school he might leave next
year.”

1/9/2012: What Designated Player Can Fill The Ekpo/Rogers Void On The Wings?
By Ryan Kozlowski
Crewture.com

The Columbus Crew have stated to their fans that they are courting many "well-known" players as a possible designated player option in 2012. The front office has confused "well known" for players such as Andres Mendoza or Sergio Herrera in the past. Crew fans want someone better known in the world of soccer, who will make a splash. And I hope it doesn't mean that the Crew sent Dejan Stankovic a facebook message like "would you want to play for us <3." I hope this is the real deal type of feelers.

The Crew need some firepower this season. Chile national teamer Milovan Mirosevic is a great start, but if the Crew can combine that with a big time DP, it will make one wonder where the front office who's flashiest signing last year was Tommy Heinemann went.

We need a Maciej Zurawski type rumor (Zurawski not moving to Columbus actually turned out to be his biggest mistake as his career went down the crapper by choosing Cyprus instead). But Zurawski was playing for Celtic at the time, that gets fans pumped when you have a player transferring from a big club such as Celtic or Inter Milan.

Designated player targets that have been thrown out by (overly) optimistic Crew fans are Stankovic, his Inter teammate Deigo Forlan, Humberto Suazo, Miguel Sabah, Juan Arango, and many more.

The front office is on steroids this year so far (with Mirosevic, Vargas, possibly Speas already, better ticket sales) they need to keep this momentum going by signing someone that will make fans jaws drop.

The Crew also should focus that designated player signing on someone who can play on the wings if Rogers or Ekpo do not re-sign.


Dejan Stankovic can play on the wings or just about anywhere in the midfield. He is the perfect match for Columbus if he does comes to Major League Soccer.

Stankovic has been rumored recently to be headed to Major League Soccer (since the Serbian only has 10 appearances, 5 from the bench so far this season for Inter). He's been connected with the obvious (and if you ask me plastic) clubs of the LA Galaxy and New York Red Bull.

I think Stankovic would enjoy his football more at Columbus.

First, he's a loyal type. He's only played for three clubs his entire career (Red Star Belgrade, Lazio, and Inter Milan). You know who else only played for three clubs, Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

He also strikes me as having a lot of the attributes of a Guillermo. Short, stocky, tough, no frills, lets his playing do the talking, never takes a game off. Attributes that the Nordecke would love; and might be more ignored in a place such as Los Angeles, when you got Beckham waltzing around and a half-interested Robbie Keane up at striker.

Further, he may be able to build a nice friendship/partnership with Mirosevic in the middle, since it appears Milovan Mirosevic is of Serbian descent as well.

Stankovic would be a star in Columbus, and just another act in the circus at Los Angeles or New York. Stankovic would be around the age of Guillermo when he came over and for some reason I would see Stankovic as an excellent match if the Crew could ever find the money. Plus we could all do the stanky leg if he scores.

The Crew have however said they were looking mainly at players from Peru, Chile, and Uruguay. Hmm.. Uruguay



Diego Forlan has been connected with the Seattle Sounders before extensively last season. He would also fill the Steven Lenhart void in the Nordecke (don't believe me type Diego Forlan in Google Images, reminds me so much of Lenhart). Also, another player with heart, lots of goals in him, and who would probably enjoy his football in Columbus.

Forlan in Copa America 2011:


But, likely it will be a lesser known player than Stankovic or Forlan, someone such as Mexican national player Miguel Sabah.



100 or so goals in 280 games. Not a blow you away type player, but someone the Crew could afford and someone that would still have success scoring in Columbus Crew Stadium (despite playing for the Mexican national team :-0). But, I see it being a Sabah-like name but from South America, someone capable with hopefully better overall attributes compared to a Mendoza or Herrera.

So, what type of designated player do you think will pick up in 2012?

The most highest guarded secret in Crewland at this moment is Ben Speas contract status? Has the College Cup champion with the University of North Carolina and Crew academy product signed a senior contract with the Columbus Crew or has Speas had a last minute change of heart.

Otherwise known as twitter jitters apparently in the case of Speas. Teammates congratulated Speas yesterday and Speas girlfriend got a little over excited (as girls tend to do), and allegedly posted a picture of her and her man on her twitter account in Crew gear.

When Speas saw this he must of ran to his phone, sort of like this (without the smile of course)->

And said not so fast, please take that down hunny and bros.



Well, since Saturday at noon when Mark Hedges posted and the girlfriend put up the picture, both hints towards the Crew have been taken down. Come on someone had to save the picture yesterday, would be a nice one if Speas ends up at TFC. :-)

Anyway, what's going on here? Why the cloak and dagger? I know the solution, the front office will tell us what's going on here.



Ermm... I know Bliss will drop the ball.


Well that's a little blunt, tease us a little Bliss.


For f**ks sake, when all else fails go with the source 10 hours away from Columbus. The D.C. United reporter Steven Goff:

Hesmer is off taking a poop because our defense is that good.

Robbie Rogers and Emmanuel Ekpo will likely not be back, and even though Mirosevic and Vargas are big steps in the right direction neither address our winger problem. Further, Gaven may be still working out the kinks of his concussion this past season. So, I want you the Crew fan to address our winger problem.

Who can we trade for in MLS to solidify our wings?
What designated player would you pick up as a winger?
What player in the MLS draft could we get in the first round that could start as soon as possible on our wing?
And what funny thing (or serious thing) can the Crew or it's fans do to entice Ekpo or Rogers into signing another contract?

Doing a big write up on this tomorrow. Got some ideas, need your ideas. Go at it. Please comment.

The Columbus Crew made the signing of Olman Vargas official yesterday on their club website, marking the second high profile signing by the Crew this week. The Crew will try for the trifecta this weekend, as they also offered Tar Heel maestro, Ben Speas, a homegrown player contract.

Crew head coach Robert Warzycha and Crew General Manager Mark McCullers had a lot of positives to feed to the press yesterday on why the duo are high on Vargas.

My favorite quote about Vargas (and Mirosevic) is when McCullers was asked if he thinks there will be an adjustment period for the new internationals:

“That’s always a possibility with any international signing. I think we’ve learned over time a lot better hw to do our research and mitigate those types of situations, although recent history would tell us that were still not perfect at it. But I feel confident in these two guys and their character and their attitude. That goes a long way in terms of how they’re going to acclimate.”