The Crew's defense has gelled leading to four consecutive shutouts on the trot. Now the Crew midfield is starting to gel with both Robbie Rogers and Dilly Duka picking up their games. The only missing puzzle piece is an attack that works, both in strikers who can score and an attacking midfielder who can feed these strikers.
The Crew have tried to transition Emmanuel Ekpo into this attacking midfield position with limited success at best. The Crew have also tried Dejan Rusmir, a Serbian player with good success as an attacking midfielder in the Romanian top flight, again with limited success. So, now the Crew has to go back to the drawing board at the attacking midfield position.
The Crew's new solution is a preseason trialist in Santiago Prim, who the Crew apparently wanted to sign but Prim was still under contract with Argentinian Primera side San Lorenzo at that time.
Well, fortunes have changed for the Crew, as according to the Columbus Dispatch Prim is now a free agent and will rejoin the Crew on Wednesday.
The only question, with Prim likely to be signed, is who will be cut to make room for Prim? Will it be a lesser known commodity such as Riggs or Heinemann? Or will it be a straight swap for Rusmir? Or has patience finally run out on Ekpo and will he be the one to get the axe?
I find it unlikely to be Emmanuel Ekpo, as "Manu" still has trade value and could still be successful this year on our right side (where he is much more comfortable and a better player). But, the rest are probably unlikely to make an impact for Columbus this season and, along with a few other faces, may be worried if called to Warzycha's office this Wednesday.
Nevertheless, on a brighter note, hopefully Prim can be the missing piece in that attacking midfield role. And, hopefully either Renteria, Mendoza, or Cunningham can start to step up to make that striker role theirs.
None of the four you suggested will get the axe. Thinking it will be Anor, Gardner, Gehrig, or Williams. Probably Williams.
ReplyDelete