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.”

Instead, the Columbus Crew's top brass (Warzycha, Bliss, and McCullers) can add another feather to their crowded cap next to Mirosevic and Vargas, in Speas. Bliss even could take a moment to congratulate himself today.

“I think these are three significant and worthwhile signings that I think the fans are going to grab onto,” Bliss said.

Worthwhile. Yes? Significant? Will see. I believe all three, along with the tidy little signing of Mendes and a healthy Tony Tchani will fill the void left behind from Ekpo and a Leeds United-bound Rogers. But, significant depends upon how fast Speas takes to the MLS game, if Vargas is worth his salt, and if Mirosevic still has the legs on him to get back to his form in 2009.

But, all three are promising, especially in their attitudes.

“I’m so excited to get the chance to play with these guys and learn from
the veterans,” Speas said. “Guys like Eddie Gaven and Chad Marshall, I’ve
been following them since they joined the Crew. I’ve been lucky enough to
train with them here and there a little bit. Just to be able to line up next
to them is going to be a dream come true, definitely. I’ll soak it all
up.”

It's nice to have another local (along with Danny O'Rourke) that takes it as a honor to be lining up as Columbus Crew. It's nice to see the Crew academy shaping up to do what it's supposed to do by giving us an advantage to sign local talents such as Speas. It's nice to see a positive attitude from players coming into the side.

Likewise, Mirosevic said "I can't wait to try to win a championship for a great team such as the Crew," never heard that out of Andres Mendoza's lips.

Positive attitudes lead to positive results.

Three positive signings in Merosevic, Vargas, and Speas. A chance tomorrow to add another possible starter in the MLS Draft first round with the #10 pick.

Then the top brass needs to focus on getting a positive, designated player. Done well so far filling those seats for 2012, let the lineup help you by adding a Stankovic or Forlan to the list of impressive pickups.

But, I understand that type of designated player signing is unlikely here in Columbus. However, I just want a designated player more positive, more concerned with Columbus as Mirosevic, Vargas, and Speas all seem to be.