Arace: Hack a Crew? Bruise the Crews? Black & Gold are black and blue
Hall of Famer and NHL legend Bobby Orr, who had more than a dozen knee surgeries, often said, “When you have the puck, you’re going to get hit.” This bit of wisdom has legs that carry it beyond the rink.
In the grand scheme of things, the Crew are doing just fine. They’ve handled a congested early-season schedule and made an incredible run to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final (at Pachuca June 1). Of late, they’ve emerged from the doldrums in league play and won back-to-back road games without the services of their star striker, Cucho Hernandez (injured back).
The Crew are showing some of the form that made them MLS Cup champions last year. The bedrock of that form is possession. The Crew have the ball nearly 59% of the time, on average. In this, they’re tied for the league lead with the Houston Dynamo. The difference between the two? The Crew lead the league in fouls suffered with 211 through 13 games, and Houston is 13th in that category with 53 fewer fouls against.
The Crew are much more dynamic than the Dynamo. That caught some teams by surprise last season. This season, those teams have responded.
Here’s our favorite metrics man, Eliot McKinley, a Crew fan since ’96 who grew up to be a professional data analyst and a regular contributor to American Soccer Analysis:
“The Crew have the ball and their opponents don’t. One way of breaking up possession patterns is to foul. (Manchester City manager) Pep Guardiola tells his players to commit tactical fouls, especially after they give up the ball. It gives time to get back and set the defense. It’s legit. I don’t blame teams for doing it. I just don’t like it, but maybe that’s the Crew fan in me talking.”
Last year, the first under coach Wilfried Nancy, the Crew led the league in possession, but they were 27th in fouls suffered. This year, they’re trending to be one of the most-fouled teams in league history, according to McKinley.
“Through 13 games, the Crew are tied with the 2021 Atlanta team for the most (fouls suffered) ever – or at least since 2013, which is as far back as my data goes,” McKinley said. “With 17 per game, they’re on pace to have the most since 2013. Atlanta averaged 15.5 fouls suffered in 2021.”
McKinley calls it “Hack a Crew,” referencing the old “Hack a Shaq” defenses that were thrown at Shaquille O’Neal back in the day. Shaq was a horrible free-throw shooter, so it was better to put him on the line than let him dunk and bring the backboard down on top of your head.
“Someone else suggested, ‘Bruise the Crews,” McKinley said. “That has a better ring to it, I think.”
Nancy is not alarmed by this trend, not necessarily. He expects other teams to come at his lads’ legs. Often, they are the legs of Darlington Nagbe, who is MLS’ all-time leader in fouls suffered, and his fellow central midfielder Aidan Morris. This season, Nagbe is tied for 10th in MLS in fouls suffered (27 in 11 games) and Morris is tied for 12th (26 in 12). Crew forward Diego Rossi is tied for 27th (22 in 13). Only one other team, Real Salt Lake, has three players in the top 30.
“This is something we don’t complain about because this is a high-level game, but we try to use the tools with our players to control their emotions with that,” Nancy said. “So, they have to play with emotion, but if you’re too focused on that, your performance is going to be affected. So, we try to find a balance.”
It’s not easy. While the Crew suffer the most fouls, they commit the fewest (114). They’re also last in the league in yellow cards (18). They play a clean game. They know they’re going to get hit. They just want a level playing field.
The Crew have drawn 40 yellow cards. And, McKinley says, referees are flashing yellow cards at Crew opponents early in games, presumably as a warning. Yet, there are moments that give coaches, players and fans pause.
Wingback Mo Farsi had to be stretchered off the field after being steamrolled by Montreal’s Bryce Duke, and it was a common foul. Forward Alex Matan got blown up in the box by Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta and it was a non-call when it should have been a penalty kick. In the same game, midfielder Sean Zawadzki was repeatedly torpedoed and his limping lope into the tunnel captured the spirit of Hell is Real. I could go on here.
“We got used to it because it has been like that,” Nancy said. “Started a bit last year, at the end of the year, and this year, obviously, we saw it drastically change. So that’s why there are a lot of emotions from my players because sometimes it’s not fair, to be honest with you, because we should have more fouls.”
Saturday in Chicago, forward Marino Hinestroza was helped off the field in the 41st minute. Chicago would finish the night with 22 fouls committed and only three yellow cards. No reds. On the season, not one Crew opponent has drawn a red card.
Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire recap: Columbus Crew top Chicago for second 3-1 road victory in a row
It’s much the same Champions Cup play: Through six games, the Crew have suffered 79 fouls and their opponents have been shown just eight yellow cards and one red – the red coming in the 98th minute of a game that was already decided in Monterrey.
If you can’t beat them, beat on them.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew finds new meaning in 'defending' as MLS Cup Champions
