The Columbus Crew has begun preparations for the 2024 season, which will be the busiest in the long history of the Black & Gold. In addition to the 2024 MLS regular season campaign, Columbus will participate in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, League Cup, Campeones Cup and the U.S. Open Cup over the next several months. The Crew players and staff will need to be ready for a busy 2024 campaign.
President and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko and head Wilfried Nancy have opted to keep the core of the group that won MLS Cup just under two months ago together as the new season begins. However, due to the high number of competitions and the normal roster turnover, there are still plenty of new faces.
After examining the goalkeepers, center backs and wing backs, let’s take a look at the central midfield.
Starters
In Nancy’s 3-4-2-1 formation, the Black & Gold almost exclusively use two central midfielders. The two starters may be the easiest to predict heading into the year, as Columbus can make a case for having the best central midfield in the entire league in Aidan Morris and Darlington Nagbe. Morris and Nagbe controlled the midfield in 2023 all the way through the MLS Cup Final and both are returning to the Crew in 2024.
Fresh off a January camp with the United States Men’s National Team, Morris is set to return for season five with the Black & Gold. The Academy product has blossomed into one of if not the best ball-retention midfielders in the MLS. Morris buzzes around the pitch at all times but is especially good when Columbus doesn’t have the ball. A clear result of Nancy’s tutelage, Morris is now more calm in possession and has also developed as a passer. He also began producing statistically last year with four goals and four assists in 2023, after previously having not scored or assisted for the Black & Gold.
Alongside Morris, Nagbe is one of, if not the best, midfielders in MLS in Darlington Nagbe. Nagbe enters his fifth season with the Crew after joining in the 2020 offseason. Nagbe, who just won his 4th MLS Cup, is known for his on-ball prowess and his ability to glide past defenders with ease and is also incredibly efficient as a passer who rarely gives the ball away. Nagbe is an integral part of the team thanks to his ability to keep the ball from opponents and play progressive passes to his attacking teammates. Nageb can also in front of goal and has scored some big goals over his MLS career.
As long as Nagbe and Morris are healthy, they are the Black & Gold’s starting central midfielders.
Backups
Nagbe and Morris started almost every match they were available for Columbus in 2023, so there is no obvious answer for who the central midfield backups may be. However, the Crew will need to find these answers and find them quickly. As mentioned, the Black & Gold have a hectic 2024 season ahead of them, and Nagbe and Morris won’t be able to play in every match.
Columbus has two players who are primed to fill in for Morris and Nagbe when needed in Sean Zawadksi and new signing Derrick Jones Jr. Both Zawadski and Jones have been brought up as central midfielders, but both are potential depth options at center back for the Crew as well. In fact, Zawadski was a starter at center back for the Black & Gold for much of the 2023 season. Look for Zawadski and Jones to fill in at both positions in 2024 when needed.
Other names to know
In addition to Zawadski and Jones, Columbus has a few exciting young prospects to keep an eye on in 2024. Most notable is the recent Homegrown signing, Taha Habroune. Habroune, who played in the Under-17 World Cup with the United States, is the most exciting product of the Crew’s Academy to date. Having played last season for Crew 2, Habroune is expected to feature for both the first team and the reserves in 2024. He is an exceptionally talented, technical midfielder who will adjust well to the pro game.
Another exciting prospect is Cole Mrowka. Mrowka is currently signed to an MLS NEXT Pro contract but could promoted to the first at some point in 2024. Mrowka is a do-it-all midfielder who is excellent in possession and does a great job winning the ball back when out of possession. He is a bit of a mix between Morris and Nagbe with a bit more attacking output.
Lastly, the Black & Gold drafted Zach Zengue in the second round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. Zengue, a Georgetown product and the brother of current Columbus player Xavier Zengue, is another high-level technical central midfielder that Bezbatchenko and Crew 2 general manager Corey Wray are very high on. While it is unclear right now if/when Zengue will join the Crew thanks to his college commitments (he is only a sophomore), it is possible that Zengue could feature if he elects to leave school at the end of the year.
Other season previews
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