Though the 3-0 loss to CF Pachuca in the Concacaf Champions Cup wasn’t ideal, the Columbus Crew have a lot to be proud of within the last seven months. At this point, we have now reached midway through the 2024 MLS campaign. We have asked the Massive Report staff to grade the Club on how they felt they did through the first 17 games.

Caleb Denorme: B+

Despite the crushing loss in the CONCACAF Champions Cup to Pachuca, the Crew are right on schedule. Columbus sits at seventh in the Eastern Conference with 24 points, but have a whopping four games in hand compared to leaders Inter Miami. If the Black & Gold can continue to build some good MLS form and utilize those games in hand, they will be in the Supporters Shield conversation. It will be interesting to see how they can shake off the CCC loss and rebound in MLS play. Another thing to watch is how other teams will continue to adapt to off-put the Crew’s playstyle. After a full season and a half under Wilfried Nancy, we will see if other teams can begin to put together gameplans to stop Columbus. As of right now, the Black & Gold are right where they need to be: still in the playoff picture with half a season left to play for. 

Grant Miller: B+

The early season congestion of CCC and MLS play has been handled as appropriately as possible. The Crew were one game short of Continental glory. A victory down in Mexico would have made the pedestrian results in MLS an afterthought. That said the standings aren’t too hostile and The Black & Gold have just won three straight on the road. The future still appears bright in Columbus. A B+ opens up room for improvement but signifies appreciation of the success enjoyed so far. I hope time heals the wounds of last Saturday night, and even more, fans can look back with endearment on the CONCACAF run. Here’s to a great 2nd half in Columbus.

Adam Miller: B-

This may be a bit harsh given the Crew’s impressive run to the CCC final and the results they got along the way, and let’s be honest, my grade would be a lot higher if the Crew had beaten Pachuca, but soccer is a results business at times. The Crew’s extended CCC run forced them to sacrifice some MLS matches that saw them drop points along the way. Thus, the Crew are a few points off the pace of the Shield Race and trophyless in the CCC. That being said, this team is further along than last year at this time and will have flexibility in the upcoming summer transfer window to strengthen the squad for another title challenge.

Colin Johnson: B+

It has been a tough week in the Columbus Crew supporter universe. The loss to Pachuca was painful, the team sits in seventh in the East, and the team won’t play another game in Columbus until June 22. If this is the only information you gave someone on the team they’d probably assume the Black & Gold were underperforming after a great 2023 playoff run. 

When you dig into where the Crew actually are the picture is much rosier. Sure Columbus are in seventh but they currently have FOUR games in hand over first place Miami and are just 11 points back of that spot. The reason the Black & Gold have four games in hand is because they won two games IN Mexico, at two of the most difficult venues in North America, and made the CONCACAF Champions Cup final for the first time in team history. This is a significant accomplishment that should not be overshadowed just because of one game at 8,000 feet altitude in a tournament with an ever-changing format. 

The Crew made this Champions Cup run while also not losing too much ground in the league. They went through a winless spell but were able to grab some vital points along the way with multiple draws and have made up for some home draws with three consecutive road wins.

I was tempted to give the team an A for their midseason report but the Hell is Real match at Lower.com Field was a bad enough performance to knock them down a half letter grade. We should all expect the Crew to continue to succeed and compete for an MLS Cup in the second half of the season.

Tyler Fisher: B+

All of the eggs were in the Concacaf Champions Cup after the Columbus Crew eliminated CF Monterrey. Rightfully so. The Crew also went on a six-game winless streak (0W-5D-2L). Yes, one of those losses coming from our noisy neighbors down south on I-71. As glaring as that has been, it’s fair to say that the Concacaf Champions Cup was on the forefront of everyones mind. The Crew did re-gain momentum, winning three of their first six road matches in league play, outscoring opponents 8-2 in that span. So that gave them a higer grade than what was in my mind during the winless run. The loss to CF Pachuca also hindered the grade I give the Black & Gold, but there is still multiple games to play in MLS, plus Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup.

Don’t give up hope. However, I have a hunch on something, but will save it for another story.

How would you grade the Columbus Crew’s first half of the season? Let us know in the comments below.