Author: Patrick Murphy

New spin, same DNA: Henrick Rydström prepares to lead the Crew in newest evolution

Issa Tall likes to speak about his vision for the Columbus Crew and how he sees the Club (big C). He talks about the DNA forged in recent seasons, which influences every decision he and his staff make. What is that DNA? For Tall, it goes back to well before he was involved with the Crew. Tall came to Major League Soccer in 2013, working … Continue reading New spin, same DNA: Henrick Rydström prepares to lead the Crew in newest evolution

Unknown's avatarPatrick Murphy2 Comments

The Crew attack targets return to elite MLS status after positive preseason, health, new approach

There are plenty of questions about the Columbus Crew heading into the 2026 season: How will the team adjust to new head coach Henrick Rydström? How will Rydström adjust to MLS? What tactical carryover will there be from Wilfried Nancy? One major question that lingers from last season concerns the attack. After leading MLS with 67 goals in 2023 – the year the Crew won … Continue reading The Crew attack targets return to elite MLS status after positive preseason, health, new approach

Unknown's avatarPatrick Murphy1 Comment

Evolution, not revolution: New Crew head coach Henrick Rydström plans to build on Wilfried Nancy’s foundation

Wilfried Nancy has been gone from the Columbus Crew for nearly two months, yet his presence is still felt as the club prepares for its 2026 season.  Henrick Rydström, Nancy’s replacement, finally arrived on Jan. 20, joining his new team in Florida several days into preseason. This came 20 days after Rydström was announced as the Black & Gold’s new head coach, but the Swede … Continue reading Evolution, not revolution: New Crew head coach Henrick Rydström plans to build on Wilfried Nancy’s foundation

Unknown's avatarPatrick Murphy1 Comment

Worth the wait: The Crew unfazed by Henrick Rydström’s early preseason absence

It was Dec. 3 when Celtic officially announced Wilfried Nancy as the club’s next manager. About two weeks before that date, the Columbus Crew learned of Nancy’s desire to move on and try his luck coaching in Europe. Since then, the Crew has hired its next head coach, appointing Henrik Rydström to the role on New Year’s Eve. Yet nearly two weeks later, with players … Continue reading Worth the wait: The Crew unfazed by Henrick Rydström’s early preseason absence

Unknown's avatarPatrick MurphyLeave a comment

MLS announces the Columbus Crew’s 2026 schedule

With Major League Soccer entering a World Cup year — on that will be hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada — and a broadcast landscape shifting toward Apple TV access for all subscribers, the Columbus Crew now know the team’s 34-match path that awaits in 2026. The Black & Gold open their 31st campaign with a challenging two-match Western Conference road swing before … Continue reading MLS announces the Columbus Crew’s 2026 schedule

Unknown's avatarPatrick MurphyLeave a comment

What led to Cucho Hernandez leaving the Crew

On Monday night, the Columbus Crew made one of the biggest outgoing transfers of the Major League Soccer offseason, selling star forward Cucho Hernandez to Real Betis of Spain’s La Liga. The transfer fee – between $15-16 million up front with a sell-on clause – is believed to be a club record. Hernandez became a star in Columbus in his two-and-a-half seasons with the Black … Continue reading What led to Cucho Hernandez leaving the Crew

Unknown's avatarPatrick Murphy1 Comment

Murphy: MLS needs a long look in the mirror after the Crew’s loss at Charlotte FC

When I announced at the end of January that I was stepping away from Massive Report, I figured it wouldn’t be the last time I wrote something about the Columbus Crew here. But I anticipated it would take a big event/incident/story for me to make a guest return. It turns out it took less than two months for me to feel a brief return was … Continue reading Murphy: MLS needs a long look in the mirror after the Crew’s loss at Charlotte FC

Unknown's avatarPatrick Murphy9 Comments

2024 MLS All-Stars to face Liga MX All-Stars at Lower.com Field

Last summer, Major League Soccer announced the 2024 MLS All-Star Game would be held at the Columbus Crew’s Lower.com Field in downtown Columbus, Ohio. On Monday, MLS updated the opponent for this summer. The 2024 MLS All-Stars will face a team made up of the best players from Mexico’s Liga MX on Wednesday, July 24. This marks the third time MLS will host the Liga … Continue reading 2024 MLS All-Stars to face Liga MX All-Stars at Lower.com Field

Unknown's avatarPatrick MurphyLeave a comment

Columbus Crew 2024 positional preview: Goalkeepers

It has been just 39 days since the Columbus Crew won the 2023 MLS Cup Final, lifting the team’s third league championship at Lower.com Field. Yet on Monday, the Black & Gold return to training as preseason begins in bitter-cold Columbus. While head coach Wilfried Nancy and president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko focused on keeping the core of the Crew’s championship roster together, there … Continue reading Columbus Crew 2024 positional preview: Goalkeepers

Unknown's avatarPatrick Murphy4 Comments

The Crew signs Crew 2, Academy product Taha Habroune to first-team contract

The Columbus Crew added to the team’s roster on Wednesday, announcing the signing of midfielder Taha Habroune from Columbus Crew 2 to the first team. Habroune signed a contract through the 2027 season with a team option for 2028, becoming the 21st Homegrown player in Black & Gold history and continuing the recent trend of adding players who developed through the Academy and/or Crew 2 … Continue reading The Crew signs Crew 2, Academy product Taha Habroune to first-team contract

Unknown's avatarPatrick MurphyLeave a comment

The Crew signs Colombian midfielder Marino Hinestroza from Pachuca

The Columbus Crew’s busy short and busy offseason isn’t slowing down. After winning the 2023 MLS Cup less than two weeks ago, the Black & Gold have been active in rebuilding the club’s roster for the 2024 season. That build continued on Friday with the addition of Colombian midfielder Marino Hinestroza from Pachuca of Mexico’s Liga MX. Hinestroz, 21, is a U22 Initiative player and … Continue reading The Crew signs Colombian midfielder Marino Hinestroza from Pachuca

Unknown's avatarPatrick Murphy2 Comments

Murphy: Enjoy this MLS Cup win, Crew fans. They don’t come around every season

What a last few days it was for the Columbus Crew and the team’s supporters. The Black & Gold celebrated a third MLS Cup win and second in four seasons at Lower.com Field on Saturday, then held a championship parade on Tuesday, featuring an estimated 20,000 people that packed the streets of Nationwide Blvd. and Chase Plaza. This is a moment in the team’s history … Continue reading Murphy: Enjoy this MLS Cup win, Crew fans. They don’t come around every season

Unknown's avatarPatrick Murphy1 Comment

The Crew announce 2023 end-of-season roster decisions

The Columbus Crew announced the club’s end-of-year roster decisions on Tuesday afternoon. The Black & Gold exercised the contract options of seven of the team’s players from the 2023 season, while 14 players were already under contract for next year.   Columbus exercised the options of goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, center-back Philip Quinton, wing backs Mohamed Farsi and Will Sands, attacking midfielders Alex Matan, Kevin Molino and … Continue reading The Crew announce 2023 end-of-season roster decisions

Unknown's avatarPatrick Murphy3 Comments

The Crew’s Adian Morris is back in an MLS Cup Final, a different player than the rookie in 2020

The 2020 MLS Cup Final is known by many as Aidan Morris’ coming out party. In the regular season, a rookie Morris started only two games and played just 360 minutes. In the Columbus Crew’s run to the final, Morris did not feature. Yet when the starting lineup was announced, then-head coach Caleb Porter turned to the Homegrown product in central midfield.  This was not … Continue reading The Crew’s Adian Morris is back in an MLS Cup Final, a different player than the rookie in 2020

Unknown's avatarPatrick Murphy1 Comment

After losing his spot, Mohamed Farsi stayed ready and is now playing in the biggest games of his young career

During Wednesday’s Columbus Crew media availability, head coach Wilfried Nancy was asked if he had decided who would start at right wing back, Julian Gressel or Mohamed Farsi, for Saturday’s Eastern Conference Final. Nancy chuckled and then said, “At the moment, we still have three days, so we’ll see.” Nancy was being coy in the press conference. He knows who’s going to start. And in … Continue reading After losing his spot, Mohamed Farsi stayed ready and is now playing in the biggest games of his young career

Unknown's avatarPatrick MurphyLeave a comment