Nicole: The sound of a penalty kick missing the net is one of the loudest silences in sports. But for Columbus Crew fans, the silence after that U.S. Open Cup final whistle was deafening. We lost St. Louis on penalties, we’re sitting 21st in MLS with a 10-5-15 record, and the creative midfield void we talked about for three days straight? It’s still there. Today, we’re opening the mailbag to answer your toughest questions about this squad, this season, and what comes next.
Kevin: It’s a tough pill to swallow. We watched Roman Bürki get stretchered off during that final, saw St. Louis lift their first-ever trophy, and then looked at our own table. 21st place. It’s not where Columbus Crew wants to be. But you’ve been emailing us non-stop, so let’s dive into the facts, the feelings, and the future.
Nicole: Here is what we are tackling today. First, we’re addressing the heartbreak of the Open Cup final loss and the injury to Bürki—was it a tactical failure or just bad luck? Second, we’re looking at the roster battles, specifically who steps up now that Higuain is gone and we need that creative spark. And third, a lightning round of quick takes on Jamal Thiaré’s heroics against Inter Miami and whether Gonzalo Tapia can carry the load forward. Let’s get into it.
Nicole: First question comes from Marcus in Cleveland. He asks: 'Kevin, Nicole, can you explain why the defense looked so vulnerable in open play against St. Louis? Rudy Camacho had 74 accurate passes in the Portland game, but did we see any of that stability here?' This is a huge one because we keep talking about build-up play.
Kevin: So, Marcus brings up a great point. In the Portland game, which was a 3-2 loss back in February, Rudy Camacho was a rock with 74 accurate passes. That showed us the potential for controlled build-up. But against St. Louis in the Open Cup final, the dynamic changed. When you’re playing for a trophy, teams press higher. Our defensive line got stretched. Camacho tried to hold it down, but without a creative midfielder pulling strings behind him, those passes were often horizontal, not vertical. We lacked that incisive pass to break the lines.
Kevin: Absolutely. They pressed our center-backs hard. Without that number ten or an advanced playmaker to receive the ball in tight spaces, our defenders were forced to play long balls or sideways. It made Patrick Schulte, who made three saves in the Portland match, look exposed more often than not. The lack of creativity meant we couldn’t turn defense into attack quickly. We were stuck in our own half too much.
Nicole: Okay, next question. This one is from @SoccerMomMike in Dublin. He writes: 'Why did Wessam Abou Ali have three shots against Portland but we still lost 3-2? Is he not getting service, or is his finishing the issue?' It’s frustrating because he seems like the main attacking threat right now.
Kevin: Wessam Abou Ali having three shots against Portland shows he was in the box, which is good. But three shots isn’t enough when you’re conceding three goals. The issue isn’t just his finishing; it’s the service. As Nicole said, without that creative midfielder, the wingers don’t get clean crosses. The fullbacks don’t get overlap support because everyone is tracking back. So Abou Ali is isolated. He’s making runs, but he’s not getting the high-quality chances that lead to goals. It’s a systemic issue, not just a player issue.
Nicole: That makes sense. It’s about width and transitions. If we can’t transition quickly, the opposition gets set, and Abou Ali faces five defenders instead of two. Now, a heavier question from Sarah in Cincinnati. She asks: 'What do you think about the injury to St. Louis GK Bürki? Does that affect how you view the physical toll of this tournament run on our own players?' It’s a somber topic.
Kevin: It’s definitely a somber moment. Bürki being stretchered off after a collision to the head is never good news. While it doesn’t directly impact our roster health, it highlights the intensity of the Open Cup final. For us, the physical toll is evident in our stats. We beat Cincinnati 2-0 earlier in the season thanks to goals from Gonzalo Tapia and Taha Habroune, showing we can compete physically. But in the final, fatigue set in. The lack of depth in midfield meant our starters were running on empty by the penalty shootout.
Nicole: So, the depth chart is the real culprit. We have guys like Tapia and Habroune who can score—Habroune scored three in a row against Cincinnati—but we don’t have enough bodies to rotate them effectively. That leads us to our next segment. Before we move on, I want to take a quick breath. We know this show is free, with no ads and no paywall. Your support is what keeps these daily episodes going, protecting that freedom for every fan out there. If you want to chip in and help us keep doing this work, please check out the link in the episode description. It means the world to us. Now, let’s talk roster battles.
Nicole: Segment two: Roster and Depth Chart Battles. David in Columbus asks: 'With Higuain gone, who is the best candidate to step up as the creative midfielder? Is it someone internal, or should the front office look outside?' We’ve predicted they’ll look outside, but who internally has the tools?
Kevin: David, that’s the million-dollar question. Internally, we have to look at who can handle the ball under pressure. Cole Bassett had 68 accurate passes against Portland, showing he can distribute, but he’s more of a box-to-box type. He’s not quite the pure creator Higuain was. There’s no clear internal successor who dominates possession and breaks lines consistently. That’s why my prediction stands: the front office needs to pursue an external acquisition aggressively. We need someone who can dictate tempo, not just participate in it.
Nicole: Exactly. Participation isn’t enough. We need domination in the middle. Next question from @CrewFan99 online. He asks: 'Jamal Thiaré scored a heroic late winner against Inter Miami. Should he be starting more regularly over Wessam Abou Ali? His energy seems to change the game.'
Kevin: Jamal Thiaré’s goal against Inter Miami was a highlight of the season. His energy is undeniable. But swapping him for Abou Ali isn’t a simple fix. Thiaré offers pressing and movement, which helps defensively, but Abou Ali offers more direct shooting threat. However, if we pair Thiaré with a true creative midfielder, his off-the-ball runs could be devastating. Right now, he’s working too hard to create chances for himself. With better service, Thiaré could be a starter. Without it, he’s just another runner.
Nicole: So it’s about the system around him. Another question from Lisa in Louisville. She asks: 'Gonzalo Tapia had a goal and an assist against Cincinnati. Is he the most consistent player on this team right now?' Given our 10-5-15 record, consistency is rare.
Kevin: Lisa, yes. Tapia is arguably our most consistent offensive weapon. Beating Cincinnati 2-0 with him involved shows he can deliver in big moments. But one man cannot carry a 10-win team. We need Tapia to have partners who can create space for him. Against Orlando, we lost 3-2 despite Iván Angulo scoring late and Antoine Griezmann adding a goal and assist. That’s not a Crew problem, but it shows how fragile our offense is when Tapia isn’t supported. He’s reliable, but he’s surrounded by inconsistency.
Nicole: Fragile is the word. We go from beating Cincinnati to losing to Orlando in dramatic fashion. It’s exhausting to watch. Let’s move to our final segment. A fun hypothetical and some lightning rounds. What if we had signed Messi last summer? Just kidding. Okay, serious hypothetical from Tom in Dayton: 'If we finish 21st and miss the playoffs, what is the single most important signing for next season?'
Kevin: Tom, we’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: a creative midfielder. Someone who can operate between the lines. Whether it’s a veteran leader or a young prospect, we need eyes and feet that can unlock low blocks. Our xG might not be terrible, but our conversion rate suffers because we don’t create high-quality chances. A playmaker fixes that. It’s the only way we climb out of 21st place next year.
Nicole: Agreed. Now, lightning round! Quick takes. James Pantemis made two saves against Portland. Is he ready to be the undisputed number one? Go.
Kevin: He’s solid. Two saves isn’t a lot of data, but he kept us in the game. He’s reliable. No doubt about it.
Nicole: Patrick Schulte made three saves against Portland. Who is the better keeper? Or are they interchangeable?
Kevin: Schulte has shown flashes of brilliance, but Pantemis has been more consistent. I’d lean toward Pantemis as the starter, but Schulte provides good depth.
Nicole: Final question from @GoalDigger in Akron: 'Will Columbus Crew make the playoffs next year?' My prediction from three days ago was that we’d miss entirely with around 12-13 wins. Do I stand by it?
Kevin: I do. Unless that creative midfielder arrives in January, I think we’ll hover around 12-13 wins again. The standings are tough. Nashville is still number one, Inter Miami is hot, St. Louis has momentum. We need a complete overhaul of the midfield to challenge for that ninth spot. Without it, we’re watching from the outside.
Nicole: Well, there you have it. From Open Cup heartbreak to the urgent need for a creative spark, we’ve covered it all. We predicted a playoff miss, and unless something changes in the offseason, it looks like that’s the reality. But we’ll be here every day to cover it.
Kevin: Thanks for listening. Keep the faith, but start planning for that offseason transfer window. We need that playmaker. See you tomorrow.
Nicole: If you enjoyed this breakdown, please subscribe, rate, and review the Beatline Podcast Network wherever you listen. Share this episode with a fellow Crew fan who needs to hear this truth. Stay loud, stay proud, and go Crew!