Columbus find themselves with the late summer blues, time is running out | OneFootball

It appears the Columbus Crew have the back to school blues that most school age kids can relate to. A team that began the summer in early June through mid July went on a tear winning four out of six games and drawing one, marched to a 4-1-1 record capped by a dramatic come from behind win in Cincinnati. In that stretch they beat top west contender Vancouver, top east contender Philadelphia and the aforementioned rival, but since then they've lost three of their last five managing only one win against last place D.C. United. They've now lost two of their last three games in Columbus, which is specifically wild due to the fact they were unbeaten at Lower.com field in league matches leading up to this most recent stretch. They somehow need to find a way to right the ship with only seven league matches remaining for them, and five of those seven games are on the road. So what needs to happen? A few things:

Wessam Abou Ali needs to be the savior

Abou Ali made his debut coming on as a sub in the 57th minute on Saturday so no real judgement can be made with his very limited time on the field. However, the urgency of the moment is upon us and hopefully this week of training can help get him up to speed quickly as results are a necessity at this point. Columbus has given away all of their margin for error and are at a place where wins or draws are the only thing that will do. For that to happen Columbus will need more than one goal per game and it'll be up to Abou Ali to come in as a late season transfer to be the savior for that cause. It's a lot of pressure no doubt, but I feel we'll find out a lot about the type of player he is by the end of the season. Elite level guys can transcend situation and rely on class, instinct and ability to carry them through these types of moments. We will surely need him to find his footing fast as the pressure mounts with each passing game. I remain confident he'll show his class and elevate the belief in this team that has seemingly lost it all.

This team needs Nagbe on the field

It's never been more obvious that this team is wholly different without Nagbe running the middle. He's the engine, heart and soul of this team and when he's out the emotions are just flat. Not that his importance to the team has ever been questioned, but it's clear now for this team to find a way into the playoff (extreme stretch goal now is hosting a playoff game) we need Nagbe on the field to be the engine. In his absence the last two games the Crew have one tie and one loss to two teams who are effectively out of the playoff picture in the east. These are games the Crew should be winning, especially as the playoffs draw near, but without their captain they seem to be a ship that's lost out at sea. It seems Nagbe is training on the side, so his return should be near, at least I certainly hope that's the case because watching this midfield play without him is shaky at best. Hopefully he's able to return this weekend and add some stability to this team who seems absolutely rattled right now.

For all the things that are bad right now, it could all be forgotten with a great closing to the season. This next three game road trip (at Red Bulls, at Atlanta, at NYFC) could go a long way in determining this team's intentions for the postseason. Sometimes being on a road trip for consecutive games can help build camaraderie and chemistry as they'll only have themselves to lift each other up in the games. These road games are definitely gettable as well, starting with the Red Bulls who sit in ninth place right now (the last wild card spot) and are six points back of Columbus with the Crew having a game in hand. It's an opportunity to get revenge from last year as well given the Red Bulls knocked Columbus out of the playoffs as a big underdog. Then comes the game at Atlanta which is against a team who sits second from the bottom of the table in the east, and a team who's not seen victory since May 28. A win at Atlanta almost feels like an absolute must. Then comes the game at NYFC, which is the team the Crew are battling with to stay out of the wild card game. NYFC sits just one point behind Columbus and have a game in hand so getting a result of some kind would be very meaningful.

It's a race of seven games to go. As things stand at this very moment Columbus sits three points back of fourth place Charlotte with a game in hand. Getting into fourth place would secure the home field advantage in the three game series format of the first round. That should be the ambition and it is within reach, however they'll need to completely flip the mindset and attack these last few games, because the flipside of that is finding themselves in a one game wild card round in which case anything can happen and could put a premature end to the season. Things may feel doom and gloom right now, but there is reason for optimism, for just as kids settle into their new routines, new classes, and new teachers in back to school time the late summer blues are all but forgotten. Hopefully the Crew can adopt that frame and look forward to the opportunity that September brings.