Issa's Gamble: Why Hugo Picard and Wessam Abou Ali Must Deliver Now | OneFootball

As the 2025 MLS season barrels toward its climax, the Columbus Crew find themselves in a precarious position: sixth in the Eastern Conference and ninth overall. That’s good enough to stay above the playoff line, but not nearly reflective of the ambition of fans. With rivals FC Cincinnati aggressively upgrading their squad late into the window, the Crew’s decision to wait months to replace Cucho Hernández and bring in reinforcements feels like a high-stakes gamble that must pay off—immediately.

A Tale of Two Strategies

FC Cincinnati didn’t hesitate. They made multiple impressive signings the last two windows, including Evander (Portland Timbers), Kevin Denkey (Cercle Brugge), Gilberto Flores (Libertad), Lukas Engel (Middlesbrough), and now Brenner (Udinese). Their moves signal a clear intent: win now. Meanwhile, Columbus remained patient, believing in their core group and waiting until July to sign Picard and finalize the long-pursued deal for Abou Ali.

Hugo Picard: Tactical Spark or Development Project?

Picard, a 22-year-old French midfielder from Guingamp, arrives under the MLS U22 Initiative. He’s known for his tactical intelligence and final-third creativity, having logged three goals and eight assists in Ligue 2 last season. While his potential is undeniable (I covered it here), the Crew need more than promise—they need production. With only a few games left in the season, Picard must adapt quickly to Wilfried Nancy’s system and contribute immediately.

Wessam Abou Ali: The Missing No. 9

The Crew’s patience in signing Abou Ali could define their season. After a Club World Cup hat trick against FC Porto, interest in the Palestinian striker skyrocketed, but Columbus held firm and eventually secured him for nearly $7.5 million plus $1 million in add-ons. Abou Ali brings a clinical edge—38 goals and 10 assists in 60 matches for Al Ahly—and versatility, having played both centrally and wide. He’s not just a finisher; he’s a relentless presser and team-first player, tailor-made for Nancy’s system. But, he needs to hit the ground running.

Why It Matters Now

Columbus has already played 26 matches, with a record of 12 wins, 5 losses, and 9 draws. Their goal differential is a modest +5, and while they’ve shown flashes of brilliance—like a 4-2 win over FC Cincinnati—they’ve also suffered heavy defeats, including a 5-1 loss to Inter Miami. The margin for error is shrinking.

If Picard and Abou Ali don’t hit the ground running, the Crew risk squandering a season where they could have contended for silverware. With Diego Rossi, Max Arfsten, and Darlington Nagbe already in the mix, the talent is there. But talent without cohesion and impact is just potential. The Crew still leak goals in the second half and have failed to hold onto leads multiple times this season. Is the FO only attempting to address this with more goal scoring? The lack of defensive reinforcement certainly makes that case.

Final Word

The Crew’s front office bet on continuity and delayed reinforcement. Now, with the playoffs looming, it’s time for their new signings to prove that patience wasn’t just a virtue—it was a winning strategy. Otherwise, 2025 could be remembered as the year Columbus meddled in mediocrity while their rivals surged ahead.