Over the last four games, the team has conceded 11 goals, including five last Friday against Toronto FC. Columbus’ defense is the second worst in Major League Soccer right now, but the numbers are not the only thing that hurts.
There’s also the fact that many of these goals were absolutely avoidable.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter has already experimented with several options on the back line and midfield positions, but he is apparently yet to find a solution to the problem. Perhaps the answer to Crew SC’s defensive issues has a lot to do with the one piece this roster misses: a hard-nosed defensive midfielder.