The Columbus Crew is in a unique stretch of the 2021 season. The underlying tone of the past few weeks has been dictated by the undeniable lack of depth – an unexpected problem for a team that made adding depth a focus in the offseason. Between international call-ups, which were expected, and a rash of injuries, which were not expected, head coach Caleb Porter has worked with a squad that, at times, has been without as many as 12 players at a time.
Lineups have ebbed and flowed as a result. Recently, Black & Gold fans have gotten to see a variety of offensive combinations.