How do you replace a team's best player? For the Columbus Crew, who will be without captain and designated player Federico Higuain for two matches, you don't.
It's like taking Peyton Manning out of the Broncos,” midfielder Justin Meram said after training Thursday. “You've got to adjust, but you also have to belive that with everyone around us, we can do it. We haven't played a game without him since he got here, so it's going to be different for sure, but at the same time, if everyone does a little extra, and if we just play simple and keep the ball moving, we're at our best.”
Higuain, who is tied for the team lead in scoring with nine goals, and leads the club with six assists on the season, was suspended for the next two matches after accumulating too many yellow cards, and earning the team's first red card of the season in a 4-0 blowout loss in Houston last Saturday. For Head Coach Robert Warzycha, Higuain's absence is about more than goals.
“With two games coming up at home, it's a big loss for us," Warzycha said after the match. "He's our engine, he's scoring goals, and unfortunately for us he got the second yellow in the end; even the first one put him over the top. That's a big loss."
For midfielder Bernardo Anor, who had been playing behind forwards Higuain and Jairo Arrieta recently, Higuain's absence may necessitate some extra creativity and dangerous passes.
“Honestly, I don't know how we're going to come out for this game. It all depends on the position, if I get to play, that I'll be playing,” he said. “Not having [Higuain] in the team, we just have to find a way to be creative in the midfield. So, maybe I've just got to put a little more effort into it and try to find the ball in those spaces, connect with the forwards and try to create chances.”
For Justin Meram, who played forward in college before transitioning into midfield role for the Crew since becoming a pro, he has as much responsibility to make up for Higuain's production as anyone.
“I've got to score some goals. Last year was great for my confidence, but while he's out, someone has got to step up,” he said. “Whether it be [winger Dominic Oduro] getting back because he hasn't scored in a while, Arrieta hasn't scored in a while, I haven't scored this year, Ethan [Finlay] or Ryan Finley, whoever we replace, someone has got to do it.”
Playing without Higuain will be unfamiliar to the Crew, and Warzycha says even he isn't sure how the void will be filled.
“We're about to see on Saturday,” he said with a smile. “We're going to select a team that can score the goals, and it's going to be up to them whether they're going to finish the chances. Hopefully the guys can be hungry, and whoever is going to start for [Higuain], I'm sure he's going to try to prove that he belogns on the field. We have some hungry guys that are looking for the goals. A perfect guy probably is Arrieta. He's only got two goals this season, and I'm sure he'd like to score another two.”
Meram, who still looks for any playing time at forward that he can find, says that he would like a chance to be up top, but seems to expect to continue his role on the wing.
“I wouldn't mind [replacing Higuain],” he laughed. “Whenever you're playing that high, you get more chances, and don't defend so much, but I've learned my responsibilities and what I need to do to stay on the field at outside mid, so if I get called, whatever the position I'll be ready.”
