Is The Columbus Crew from Ohio interested in acquiring Indian-American soccer player Joshua Pynadath?
With the MLS over, there will be many at the Columbus Crew that will be looking for improvements to be experienced in the coming season, especially following the fallout of the previous campaign.
Indeed, the Ohio-based side was unable to qualify for the MLS playoffs after finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference and missing out by two points to Orlando City SC. The only reason they had missed out was because of the 2-1 defeat to the Florida team in the final game of the regular season, as a draw would have been enough to secure their place.
Changes at Columbus Crew
As a result of their failure to qualify for the postseason, the club’s hierarchy decided that it was time for change and decided that it would be the final of Caleb Porter’s four years at the Lower.com Field for the Crew after an eventful time in charge of the football team
Nonetheless, the Crew will be looking for a new head coach this winter ahead of the upcoming MLS campaign; there is no doubt that they will also be looking for new players to help them out by improving the roster, thus adding further talent to the squad, which could help bring success to Ohio.
Indeed, one name that has been mentioned as a possibility is Joshua Pynadath. The Indian-American player was born in Mountain View, California, but has been playing football in Holland as a professional, firstly with Jong Ajax before moving to Jong AZ.
Furthermore, the winger has plenty of experience in terms of being at big clubs, as the 20-year-old was also a part of the youth setup at Real Madrid for a two-year period as he was learning his craft as an attacking player.
However, despite Joshua Pynadath's young age, he has not had everything his way while in Europe, with Pynadath finding it difficult to make a breakthrough. There is no denying that he has the potential to be successful, with some of the biggest clubs, including Chelsea, having reportedly looked closely at him in the past given his wonderkid status.
But, with things having not quite worked for him in terms of establishing himself, could a return to the MLS and perhaps the Columbus Crew benefit Joshua Pynadath at this young age?
Could we see the Columbus Crew look to bring him back to the US?
Of course, whether the Crew decides to make a move for the youngster is something that naturally remains to be seen, and it is perhaps something that may not be known until a new head coach is put in place at Lower.com Field.
Nonetheless, there is no doubt that fans of the team will want to see some transfer activity this offseason, though. Indeed, many want the Crew to improve immediately, and they want them to be able to be regulars in the postseason rather than missing out on competing for one of the biggest prizes in American soccer.
With sports also betting now possible to enjoy in the state of Ohio, some fans will want to see the club improve regarding personnel as they may want to place bets on the team in matches to be played in the future.
With BetMGM sportsbook available in Ohio; where players can take advantage of the bonus codes to enjoy, there may be some more expectations on the Columbus Crew compared to years gone by, especially as they have shown that they can win the biggest titles in North American soccer.
Bettors like to bet on the match result and various prop bets, such as the first goal scorer and the player to provide the most assists. If the Crew were to make a move for Joshua Pynadath, then perhaps the youngster will become an option for many if he turns out in the black & yellow colors for the team.
What do the Columbus Crew need to ensure they do?
The Crew have already emphasized the importance on getting the right coach in place for the team ahead of the 2023 MLS campaign, with general manager Tim Bezbatchenko admitting that it will take time as they ensure they get it right.
Naturally, this decision could then play a role in several different factors across the club, including in regard to recruitment. We already know that several players have departed the club, with Brazilian midfielder Artur becoming the latest to leave the Ohio club, heading to Houston Dynamo in the process.
Of course, there is still plenty of time between now and the upcoming MLS season, so it would not be a surprise if we saw a little more movement concerning recruitment in the coming weeks and months.
Will the Columbus Crew improve immediately?
As mentioned, the main focus for Columbus Crew will be to improve on recent MLS finishes and make sure that they qualify for the postseason. There was a huge amount of disappointment around Ohio last season because of the team’s failure, especially as many will have felt it was in their control given that they only needed to obtain a draw from the game with Orlando City SC.
Naturally, the question regarding whether the team will be able to improve immediately depends on several answers to other questions. This includes whether general manager Tim Bezbatchenko and the club can appoint the right man for the vacant head coach role. Still, it also depends on who that man may want to bring into the team and whether he can get the best out of the players that are already on the roster.
It will be an exciting time for the club in the coming weeks and months, and undoubtedly, many in Ohio will be watching future developments with keen interest.
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