Back line remains weak area for Crew

Major League Soccer’s secondary transfer window each summer brings a move or two that has the potential to shape a playoff race.

On several occasions in recent years, teams have put together second-half surges as a result of well-timed, well-placed acquisitions in July and August.

Crew SC has a goalsagainst average of 1.63, third-worst among 22 MLS teams. In a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids last Saturday, coach Gregg Berhalter rolled out his 11th back-line combination in 16 games. But if the Crew makes a move during the transfer window, Berhalter indicated Friday that it won’t be to add to the back line.

“No, I think the pieces are there. I think it’s just continuing to work with the guys,” Berhalter said. “It’s a whole-team thing, it’s not (just) a back-four thing. It’s identifying things that we can work on, just like we’ve done, and then hopefully seeing the results of the work.”

After the loss to Colorado, Berhalter said the center backs would have to improve for the Crew to succeed. Continuity across back lines generally leads to success, but the fourth-year coach said his hope is to be able to select a consistent back line for the right reasons.

“I want guys that are performing well, and (if) you have to pick from the guys, (I would prefer) who’s performing better, not who’s performing less worse,” Berhalter said. “There (have) been signs of the group doing a really good job, and there (have) been signs that they’re not doing a good job, but we’ve got to keep working with them.”

None of the back-four positions is solidified, Berhalter said. Among Alex Crognale, Jonathan Mensah, Nicolai Naess and Josh Williams is a four-way competition for two starting center-back positions.

“Our job is to make it difficult for Gregg to decide who’s playing and who’s not,” Williams said. "I think all of us have done a great job of doing it. It starts (in training), and in the game, when you’re called upon, you’ve got to step up.”

The Colorado game was the third in the past four in which the Crew allowed two goals in 10 minutes or less. The windows of poor defense aren’t enough for Berhalter to consider a roster change, but they are plenty to keep the carousel moving until the right combination emerges.

“You’d like a back four that you’re 100 percent comfortable that this is your back four,” Berhalter said. “To be honest, we’re still searching for that.”