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In the lead-up to last weekend’s big victory over Seattle, Hector Jimenez was likely not expected to be in the starting lineup for Columbus Crew SC. Though he previously made one start this season at right back in the club’s 2-2 draw at Vancouver, that move was largely intended to give incumbent starter Hernan Grana some rest ahead of a long road trip that concluded in New England three days later. Grana had established himself as the mainstay up and down the right flank for most of the season.
That’s why it was a tad surprising to see Jimenez starting against the Sounders in place of Grana. The Argentinian defender was not reported as injured yet neither started nor was listed in the full 18-man squad for the game. Jimenez acquitted himself quite well regardless, registering an assist on what turned to be the decisive third goal of the game. His performance was good enough to earn him a substitute spot on the MLS Team of the Week.
We would be provided additional details behind Jimenez’s surprise inclusion this past Tuesday. Crew SC announced that Grana had been granted a release from his contract and was on his way back to Argentina. Citing extreme homesickness due to his wife and newborn son remaining in his home country, he felt the need to be closer to his family.
“I firmly believe that if a player is not right mentally and is not settled, he’s going to have a difficult time performing, so in the end this was a move that I believe is best for Hernan and the club,” head coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter said this week after news of Grana’s departure broke.
With the club short a regular contributor on the back line, Jimenez as well as others will need to step up. For him, it will necessitate an adjustment to a position he has limited experience with during his five-year professional career.
Jimenez spent his first three years in the league with the Los Angeles Galaxy and won consecutive MLS Cups during his rookie and sophomore seasons. LA head coach Bruce Arena primarily had him lined up on the outside right of the midfield. In fact, throughout his tenure with the Galaxy he appeared on the back line a grand total of three times, including none in 2012.
When he came to Columbus last year, Berhalter continued to use him in much the same way Arena did. However, when Ethan Finlay began to emerge as a viable attacking threat towards the tail end of the season, Jimenez saw a dramatic reduction in playing time. Only four of his 19 starts in 2014 took place after July, and he appeared in only 31 percent of the team’s total minutes during that time.
Nevertheless, all four of those starts came at right back and the two times he’s appeared in the starting lineup this year was also there, including last Saturday. It appears he’s assumed a dual role of defensive starter and attacking sub. In games where he has come off the bench, he has primarily replaced Finlay. Arena employed a similar strategy with him at times during his final season in Los Angeles when he was subbed in as a forward four times.
In addition to Jimenez, Chris Klute is another possible starting option. He has already made three starts at left back in relief of Waylon Francis while he recovered from a sprained ankle earlier in the year. I’ve continually harped on the importance of the attack-minded, pressing forward wing back in Berhalter’s system and Klute fits the mold. Him and Jimenez could even work in tandem as substitutes for one another in order to keep the two fresh which is particularly important with one less player at the position on the roster.
Chad Barson should also expect to have his name called more often, particularly in the second half. Also, don’t discount the possibility of Crew SC rookie defender Sergio Campbell finding a spot on the 18-man game day squads going forward.
Leading up to Saturday’s match with the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night, Berhalter has expressed confidence that Jimenez can continue to effectively transition to this fairly new role. He also noted the depth they have at the position with Barson and Klute able to come in should their numbers get called.
“Hector did a good job last week and did a good job last year, both Chad and Chris have played there throughout their career. We move on with those guys,” he concluded.
Sometimes you have to evolve and reinvent yourself in order to keep moving forward in your career. With Finlay firmly entrenched at right mid, Jimenez has the opportunity to realize a renaissance of his own if he can pick up where Grana left off during his short stint with the club. If he can continue to replicate what he did against Seattle, a game considered a “statement win” for Crew SC by many league observers, then he may be well on his way to bringing about that reality.
Columbus Crew SC News and Notes
– Saturday night’s meeting with the San Jose Earthquakes (10:30 PM ET, Time Warner Sportschannel Ohio, MLS Live) marks Crew SC’s first ever game at newly constructed Avaya Stadium. This is the only game of the regular season between the two teams.
– Both Columbus and San Jose come into this game with 14 points on the season as well as being fourth in their respective conference.
– Crew SC currently lead the league in total shots per game (15.56), are second league-wide in passing accuracy (81.78 percent) and fourth in average possession per game (53.28 percent). San Jose is currently last in MLS in the final two categories (68.8 percent passing accuracy and 43.2 percent possession average) and 14th in average number of shots (10.8 per game).
– The Black and Gold sport an 18-13-7 all-time record against the Quakes franchise. Even though the original club known as the Clash and then the Earthquakes moved to Houston to become the Dynamo in 2006, all records from those first years in San Jose transferred to the new team when they were launched in 2008.
– Avaya Stadium will be the fourth venue in the Bay Area that Crew SC has faced San Jose in, including Spartan Stadium, Buck Shaw Stadium, and even a single match in Candlestick Park on August 8, 2009 where the clubs were part of a doubleheader that included a friendly between FC Barcelona and Chivas de Guadalajara. Incidentally, the 3-0 win for Columbus that night was the last road victory for them in this series.
– A handful of prominent players for the Black and Gold are listed as questionable on this week’s injury report, including left back Waylon Francis (right ankle sprain), midfielder Mohammed Saeid (left groin strain) and forward Kei Kamara (left groin strain). Also, the timetable for midfielder Wil Trapp to return from concussion symptoms remains uncertain.
Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
