What if Rip Van Winkle was a Crew fan? | OneFootball

Let’s start this composition by putting a twist on a classic tale. Let’s say Rip Van Winkle is a Crew fan. And let’s say he began his famous nap just after Darlington Nagbe hoisted the MLS Cup in early December of 2023. Lastly, let’s say his slumber lasted only two years instead of 20. If ol’ Rip looked back over these last two MLS seasons-seasons Crew fans believed held such promise-he is probably wondering the same thing as the rest of us black and gold faithful: What on earth happened to our favorite team?

In the aftermath of that championship two years ago, the feeling was the Crew would win another title sooner rather than later. Not only did they fail to win another, but they have also been bounced from the playoffs in the first round in both seasons. At least in 2024 there was a thrilling run to the CONCACAF final and an equally thrilling win over LAFC in the Leagues Cup final.

But 2025 proved to be an exercise in frustration. The departures of Cucho and Christian Ramirez left the club with little scoring punch. That lack of scoring, combined with an inability to hold a lead, led to a lot of potential wins that became a draw or loss. Compounding the frustration was the maddening amount of time it took GM Issa Tall and head coach Wilfried Nancy to fill the hole left by Cucho with a legitimate goal-scoring threat. Oh, by the way, once a legitimate goal-scoring threat was acquired (Wessam Abou Ali), he went out with an injury not long after. If 2025 hadn’t pummeled Crew fans enough, we now have the news that Nancy will be leaving soon to join Celtic of the Scottish Premier League.

What on earth has happened to our favorite team? Star players gone, the league’s best coach leaving, a season of scoring struggles, blown leads, and injuries to key players (made worse by a lack of quality depth). As I walked away from Lower.com Field after watching the Crew win a championship two years ago, if you had told me everything I have mentioned in this article was on the horizon, I’d never have believed you. I’m sure Mr. Van Winkle wouldn’t believe it either.