OBETZ, Ohio – In 2014, Justin Meram was a scorer.
Whether coming off the bench for a game-winner, or curling his now-familiar “meat hook” shot around opposing goalkeepers, fans knew the Columbus Crew SC winger and former striker largely for his goals.
But in 2015, with teammates Kei Kamara and Ethan Finlay putting up gaudy numbers, Meram has settled into a new role of facilitator.
“I think when you add in Kei, who scores so many goals and is such a key player for us, at times I’m making the pass. And I’m totally fine with that; I love that,” he said. “The way we play and those passes I make, that’s refreshing to me that I’m putting myself in the right opportunity to give the team a chance to score and a chance to win.”
Part of his development has come from his major role with the Iraq national team, where he largely plays as an attacking midfielder behind the striker.
Meram often tucks in behind Kamara in Columbus, and says his experience with Iraq has helped hone those playmaking skills.
“It’s what I do for almost 90 minutes with the national team,” he said. “It certainly helps. It’s really quick at that level and it certainly prepares me for these games where I’m tucked in a lot.”
And as two of the longest-tenured Crew SC players, Meram’s relationship with maestro Federico Higuain has been a factor in his growth as well.
“We understand each other; his English is so much better, and that really translates in the game,” Meram said of Higuain. “At first I was probably timid. What if he yells at you? He’s a big-time player. But once you gain the respect and show him that you’re a player and you can take weight on your shoulders, he really respects you.”
Head coach Gregg Berhalter agreed that Meram is contributing in new ways this season, but the Crew SC boss isn’t happy with the winger’s three goals, lagging behind the rest of the club’s front four.
“If you look at Justin, some of the passes he’s made over the last few weeks have been pretty good,” Berhalter said. “He’s contributing. That doesn’t mean I don’t want him to score more – I certainly do. He needs to score more. We need to get production out of those four positions, and right now we need more from his position.”
Meram is aware of his lack of scoring. He says it’s been on his mind, but thinks his play has been better than his stat line.
“You get frustrated at times – I’ve been so close this year,” he said. “I’m right there. Headers, posts, volleys, you name it. Of course it’s frustrating, but we’re sitting in second in the East. The best thing about being here for five years is that I haven’t let it affect me. You talk to me last year or two years ago and it might be a different story. But I’m still confident and still making the right passes when I need to be. I like the way I’m playing.”
Berhalter is sticking with Meram, despite the presence of newly-arrivied Cedrick Mabwati and Kristinn Steindorsson, and says his time is coming.
“He has expectations of himself to score more goals and we expect that out of him as well,” Berhalter said. “It’s so close for him, and we know it’s coming.”
