Mastering formation going to take some time
It took 10 games a year ago for D.C. United to score as many goals (six) as it has through four matches this season. But United’s total this year is deceiving, masking a retooled offense that is still trying to find its way.
First, three of the goals have come at the penalty spot, helping forward Charlie Davies to inflate his MLS-leading total of four.
Second, nearly all of United’s attacking players are new — including all four forwards — and their unfamiliarity with one another is part of the reason United’s dominant possession of the ball hasn’t translated into an effective offensive thrust.
“I certainly think we have the players to be able to play an entertaining, good brand of soccer while getting the necessary results,” midfielder Dax McCarty said. “But it’s only four games into the season, and these things don’t happen overnight. It takes time. Myself and a lot of guys on this team are still getting to know each other. I don’t think anyone on the team would admit that it’s been perfect or close to that.”
| UP NEXT |
| D.C. United at Toronto FC |
| When » Saturday, 7 p.m. |
| Where » BMO Field, Toronto |
| TV » Fox Soccer Channel |
In the 4-4-2 formation adopted by coach Ben Olsen, United (1-2-1) prefers to generate offense on the wings from players such as Chris Pontius and Andy Najar — the latter of whom is the first option to replace the suspended Santino Quaranta this weekend.
But Davies said United failed to recognize space in the middle last weekend against Los Angeles.
“Our biggest problem right now is we’re not taking what the team is giving us,” Davies said. “We’re not reading, we’re not seeing it and I think that’s a big part. If we were able to see that the Galaxy were giving us the middle and we could exploit them that way, I think things would’ve been a lot different.”
To establish control centrally against Toronto (1-1-3), Olsen could ultimately be forced to sacrifice either McCarty or Clyde Simms for the creative attacking abilities of Branko Boskovic. But either way, United knows it must improve at building up to a final pass and avoid uninventive long balls.
“It’s tough when you hit that ball because it’s go big or go home,” Pontius said. “If it doesn’t get through, it’s kind of right back down your throat. I think we need to be a little smarter, a little more creative offensively.”
