Or would Alamo time be more appropriate?
After a short training session this morning, D.C. United head coach Curt Onalfo gathered all of his players in the middle of the field for sit-down chat, as in they sat and he chatted.
What was his message?
“The biggest thing was not giving up,” said midfielder Clyde Simms. “I think [Onalfo] felt like, especially after both of the goals on Saturday, that he could see it in our demeanor, that some of the guys had felt like they’d given up, and that’s not what he wants us to be about. We shouldn’t be. The other thing was staying positive because we are close. It may not seem like it, but I feel like we are in these games. I think we controlled a lot of the game Saturday. It’s the little things, if one of those chances go in during the first half, it’s a totally different game so we’re very close.”
Onalfo declined to speak with me — he tries to limit himself to only a couple media sessions per week – and sent assistant coach Kris Kelderman to marshall in his stead:
“We’re in a tough spot right now,” said Kelderman. “At this point, we’re still winless. We feel we’re close. We feel we’ve been close every game. But at the end of the day, that’s not good enough, and we understand that as coaches. The players understand that, and it’s just one of those things where we have to make sure we’re playing well for 90 minutes and nothing less. That’s kind of been the case lately. We’ve got to dig deeper and find more, and that means everybody.”
What needs to happen with this group? Lineup changes? Other changes?
“We got to take care of business with what we have here. We don’t have time to point the blame elsewhere. That’s just not a part of our discussion right now. I don’t think that’s necessary. Anybody who takes their job seriously understands the situation. I think it’s understood: we have to be better, and we have to do better.”
What have you heard from the front office?
“We’re a team, and that’s one thing. We’ve all had relationships in the past with the president and the general manager and the coaching staff, and teammates, ex-teammates, this and that. We’re all on the same page. We’re a team, and we’re working together and we’re going to solve this.”
Simms echoed the sentiment with regard to the front office, which has come under fire today from national MLS observers Jeff Carlisle and Steve Davis.
“I actually this time around, there’s been more patience,” said Simms. “I think they understand it’s a new coach, a lot of new players. I feel like in years past there’s a been some impatience after the second or third game. I think this time around, it’s been good, and like I said, they understand it’s a long season, and they have made a lot of changes in the offseason, and that it’s going to take time to gel as a team and get things going.”
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