D.C. United was one of the busiest teams in Major League Soccer during the past offseason, making dramatic moves to bolster its offense while revamping its roster of reserves. But in entering a fourth consecutive year with the same 3-5-2 formation and many of the same or similar-type personal within the team’s starting eleven, how much has really changed?
Both the Colorado Rapids and the Kansas City Wizards showed that despite the presence of reigning MLS goalkeeper of the year Troy Perkins and defender of the year Bobby Boswell, they knew exactly how to expose what many assumed would be the best team in the league.
“I don’t know if they’re believing the hype or not,” said Wizards midfielder Sasha Victorine. “But we believe we can go after these guys, and we’re not afraid that Bobby or Perkins are going to stop us from scoring goals.”
Neither the Wizards nor the Rapids have completely stifled Christian Gomez (one goal) or Luciano Emilio (two goals), but United’s heavy reliance on its attacking trio, which also includes Jaime Moreno, has made them very predictable on offense.
“The rest of their guys are two-touch players,” said Wizards assistant coach Chris Henderson. “If you put a little pressure on the guys who want to play quick and play simple, then you can break things down.”
United also prefers to possess the ball, but opponents are recognizing that they don’t have to dictate the pace. Instead, they can pressure D.C. into mistakes and take advantage with counterattacks, using speed and width to create gaps in United’s three-man defensive line.
Entering a bye week, will United use the next two weeks to fill those gaps with a fourth defender?
“Teams are starting to play us with pushing three on, playing 1-v-1 the whole match,” said Perkins. “Sometimes that’ll get you like it did [against the Wizards], and maybe we need to reevaluate, but that’s a coach’s decision, not mine.”
