D.C. allows eight goals during two-game skid
After conceding four goals in consecutive regular-season matches for the first time in team history, Ben Olsen is certain to make a few subtle but important changes to his lineup.
D.C. United (2-4-1) hosts Seattle (3-2-3) in the first of a three-match homestand, United’s longest of the year.
But the rookie coach, not yet a quarter of the way into the season, also knows that while moving his players around, he can’t afford to start losing them.
“I’m glad in a lot of ways that some of this stuff happened now,” Olsen said of United’s two-game skid. “We can get it out of the way, make sure they understand where I’m coming from, and I understand where they’re coming from. We’re in this together. It’s not going to be me versus them, them versus me. We’ll all take fault, but it’s got to be fixed. I’m not going to accept the energy level that we had in Houston.”
| Surgery for Boskovic? |
| After consultation with two doctors already and a third still planned, D.C. United midfielder Branko Boskovic is reluctantly coming to the conclusion that he’ll require surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The procedure will cost him 4-6 months time away from D.C. and the Montenegrin national team in the middle of qualification for the 2012 European championships. “Two doctors have basically concurred that he’s got a tear,” D.C. United general manager Dave Kasper said. United will not receive any salary cap relief for the $335,000 that Boskovic takes up out of the team’s $2.7 million roster total, but Boskovic’s roster spot will be available once he goes onto injured reserve. |
| UP NEXT |
| Sounders at D.C. United |
| Where » RFK Stadium |
| When » Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. |
One of D.C. United’s most beloved players and one of the most respected in Major League Soccer, Olsen’s transition to coach was greeted with near universal approval. But cracks have started to appear in his philosophy of playing time allocation, in which week-in, week-out performance has been valued over tenure.
“If guys are playing well, they’re doing their job and working hard and running and trying and really playing for this badge, I’m OK with not playing,” midfielder Santino Quaranta said. “When that doesn’t happen, and I’m still not playing, then I got a big problem.”
Quaranta and Andy Najar, who led United in minutes last year, have both found themselves on the outside looking in through the first part of the season. But Olsen’s biggest priority against the Sounders is shoring up the defense. Right back Jed Zayner’s (hamstring) likely absence will add to the growing pressure on a young back line that, reminiscent of last season, has been outmuscled and guilty of crucial mental lapses.
“I never said this was going to be easy,” Olsen said. “As emotional as I am, and as fiery as I am, it’s important to step back and understand and remind myself that this is still a process.”
Midfielder Dax McCarty said, “He’s obviously learning on the fly as a coach. But he’s got everyone’s respect, and everyone knows that if you’re not doing what he’s asking, he’s not afraid to make the tough decisions. He’s not afraid to switch things up.”
