Poor Start Firmly In Rear View Mirror

Chris Webb

June 18, 2007

Luciano Emilio attacks the ball against the Red Bulls.

Luciano Emilio attacks the ball against the Red Bulls.
Photo: Christopher Leon

It wasn't too long ago that pretty much everyone involved with United, be it players, coaches, front office and fans thought this season was lost. It just goes to show that a tweak here and there can make a big difference.

Washington, D.C. It seems so long ago.

I remember boarding the plane heading out of Denver and thinking "well, that wasn't the ideal start to a season." I wasn't alone because United had just come off of a CONCACAF Champions Cup tie with Chivas of Guadalajara in which they lost 3-2 in aggregate, but they had the admiration and respect of many soccer fans on both sides of the border. It's only natural to think United would simply take care of business to open the MLS season. Well, as we all know it didn't pan out that way. United went on to lose their home opener as well and then an embarrassing defeat to a Columbus team that still only has two wins this season to date. Things had to change.

I've long been a proponent of the 3-5-2 system installed by former coach Peter Nowak and I was highly skeptical of Tom Soehn's decision to switch to a 4-4-2 formation. I understood why he did it. United were leaking goals at an alarming rate (7 in their first three matches, all losses)and it simply had to stop, even at the risk of losing some midfield punch. The defense wasn't the only problem though. The offense was still as stagnant and predictable as ever and it seemed that almost to a man every player was making major mistakes that were costing the team goals. Bobby Boswell was losing his marks. Facundo Erpen was getting regulary roasted down the sidelines. Brian Carroll was half the player he was in previous seasons and Jaime Moreno and Christian Gomez were mere shadows of their lethal potential.

All of that has changed however and not a moment too soon. It's too easy to credit a simple switch to a 4-4-2 as the sole reason why the teams season has rebounded so well. United is on a seven game unbeaten streak with five wins and two draws and have only allowed 7 goals in the seven matches since the beginning of May. United has scored 14 goals in that same stretch of games and it's easy to add up the wins and draws.

So let's take a look at the key reasons why this team is in firm control of it's destiny, a thought that was inconceivable only 8 weeks ago when all of us (including you Dyson) had virtually given up hope of another Supporters Shield.

1. 4-4-2

This formation has done it's one main function. Getting more help defensively. Josh Gros drew the short straw and got drafted into the back line and while it hasn't been smooth sailing for Josh, he is getting better and better with each passing game and getting more comfortable in his role.

Additionally the move has benefited Facundo Erpen tremendously. No longer exposed on the flank, ErpFu can concentrate on his defensive responsibilities and his usual once a game brain farts are starting to dry up as well. I dare see he has been the biggest benefactor of the move and it's made him a better player.

2. Rotating Players

A foreign concept to Nowak during his tenure at United, Soehn has show no hesitation to reward young players with spot starts and key minutes. Guy Kpene, Justin Moose, Nicolas Addlery, Stephen DeRoux, Devon MacTavish and Rod Dyachenko have all been rewarded with starting roles in games this season and the infusion of youth and speed has helped United to their unbeaten run. Getting these players key minutes will only help this team when players like Boswell and Ben Olsen will undoubtedly be called away for Copa America. MacTavish and Moose should be able to step into the team and give Soehn the requisite energy needed to help this team.

Additionaly, Soehn has not hesitated to bench some veterans like Moreno, Carroll and Luciano Emilio as well. All three of the aforementioned players has had a significant rise in their play over the past month.

3. Getting The Ball Wide - Finally!

People have been screaming from their pulpits all season long that the key to becoming less and less predictable is to get the damn ball out wide and work your way into the box via a cross or move from the wing. We've seen it work to almost perfection the past two matches (4-2 win over Red Bull and 3-1 over Chicago) and it's opened up the offense beautifully. Why it took these guys so long is really a mystery. The coaching staff has been preaching it for a while but it's only really sunk in as of late. So in light of that, the five matches unbeaten prior to these last two wins is even that much more impressive. Ben Olsen has taken the role to heart and while he obviously doesn't have the wheels to play outside midfield full time (especially in a 3-5-2 with wing play up and down the field for a full 90 mandatory) United can get away with playing Olsen there in the 4-4-2 because of the cover Bryan Namoff gives Benny. Also, Fred has really started to "embrace the position" (insert Harkes joke here). It seemed that every week Fred would default towards the middle of the field while the coaching staff was screaming at him to stay wide and open up the field. Well, he's finally listening and it's opening a world of possibilities offensively for Fred and the team as well.

In my eyes those are the keys to why this team has rebounded so well. The work is not done however and while we have what seems to be two very winnable matches up ahead against winless and downtrodden Real Salt Lake on the road and a grudge rematch with Colorado at RFK a week from Thursday, this team has to contain their increasing confidence and take care of business. The best part of watching the 3-1 win over Chicago this past weekend was the way in which United clinically controlled the match. Chicago obviously was fielding a team that would struggle in the PDL due to call-ups and injuries but United did not give them a reason to hope and put the dagger in them.

United has to do the same this weekend in Utah and not fall into the trap that they created for themselves in Los Angeles only a few weeks ago.

Injury Time

- Wow, 27 goals this past weekend in MLS. That might be a record. Seven different teams scored 3 goals or more this past weekend.

- Attendance was very good this past weekend with three plus 20k crowds (DC, New England and Toronto). However Chivas USA continues to dissapoint with a mere 10k. They have one of the more exciting teams to watch in MLS and they can't draw anything outside of a match with the Galaxy.

- Make a note, this weekends match at Real Salt Lake is exclusively on Fox Soccer Channel at 9:30 pm EST. A lot of grumbling from United fans this past weekend with their match being on HDNet only. A lot of United fans still haven't seen highlights from that match.

- Also, the following match at home vs. Colorado is on ESPN2, another exclusive match.