United's road mentality needs to change right now
Jacob Peterson's 53rd minute goal was inevitable given the way United was conceding their own attack. read more...
United's road mentality needs to change right now
Chris Webb
May 05, 2008
Colorado Rapids forward Jacob Peterson (red, 15) puts a shot past D.C. United goalkeeper Zach Wells.
Photo: Trent Davol/ISI
For years we've head the old saying "Win at home, play for the draw on the road". DC United has taken this accepted wisdon to heart when there really is no reason to do so, and it must change soon.
Washington D.C.,
Forget United's dismal history in Colorado. Yes, we all know it's been eight years since United came away with a 5-2 win over the Rapids behind four goals from Jaime Moreno. Since then it's been dreadful performance after dreadful performance and with the exception of the often not spoken of "bad years" in DC, United has finished higher in the table than Colorado each and every year. But when it comes to strapping on the white kits and trudging out to Mile High Stadium or Dick's Sporting Goods Park, the result is usually the same. A loss or a draw. No wins to speak of.
DC United lost 2-0 to Colorado on Sunday afternoon. It's not really the fact that they lost, it's the manner in which they approached the game that cheeses me off. Putting aside the argument that Tom Soehn's 3-5-2 formation on the biggest field in MLS at altitude is a recipe for disaster to start with, let's get to the mentality of the team, or lack thereof.
“We worked really hard during the week, but it was a bad game. We had the right mentality going into the game, but I don’t know what it is, we are not clicking this year. Everything has been put into place, we keep getting let down by each other" said Santino Quaranta after the match.
Ummm, yeah. Sure. I guess I can agree that the pieces are in place, but pretty much everything else he said kind of falls flat in light of their woeful 0-3 road record this season so far in MLS (all the while giving up 8 goals and being the only team in MLS without a road goal yet).
Tom Soehn didn't mince words with his assessment of the match. “The loss is very troubling, we have addressed a lot, especially having a better road mentality. When looking at individual performances in this game we were just bad all over the field, I can’t even think of a player that did well. We can talk about tactics and formations all you want but if you don’t show up you’re not going to do well. Moving forward we are going to be hard on everyone, not just the players but the staff as well. We gave away the ball continuously, setting up counters. We had backwards possession in this game, and that’s not going to win games. We have to have a better mentality. We need to find a combination of guys who will go out there and give it all that they have. We have a lot of work to do.”
It remains to be seen how hard Soehn will be on underperforming players. If he benched every player who didn't bring their game on Sunday he would have pretty much only Bryan Namoff going 1 v 11 versus the Chicago Fire on Thursday night.
It's pretty clear that all involved are upset with the poor results, and that includes players, coaches, administrators and more importantly the fans of this team. While I don't promote wide spread panic, it's certainly time to dust off the trigger finger for the ol' panic button. But do you want to know what really set me off yesterday?
It was Dave Johnson and Thomas Rongen. Yes, I am aware of the sacrilegious nature of that statement. I'm not really mad at them per se, but at their observations of what was going on. You just knew it was going to be a long day when Rongen said at the beginning of the match (I'm paraphrasing here as I angrily deleted this match within seconds of the final whistle on my DVR) "the key to victory is playing compact, numbers behind the ball, keeping the game at 0-0 and trying to get a goal late."
There are two things inherently wrong with that statement from Rongen. One, the mere fact that Rongen believes that statement is probably the reason why he no longer coaches in MLS. It's one thing if you're battling relegation and have no chance against top teams. We're talking about a league that is strewn with parity. And two, since when did playing at Rice-Eccles Stadium and The Big Dick become like traveling to the San Siro, Old Trafford or Ibrox? Why must United play conservatively from the jump? Why defend from the outset?
I think all of us can agree that if United simply applied high pressure on the ball and dedicated themselves to attacking instead of bowing down to the likes of the mighty Nick LaBrocca, Jacob Peterson and Omar Cummings that we can live with a loss as long as they do what their best at, attacking the opposition. Why this fear of attacking? I just don't get it. I'm not stupid. I know you can't go hell bent for leather for 90 minutes at altitude, but you know what? If you actually attack and, oh my God, actually score first (say it ain't so!) you just might have a chance to win!
I'd rather lose 4-1 pouring bodies forward than merely sitting back without a whimper in dying a slow death like on Sunday afternoon and two weeks ago in Salt Lake City. You just knew by the body language that their was no fight in our dog on those days.
Now, Dave Johnson's comment was a little less severe but strange none the less. He said right at the tail end of the first half rhetorically "and you see why it's so difficult to win on the road in MLS" Oh really? Again, United plays in places like CommuntyAmerica Ballpark and Crew Stadium, not the aforementioned big stadiums of Europe. There is absolutely no reason to go into those stadiums fearing the other team. The goals, the balls and fields in general are mostly the same size. Sure, you can throw the Field Turf and altitude arguments at me, but I'll counter by saying that pretty much every other MLS team goes into those venues and manages to get road results while United seems to struggle mightily in doing so.
Johsnon's statement rings true if United were to approach every match like they did on Sunday afternoon. Based on that performance, I wouldn't count on United scoring a goal on the road all season much less getting a win. But we all know that won't be the case. At least you hope so. United will get it sorted out in time (at least I keep telling myself this to be the case) as they have too much talent for this not to click in at some point, but they have to develop a bigger and better sense of urgency. Simply saying so before and after the game isn't enough. The fans want to see it on the field. Don't be afraid to fail. Push the attack, put the emphasis on the other team. Don't wait to see what they do, do it to them.
I think teams in MLS have figured out United at this point. United loves to possess the ball and use the middle of the field. They don't have any speed whatsoever on the wings or in attack and teams are simply feeding off that by attacking United from the start knowing that a deadly counter attack really isn't in the offing. Missing the heart and soul of your team in a guy like Ben Olsen makes this teams job even harder. Factor in also the loss of Josh Gros during the winter and you can see the physical edge of this team is missing in action. While Gros and Olsen aren't in the goon class of a Franchino, Nick Garcia or a Danny Pena, they did offer some toughness and grit that is sorely missing from this team right now.
So what is the solution at this point? Tough to say but I for one would like to see this team take a different approach from the outset of games and push the pressure and attack. If you go down, you go down swinging. It's infinitely much more stomachable (is that even a word?) than the steaming piles we have witnessed so far on the road in 2008.
Tom Soehn is going to have to earn his paycheck now. It's all about MLS for the next eight weeks. SuperLiga doesn't come around until July and United better get committed to league play now because the very real possiblity of no international play next season is looming squarely at the jaw of DC United should they continue to not put in an honest effort on the road. United should take care of business at home. It's the road form now that must take precedence in training and in the thoughts of United players and coaches. It's not that hard to win on the road in this league, yet somehow United has convinced themselves that it is. Get over it and start playing your brand of soccer.
Visitor Comments
Chris, your observation is right on the money AND it applies to Home and Away games. United's best defense has, in the past few years, been a potent offense. Whenever the attack motor stops, opponents punished us.
Vamos United!
I agree that we need to improve on the road but right now I believe we need to improve overall. We've already lost one at home and this Thursday is another possibility against a hot team that got back Rolfe. They were pouring through a 3 man back line and Rolfe doesn't miss too often. we better have a good game plan and find a way to score more than once.
View From The Mezzanine
Key factors promote United mid-season resurgence
July 03, 2008
United States underwhelm in 2-0 loss to England
May 28, 2008
Striking Difference?
April 19, 2008
Quaranta Back With United - Last Chance?
February 25, 2008
Big Changes at United; Gomez Seeks Another Home
January 25, 2008
Man, Does The Offseason Suck Or What?
December 30, 2007
D.C. United 2007 Player Review
November 23, 2007
Looking Ahead To 2008 For DC United
November 10, 2007
In The Year Of Beckham, Seven MLS Americans Making A Name For Themselves
October 09, 2007
Trade For Vanney Key To Supporters Shield Run
September 17, 2007
Hypocrisy - Thy Name Is Kyle Martino
August 14, 2007
Where Did That Come From?
August 06, 2007
A Tough Week For United, Even Tougher Times Ahead
July 24, 2007
Poor Start Firmly In Rear View Mirror
June 18, 2007
Balboa vs Caligiuri - Who's Worse?
June 10, 2007
MLS One Liners, tidbits from around the league...
