A large midfield contingent holds the key to DC United’s success in 2015
By Steve Long , DC
For 2015, DC United’s coach Ben Olsen chose to go with what his players have described to me as “the modern game”. He emphasizes the running of wide midfielders into the center in preference to the more classic down the line approach. The result is that what appears on paper as a 4-4-2 becomes more of a 4-2-3-1. A look at the large number of players designated as midfielders reveals what is going on.
Let’s start with the two defensive midfielders who only rarely venture forward, and then usually not too far. They are constrained by the defensive holes that are created when the wide defenders overlap. Perry Kitchen and Davy Arnaud both must read the need for cover when this occurs and their roles are the most important element fronting the strong United defense.
In years past, the wide midfielders would frequently cover as their corresponding defenders overlapped, but the modern system has them moving inside and less available to help the defense. The tendency of both Chris Pontius and Nick DeLeon to seek the inside option fits the scheme nicely.
Chris Rolfe is a bit more mature and cerebral as a player and offers more variety as he will often choose to take the ball down the side more often.
Over the winter Olsen seems to have decided that he needs more cover for Arnaud, who is getting no younger. Markus Halsti provides a similarly wise presence as relief for either Arnaud or the increasingly savvy Kitchen. As a bonus, Halsti has filled in well in central defense for Steve Birnbaum who is recovering from a minor knee injury.
As cover for Rolfe, who has utility as a forward as well, Olsen has brought in Michael Farfan and Andrew Driver, both of whom bring a soccer IQ that the team always needs. With Eddie Johnson out indefinitely with a medical condition and Fabian Espindola suspended for the first six MLS games, Pontius will see significant time at forward as might Rolfe.
Luis Silva, who clicked so well with Espindola last year, is almost an odd man out as he is listed as a midfielder but is more of a withdrawn forward. What tends to happen when there are two forwards in the system Olsen uses is that one will often become withdrawn and even rotate wide to find space created when the wide mids come inside.
What you see with all of the interchanging going on is a variation on Dutch total soccer with many internal rotations supplementing the more classic overall team rotation. All of this movement can be confusing to opposing defenders, but requires that soccer IQ to which Olsen pays close attention.
He has thus far kept David Estrada, probably for his experience, while breaking in Miguel Aguilar and further developing Collin Martin. Jared Jeffrey continues as a serviceable replacement with sufficient maturity and possible upside.
It is difficult to appraise the players from pre-season play as the quality of video and camera angles does not allow a good understanding of individual or overall play. Still, what does seem clear is that DC United lacks a certain attacking flair.
The most likely to provide it are Espindola, Pontius, and Rolfe. The latter two are coming off injuries which leave them question marks. When I interviewed Pontius about his extended recovery he indicated that he would spend the winter further strengthening his core and hamstrings. From what I have seen of him so far, he seems to have returned to his aggressive style and I predict that he will have a strong season.
Rolfe continues to gain mobility in his injured arm and it remains to be seen whether it will affect his ability to fall comfortably, a characteristic essential to his dynamic style.
