Photo Credit: Jennifer Jordan-Harrell Photography
In Sociology there is a term, tipping point, which describes the point at which an infusion of a change element tips the balance in the culture of a group. In layman’s terms, it’s about achieving critical mass. Throughout the off season, DC United seems to have sought to reach that tipping point, specifically, a significant increase in soccer IQ.
At the end of last season, I interviewed Markus Halsti about his adjustment to MLS play. It was clear from his insights that he had benefited from his international play and expected his teammates to gradually make more effective and frequent runs to open up and find space.
He had already shown an ability to pick out the dangerous pass, but also had not had the opportunity to do so often enough to infuse more than a little creativity into a lackluster DC United attack. The clever interplay that one would see from Chris Rolfe and Fabian Espindola was not often seen from others.
From the drafting of players with international experience such as Julian Buscher and Paul Clowes, to the trade for Marcelo Sarvas, there is a pattern of seeking creativity. The trades for veterans Lamar Neagle and Patrick Nyarko fit the pattern to a lesser degree, but experience sometimes raises the soccer IQ and, in that sense, they further my thesis.
With Perry Kitchen’s fate up in the air and Davy Arnaud’s condition uncertain, United first sought a seasoned holding midfielder, Antonio Nocerino, to no avail. Seeing the CONCACAF Champions’ League rapidly approaching, Coach Ben Olsen has moved Nick DeLeon inside to cover that area.
However, DeLeon is not a strong link player. He works hard and should provide the bite needed to slow opponents down. If he and Halsti modify the balanced dual defensive role slightly, Olsen can use Halsti’s vision as the primary transition. A further possible benefit might be an improvement in DeLeon’s vision as he absorbs the hoped for culture change.
Halsti can’t carry the full burden. Enter the latest United addition, Luciano Acosta. Playing as a withdrawn forward, he can provide yet another link for Halsti. If played there with Espindola as the striker, he would move Rolfe to a wing position, providing a multitude of dangerous attackers. Pay too much attention to them, and the speed of Nyarko or experience of Neagle might burn you.
United’s defense was strong in 2015 until Chris Korb went out with a knee injury, leaving only Sean Franklin and Taylor Kemp as experienced wide backs. The lack of backup wore on them and it was clear that United’s strong central defenders were then pulled too far out of position to function as effectively as they needed to.
Fortunately, United has three strong central defenders to give some relief there. If Arnaud is fit to play and Buscher and Clowes develop as hoped, Olsen should have reasonable depth to back up or supplant Halsti and DeLeon.
The remainder of the squad are now a year more seasoned themselves and one or two might achieve the soccer IQ to help the team if the environment has been sufficiently enriched. If the tipping point is reached, we might indeed see a noticeable overall improvement in team vision and scoring success.
