By Steve Long – One of a few teams which have not loaded up with high priced imports this season, DC United forged a solid lead as others struggled with adapting to late arriving stars. As those stars found familiarity, comfort, and traction, United’s fortunes waned. The last two games, a come from behind struggle and a solid domination, may indicate more than meets the casual eye.
As I have noted all season, DC United follows the MLS standard of narrow play. That is not the international standard and leaves less room for effective use of the modern practice of overlapping wide defenders. Granted, the space opposite the ball is often vast, allowing the defender who goes there initial freedom. However, he is often not visible through the crowd around the ball.
In order to be effective, midfielders must have enough space to pick out options, a luxury given up in a half width game. In their latest victories, DC United kept better width than during their losing/tying streak. I believe that they might be able to ride that strategy to a significant advance in the upcoming playoffs.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Jordan Harrell
Chris Pontius, like his teammates, is focused on the game at Columbus which will set the playoff seedings. He believes that, “Columbus is a very good team, and they moved the ball very well against us last time. They spread you out, and they get in good spots.
“It’s a huge game for us. They’re a good team, and their system just allows guys to plug in, and they all know their roles. It’s a crucial game for us, but we did our job tonight and put ourselves in a good position.”
If Columbus continues to play a wider game, they will open up space for Perry Kitchen and Marcus Halsti to do what they have done more and more often as Halsti has adapted to his teammates. Halsti explained, “Maybe in the beginning we worked hard, but really not together hard.”
He understands the value of width, “Actually today in the modern game a lot of the play comes from the wide backs. They go high and the midfield comes in …… With two central midfielders, they’re actually the guys that have to think and they have to cover and those guys are usually the ones that make the passes.
“They’re not the guys that make the runs with the ball. I’m used to that, that the wide backs go higher…. I love it that the wide backs are going there.” All of this relies on enough space and time to pick up runs and feed outlet passes.
Developing comfort with one’s teammates takes time, and Halsti appears to have reached a good comfort level. Overlapping requires that both central defenders use rotating movements to cover for the advancing backs. With width, comes vision and understanding. He notes that, “We have to have our own philosophy ….. that everybody knows what they’re gonna do in the back.”
On the attacking side, he pointed out how much he appreciated Sean Franklin’s overlapping because it suits his vision, “You make the run and it’s my responsibility to either pass to you or not to pass and if the pass is not good enough, then it’s my fault ….. they have to give me options.”
