D.C. United has enough quality attacking players to be one of the highest scoring teams in MLS. The more worrying aspect of United’s offense is that they may not be able to provide the service needed to let the goal scorers do their job. In his post-game press conference on Saturday, Ben Olsen expressed that he was pleased with his team’s energy, but not their sharpness - specifically in the attacking third. He used the word ‘sharpness’ to describe what was lacking from the attack, but it seemed like he meant something slightly different – creativity.
Olsen knows how D.C. United played in their glory days, he knows what was missing in the years when the team struggled, and he knows how he wants D.C. United to play. It’s the way we all want D.C. United to play. Success for this club has always been founded upon an unusual combination of elegance and execution in the attacking third.
Over the last five years of MLS (2006-2010), a player has scored 10 or more goals 49 times, but only 28 times has a player collected 10 or more assists. Basically, lots of players can score, but only a select few can distribute. For MLS teams that like to play direct, assists aren’t always needed. But since Ben Olsen wants D.C. United to be D.C. United, assists are an absolute must. So, where will they come from?
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Olsen likes to use Dax McCarty and Clyde Simms together in the center of the midfield. McCarty is excellent at closing down angles and fighting to win back possession for United, while Simms always provides ideal support defensively and often snuffs out trouble before it can get started. The two work very well together, but neither is an assist man (Dax has only 17 career assists in 97 games). Through four games this season, United’s three assists have all come from defenders.
There are a number of interesting options to try and improve sharpness in the attacking third. Perhaps the time is right for a formational shift, from a 4-4-2 to a 4-4-1-1, sliding a player like Andy Najar into the center of the field (slightly behind the lone striker) where he could put more pressure on opposing defenses. There are talented players on the roster who have not played much, like Branko Boskovic and Fred, both of whom can provide vision and creativity. The last time United won the MLS Cup in 2004, Olsen was a part of solid midfield in a 3-5-2 lineup. That formation would keep McCarty and Simms in the same roles where they excel and still create room for an attacking midfielder. The trade-off of course is that this option puts much more pressure on the three defenders.
There are a lot of important decisions for Coach Olsen in the weeks ahead. After the Galaxy match, he took responsibility for the team’s performance, saying, “Overall, it’s not good enough…and that starts with me.” Against L.A., United’s offense was not very sharp and Olsen is determined to make sure that this weekend in Toronto the attack flows more smoothly. Clearly, a change is coming, and United fans should be excited to see what it is.
