Depth is a word that has been used a great deal whendiscussing D.C. United this season, but a seldom-used adjective may actually bethe best way to describe Ben Olsen’s 2012 roster.
Versatile.
Of the club’s eighteen outfield players with five or more appearances,all but four have played multiple positions at some point this year. Three of those who haven’t done so areforwards, and the lone other player is defender Brandon McDonald who has playedcentral back for every minute of every match save for a one-game suspension in earlyApril.
Where each of D.C.’s multi-faceted players have contributed:
Dwayne De Rosario – FWD, ACM
Branko Boskovic – ACM, LM
Danny Cruz -LM, RM
Daniel Woolard – CB, LB
Perry Kitchen – DCM, RB, CB
Chris Pontius – RM, LM, FWD
Nick DeLeon – RM, LM
Robbie Russell – RB, CB
Andy Najar – RM, LM, RB
Chris Korb – RB, LB
Dejan Jakovic – CB, LB
Lewis Neal – LB, LM, ACM
Josh Wolff – FWD, LM
Stephen King – DCM, ACM
Two United midfielders – Chris Pontius and Lewis Neal -rank among the club’s most versatile players. Pontius sparked his career-season after moving to forward inearly April and has continued to find success – and goals - since moving backto his natural wide position this summer. Nealhas filled in at both left back and left midfield, but his best performancearguably came in central midfield when he replaced Boskovic for the final halfhour of a 3-0 win over Montreal on June 30.
