DC United Looking to Run Down the Bulls

DC United Looking to Run Down the Bulls

Mike Martin

June 13, 2008

With the Red Bulls a mere two points ahead in the Eastern conference standings, a United side brimming with confidence after knocking off the Fire in Chicago last week will be looking to overtake their hated rivals in the standings and on the field with a win in RFK.

Washington D.C., For the first time since early April, United spent an entire week out of the Eastern conference cellar thanks to that dramatic win in Chicago, and a little help from an anemic KC. After such a horrible start to the season, United could incredibly pull itself into fifth in the East and within striking distance of Toronto in fourth by the end of this weekend.

United’s month long flirtation with respectability is the result of the team collectively finding their style and the integration of all the new players into the returning players finally creating a better understanding of each other. Zach Wells put it succinctly, “There’s [just] been a better team mentality, a commitment to each other, which builds confidence in each other.”

The resurrection couldn’t have come at a better time as United’s season might well have been on life support had not the team pulled off a thrilling win against the Fire. Suspended defender Bryan Namoff stated simply “It’s really coming together for us at a critical point of the season.”

However, The Chicago Shocker came at a price as United has lost designated player Marcelo Gallardo and iron man right back Bryan Namoff to red card suspensions this week. Neither of those players is easily replaced given United’s current roster. Yet, while the loss of both players will be tough on the Black and Red, NY might be in even worse shape given the gloomy news coming out of Red Bull nation this week.

NY fans found out this week that the injury to Captain America, Claudio Reyna is apparently far more serious than anyone expected and the New York Post is reporting that he is contemplating retirement given the dour prognosis on his herniated back and balky hamstring. But, even worse for NY is the news recently that their other designated player, forward Juan Pablo Angel, who has been fighting a variety of leg and back injuries has been advised to sit out the next few weeks as well to fully recuperate.

With Jozy Altidore away with the US team and then on his way to Spain soon after that, Angel was pretty much the only credible threat NY had to score. The Colombian marksman was just that as he buried the only goal in their win over Chivas in their last match. But Angel aggravated his various injuries with that goal and barely hobbled through the 90 minutes. On top of that, Dane Richards rolled an ankle badly at the end of that match as well and will be limping a bit if he plays at all against DC.

So, without their four best offensive players, NY might need some divine intervention such as the stunning goals they’ve got from dubious sources like the key goals they’ve got from Van Den Bergh and Danleigh Borman, he of the ugliest goal celebration in the history of MLS. But, with only 11 goals in 10 games, NY has found precious little scoring so far this year and had the third worst offense in MLS before Altidore and Angel went missing.

Still, NY has had a pretty tight defense so far this year, ranked third overall despite the expected inadequacy of the players they trot out there. Leitch, and I say this with a shudder, might actually be a worse right back than Jay Heaps, Boyens wasn’t even good enough for Toronto’s leaky defense which is enough said about that, Parke is hobbled too and irrelevant to begin with, and Goldthwaite is the best of the lot, but still good for at least one crucial mistake a game.

So, given the injury situation and Osorio’s notoriously cautious tactics, it’s pretty likely the Red Bulls will play a lock down 4-5-1, look to absorb pressure and hope for a counter attack or a mistake. Something Osorio always seems to pull out against United. With the wily and wicked Wolyniec as the point man, Borman on the left, Richards (or Freeman) on the right, and Van Den Bergh as playmaker, backed by Sassano and Stammler, NY has some guys that can pull off a surprise, but more often than not have been held in check by weaker defenses than United’s.

To counter that, DC will have to break down that stacked defense without its most creative player in Marcelo Gallardo, but Emilio is truly reborn of late, Fred and Quaranta have been lovely bolts of lightning into the attack, and Moreno has simply owned NY throughout his entire career. Jaime has 117 goals and counting in MLS, but he has had a staggering 22 of them against NY, the most of any player against any specific opponent. Almost a fifth of his career goals scored against NY, plus 16 assists in just 36 regular season games, so smart money has Jaime scoring or setting up a goal this weekend.

However, it will be interesting to see where Soehn uses La Bomba. He could use Moreno as playmaker to replace Gallardo, but that puts Jaime in a tough spot against two lively defenders in Sassano and Stammler, as well as pulls him from the front lines where he is ridiculously dangerous against weaker defenders and alongside the rejuvenated Emilio.

With that in mind, I suspect Dyachenko gets the chance to prove himself at home for once, especially as it was his lovely long pass that set up Emilio’s fantastic finish against the Fire. So he should get rewarded for one thing, but also tactically, there’s no sense wasting Jaime against two players in an already crowded midfield when Rowdy Rod is plenty robust enough to take the abuse, and maybe even able to sneak in a telling play or two.

Playing Dyachenko would leave Moreno closer to goal where his interplay with Emilio would be the most deadly. Plus, it leaves Fred and Santino in the left and right slots they’ve been playing all year rather than have them pushed up top to replace Moreno. It’s the least disruptive way to replace Gallardo, especially as NY’s midfield is no where near as scary as some others and Dyachenko’s defensive and speed of play liabilities will be less exposed.

On the defensive side, Namoff has played about 90 percent of the starts at right back since 2004, and on the rare occasions when he missed games, it was mainly Devon McTavish who spelled him out there. So, it will be mighty tempting to simply pencil in the West Virginia utility man at right back, move everybody over one slot and play Burch on the left. But I don’t think that’s the way Tommy will go. I think McTavish and Peralta have become very good partners in central defense, and Martinez is nothing short of a revelation at left back, so the least disruptive way to replace Namoff is with Mediate on the right.

Mediate deserves the start as he played exceptionally well in the NE draw, and by all accounts has been outstanding in practice. Playing him has the added bonus of being the least disruptive to the positions the team has been playing lately, and that’s not a thing to be taken lightly. DC is finally showing some cohesion and understanding, it would criminal to move a bunch of players around to fill in for one suspended player who will be back in a week. Plus, while Borman has been lively, he’s not near as frightening as some other left sided players, and NY is hardly an offensive juggernaut that requires a team to shake in their boots.

Soehn hinted as much this week by saying to the soccer insider that “Right now we are moving in a real steady direction and we want to stay consistent, not only consistent in our performances but consistent in the way we approach the game on a weekly basis so the guys are not posed new questions. They know what they are in for. Now if you take one piece out and add another piece, they know what they are getting into. When you are going through the same process week in and week out, it's just taking one name out and replacing another. If you have done a good job working on it during the week, that person will know his role in the system.”

That sounds to me like one for one substitutions, but even if Tommy is being a bit sneaky and misleading, regardless of who plays United must get the three points and keep the ball rolling as they claw their way back up the table. Bryan Namoff pointed out “NY’s been a rival of ours since the league started, and this is a really great opportunity for us to be a turning point, for us to have a chance, at home, to put two wins together for the first time this year.”

DC-NY is easily the best rivalry in MLS in terms of unique circumstances and sheer hatred of the fans for each other. However, on the field it has been more like clubbing baby seals than a truly balanced meeting of peers. DC simply hasn’t lost a meaningful game ever to the various NY franchises and their menagerie of coaches and players. United has gone 10-4-2 at RFK since 2000, and two of those losses were a nothing game after clinching the Supporter’s Shield in 2006, and Cheatin’ Bob’s four substitution fiasco in 2003. United is 9-3-3 overall since the dark ages ended in 2004, and has comfortably knocked NY from the playoffs twice.

So, even the intangibles are swinging United’s way. To summarize, there’s a rival you usually beat like a drum, who’s missing their top four or five players. The game is being played at home in RFK with crucial points on the line, with one team just beginning to realize their potential, while the other is reeling from departures and injuries as well as being in a state of flux over new players coming in and maybe even more going out.

Now, I promised Weed I wouldn’t pull out the old stone cold lock, but I’m sorely tempted in this match. DC should hardly be threatened by a toothless attack, assuming they finally manage to cut out the silly mistakes that have left them in the hole for nearly every game over their current unbeaten streak. And while it might be tough to break down NY’s stingy defense, DC should really find a goal or two in their own house, soccer gods willing.

United has two more home games on the next two Sundays, hosting SJ and LA respectively. After that, United takes a break from MLS competition to play in the Open Cup and Superliga. United is tentatively scheduled to play it’s first Open Cup match July 1st against an opponent yet to be determined likely at the Maryland Soccerplex in Germantown. While Superliga starts July 12th against Chivas of Guadalajara at RFK. United also faces Atalante of Mexico and Houston in the opening round of Superliga.

Match Previews

Do or Die for DC United
October 03, 2008

Blue Machine Next Up for DC United
September 30, 2008

DC United Treks to Dallas
September 28, 2008

Green Monster Next Up for Weary United
September 24, 2008

Desperate DC Heads to Distraught Galaxy
September 19, 2008

Depleted DC United Awaits Purple Monster
September 15, 2008

DC Knows the Way to San Jose
September 06, 2008

DC Wants Some Dewar in their Coffee Pot Cup
September 03, 2008

United Looking to Turn the Tables on the Bulls
August 29, 2008

DC United Hoping to Dam the Rapids
August 22, 2008

DC United Facing a Different Revolution this Week
August 19, 2008

United is Playing with Fire
August 16, 2008

DC United Hosts Revolution in Open Cup Semifinals
August 11, 2008

DC United Staying on the Defensive in NY
August 09, 2008

Wizards Take on Decimated DC United
August 01, 2008