D.C. United Draws Chicago Fire In Opening Scrimmage Of 2012 MLS Preseason
by Martin Shatzer on Jan 29, 2012 5:45 PM EST
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Those of us dying for some real MLS action finally got it today, as D.C. United kicked off the 2012 MLS preseason with a 0-0 draw against the Chicago Fire at Florida Gulf Coast University.
The game ended scoreless, but judging from the Twitter feeds of the respective teams (@ChicagoFire and @DCUmatchday), the chances were roughly equal. The teams adopted very different substitution patterns though, as the Fire changed out their entire lineup at the 30 minute mark, and then again at the 60 minute mark. United opted to use its starting lineup for longer, and changed over each position just once during the match.
Fortunately for us, that gives us an excuse to analyze the starting lineup that Ben Olsen chose to insert for this match. It might roughly resemble the starting lineup we see in the regular season opener on Mar. 10, with only Bill Hamid, Chris Pontius, and Dwayne De Rosario sitting out from what we expect to be our normal best 11.
So who did United opt to use today? Follow us down below the break to find out.
In the first half, United used the following players:
| Willis | ||||
| Russell | McDonald | Jakovic | Woolard | |
| Najar | Kitchen | Richter | Boskovic | |
| Brettschneider | Santos |
While he was on the field, Branko Boskovic showed the potential that we've all been talking about but rarely get to see. He was involved in virtually every United chance mentioned in the first half. Apparently, Boskovic is at his best when playing anywhere except an MLS regular season match. It's not surprising to see Boskovic do well though. What was surprising to me was his position. He's been used by United exclusively in the middle previously, so seeing him on the left wasn't expected. Regardless, it's great to see him healthy, motivated, and making an impact.
Joe Willis also seems to have earned high marks, shutting down chance after chance from the Fire. He was noted to have misjudged one cross from Michael Videira, but it was cleared to safety by Chris Korb. Willis stopped every shot he faced.
The lone holdovers at the start of the second half were Willis, Blake Brettschneider (who also had several chances for United), and trialist Ryan Richter, formerly of the Philadelphia Union. Richter lined up next to Perry Kitchen in central midfield, and there may be a decent possibility of him making the team if we're able to make assumptions about Olsen's decisions to give him extended minutes. Once all the substitutions were made, the full second half lineup looked like this:
| Dykstra | ||||
| Korb | Svard | Dudar | Zayner | |
| C'deBaca | Saragosa | Shanosky | King | |
| Rozeboom | Jerome |
Positions are approximate. Later in the match, Charles Rodriguez entered for Korb, and former FGCU player Josey Portillo entered for Dudar, moving Conor Shanosky to center back. Portillo, along with fellow FGCU alum Cristian Raudales, was listed as a guest player, not a full trialist.
There wasn't too much to brag about in the second half, except for the play of United's top Supplemental draft pick Lance Rozeboom. The midfielder (who looked to be playing forward as far as I can tell) had two shots on target to test the Fire goalkeeper.
In other news, Jamaican forward Alanzo Adlam has been released from his trial, according to the Washington Post.
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On Boskovic...
Until Pontius is ready to play 90, I would expect Boskovic to be #1 on the depth chart at left back. Long-term, he may be destined to play centrally, but the Montenegrins like him on the left and United will, too. DeLeon may eventually be Pontius’ understudy on the left, but he’s hurt now and he’s just a rookie. He will be used sparingly, if at all until and unless Najar heads to London. So, Boskovic will carry the load at left wing, at least until Pontius returns.. .then, it will depend on where they want to line up Pontius and DeRo
That's one possibility
I think we could also see Najar on the left and Cruz on the right while Pontius is getting up to speed. Najar has never really seemed that different playing on the left; he uses both feet and prefers dribbling to crossing, so his game only changes a little playing on the left side. Cruz is not the world’s most skillful player, but he’s relentless and has the discipline to stay wide enough to provide width for guys like De Ro and Boskovic.
I’d do that before using Boskovic on the left for us, but I definitely wouldn’t discount the Najar-Kitchen-De Rosario-Boskovic diamond you’re talking about. Olsen will be keeping all of his options on the table, as he should. If we look better with Boskovic on the left, then obviously we have to go that way until Pontius is ready to start games.
Writer on SBN's DC United blog Black and Red United | @ChestRockwell14 | KEEP UNITED IN DC
by ChestRockwell on Jan 29, 2012 6:06 PM EST up reply actions
I’m not going to read too much about Boskovic playing on the left at this stage. I think this was more about giving Richter a true, extended run-out, and that apparently meant needing a second central midfield spot (my previous knowledge of Richter was that he was more of a right-sided utility player, but that was pretty limited knowledge). If Boskovic is a full-time left midfielder for us, then Pontius will be a full-time foward and either De Ro will be a full-time attacking midfielder or we’ll be starting someone like King in central midfield (with De Ro and Pontius as the forward pairing). That seems unlikely without other (undesirable) moves happening.
It could also have a lot to do with the fact that Pontius and DeLeon are both unavailable. That also meant King apparently playing on the left, which is quite odd.
My guess is that when Rodriguez entered the game, he played left back with Zayner moving to the right. As for Rozeboom, I’m thinking he ended up playing either up front or at least in a more attack-minded midfield role due to the players available.
It’s pretty weird at this point in the preseason to already have so many players missing. Goff noted that Morsink returned to DC due to some unknown injury, which means we have 5 players up here rehabbing something. At least we know the injuries – other than Morsink’s – are pre-existing from last season or offseason training.
Writer on SBN's DC United blog Black and Red United | @ChestRockwell14 | KEEP UNITED IN DC
Richter
Joe Mauceri tweeted me to say that Richter played CB mostly in college, until being moved up top his senior year. So he’s definitely a utility guy. Very versatile. Maybe a younger (better?) version of McTavish.
Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekly Columnist for SB Nation D.C..
by Martin Shatzer on Jan 29, 2012 10:56 PM EST up reply actions
A little sorry to see Adlam already gone
I thought maybe he might show something, but alas. Mostly, I’m just clutching at whatever striker straws there are to be clutched.
Striker straws
The only striker straws left to be clutched at this point are:
1. Stefan Jerome
2. Blakebrett taking a big step forward in 2012
Of the two, I’d say the second straw is more likely.
Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekly Columnist for SB Nation D.C..
by Martin Shatzer on Jan 29, 2012 10:57 PM EST up reply actions
To be fair, it's not even February yet
Even though I don’t have a lot of faith this will come to pass, there’s still the chance that the team will add at least one more foreign signing…perhaps a striker. I’m still clutching that straw.
Meet the newly patient fischy
It just proves you’re more of an optimist than you like to let on!
Glad to see Zayner back
In the opening game of last season, it was Zayner’s long ball that picked out Josh Wolff for the first goal, the one where he tore off his shirt and jumped into the stands. He was taken out in the 70th minute of that game (for Rodrigo Brasesco), and the left back position wasn’t the same the rest of the year. If he can get back to where he was, it would be just as good as signing a new fullback to replace/compete with Woolard. Zayner and Robbie Russell are a solid pair of fullbacks who can both defend and get forward, and I’d be happy with them as United’s First Kick tandem.
Also, balls.
Thanks for bringing him up
I’d actually intended to mention Zayner in the story. The fact that Olsen sees him right now as our second choice LB (and not just our third choice RB) is a good sign for him making the team. Give him a couple more weeks of full training, and it’s very possible that Zayner passes Woolard on the depth chart. So long as he’s healthy…
Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekly Columnist for SB Nation D.C..
by Martin Shatzer on Jan 29, 2012 11:00 PM EST up reply actions
I wouldn't read too much into that yet
It’s great that Zayner’s getting a run out at left back, and showing versatility might aid his chances of making the team, but it’s really down to his health. I’d guess his playing on the left had more to do with getting Russell and Korb a half each, at right back. If Zed’s up to it, I think he could be the #2 at RB and LB…though I can’t overstress how important I think it is for the team to find a more promising option at LB — presumably a foreign singing, if that’s a possibility. This team has pretty decent potential, but they look to be 2 or 3 pieces short still (striker LB and maybe a 2nd/3rd goalie for when Hamid is on national team duty.
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