D.C. United take on FC Dallas this weekend, with both teams missing players due to the international window. Even with easy choices for Ben Olsen on the defensive side (made even easier with absences), he has a plethora of choices for his attacking tetrarchy. But who will he start on Saturday? Let's dive in and take a look at his options.
The key issue with which Ben Olsen will have to deal is that there are five attacking players vying for four attacking spots on the field. We can stipulate that Olsen will start Luciano Acosta regardless, and I'm almost as sure that he will start Lamar Neagle somewhere on the field. That leaves Patrick Nyarko, Chris Rolfe, and Fabian Espindola to compete for two starting spots. And that's not even to mention Alvaro Saborio, who had only a small chance to start anyways but is with the Costa Rican national team this weekend.
When he's on form and healthy, Fabian Espindola is D.C. United's best attacker, and he needs time on the field so that he and Acosta can become the attacking force they need to be. Rolfe and Nyarko, then, are left to battle for the right midfield spot, and I think Rolfe edges out Nyarko; Nyarko then enters in around the 60th minute as fresh legs to run at a tired (and makeshift) FC Dallas defense.
The defense remains mostly the same, with Taylor Kemp, Bobby Boswell, Sean Franklin, and Travis Worra; Kofi Opare slots in for the absent Steve Birnbaum. With this lineup, the substitutes would be Charlie Horton, Luke Mishu, Patrick Nyarko, Rob Vincent, Julian Buescher, Miguel Aguilar, and Jared Jeffrey.
What do you want to see Ben Olsen do this weekend?