I mentioned this in another thread and didn't get a whole lot of feedback. I don't want to come across as someone who just likes to think of formations and tactics in terms of FIFA or Football Manager, but honestly I'm a fan of the 3-5-2 formation even though I fully understand its limitations in the modern game, especially in MLS. However, when we look at DC United's roster (as currently constituted), I notice one key thing: three of probably our top 6-7 outfield players are center backs: Boswell, Birnbaum, and Opare.

Obviously throughout an entire season there is a very good chance that at least one of these three will be injured or unavailable for a good many games, but say they're all fully fit. With Kitchen all but gone, with Farfan and Coria cut, and with questions over what type of quality of players we are going to bring in this offseason, I think a 3-5-2 kind of in a crazy way makes a lot of sense. The biggest caveat, of course, is that it is highly unlikely that Benny would even think of implementing something so drastically different from his tried-and-true 4-4-2, but from a personnel standpoint, the players kind of fit! Here's my initial vision of it:

GK: Hamid

CBs: Birnbaum, Boswell, Opare (Backups: Robinson, Mishu, Halsti)

Wing-backs: Franklin, Kemp (Korb, Mishu, DeLeon, Doyle)

CDM: Halsti

CMs: Rolfe, DeLeon

FWs: Neagle, Espindola (Rolfe, Saborio)

So Franklin and Kemp would play like traditional wing-backs, which suits them. Korb and Robinson as backup, with even DeLeon and Doyle getting a look there as well. Halsti playing the traditional CDM. DeLeon would do a lot of heavy lifting getting back on defense, and Rolfe, Neagle, and Espindola would be a very fluid "front 3" (although I have no idea how hard of a worker Neagle is, I think the other two would track back enough to cover for the midfield). Saborio as an impact sub up top.

I just feel like this would allow us to be as offensive or defensive as the game situation calls for with the wing backs either bombing forward/pressing high or bunkering in when needed (which is usually a lot of the time).

Hopefully I get some kind of dialogue going with this post; like I said, this was just something I was thinking about earlier today and I'm fully aware that what sounds good in theory often doesn't work in reality. This was just my attempt to get our best players on the field in positions I feel they could have an impact. Hopefully we have a few new faces come in over the next couple of months that can be difference-makers. Personally, I don't have super high hopes for this year. I'll be happy with a playoff berth if I'm being completely honest.

All the best!