Black And Red United - MLS 2014 Week 1: D.C. United vs. Columbus CrewThey can't hold us back. We are United.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47471/blackandred-fave.png2014-03-10T12:30:02-04:00http://www.blackandredunited.com/rss/stream/52389852014-03-10T12:30:02-04:002014-03-10T12:30:02-04:00The Last Word: DCU's Nightmare Opening Match
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<figcaption>Paul Frederiksen-USA TODAY Sport</figcaption>
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<p>Other than the fact meaningful soccer was being played once again at RFK Stadium, absolutely nothing went as planned Saturday night. It was a nightmare opening, and now the franchise finds itself at a pivotal point.</p> <p>Saturday night's season-opening match at RFK Stadium was a hauntingly disappointing reminder that, despite all the new faces on D.C. United this season, a bright line of continuity in both on-field form and results continues to link 2014 to 2013. And, given a number of other dynamics surrounding the club, this weekend's loss finds many fans looking for signs something positive will soon happen...but is there reason for hope?</p>
<h3>Their Words:</h3>
<p>- <b>Steven Goff</b>, via <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dc-united-opens-season-with-3-0-loss-to-columbus-crew/2014/03/08/668e75e2-a730-11e3-a5fa-55f0c77bf39c_story.html">Washington Post</a>--"<a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">D.C. United</a> Coach <span>Ben Olsen</span> had preached patience through the preseason and asked victory-starved supporters not to render judgment right away. With seven new starters injected into a team that won three times last year, this promises to take a while. But even with tempered expectations, Olsen and United were left disappointed with almost every aspect of a 3-0 opening loss to the <a href="https://www.massivereport.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Columbus Crew</a> in front of 13,840 at RFK Stadium on Saturday night...Despite all the roster moves, United still seems to lack someone who can create opportunities and break down a defense. <span>Eddie Johnson</span>, the U.S. national team forward acquired from Seattle, did not receive consistent service and was not sharp on the ball. Defensively, United was beaten badly on the first goal and did not receive any favors from replacement referee Andres Pfefferkorn on the second."</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.blackandredunited.com/2014/3/8/5486482/d-c-united-0-3-columbus-crew-new-season-same-old-story-as-united-fall"><b>ChrisTeale</b></a>--"The fireworks that accompanied the singing of the national anthem before the game reflected a cautious optimism around RFK Stadium after a dreadful 2013 season and a drastic upheaval in playing staff. However, D.C. United could not turn that hope into points as they lost 3-0 to the Columbus Crew thanks to a double from <span>Federico Higuain</span> and a <span>Jairo Arrieta</span> strike..."</p>
<p>- <b>Pablo Maurer</b>, via <a href="http://golazo.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-03-08-dc-united-vs-columbus-crew/recap">mlssoccer.com</a>--"D.C. United and the Columbus Crew entered their matchup on Saturday evening with something in common: roster turnover. Both teams rebuilt their squads from the inside out following a disappointing 2013 campaign - United's starting XI featured seven new faces, including US national team star Eddie Johnson, while Columbus took the pitch with four newcomers. In the end, it would be Columbus who'd play more like a team, while United showed much of the uncertainty one would expect from a squad with so many new faces."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23DCU&src=hash">#DCU</a> Fans: Please don't panic. First game of the year. Seven new players out there. Everybody chill. Just drink more. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23MLS&src=hash">#MLS</a></p>
— Pablo Maurer (@MLSist) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLSist/statuses/442473534049513472">March 9, 2014</a>
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<p>- <a href="http://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-formations-tactics/2014/3/9/5487668/dc-united-loss-columbus-crew-tactics"><b>Adam Taylor</b></a>--"Higuain > Silva + Kitchen"</p>
<p>- <b>Ben Olsen</b>, via <a href="http://www.dcunited.com/news/2014/03/post-match-quotes-march-8-2014">dcunited.com</a>--"I thought we would be in better shape than we were today, but we have two weeks to get back to work. I know we can still strike at any time. I think that we were just a little bit off in some of the final things that really mattered tonight, and that was on the offensive end. Defensively, we struggled to deal with how many numbers the Crew threw at us. I thought they did a very good job at offsetting us. We didn't handle it so well in the first half."</p>
<p>- <b>Chad Ashton</b>, via <a href="http://www.dcunited.com/news/2014/03/match-analysis-with-chad-ashton-dc-united-vs-columbus-crew-march-8-2014">dcunited.com</a>--"Nicky [DeLeon's] energy was a little bit low; he was sick and not too many people know that. I think that showed. But, when Cristian is going to step, he needs to get there, and if he can't get there he needs to foul so he isn't giving that chance away. We did it three times before we gave that goal away, so we need to solve problems quicker on the field...Higuain causes problem. His movement is different, but there are other teams in the league that play similarly. We have to be able to solve that, when players are dropping into the midfield, creating extra numbers in there. We need to be able to handle that. It seemed like we were a man down in the middle of the field...<span>[Eddie Johnson]</span> needs to figure out where he fits within this puzzle. I thought too many times tonight, he played backwards or faced backwards. That's not really Eddie's strength. His strength is to stay high and stretch the defense and get into the box. Maybe at times we didn't get numbers forward, so he felt like he needed to come back to get the ball. But moving forward, we want to get him high and more aggressive."</p>
<p>- <b><span>Bill Hamid</span></b>, via <a href="http://www.dcunited.com/news/2014/03/post-match-quotes-march-8-2014">dcunited.com</a>--"Yeah, it is always going to be hard to get things right immediately, but no we didn't expect to come in here and lose three nothing...I think all around we looked good at times and at forward we threatened them a lot. There were a lot of situations where the ball was bouncing around in their six and they just muddled up on their side. I think we were very good, honestly. I think moving the ball forward we looked very good. I think at times we were organized and at other times we weren't. I think overall it was a very good performance."</p>
<p>- Columbus Crew defender <b><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/156734/michael-parkhurst" class="sbn-auto-link">Michael Parkhurst</a></b>, via <a href="http://www.dcunited.com/news/2014/03/post-match-quotes-march-8-2014">dcunited.com</a>--"It really brings us up. We're a young team with a lot of new things going on, so that first goal just brings us together and gives us the fight to keep going. You know, it was such a good goal too. We've been working on that kind of goal all preseason. It's great to see us doing that during the regular season."</p>
<h3>My Words:</h3>
<p>Much has already been written here on Black and Red United about what transpired during the match against Columbus (see <a href="http://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-2014-season/2014/3/8/5483600/columbus-crew-vs-dc-united-live-streaming-tv-schedule-lineup-thread">here</a>, <a href="http://www.blackandredunited.com/2014/3/8/5486482/d-c-united-0-3-columbus-crew-new-season-same-old-story-as-united-fall">here</a>, <a href="http://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-formations-tactics/2014/3/9/5487668/dc-united-loss-columbus-crew-tactics">here</a>, and <a href="http://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-2014-season/2014/3/9/5488194/dc-united-versus-columbus-crew-player-ratings">here</a>--and be sure to read the comments). I won't repeat the problems which have already been well discussed, but I will pose the most interesting question I heard asked during the telecast. Watching the game on MLS LIVE, those of us who weren't at RFK Stadium to see the match in person heard the Columbus Crew announcers ask the following (<a href="http://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-2014-season/2014/3/8/5483600/columbus-crew-vs-dc-united-live-streaming-tv-schedule-lineup-thread#219542337">paraphrased by DCUFaninMissouri on our B&RU Gamethread</a>):</p>
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<p>1st announcer - "You see the individual talent on the field from the new arrivals from DC, but they don't seem to be collectively together at times."</p>
<p>2nd announcer - "The Crew have a similar situation with new guys coming in. How come they don't seem to be affected by that?"</p>
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<p>My match notes are similar, paraphrasing the exchange between the two Crew TV commentators as asking, "Why does Columbus look like a "team" faster than D.C. United despite both teams having lots of new faces?"</p>
<p>Of course this was only the first game of 34 to be played during the MLS Regular Season. And fortunately, the entire Eastern Conference was dreadful on this opening weekend, with the nine teams in action <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/standings">going a combined 2-1-6</a> (with <a href="https://www.wakingthered.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto FC</a> having a bye week). But, with other MLS teams who faced significant player (and/or coach) turnover in the offseason looking strong in week one, the Columbus TV crew's question is fair.</p>
<h3>The Last Word:</h3>
<p>The dynamics around the entire D.C. United franchise right now are precarious. Let's look at a few of the principal issues facing the team:</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.blackandredunited.com/stadium-news">Stadium vote</a>--the team has made a renewed push in recent weeks to openly encourage its fans to support the Buzzard Point stadium deal, while vocal opposition has emerged on the DC Council--all set within the context of the District's ongoing mayoral race.</p>
<p>- Performance on the field--last year's league struggles are well known, but it has now been over 7 months since D.C. United won an MLS regular season match. Since they beat the <a href="https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Montreal Impact</a> 3-1 on Aug. 3, 2013, the Black-and-Red are 0-3-10 in league matches (3 points, with 9 goals scored, 26 conceded, and three losses by 3 goals). This isn't competitive, and it's no wonder many fans are questioning when the team will return to respectability. Winning would make all other issues better, but D.C. United now won't take the field again until Mar. 22 when they take on the mega-spenders of Toronto.</p>
<p>- Attendance--last year's <a href="http://www.blackandredunited.com/d-c-united-2013-season/2013/11/15/5097916/dc-united-2013-attendance-postscript-mls-rfk-stadium-buzzard-point">all-time worst attendance average of 13,646 </a>has been well documented, but Saturday's opening night attendance of 13,840 is cause for huge concern (opening night attendance was 17,072 in 2013, 16,314 in 2012, and 18,402 in 2011). Over the last three seasons, the final average home attendance for each of those three years ended up being ~80-85% of the opening night attendance for each season. If this dynamic holds in 2014, D.C. United is facing a final 2014 average attendance between 11,072 - 11,764 (which would be a ~14-19% drop in attendance over last season). Time will eventually reveal what the actual 2014 average home attendance will be at RFK (and my gut says it will be higher than the 80-85% numbers above), but D.C. United appears to be in uncharted territory for how bad attendance could get this season.</p>
<p>- The front office and technical staff--how secure are their positions? Does it matter?</p>
<p>Each of the issues above is intertwined with the other issues. If the team continues to be non-competitive on the field and attendance continues to decline, will the DC Council vote on the new stadium be impacted? Similarly, will a successful vote help attendance? If the team starts to win, what's the effect on attendance and the stadium deal?</p>
<p>For this team right now, the early season bye week, which surprisingly emerged when their match against the <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">LA Galaxy</a> was moved to August to accommodate LA's CONCACAF Champions League match, is poorly timed. Two weeks for the team's passionate fans to debate and discuss all these issues--but is there hope?</p>
<p><i>If you were the team owners, are you worried right now about the future of your franchise? What's your next move?</i></p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-2014-season/2014/3/10/5489322/dc-united-vs-columbus-crew-the-last-word-opening-match-nightmare-rfkstephen.whiting2014-03-10T10:00:03-04:002014-03-10T10:00:03-04:00The Game in GIFS - Enter at your own risk
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<figcaption>Paul Frederiksen-USA TODAY Sport</figcaption>
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<p>Calling all gluttons for punishment: here is the first installment of our animated look back at the game that was.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Well, you've clicked on the link to this post, so you've got moxie. Or you're just a masochist. Or you support another team besides <a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">D.C. United</a> and want to see us fans of the Black-and-Red suffer. Whatever the case, let's get this over with.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">We'll start with a high point, kind of like the game. United spent the opening part of the first half pressing high and denying the <a href="https://www.massivereport.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Columbus Crew</a> much space to play, and when D.C. were in possession, everybody pushed into the attacking half. With all the play on the right side of the field, Christian had two options when he received the ball in the center circle: switch play or...</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/4116231/Week_1_Christian.gif" target="_blank"><img class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/4116231/Week_1_Christian.gif"></a> <br id="1394450308388"></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Normally a shot from 45 yards out isn't on-frame, and even when it is it's not highlight worthy unless the goalkeeper is asleep. This was United's high point on Saturday. Seriously, turn back now.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">This is what one-touch passing in MLS can look like.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/4116213/Week_1_CLB_goal_1.gif"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/4116213/Week_1_CLB_goal_1.gif" class="photo"></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Pass into the middle - pass to down the line - centering pass - touch into the goal. Boom-boom-boom-boom. I'm still not sure our defense knows what hit them.</p>
<p>Thankfully Bill Hamid remains capable of the spectacular.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/4116219/Week_1_Hamid_Save.gif"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4116219/Week_1_Hamid_Save.gif" class="photo"></a></p>
<p>Of course, if only our midfield and defense could prevent a reserve player from slaloming through it, maybe "Billy Hamid" (as the Crew play-by-play guy repeatedly called him) wouldn't have to be.</p>
<p>And finally, one more example of what a good impression of a sieve looks like.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/4116225/Week_1_CLB_goal_3.gif"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/4116225/Week_1_CLB_goal_3.gif" class="photo"></a></p>
<p>Pass, settle, pass, settle, pass, cross, finish. More importantly, notice the movement off the ball on all of these Columbus sequences. My kingdom for an off-ball run into space!</p>
<p>Anyway, that's all the stomach I've got for gifs this week. If you made it this far, you deserve a prize. You won't get one, but you can tell your coworkers that some guy on the internet says deserve one, if you like.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-2014-season/2014/3/10/5490144/dc-united-vs-columbus-crew-loss-gifs-Adam M Taylor2014-03-09T17:26:13-04:002014-03-09T17:26:13-04:00D.C United Vs. Columbus Crew: Player Ratings
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<figcaption>Paul Frederiksen-USA TODAY Sport</figcaption>
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<p>D.C United's season opener couldn't have gone much worse, and unfortunately that will be reflected in B&RU's first player ratings of the season.</p> <p>Disappointment, utter disappointment. After an off season awash with exciting player acquisitions and fresh hope, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a> showed many of the same demons that haunted them during their historically awful season last year. This -- as you can tell from the title -- is the new "player ratings" feature. Player ratings can be rightfully criticized as an arbitrary, oversimplified way of analyzing a player's performance. But, hey, its fun. And you can let me know how your own rating numbers stack up against mine and we'll have a way of gauging the community's view on each player. Everyone's ratings system is a little different, so let me lay out mine: Scores below four are just descending degrees of atrociousness. A 5 is sub par but at least somewhat capable. A 6 is average, 7 is good, 8 is great, 9 is excellent, and 10 is performance-of-the-year stuff. Last night, obviously, won't garner many high numbers, which is a shame because it would be nice to start of with some lovely 8's and 9's, but that isn't the case so let's get into it.</p>
<p><b><span>Bill Hamid</span>: 5.5</b></p>
<p>Rating keepers in matches like this is tricky. Hamid couldn't do anything about the three goals he gave up because of the porous defense in front of him. But it's hard to give much of a rating for a keeper that's on the wrong end of a 3-0 drubbing. The save on <span>Justin Meram</span> towards was solid, as was his distribution, but United will need Hamid to perform at an all-star level to help a defense that looks likely to allow a bundle of chances.</p>
<p><b><span>Sean Franklin</span>: 6</b></p>
<p>On a night where the defense struggled mightily, I thought Franklin was the best of the worst. His runs down the flank were even more aggressive than I remember from his Galaxy days and that could prove to be useful going forward. On defense he held his own and mostly got back in position after his forays into the attacking third. He misread his assignment on the third goal, an error made more glaring because of the strategic decision to leave only the back three -- not having enough personnel to prevent overloads on the wings. Going forward I'm comfortable having Franklin at that right back spot, something I wasn't that convinced of during the off-season. And I'll be even more comfortable if <span>Ben Olsen</span> shifts to a system that provides more support when the fullbacks attack down the line.</p>
<p><b><span>Bobby Boswell</span>: 5.5<br></b></p>
<p>Aside from his mistake on Columbus' first goal, Boswell was very solid in his debut match back with United. Strong, aggressive, and surprisingly efficient with his passing, Boswell looked to be more than capable of being our starting center back for at least the foreseeable future. But the bottom line for player performance (especially for center backs) are singular, game changing moments that directly impact the scoreline. There's no way around it, Boswell was beaten because of the superior quickness and precision of Jairo Arrieta's box movement. To many that was a damning indication of the 32-year old's loss of speed and mobility. Too early for that conclusion. The pass from <span>Josh Williams</span> was deadly, but Boswell can use his experience to ensure he is accurate and in position to be able to use his interventions. This is a concern but the reality when you start an older pair of center backs.</p>
<p><b><span>Jeff Parke</span>: 5</b></p>
<p>Parke is in more or less the same boat as Boswell. He needs to be pretty close to perfect because of the pace he's lost over the years. Parke last night had a less active game than Boswell and had some moments which were worrying. His speed and decision making looked a little slower and at times he looked reluctant to make plays on the ball. To a degree, I was fine with his dropping off, but with so little in the midfield both Parke and Boswell needed to keep up the intensity when stepping foreword and disrupting passing lanes and rhythm. At times Parke didn't do that.</p>
<p><b>Cristian: 4</b></p>
<p>Cristian worries me. Actually, he worries me a lot. At any moment he seems teetering on the edge of committing a major mind meltdown earning an red and getting himself sent off. He's the starting left back and until that changes I think were going to feel the effects of his discipline (or lack thereof) at some point this year. As for his actual skills, I didn't see much room for praise. His passing, positioning, and general defense were all erratic. The shot in the early stages was exciting (and turned out to be the only positive of the night.) His main skill still appears to be his work in the box on set pieces, which isn't good enough for a starting left back.</p>
<p><b><span>Perry Kitchen</span>: 4.5</b></p>
<p>I like Kitchen as a defensive midfielder, but having him as the lone presence in the middle with only a wandering <span>Luis Silva</span> to help will never be a recipe for success. Last night Kitchen was fine in terms of distribution, which was expected, but was never able to contend with the Crew's midfield, especially Federico Higuain. It was mainly Kitchen's job to mark Higuain, a tough task, but his inability to do so led to the Crew controlling the game. Kitchen needs a partner on even footing with him in the midfield to be the most effective. Until then I think we'll be seeing him overrun in the midfield -- often.</p>
<p><b><span>Nick DeLeon</span>: 4</b></p>
<p>Really tough night for DeLeon. Only having one center mid at times meant he had to spent a majority of his evening marking Josh Williams increasingly aggressive attacking runs, and it was on one of those runs that Columbus scored their first goal. DeLeon's defense meant he had little to no effect in the attacking third, which is where DeLeon is undoubtedly his best. I sympathize with Nicky because he is in no way an industrial, defensive winger, and needs to have support on the wing to play at his best.</p>
<p><b>Luis Silva: 4</b></p>
<p>Having Luis Silva in a position where he has anything close to defensive responsibility is a mistake. Last night Silva needed to stop Will Trapp and <span>Tony Tchani</span>'s simple possessions out of the mid field and pickup Higuain when he dropped deep to pick up the ball. He did neither. All to often Silva was randomly roaming the center of the park, often picking up the ball in places where Perry Kitchen should have been. Silva is still very important to this side. He has the best technical skills of any United player by far, so it's important he find a role where he can be free to attack. Didn't happen last night.</p>
<p><b><span>Davy Arnaud</span>: 4.5 </b></p>
<p>Arnaud had a similar night to DeLeon but with better defense. Again, Arnaud was pinned back most of the night and wasn't able to influence the game at all in the attacking third. This is a shame because Arnaud can be pretty clever when he gets into the right positions.</p>
<p><b><span>Fabian Espindola</span>: 4</b></p>
<p>Yet another four for an attacker. Espindola had a mostly anonymous night and when he did pick up the ball he was ineffective. Espindola has been a pretty streaky player for most of his MLS career so it's entirely possible this was one of his off nights. The rest of the attack certainly had one but it's something to watch out for. Let's hope this isn't a harbinger of one of his down "spells".</p>
<p><b><span>Eddie Johnson</span>: 5.5</b></p>
<p>Johnson was the most involved United player in the attacking third last night, actually doing a decent job playing short passes with his back to goal and shifting it out wide for crosses. Johnson is a classic example of a striker that feeds off quality service into the box and from the midfield, so for him to be effective the rest of the team needs to be, which didn't happen last night.</p>
<p><b>Substitutes: 6</b></p>
<p>All three subs (<span>Lewis Neal</span>, <span>Kyle Porter</span>, and <span>Conor Doyle</span>) were average last night. Neal was the best and his performances could prompt a start in midfield in the next game. Porter and Doyle were injected to invigorate a lifeless attack and couldn't do so. They ran into the same problems their predecessors did: a lack of presence in the midfield so when they did get the ball, they were at the half field line or worse.</p>
<p>Well, there's that. Not the best first game to break down. If you guys can give your own ratings in the comment section I can come up with some nifty tables to show the group ratings of the players over several games.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-2014-season/2014/3/9/5488194/dc-united-versus-columbus-crew-player-ratingsDlewis2014-03-09T12:41:29-04:002014-03-09T12:41:29-04:00Where it all went wrong against the Crew
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<p>The easy answer is "everywhere," but where did things really break down for D.C. United in their season-opening loss to the Crew?</p> <p>Well that sucked. Having slept on the result of last night's dismantling at the hands of the <a href="https://www.massivereport.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Columbus Crew</a>, the sting is hardly any less. What was supposed to be the unveiling of a newly competitive squad that would not make the same mistakes the 2013 version of <a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">D.C. United</a> made on a weekly basis instead revealed a 2014 edition that made entirely new mistakes in to what has to be called an embarrassing debut. This is going to be my weekly take on the big tactical factors that turned the game, and unfortunately, there's not really any good to talk about.</p>
<h4>Higuain > Silva + Kitchen</h4>
<p>If you're a fan of Matthew Doyle, mlssoccer.com's Armchair Analyst, as I am, you're familiar with his take on the modern #10. In years past, the great playmakers found space in the center of the park, between the opposing midfield and defensive lines. With the advent of defensive midfielders, that space no longer really exists against most teams, so successful attacking midfielders have gone elsewhere to find space. Last night, <span>Federico Higuain</span> put on a clinic proving this to be true. While nominally a central midfielder, Higuain has license to roam sideline-to-sideline to find space and overload one side of the field or the other.</p>
<p>And did he ever put that license to good use. When D.C. were in possession, Higuain defended from a central position alongside or behind Crew center forward <span>Jairo Arrieta</span>, but when Columbus turned United over, he vacated that space almost immediately, moving wide. Meanwhile, <span>Perry Kitchen</span> had instructions to maintain his central position in front of <span>Bobby Boswell</span> and Jeff Parke. That left Higuain free to find space to receive a pass and all but guaranteed that the combination of Higuain and the Crew midfielder and fullback on that side of the field would have numbers with the ball on that flank, against only a wide midfielder and fullback from the home side. To counter this, <span>Luis Silva</span> was forced to chase Higuain wide, which pulled him out of position when United tried to counter.</p>
<p>The end result of this situation was a big advantage for the visitors, as Higuain was much, much more involved than Silva, completing 73 (84%) of his 87 pass attempts, while Silva only attempted 38 passes over the course of the game. Higuain's outplaying Silva and neutralizing Kitchen by moving away from the central zone fully explains Columbus' dominance in possession (57%-43%) and was the biggest deciding factor in the game. What makes it more unfortunate is that it's obvious that the Crew are always going to funnel everything through Higuain, and taking him out of the game is the Alpha and Omega of defending Columbus - and we completely failed to come close to doing it.</p>
<p>Going forward, the question, tactically, is whether this is something <span>Ben Olsen</span> and his staff can correct without ditching the modified 4-4-2 diamond they re-adopted this preseason. Perry Kitchen is among the better defensive midfielders in the league, but that's not much use if his impact can be reduced to nothing simply by overloading either side of the field. Luis Silva dropped deeper and deeper yesterday to find the ball, but to little avail. Would he have more success against a team that packs the midfield a la the Crew by mimicking his counterpart on Saturday and moving to wide, rather than deep, spots? Or will we see a quick reversion to the double-pivot of the last season-and-a-half?</p>
<h4>Other Features</h4>
<p>Of course, it wasn't just Higuain vs. 11. The midfield battle, which the Black-and-Red thoroughly lost, was the biggest feature of this game, but there were others, too.</p>
<ul>
<li><span>Let's start with a quick positive: Bill Hamid's distribution was much improved over past years, as he only had four passes find somebody other than a teammate. A lot of that is on the improved aerial and hold-up play offered by <span>Eddie Johnson</span> and <span>Fabian Espindola</span>.</span></li>
<li><span>That's about the most you can say for Johnson's contribution to the game, however. The striker received virtually no service and struggled to make his mark on the game. As you can see in the chalkboard below, most of Johnson's 33 pass attempts were backwards, as he was unable to find space to receive the ball facing upfield. What's worse, he had all of three touches in the penalty area and only two shots (one headed), both off-target.</span></li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4112453/Johsnon_Week_1_vs_CLB.png" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><img src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/4112453/Johsnon_Week_1_vs_CLB_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Johsnon_week_1_vs_clb_medium"></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Adding in Espindola to Johnson's chalkboard, and you can see that United's forwards were forced to play exactly where the Crew wanted them to: on United's right side, far from goal. Add in the general absence of any impact from wide midfielders <span>Nick DeLeon</span> and <span>Davy Arnaud</span> along with Silva's absence (discussed above) and it's no surprise that United failed to utter much danger.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4112461/Johnson_Espindola_Week_1_vs_CLB.png" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; background-color: #ffffff;"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4112461/Johnson_Espindola_Week_1_vs_CLB_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Johnson_espindola_week_1_vs_clb_medium"></a></p>
<ul>
<li><span>Finally, United were static with the ball. Off-ball runs don't show up on chalkboards, but too often last night - and last year - 9 players wearing black-and-red stood around waiting for the one guy with the ball to do something. Nobody made runs while United were in possession that could pull defenders out of position or open up pockets of space. Nobody looked to combine or take on the burden of making something happen. Nobody, it seemed, was willing to work for his teammates. Until that changes, nothing else will.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>With United off next weekend, it'll be a couple of weeks until I write another of these columns. Hopefully the next one will have more positives to talk about.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-formations-tactics/2014/3/9/5487668/dc-united-loss-columbus-crew-tacticsAdam M Taylor2014-03-08T21:42:32-05:002014-03-08T21:42:32-05:00D.C. 0-3 Columbus: New Season, Same Story
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<figcaption>Paul Frederiksen-USA TODAY Sport</figcaption>
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<p>Many things have changed from 2013, but unfortunately change didn’t come in the result column as the Black-and-Red fell 3-0 to the Columbus Crew in the season opener at RFK Stadium</p> <p>The fireworks that accompanied the singing of the national anthem before the game reflected a cautious optimism around RFK Stadium after a dreadful 2013 season and a drastic upheaval in playing staff.</p>
<p>However, <a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">D.C. United</a> could not turn that hope into points as they lost 3-0 to the <a href="https://www.massivereport.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Columbus Crew</a> thanks to a double from <span>Federico Higuain</span> and a <span>Jairo Arrieta</span> strike in front of 13,840 fans.</p>
<p>"I thought we'd be in better shape than we were today, but we have two weeks to get back to work," Head Coach <span>Ben Olsen</span> said after the game. "I still think we can strike at any time, and we were just a little bit off in some of the final things that really mattered tonight."</p>
<p>After all their rebuilding in the offseason, D.C. United handed MLS debuts to seven of their starting side, with <span>Bobby Boswell</span> returning for his second spell and captaining the team from the heart of defense. Boswell had been with the Black-and-Red from 2005 until 2007, and was re-acquired in the 2013 MLS Re-Entry Draft.</p>
<p>It was a completely new back four for the Black-and-Red, with Boswell joined in the middle by <span>Jeff Parke</span>, while <span>Sean Franklin</span> and Cristian Fernandez operated out wide.</p>
<p>Things had a more familiar look in the midfield, with last year's joint-top scorer <span>Luis Silva</span> playing at the front of a diamond. <span>Perry Kitchen</span> played the holding role, while <span>Nick DeLeon</span> and another debutant - <span>Davy Arnaud</span> - were on the wings.</p>
<p>Up front, <span>Fabian Espindola</span> partnered Designated Player <span>Eddie Johnson</span>, who signed a new contract with the club last week.</p>
<p>Of the starters for the Black-and-Red, only goalkeeper <span>Bill Hamid</span>, Kitchen and DeLeon survived from last year's two games with the Crew, both of which United lost.</p>
<p>There had been some moments of real optimism in the first half, as early on Fernandez saw a long-range shot palmed over by Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark and Boswell headed just over from a cross by Espindola.</p>
<p>Fernandez showed a great deal of willingness to get forward from left-back throughout the game but had a number of good crosses dealt with well by the Crew defenders.</p>
<p>However, Arrieta's opener after 18 minutes killed the mood somewhat. <span>Josh Williams</span> was allowed some space on the Crew's right by Fernandez and DeLeon, and he slid in a cross that was missed by Boswell and pounced upon by the Costa Rican.</p>
<p>Things got worse less than 10 minutes later, as Boswell was adjudged to have held back a Crew player in the penalty area and referee Andres Pfefferkorn blew for the spot-kick. Higuain duly stepped up and blasted the ball into the top corner, sending Hamid the wrong way in the process.</p>
<p>Those two goals were a killer blow to United, who looked threatening in attack without creating many more chances. Espindola showed a willingness to drop deep from his advanced position, while Johnson provided a threat in the air and on the ground.</p>
<p>There was some evidence of a growing partnership between those two, and also the hint of a burgeoning defensive partnership between Boswell and Parke. Meanwhile, Franklin showed a willingness to get forward from right-back in support of Arnaud, although an end product was not forthcoming.</p>
<p>The second half was mostly a midfield battle, but Higuain was on hand late to place the ball home from close range to complete the scoring for the Crew.</p>
<p>It meant the Black-and-Red slid to defeat on opening day for the sixth time in eight matches and kept scoreless for the fifth time.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/2014/3/8/5486482/d-c-united-0-3-columbus-crew-new-season-same-old-story-as-united-fallChrisTeale2014-03-08T15:00:02-05:002014-03-08T15:00:02-05:00DCU vs. Columbus: Streaming + Gamethread
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<figcaption>Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>D.C. United kick off their 2014 regular season against the visiting Columbus Crew, and OH MAN I CAN'T BELIEVE THE SEASON IS FINALLY HERE! SOCCER, YOU GUYS! SOCCER!!!</p> <p>Congratulations, <a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">D.C. United</a> fans. You made it through the cold, dark winter and have emerged on the other side stronger, wiser, and somewhat oddly more handsome. The "winter," of course, refers not only to the literal never ending cold that has beset the DMV since the winter solstice but also to the entirety of the 2013 MLS season. You made it. And now it is time we move forward into the future. That starts tonight against the visiting <a href="https://www.massivereport.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Columbus Crew</a>, who will be looking to get the <span>Gregg Berhalter</span> era started with three points. Our job is not to let that happen.</p>
<p><b>Time:</b> 7pm EST (last time for a while I'll get to use standard time in one of these posts - btw, set your clocks ahead when you get home from the game tonight)</p>
<p><b>Venue:</b> Venerable Robert Francis Kennedy Memorial Stadium in the District of Columbia</p>
<p><b>TV:</b> Ha! Fat chance.</p>
<p><b>Streaming:</b> United will have a stream up on <a href="http://www.dcunited.com/live" target="_blank">dcunited.com/live</a> website for anybody within the CSN Mid-Atlantic viewing area. Unfortunately, if you're outside of the local market, you'll have to sign up for MLS Live or MLS Direct Kick.</p>
<p><b>Projected D.C. XI:</b> This should actually be pretty straight forward, which is a bit surprising given all the roster churn we've had this year. <span>Bill Hamid</span> will start in goal. The all new and all improved back four will comprise <span>Sean Franklin</span>, <span>Bobby Boswell</span>, <span>Jeff Parke</span> and Christian Fernandez. Perry Kitchen will hold down the center of the park behind the trio of <span>Davy Arnaud</span>, <span>Luis Silva</span> and Nick DeLeon. Up front, <span>Ben Olsen</span> will run out his newly minted designated player <span>Eddie Johnson</span> partnering <span>Fabian Espindola</span>.</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3608425/mustreads.css"></p>
<p><b>Previews:</b> Be sure to check out everything in our <a href="http://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-2014-season/2014/3/5/5474944/dc-united-vs-columbus-crew-2014-season-opener" target="_blank">Week 1 StoryStream</a> - we've got a scouting report, a chat with a Crew blogger, predictions, our Filibuster podcast and more. The team site has also put together <a href="http://www.dcunited.com/news/2014/03/dc-united-match-preview-2014-home-opener" target="_blank">their own preview</a>, of course.</p>
<p><b>Prediction:</b> As I said in our predictions thread yesterday, I see a high-scoring draw that will give both coaches acid reflux for the next week. 2-2, with Columbus scoring first through the chaos following an Higuain set piece before United pull one back via DeLeon and take the lead with a tally from the Grown Ass Man only to give it up with a late penalty.</p>
<p><b>What Are You Drinking?:</b> Normally, I'm very live and let live when it comes to this question, but today there really is a right answer. You're drinking The Tradition. Well at least I am. And if you're not, just know that somewhere in Lot 8, I'm judging you.</p>
<p>Welcome to your gamethread, folks. This is your place</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-2014-season/2014/3/8/5483600/columbus-crew-vs-dc-united-live-streaming-tv-schedule-lineup-threadAdam M Taylor2014-03-07T18:03:33-05:002014-03-07T18:03:33-05:00Scouting Report: Columbus Crew
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<img alt="Shutting down Federico Higuain is vital if D.C. United wants to beat the Columbus Crew." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bq66g35UETeAtxUyjYkB4a50s_M=/290x0:3722x2288/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29673679/20130810_jrc_ab8_098.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Shutting down Federico Higuain is vital if D.C. United wants to beat the Columbus Crew. | Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>There are no must-win games in week one, but both D.C. United and the Columbus Crew are well aware of the tight margins involved with playoff spots in the East. The Crew haven't made many changes to their roster, but they have completely changed their approach to the game. Can United take advantage of a team in transition?</p> <p>A brutal 2013 that saw <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a> fans losing sleep over a team that went from within spitting distance of hosting MLS Cup to setting records for futility in under a year. A miserable (for us, anyway) winter that made me briefly wish I'd thrown in with my longtime friend and moved to California for the past few months. A crazy offseason full of new faces arriving and familiar faces leaving. A disingenuous opponent to the Buzzard Point stadium finally emerged. After all this and more, we get to play soccer again.</p>
<p>United will host the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.massivereport.com/">Columbus Crew</a> in a game that is important for both teams. It's not just that it's the chance to use the season-opener to get started on the right foot. Believe it or not, this game will likely matter to both clubs in the pursuit of playoff spots. In the past few years, the difference between the teams in last three playoff spots in the East and the teams that just missed out is a win here or a draw there. A quick look at <a href="http://www.blackandredunited.com/mls/2014/3/1/5461356/dc-united-2014-mls-previews-eastern-conference-storystream">what the other teams in the East did</a> underlines that there aren't many playoff spots up for grabs. KC and NYRB will be there. The Revs are probably going to get in too. Meanwhile Philly and TFC both spent millions to get better. Chicago improved their coach. Houston is Houston. You get the point.</p>
<p>Both of these teams have remade themselves, but the methods were different. Columbus finally made a break with the 2008 double-winning team by hiring <span>Gregg Berhalter</span> and shedding some Crew lifers (<span>Chad Marshall</span>, <span>Danny O'Rourke</span>, etc). The focus in terms of remaking their roster was, intriguingly, on improving the defense more than adding firepower.</p>
<p>Or maybe "improving" is the wrong word; instead, the idea was to change the approach to defending altogether. Marshall and O'Rourke are more old-school defenders; Marshall's best quality is his ability in the air, while O'Rourke never met a midfielder he didn't want to kick. The assorted fullbacks were stay-at-home guys. In other words, this was a team built to play against teams that love to cross, and their way to stop teams that wanted to play on the ground involved turning the game into a scrap.</p>
<p>The new faces are different. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/156734/michael-parkhurst">Michael Parkhurst</a> is pretty much the opposite sort of center back from Marshall. He's small, he's quick, and his primary quality is his ability to read the game. He'll be joined by Giancarlo Gonzalez, who Costa Rica builds their 541/343 scheme around defensively. The Crew also brought in a new left back in Waylon Francis whose instinct to attack is as strong as any defender in MLS. Berhalter has, from the back, turned the Crew into a team that will value anticipation and possession, whereas Robert Warzycha's teams preferred to focus on grit, a zeal for tackling, and security.</p>
<p>Despite that sea change in terms of mentality, the formation is unchanged. Berhalter teased everyone by bringing up the possibility of using a back three early in the preseason, but ultimately never tried it out in games and looks set to stick with something that would look very similar on a whiteboard to what Warzycha would have trotted out. It's also a look that United fans will be familiar with: the 4231 that is sometimes a 442 and sometimes a 4411. Generally speaking, the Crew will defend out of a 442/441, but will move to the 4231 when attacking.</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4105015/948892_Columbus_Crew.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="948892_columbus_crew_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/4105015/948892_Columbus_Crew_medium.jpg"></a> <br id="1394225516797"></p>
<p>The biggest question by far is in goal, where <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/03/05/columbus-crew-coach-gregg-berhalter-not-ready-name-starting-goalkeeper-ahead">Berhalter hasn't yet tabbed a starter</a>. Given Steve Clark's experience and the fact that he got the start in the Crew's final preseason game, I'd say he's the likelier starter. Still, don't be surprised of <span>Matt Lampson</span> gets the call instead; if Clark had truly staked his claim, we wouldn't have a mystery here.</p>
<p>The other issue is what Columbus will do to replace <span>Dominic Oduro</span>, whose <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/03/06/red-card-2013-finale-leaves-dominic-oduro-frustrated-bystander-columbus-crew">red card late in their final match of 2013</a> has worked to our benefit. <span>Hector Jimenez</span> seems to have Berhalter's trust - they were former teammates with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a>, and Berhalter traded for him almost immediately after taking over as head coach - and has been playing well throughout the preseason. Berhalter's other options include moving <span>Bernardo Anor</span> to the right and starting <span>Justin Meram</span> (who Berhalter appears to see as a forward more than Robert Warzycha did) on the left wing, giving <span>Ben Speas</span> a start, or a more defensive option in <span>Ethan Finlay</span>.</p>
<p>Those seem unlikely, though, so we should be anticipating Jimenez. He's not the fastest winger by any stretch of the imagination, but his close control and dribbling ability is pretty strong. Jimenez is more of a shifty character than the customary "get ball, run forward fast" second-choice right winger we see in MLS. He's going to look to combine in the passing game, and if he gets isolated Jimenez is more likely to choose the dribble rather than hit an early cross. For Christian, this means staying patient and staying on his feet rather than hurling himself towards the ball and Jimenez and hoping to somehow not foul. Athletically at least, Christian has a clear advantage and shouldn't need to lunge in, so if he stays disciplined he should be able to handle things.</p>
<p>Talking up Jimenez's attacking threat means I'm burying the lede. With the Crew, the first thing to discuss is always Higuain. "Pipa" is virtually irreplaceable for Columbus, and every Crew player's first look will always be to their Argentine maestro. Obviously any team would want someone with his skills getting as many touches as possible, but the Crew are so reliant on Higuain that it can be used against them.</p>
<p>United needs to have a team-wide focus on denying the other ten Crew players the option of passing to Higuain. That requires staying close to Higuain in terms of marking, but it also requires the whole team clogging passing lanes and forcing Columbus to play where we want them to. That means cheating towards Higuain, which of course requires a lack of cover on someone else. Specifically, United should attempt to funnel play towards <span>Josh Williams</span> - who isn't comfortable with the ball - and Wil Trapp, a keep-it-simple defensive midfielder.</p>
<p>It's not easy to do that with Higuain, though, because he has carte blanche to go wherever he wants in search of space. <span>Perry Kitchen</span> clearly will need to dominate central midfield, and the center backs will have to combine with him to make <a href="http://footballspeak.com/post/2012/05/08/Zone-14.aspx">"zone 14"</a> a hellish place to try and play, but that's only part of the job. Higuain is comfortable drifting to either channel and even as far out as either touchline, which means the fullbacks have to prepare for quick combinations and decoy runs involving the Crew's wingers. They also can't expect one habit or another when Higuain goes wide; he's just as likely to make a fool of you on the dribble as he is to play an early cross that no one expects. If we can keep Higuain restricted to unambitious sideways passes in those positions, things are going well.</p>
<p>I mentioned that the Crew will look to Higuain first every time, but that doesn't mean no one is willing to take on the creative burden. <span>Tony Tchani</span> is overly susceptible to that impulse, since he doesn't quite have the skill on the ball that he thinks he does. If Tchani doesn't have Higuain as an option - and sometimes, even when he does - he'll get overconfident and try something he probably shouldn't be trying.</p>
<p>Speaking of Tchani, he's a double-edged sword of a player. On one hand, his runs out of the midfield cause havoc, and his dynamic style of play means he's able to contribute both with runs off the ball and tackling all over the field defensively. On the other hand, he still struggles to learn when to run and when to stay home, and that lack of positional discipline is big. If United pulls him out of the middle going forward, the best thing to do is to make use of that vacated space. <span>Luis Silva</span> in particular needs to get into the area Tchani vacated if the Virginia product flies out wide to pursue the ball, but so too could Eddie Johnson and <span>Fabian Espindola</span>.</p>
<p>Up front, <span>Jairo Arrieta</span> has done well against United over the years, but that's in part because we've so often had reactive defenders rather than players who can anticipate. The former Saprissa man is at his best running the channels - more often the left-center channel, but he's not one-sided by any means - and ghosting away from his marker.</p>
<p>What Arrieta isn't, however, is a back-to-goal target man, and the Crew frankly could use that a bit more. With Arrieta, the idea is usually to get him in behind early in the attack, or to find him in enough space where he can take several touches going sideways (as he lacks the size and strength to body up to center backs). That suits United, because Arrieta usually doesn't have too many ideas if he's playing against defenders who can sniff out his plans early, and in <span>Bobby Boswell</span> and <span>Jeff Parke</span> we actually have that. I remain nervous about speed against that pairing, but Arrieta has only average pace; where he could be a threat is his first couple steps, where he has more of a burst than Boswell.</p>
<p>Let's go back to the new-look defense. Where the Crew were a team you attacked by being clever and moving the ball quickly on the ground in previous years, now they're more vulnerable to big, fast players getting on the end of crosses. Parkhurst is MLS's smallest starting center back, while the 6'3" Gonzalez plays a bit smaller than his height would indicate.</p>
<p>That plays into United's hands thanks to <span>Eddie Johnson's</span> aerial gifts. It's been ages since the Black-and-Red fielded a striker like EJ, and we need to take advantage of it by repeatedly testing the Crew athletically rather than getting into a battle of wits with them. If we're forcing them to scramble repeatedly and make desperate blocks or saving tackles, we're on the right path. If, however, Parkhurst and Gonzalez look like they've barely broken a sweat, we're not scoring any goals.</p>
<p>On the wings, Francis is a worry. He's not the sort of player who provides constant good crosses or good runs; rather, he's a gambler who sometimes comes up big but sometimes loses his shirt. It's not just in his run selection or his occasional long-range blasts; Francis wants to play the killer through ball more than is reasonable for an outside back, but with Arrieta's off-the-ball movement it's something we need to worry about.</p>
<p>Naturally, an attacking left back comes with risks. United needs to make sure there are runners available in behind Francis when Crew attacks break down. That's an issue given that <span>Davy Arnaud</span> tucks inside and is positionally conservative, while Espindola prefers to drift to the left rather than to the right. If we catch Francis well upfield, one of those two is going to have to get into that vacated space - even as a decoy - or we risk not taking advantage of it, which then means Francis has no reason to think twice about jumping into the next attack.</p>
<p>Moving on , Columbus will always be a threat on dead balls with Higuain standing over the ball. He's right up there with <span>Graham Zusi</span> and <span>Brad Davis</span> as MLS's elite set piece takers. The Crew have lost their best target, but Williams scored three times last year from Higuain service, Gonzalez isn't small, and Tchani is an upgrade in size in the engine room. United can't give up fouls cheaply - looking at you, Christian - because Higuain will reliably put the ball into very dangerous spots.</p>
<p>Still, the Crew are overall a smaller and less angry (for lack of a better word) team, and that means they won't be so ferocious about defending set pieces. I'm not sure Williams or Gonzalez have the chops to handle EJ, and that still leaves Boswell, Christian, and possibly Parke (though Parke rarely scores, he can at least occupy a marker). It feels weird to say this, but we should be able to turn our attacking set pieces into real threats based on a straight comparison between our targets and their defenders. It happened last week against the Sounders, who covered our top four guys but still left an athlete like Kitchen wide open, and it needs to keep happening all season long.</p>
<p>Altogether, this is a winnable game for United. The Crew have done well in preseason, but with all the experimentation teams are doing it's not a major sign that they're about to roar to the top of the standings (see also: United's 2010 preseason). Without Oduro, the Crew will be even more reliant on Higuain than they normally are, and they won't have enough speed in the attack to give Higuain the space he thrives in.</p>
<p>All that said, the Crew are looking at us and thinking "This is a chance to take three points on the road in the East," and they're right. Both teams have undergone a lot of change, and the team that can be more cohesive at this early stage - that's "more cohesive," not actually 100% cohesive - will walk away the happier team. Hopefully for United, the influx of veterans and talent hits the ground running faster than the Crew and their attempt to use most of last year's roster playing a completely different style.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-formations-tactics/2014/3/7/5482510/dc-united-vs-columbus-crew-scouting-report-federico-higuain-dominic-oduro-suspendedJason Anderson2014-03-07T13:30:05-05:002014-03-07T13:30:05-05:00DCU vs. Crew Predictions Thread
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<p>We polled the staff here at B&RU about what we'll see on the field tomorrow when United open their season against Columbus.</p> <p>It's new feature time, sports fans! This year, we're going to poll our staff before each <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a> game for predictions and share them in a post. You're encouraged to share your predictions for the game in the comments. Let's get to it.</p>
<p><b>ChestRockwell: </b>Dreadful previous season, new striker with USMNT caps, new Canadian assistant coach, Pontius just had offseason hamstring surgery, season opener at home vs. Columbus...clearly it's 2011 again. The Crew will be without Dominic Oduro, which given their stable of attackers is a loss United simply must punish. The stage is set for a 3-1 win that probably promises too much if taken as an omen for the whole season, but after 2013 I think we've earned the right to indulge. Goals for EJ, Boswell, and Espindola, with Federico Higuain briefly equalizing before halftime. Memorable celebration/<span>Josh Wolff</span> tribute duties probably fall on Boswell given his past history here.</p>
<p><b>blazindw: </b>2014 starts out on a high note: the defense, led by a couple timely saves from <span>Bill Hamid</span>, pitches a shutout, DeLeon and Kitchen control the midfield and Espindola hammers one home from the penalty spot. 1-0 to the good guys!</p>
<p><b>stephen.whiting: </b>Expect Ben Olsen and the boys to start the season with a more attacking spirit than we saw last year. With greater confidence in the retooled back four, the team will generate more chances going forward than we've become used to at RFK, but don't expect the goals to flow like water yet. In week one, despite the better chances they will create, D.C. United will likely find putting the ball in the back of the net difficult. But, I foresee the defense playing well as expected, Hamid getting the clean sheet, and D.C. United winning the game 1-0 with a second half goal from a set piece header.</p>
<p><b>Bald Pollack: </b>In watching DC against Seattle last week, seeing how <span>DeAndre Yedlin</span> and Dylan Remick caused a headache or two for the backline was mildly concerning. At least without seeing <span>Dominic Oduro</span> this week there is a mild sigh of relief to exert, even if Waylon Francis is present. That said, I have slightly more confidence in DC's rebuilt back line against Columbus attacking players and just as much in the opposite (all the moreso with Francis and Giancarlo Gonzalez having a short trainup time due to a midweek friendly with Costa Rica), so I'll cop out in Week 1 and say 1-0 DC.</p>
<p><b>Adam M Taylor: </b>United and Columbus are both dealing with a lot of new faces in the back, and I don't see either keeping a clean sheet. Both are also high on confidence after lifting preseason silverware. United have the home field advantage and the better attacking pieces, so we'll see the Black-and-Red with the better of the chances, but I think we're in for a minor disappointment with a 2-2 draw.</p>
<p><b>Ryan Bacic: </b>As usual, <span>Federico Higuain</span> will find a way to create something out of nothing for the visiting Crew, but even against a revamped DC backline, Greg Berhalter's offense won't have much to work with outside of their No. 10. EJ bags his first for the Black-and-Red early in a 2-1 win-and, after Thursday's contract signing, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrQvFCti6BE">this celebration</a> will no longer be needed.</p>
<p><b>Dlewis: </b>Considering the player turnover in the offseason and offenses somewhat tepid preseason performance, a 1-1 draw would be a good result. Crew jump out to an early lead before Eddie Johnson rescues us late on.</p>
<p><b>Touchline:</b> United's defense is going to click into place and lock down. Columbus will not score. Our midfield will struggle to hear the same click - but we'll see glimpses of what they're capable of. RFK is <span>Eddie Johnson's</span> house now. He'll score one goal, signaling the start of the EJ era for DC United. He will celebrate. Prediction DCU wins, 2-0.</p>
<p><b>Ben Bromley: </b>If D.C. United can't beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.massivereport.com/">Columbus Crew</a>, even in the first game of the season, it will be a long one indeed. Just like in 2011, United scores three goals and someone takes off their shirt, with a comfortable win for the good guys.</p>
<p>So, do you share the optimism of the majority of our contributors? Or do you think we're in for a harsh start to the season?</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-2014-season/2014/3/7/5479848/mls-week-one-dc-united-vs-columbus-crew-predictionsAdam M Taylor