United 1 - Toluca 3 August 26, 2009

Blood Was In The Water
(And United Was The Chum)

Here was a chance for DC United fans to get a good long look at newcomers Allen, Habarugira, and James.

Sigh.

If this sounds as exciting as Walmart unveiling a new collection of toilet brushes, it was.

On the other hand, even the Curmudgeon's eyebrows were raised by the substitution of Ely Allen with Fred in the 34th minute. Why burn a sub then and there? Why not just start Fred if Allen was so poor? Allen may not even have been the worst guy out there. That distinction may lie with Avery John (why bother defending when you can just foul?) or Habarugira (why bother at all?).

It was a dreary first half for United. The visiting Toluca side dominated possession, showing better pace and pinpoint combination play. United was looking a few steps slower and clumsier, resorting to fouls to stay caught up with the guys in red shirts.

The first goal of the night was embarrasingly stupid. Wicks came out and slid for the ball, right into the legs of Habarugira, and the Toluca player pushed the ball into the inviting open net. WTF were Habarugira and Wicks doing?! Can Wicks speak? Can Habarugira get out of his own way?

Obviously not.

In the second half, Quaranta came in for Jaime and proved his worth straight away, with a fine cross to Pontius (a rare DC United player crashing the box--pinch me!) who headed in the equalizer. Quaranta continued to play with class, and on the back of his effort the rest of the team seemed to lift their play for a little while. Hello everybody: Quaranta is the heir apparent to Jaime Moreno, and he, Pontius, and Jakovic are the building blocks for the future.

(Jakovic, you say? Pity Soehn did not see fit to play him.)

Wicks sort-of redeemed himself for the first goal with an excellent challenge in the 78th minute, coming off his line assertively and winning the ball. But, shortly thereafter, catastrophe. Burch got completely taken to school and Toluca scored. Sure, Burch was outclassed, but he was left alone with the man on the ball--how did that happen? Where was the support?

But Toluca was not done. United's collapse was assured by another Toluca goal in the 85th. This time, Namoff was beaten on the side, but you have to ask again: what happened to the midfield? These guys aren't hustling back on defense, making the field compact, or fighting for the ball.

To be sure, in this game DC suffered from many of the usual gremlins: slow transitions, players not creating space for each other, disorganized defending, and an almost tangible stench of mediocrity.

What did Kasper and Payne and Soehn do with the DC United that I love?

On the other hand, at times the team seemed a little pacier and more assertive than in the recent past, once they settled down and got some possession; I even lost count of the overlapping runs United players made (but then again, I was drinking). They just can't seem to figure out how to play competitively for the entire 90 minutes.

Now that United's chances of advancing in the Champion's League are all but done, maybe they should bear down and concentrate on making the playoffs.

Who am I kidding?

Damn it.

Talon Rating:  1 out of 5 birds

UPDATED

Goff's match report contains an interesting yet subtle dig at United's brain trust. After documenting United's issues with rotating players and the coach's comments about it, Goff wrote this:

Toluca (2-0 in group play) used only four starters from Sunday's 3-0 league victory over Santos Laguna. But there was no noticeable drop-off in the Red Devils' rhythm and interaction -- just interchangeable parts that understand the system.

Interchangeable parts that understand the system. Clearly, in my mind, this line was intended to underscore some or all of the following points:  (i) United's parts are not interchangeable; (ii) they don't understand the system; and (iii) there is no system.

In other words, the things that Toluca and its manager are doing right in terms of building and maintaining a team competent to compete in multiple competitions, United and Soehn are doing wrong.

BDR points out the disadvantages MLS sides have against Mexican teams, but observes that United would have sucked anyway. He also notes the disappointing performance by Jacobson, in a game where he had an opportunity to shine.

DCUMD notes that this would have been a perfect match for Szetela, and he's right. He also points out that the formation Soehn played was almost destined to loose. I'm not sure I'd go that far, because the tactics and effort were lacking regardless of the formation.

The lineup did, however, seem like yet another piece of evidence that Soehn is in over his head. I'd rather this team use either a 4-4-2 or maybe a 4-5-1/4-3-3 as a default formation, but it doesn't really matter what formation you play if the fundamental elements of good soccer, such as pressure, penetration, width in attack, compactness in defense, etc. are not there.

Fullback laments the dismal amature-hourness of this sorry match.

Finally, if you are in the mood for a cathartic, profanity-laced tirade, go here.

Comments

[Landru]

Thank you very kindly for both the linkage and the generous characterization of my post.

You're absolutely right about the lack of a system, and all of the repercussions thereof. I think it specifically crystalizes what I've been trying to get to as I've thought this through (and as I've just given up and gone with my own angry stream of consciousness).

[DCU Curmudgeon]

Thanks for dropping by and for giving voice to my own frustrations so passionately.

One of Soehn's habits over the years that drives me crazy is this constant tinkering in each game instead of, apparently, defining systems of play that every player becomes familiar with. So, with each new game, and each new tinker, the players seem left with brand new marching orders and no idea of what to do.

It's interesting how very slyly Goff seemed to work this idea into his piece.

[Landru]

I would go farther and note that not only do they not develop good systemic habits, the lack of a system complicates their ability to further develop personal chemistry. bDr is fond of noting particular combinations of long-time DCU players (Gomez/Fred is the Prime Sinkhole, and the one with which I most agree) that simply cannot play together.

Goff...I've not been happy with Goffinho for a while now, but it's much harder for me to articulate, partly because I don't dislike the guy and it's a joy to have someone local who writes and posts about futbol--and about our club--every day. I think I just sometimes don't feel like I watched the same players that Goff did.

That said, his approach to this game was good stuff, and his continuing willingness to question DCU management is heartening. Goff's not in a position where he can openly call for management changes, but I get the impression that he's edging closer to a place where he would if he could.