Author’s Note: To look at D.C. United’s midfield, check out Steve Long’s piece that came out over this weekend. We will continue our preview of the squad tomorrow with a look at their forwards.
A good defense always beats a good offense. That is the narrative that is fed to every kid playing any sport on Saturday or Sunday morning. It is boring, stale, and repetitive but there is some merit to it, in particular with soccer. Teams that at least have a foundation of a quality defense and can retain possession can gain results in matches. Having a strong defense in 2014 helped galvanize D.C. United and pull them out of the abyss that was 2013.
What made United’s defense so good was that it was remarkably stable. D.C. United Coach Ben Olsen used just seven players in the 2014 season to man the back four. Center-back Bobby Boswell started all 32 matches and his partner, rookie Steven Birnbaum, started every match after taking over for an injured Jeff Parke in May. Those two coupled with the improved play of Taylor Kemp at left-back, the acquisition of Sean Franklin at right-back, and a healthy Chris Korb helped fortify D.C. United’s defense.
The difference between 2013 and 2014 from a defensive perspective is startling. In 2013, the club allowed 59 goals second worst in MLS. In 2014, the club allowed just 37 goals. Although the club was a pretty good road team defensively (25 goals allowed, tied for seventh best,) they were frighteningly good at home (12 goals allowed, lowest in MLS).
Beyond just the numbers it was the way in which the back four engaged themselves in the attack. Both Kemp and Franklin acted almost like wing-backs at times, using their superior speed to throw off defenders looking for Luis Silva to hold possession in the center of the midfield. Kemp’s cross into Nick De Leon in the Quarterfinals against the New York Red Bulls was as perfect of a cross as you will see in soccer.
But the question for this back four going into 2015 is can they keep this cohesive unit together for a full 32 matches? Perhaps the biggest threat to this club’s structure will be the US Men’s National Team. If Steve Birnbaum is to make Jurgen Klinsmann’s roster for the Gold Cup he will miss all of July. This loss coupled with the potential loss of defensive midfielder Perry Kitchen will dramatically shake up the core of this lineup.
Injuries could also be a factor. Chris Korb has a checkered history with injuries and even spent some time on the sidelines last season with knee and hamstring problems. In an ideal world Korb would be the club’s utility defender, coming in for whenever a player is injured or if a guy needs a rest due to fatigue. With Birnbaum’s USMNT and the club playing in both the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 CONCACAF Champions League and the US Open Cup there will come a time when 33 year old Bobby Boswell needs a break.
The United depth at defense will be tested this season. If Korb is healthy he will be Olsen’s first pick off of the bench. But expect Kofi Opare to play a more prominent role with the club in 2015. Opare did not make an appearance with the club in the MLS regular season but featured prominently for the club in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Homegrown Academy Product Jalen Robinson has looked good in this preseason and seems to have made progress in honing his skills as a box-out defender. But he is still just 20 years and needs playing time. He make an appearance in the CCL but will likely spend most of his time with the Richmond Kickers on loan.
The club still currently has Raushawn McKenzie (7-year MLS veteran,) Luke Mishu (undrafted rookie from Notre Dame,) and Alexander Robinson Delgado (Saprissa) on trial.
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Perhaps the greatest impact that the D.C. United back four had on the club was on the play of goalkeeper Bill Hamid. Hamid seemed to make that next big step in 2014, showing better communication skills with his defenders and learning how to control the pace of the match when the ball is in his hands. His 1.14 Goals Against Average was third-best in MLS and he became the first Homegrown Academy Player to reach 100 appearances with an MLS team.
But much like with Birnbaum, Kitchen, and possibly Franklin or Kemp, Hamid will be gone for an extended period of time this summer with the Gold Cup. Back-up Andrew Dykstra showed last season that he is a serviceable spot starter. He made four starts with United last season while Hamid was injured and shutout both the New England Revolution and the New York Red Bulls. He also appears to be fully healed from his Achilles injury that he sustained in that wretched exhibition that was played against Fulham FC last season.
Dykstra role as backup was cemented this off-season when the club traded away Joe Willis to the Houston Dynamo. The club is currently looking into adding a third string keeper with a cavalcade of journeymen (Diego Restrepo) or undrafted rookies (Scott Goodwin, Travis Worra) given time in the off-season. Barring an injury either one of the top two, whomever is selected will likely be placed on to Richmond.
