A nine-game unbeaten streak, attractive attacking play and a place atop the MLS standings have drawn attention to D.C. United's strength in depth, with head coach Tom Soehn's early-season willingness to shuffle lineups and positional roles producing handsome returns as the club has flourished throughout the congested schedule of the past two months.
Soehn has kept standards high by demanding consistency and competitiveness in matches and training sessions alike, and even the club's biggest stars have spent time on the bench at one point or another this year. This approach has had the biggest effect on United's defense, an area which was precariously shorthanded at the start of the campaign but now boasts more capable performers than starting spots.
Marc Burch and Bryan Namoff have clearly become first-choice selections at fullback. But Bobby Boswell, Devon McTavish and Greg Vanney have found themselves in constant competition for the two center back slots and with positive results still rolling in, Soehn seems in no hurry to declare a preference among the three, essentially creating a platooning system.
"There aren't really many egos in this locker room," said Boswell. "I feel like it's more about [Soehn's] system of play. He's never come out and said it's a rotation, but it almost seems like it is a rotation. We're winning games and guys don't really seem to mind the rotations -- they're staying fresh. For me, I want to be on the field every game. It (stinks) when you're not out there, but it's something you have to deal with and just keep working hard and putting in your time."
The situation has raised the stakes for all involved as even the smallest practice sequences take on added significance.
"It's good. There's no bitterness there at all, at least out in the public," said McTavish with a smile. "But if you see the other two playing well in practice, you're going to have to pick your game up, because there's only two spots. So in terms of competitiveness, I think it's great. That's all you can ask for. If you're not playing well, then you shouldn't be playing."
"Accountability" has been Soehn's mantra throughout, and while Namoff and Burch have both gone the full 90 minutes in D.C.'s last seven league matches, everyone along the back line is aware that there is always an extra defender hungry to regain his place on the field.
"Yeah, it's definitely a lot more competitive, now that we have depth, and that's something that we've lacked in the past," said Namoff. "It's great that we can bring in any five guys in there and they can play in the starting 11, and to make them interchangeable is such a necessity, especially going down this latter half of the season. It's just great to have that type of depth and it makes it more competitive in training nowadays."
Soehn, a hard-nosed defender during his own playing career, has had to subtly balance the selection dilemma, keeping all parties committed with an emphasis on fairness and results.
"Just because one of those guys is sitting out doesn't mean they're not good enough to start for our team," said the United boss. "Everybody knows that all through the team, that we've been very fair and pretty honest with everybody and it takes a whole team to win a championship or win games."
Boswell was benched for three consecutive games last month which, given his position as reigning MLS Defender of the Year, led to a spate of media attention. But he's continued to apply himself in training and says that it's up to him and his fellow defenders to make Soehn's choice as difficult as possible. After last week's win against Real Salt Lake, Boswell was asked if the rotation system was wearing thin.
"I will say that it is working," he said after a long pause. "And that I've always said that the team is the most important thing. I said last year that I'd give up all individual accolades to win championships, and I think we're doing pretty well to put ourselves in a situation to win a championship.
"So I'm glad to be a part of it right now. I want to make sure that I continue to be a part of it. I'll continue to work my butt off in practice to prove that I'm ready for it, that I'm ready to play, and I'll hope that I just keep getting called upon."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
