Two consecutive losses and a basement spot in the Eastern Conference standings have D.C. United sifting through the wreckage this week, searching for ways to reverse their slump in form and ditch the losing habit.
The squad's continued underachievement has raised the pressure on everyone in the locker room, elevating the importance of leadership and fighting spirit as Saturday's meeting approaches with another struggling club, Chivas USA.
"We've had a lot of meetings, calling upon everybody to do their part and make sure that now we solve where we're going," said head coach Tom Soehn. "Obviously there's a lot of season left and it's never a time to panic, but there's more urgency to make sure that we become a harder team to play against and make sure we're more opportunistic, doing everything that we need to do to win ball games."
Disgruntled club leaders like president Kevin Payne and chief investor Victor MacFarlane have hinted at personnel changes should results not improve soon. But the players believe that there's more than enough talent on the roster assembled by Soehn and general manager Dave Kasper.
"If the staff finds a player that they think can help us and they bring him in, that's all that much better," said utility man Devon McTavish. "But I don't think we need a particular player right now. I think we have the ingredients for a good team. We just haven't mixed together and done everything we needed to do so far in order to make everything work."
The United locker room has welcomed many new faces this year, complicating team chemistry as hesitance and uncertainty over roles and relationships has contributed to a number of disjointed displays. Soehn is looking for leading personalities and players in key positions to assert themselves, starting with his captain, Jaime Moreno.
"I think certain guys are stepping up," said the second-year boss. "I can see a change in Jaime. He's really taken on a much bigger role than just a captain. He's showing the confidence needed to win games and he's really stepped up through this stretch. Some of that's contagious -- I think other guys are going to follow in that."
With 12 years of MLS experience under his belt, Moreno has kept a cool head amid the turmoil created by poor results and he is urging his teammates to take a more focused approach to match play.
"What's missing is lack of concentration, that's all. I think that's something we've got to get better at. Very simple: be alert on every single play," said the Bolivian international. "Being a professional, you've got to read the game better and right now the knowledge of reading the game has been totally bad. So that's all it is. You've got to just see what is around you and if it's a forward that has to go and defend, you have to do it. So it's all those little things that we're missing."
Goalkeeper Zach Wells has also heard the call. The 27-year-old netminder has looked hesitant in several games this season, some of which is understandable given his recent arrival in D.C. and the unfinished nature of the revamped, bilingual defense in front of him. But as his goals-against numbers accumulate, he's recognized the need to be more forthright.
"I'm starting to understand more what my role has to be on this team, and I'm working every day to try to improve how I'm doing it as an individual within the team and hopefully influencing people in a good way," he said. "You can't be afraid to call people out and you can't be afraid to hurt people's feelings. We've all got to grow up a bit and take accountability and take responsibility for our mistakes and for our actions. ... I don't want to be picking the ball out of my net anymore."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
