making the playoffs -- in his first year at the helm. He believes the support system put in place and the successes he and his team earned together will be invaluable next season as the Wizards endeavor to avoid the seemingly traditional mid-season lull that nearly decimated the squad this season. Just five wins came after June 2, when they were in second place, similar to breakdowns in 2005 and 2006.
"I really believe that a major part of [the midseason lull] was psychological, which I inherited. The fact that we overcame it and succeeded [means] that I don't think it will be an issue [next year]," said Onalfo.
"We want to start strong, find a way to maintain that rhythm, hopefully not lose players to the national team at that same point, because I do believe [losing Eddie Johnson and Jimmy Conrad] was something that really hurt us, and make sure that we can keep that consistency all the way through," he continued. "There are always going to be ups and downs, but I feel [having] the experience [of overcoming the lull] this year will help us as we face those challenges next year."
WHAT WAS THE TEAM'S BEST MOMENT IN '07?
The attacking philosophy infused into the team by Onalfo and his staff provided many memorable moments for the Wizards and their fans. Two offensive explosions stuck out in Onalfo's mind as he rattled off a series of memorable moments: the validation of a supportive atmosphere and attacking style that was the season-opening 4-2 win at D.C. United and the crucial three points gained in a revitalizing 3-2 stoppage time comeback against Columbus on Sept. 15.
"The Columbus game was an amazing moment in sport for every one of our players and for everyone in this entire community. That was an emotional game," said Onalfo of the Wizards two goals that overcame a 2-1 Crew lead. "But the defining moment of our team was in Dallas the last game of the season with our backs against the wall and putting together the performance we put together winning 2-0 on the road. That was a great moment."
A Wizards loss would have left them susceptible to being knocked out of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Galaxy, who took on the Chicago Fire the next day.
"These guys had been through the exact same game two years in a row and had failed. To overcome that psychological obstacle and put them in a positive frame of mind to be able to do that was a great moment for the team; it was a great moment for me as a coach; it was a wonderful moment for our owners who have put so much money into this team," Onalfo said. "Then to validate it even more with two more shutouts in the conference semifinals [against Chivas USA] was similar."
WHO MADE THE MOST IMPROVEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON?
Rookie Michael Harrington scored three minutes into his MLS career against D.C. United in First Kick 2007 and rarely looked back. But the progress of the Wizards' first-round pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft was not the revelation -- it was fourth-round choice Kurt Morsink.
"Kurt Morsink is someone who developed nicely. Michael Harrington did too, but he played all year long," said Onalfo. "Kurt made it very difficult for us to not have him on the field."
The likely holding midfielder of the future can play anywhere in the midfield, as he displayed when filling in for veterans Sasha Victorine and Kerry Zavagnin and playmaker Carlos Marinelli when called upon. His "savvy" performances led to him starting 10 regular season matches and every playoff match. He was also protected in the expansion draft.
WHAT RESERVES ARE MOST READY TO MOVE INTO THE TEAM?
Defenders Ryan Raybould, Tyson Wahl and Aaron Hohlbein were all used to plug gaps when starters were called away to national team duty or were felled by suspensions or injury. In addition, Onalfo and technical director Peter Vermes brought in Argentinean Eloy Colombano in August to shore up the midfield and forward positions. But the player Onalfo pegged was forward Ryan Pore, who finished the season with 17 appearances and four starts.
"He's an extremely talented kid, and we have Tyson Wahl and also Aaron Hohlbein who fit in the same category. But Ryan has a bright future," Onalfo said.
In his third season, Pore led the reserve squad in scoring for the third consecutive year, but did not tally for the first team. For his MLS career, the 24-year-old has scored three goals in 44 games, including 12 starts. However, Onalfo's belief in the player former interim head coach Brian Bliss called a "pure finisher" was revealed when he inserted Pore in the latter stages of each playoff game.
WHAT AREA OF THE TEAM NEEDS THE MOST IMPROVEMENT?
The Wizards struggled on each side of the ball at various times throughout the season. The attack suffered from forward Scott Sealy's multiple absences due to injury and Eddie Johnson's inconsistency, as well as inability to maintain possession. The defense, which seemed to right itself at the end of the season, was statistically ninth in MLS.
The late-season move of rookie Harrington to left back provided defensive stability -- three shutouts in the last four games -- yet left a hole on the left of midfield. Veteran Jose Burciaga Jr., one year removed from a Best XI selection at left back, was dropped to make way for Harrington.
"We moved Michael Harrington from left midfield to left back, so we want to improve on the left side in the midfield ...," Onalfo said. "Jose is probably the fourth or fifth-best left back in the league. But having said that, we have a player that we believe has an extremely bright future in that position as well in Michael Harrington. It was just one of those situations that happens in soccer where an opportunity arose for another player, and our team functioned [better] at the time," said Onalfo.
Onalfo said Burciaga could be moved to the midfield role, which could also be helped by Carlos Marinelli. The early-season acquisition saw his time dwindle, much of it because of injury, in the latter stages of the season.
"Carlos best chance for his best year will be next year. When you are out of the sport for more than a year, it takes time to get that fitness base and that rhythm that enables you to have consistency. I feel that with a good preseason, he can be a really solid attacking midfielder for us," Onalfo said. "You can see that he has an unbelievable passing ability. He needs to, in our league and in certain parts of the field, play a little bit quicker, but in the final third, he has that ability to make that final pass that not many people possess."
Although the areas of improvement are significant and depth is another need, don't expect the Onalfo and Vermes to extensively shuffle the deck.
"I believe that in this league you have to make the most out of the players you have. Teams that make drastic [roster] changes fail," Onalfo said. "A big reason I [agreed to take] over this team was that I felt like Bob Gansler had put together a roster that was very good, but for whatever reason were not achieving the success that they probably could have. I felt like this was a team that could be successful right away, and I didn't believe there had to be a lot of change."
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
