WASHINGTON – Wondering who’ll take the field for D.C. United this weekend?
Good luck with that.
Heading into D.C.’s match at Orlando City SC on Sunday (7 pm ET, Fox Sports 1), the Black-and-Red have used 13 different lineups in 16 matches. It’s sometimes a symptom of a team that’s struggling to find their identity, but that's not United – nearing the halfway point of their campaign, D.C. remain atop the Eastern Conference, seven points clear of second-place New England.
While much of that lineup turnover has been due to injuries – at any given point, D.C. have been without the services of a host of key players – much of it also has to do with the fact that head coach Ben Olsen’s side is a deep one, and that many of his players are adept at multiple positions.
Veteran midfielder Davy Arnaud, for example, is probably best suited to play as a central midfielder, but at different times in his career has played out wide, and even played up top for stretches during his time with the Montreal Impact. Chris Rolfe and Chris Pontius, as well, seem equally comfortable on the wing as they do at forward.
On the backline, Chris Korb has spent time on both sides of the field, while second-year center back Steven Birnbaum has moved to fullback for United’s past two matches, the first time the Cal grad has ever left his role in central defense at any level.
"For me, this is one of the deepest teams I’ve ever been a part of,” Arnaud told MLSsoccer.com after United’s training session on Friday morning. “I don’t know how many teams can put out so many different lineups out there and still be in first place. Normally, when you see teams in first place there’s a lot of [continuity] – I think it speaks a lot about our group that we’re able to adjust like that and still find ways. [Our depth] is a good thing to have for sure.”
Players normally deployed off the bench have also developed into important starting contributors when needed – Andrew Dykstra has done well in goal, filling in sporadically for an injured Bill Hamid, while Conor Doyle and Jairo Arrieta have both embraced starting roles neither were probably slated to have; both have made their way onto the scoresheet in recent matches, affirming Olsen’s belief in their value to his squad.
"One of the tough things about coaching is trusting guys,” Olsen told MLSsoccer.com earlier this week, "putting belief into them to succeed. More times than not, you get them out there, and you realize that they’re here for a reason. They’ve made you team for a reason and they can do it. It’ll be good when we have the entire group back and we can see what our best eleven is."
Though his side’s depth has certainly made Olsen’s job easier in some respects – United have excelled despite their spate of injuries, and their depth has played no small part in that – it's also presented Olsen with the unenviable task of sitting a handful of players who’ve been perennial MLS starters. Olsen has spoken frequently about wanting to create a competitive culture in his squad, one where players are being pushed on an almost daily basis for their starting spot.
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It’s the type of environment that suits many on the club, in particular veterans who embrace the pressure.
"If you want to be on a good team, you’re gong to have have that [competition],” said Arnaud, "I feel like if there isn’t competition, [players] can become a little bit complacent. When there’s competition, you’re on your toes every day. It raises not only your level as an individual but the team’s level as well.
"There’s gonna be guys on the weekend come game day that aren’t starting, that are going to be on the bench and they’ll be disappointed. I had a coach tell our group one time several years back that you’d prefer to be a guy who’s on the bench, fighting [to start] on a good team than one who’s playing on a bad team. That’s just the way it is."
"I’m sure it will get to a point where there’s a lot of guys that think they need to be on the field,” added Olsen. "This is pro sports – it’s healthy; as long as there’s a mutual respect with everyone and it never crosses the line, I think it’s a healthy thing. That’s my job to manage that."
