Humbled, frustrated and now short-staffed to boot, the D.C. United back line is awkwardly positioned to attempt a rebound this week.
United are missing two defensive starters and a holding midfielder to long-term injuries, while one crucial center back was felled by hamstring troubles last week. Yet another faces a red card suspension for Saturday’s meeting with the Chicago Fire at RFK Stadium.
Yet winless D.C. simply must stop the bleeding at the back in order to vanquish the three-game losing skid that threatens to ambush their entire season.
“We know that we need to get some things accomplished this weekend,” defender Carey Talley said Wednesday. “So I think a lot of people are mentally tuned in and guys that aren’t in the top XI right now are looking very good. They’re champing at the bit to get their chances right now.”
Like his teammates, the veteran defender is well aware that no one on a winless squad can truly feel safe in his position. United finalized the signing of SuperDraft selection and local product Jordan Graye this week and fellow reserves Lyle Adams and Barry Rice may get a longer look if the current struggles continue.
Head coach Curt Onalfo lamented a “lack of concentration in crucial times” after last week’s 3-2 setback to the Philadelphia Union, and accountability has become an increasingly hot topic.
But the club’s selection woes – and the importance of a steady performance against Chicago’s Premiership-tested strike duo of Brian McBride and Collins John – mean that Saturday’s lineup practically picks itself.
The seasoned Juan Manuel Pena will miss the next few matches as his hamstring heals, and Dejan Jakovic will be a spectator at RFK after his red card in Philly. So Talley has become the clear choice to move centrally alongside Julius James, the young Trinidadian who is raring to stake his claim for a starting job after an uneven spring thus far.
Devon McTavish has apparently recovered sufficiently from a nagging groin injury to take over right back duties from Talley, and Rodney Wallace remains the top option at left back.
It’s a patchwork crew and certainly one the forward-leaning Fire possess the tools to exploit, but United prefer to approach the situation as an opportunity rather than a crisis, and hope the heavy lifting takes place further upfield.
“I think Julius and Carey are capable guys filling in. They’ve played there before,” assistant coach Mark Simpson said. “For us, we have to treat it as business as usual, and still be attack-minded and be able to go forward and put teams on their heels, put pressure on them.”
