Categories: CF MontrealDC UnitedEastern ConferenceMLS

DC United Struggles with Attacking Identity in 0-0 Tie with Montreal

Photo: DC United

Yet another tie, this time against Montreal, greeted 16,133 DC united fans at Audi Field on Saturday. DC Coach Troy Lesesne saw only one positive on the night, ”I like a clean sheet and this is something that we have to build off of and have to take that as a positive. What I didn’t like on the night was the type of intensity and aggression and really just the dynamic attacking play that we look for and that we expect at home. I think we left a little bit out there tonight.”

The team is built to feature a dynamic pressing style which is supposed to come from six players in particular. The experienced wide defenders, Aaron Herrera and David Schnegg are relied on to insert themselves into attack while containing the opponent’s wing attacks. The midfield is driven by four dynamic youngsters, Joao Peglow, Gabriel Pirani, Hosei Kijima, and Boris Enow. Therein may lie some of United’s inconsistency in attack.

In an interview several weeks ago, Captain Christian Benteke, the experienced finisher, had noted that the youthful dynamism needed to feature some patience, an observation that addressed the need for the youngsters to grow as they learn each other’s tendencies and better understand when to pass as they take on opposing defenders. They don’t fear to play one -on-one, a good sign of confidence, but their overall vision is still incomplete.

Lesesne observed, “First off, we created a number of chances, but not enough in the end and it never felt like we were in our in our typical way.” During the game, Benteke would sometimes find the ball a bit more deeply in an approach which seemed designed to show the youngsters how to build an effective attack.

Changing a tactic employed in the previous game and first half of this one, United went from the long ball to more building from the back in the second. Lesesne pointed out, “I thought we had a number of good builds in the first half. I’ve told you this last week, and I’ll tell you this every week, the first threat that we have to always look for is in behind, but if the game starts to open up like that, then it’s not as easy to play in behind and so it’s going to be typical. You play underneath more.”

As an example, late in the game, defender Lucas Bartlett carried the ball forward several times through the midfield. The usual central flow is through the defensive or attacking midfielder when wider options are foreclosed. Asked if the change was planned ahead of time or was just a function of what Montreal was letting him do, he averred, “Just kind of play the game they give you. They were putting pressure on a couple of guys and you know, if we can turn a ball over and carry into space it’s kind of the way the game goes.”

Looking forward, the coach spoke to preparation for Orlando, “We didn’t have the same type of aggression and pressing style that you usually see. And so that’s something that we never want the opponent to be comfortable and they were comfortable many, many times tonight, so this is something that will be addressed next week because if we’re that way versus Orlando City – – – They’re very good, very, very good and can hurt you.” That game is at 7:30 on Saturday.