D.C. United are finally playing the sort of soccer that fans and observers expected from the four-time MLS Cup champions coming into the 2007 season, but with coach Tom Soehn's emphasis on stability and consistency, their recent results are prompting little euphoria among the Black-and-Red.
"It's been longer stretches of good soccer," said midfielder Ben Olsen. "We don't want to blow it out of proportion right now, because the last three games we played some undermanned teams and a team in New York that was physically beat."
United have handled back-to-back home victories against Eastern Conference rivals with poised professionalism, noting their opposition's circumstances and focusing on their own side's ongoing maturation.
"I thought we did a good job of that against Chicago," said Soehn this week. "Obviously they were depleted, and they didn't really come out to play - they sat in, but we were able to stick to what we wanted to do, and we didn't get away from that, which I thought was a credit to the guys. Sometimes you play down to the other team's performance and we didn't do that."
Soehn and his charges have clearly noted the experiences of the past two seasons, when United faded in the latter stages and failed to meet their own expectations in the postseason. Rather than try to replicate predecessor Peter Nowak's fiery demeanor, the first-year head coach has taken a measured approach, experimenting with different players and formations after D.C. struggled to sustain the early success they enjoyed in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
"It takes time to jell a team," said Olsen. "Even when you put one or two new guys in there, it takes time. I was surprised at how long it took, but on the other side of that, earlier in the year in the CONCACAF stuff, there was some really good stuff. And we came here for the opening and I think mentally, that was our issue more than anything. There were some jelling issues, but mentally I think we let off the gas."
D.C.'s switch to a 4-4-2 shape and the growing comprehension of individual roles that followed has led to an improved cohesiveness - and a seven-game unbeaten streak bears proof of the results.
"We've got our confidence, we know how we want to play, and it's a fact that we've just got to play at our level," said goalkeeper Troy Perkins. "I think at certain times earlier in the season we were worrying about everyone else too much, worrying about how this team was going to play, these are the guys we've got to really watch out for, instead of saying, 'look, just do our jobs, and everything will take care of itself.' I think that's something we've learned along the way here, is how to be true professionals and take every game as though it's the most important game."
Saturday's clash with Real Salt Lake will provide ample opportunity to prove that. Real are stuck in the Western Conference basement and their search for the season's first victory grows more desperate with each week.
"The thing about this league is, anybody can beat anybody on any day," said left back Josh Gros. "We can't go in there lightly."
Fans of the Black-and-Red will be hoping for another comfortable outing like the one their team enjoyed against the Fire last week, and if United can prolong their recent habit of scoring early goals, they could seize a substantial psychological advantage over an RSL side that is low on confidence at the moment.
"This will be a test this weekend, against a very hungry Salt Lake City team who really needs a win," said Olsen. "Their back's against the wall and we'll see if we can just keep the streak going. But the soccer's been good; we've been enjoying it."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
