Head coach has success with different lineups
D.C. United head coach Tom Soehn hasn’t used the same starting lineup in consecutive matches yet through thirteen games, resulting in one loss in the last nine matches.
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But Soehn’s balancing act has been more than simply managing player egos during the training week.
With arguably the deepest roster in Major League Soccer, Soehn has also pulled the right strings with his lineup during the course of the matches themselves.
Against Chivas USA on May 16, Soehn had Santino Quaranta move from forward to the right wing, a direct switch with Fred meant to help the Brazilian get behind the opposing defense. It resulted in a goal and an assist for Quaranta.
“[Soehn has] got a good luxury with a lot of our players,” said United midfielder Ben Olsen. “Guys like Chris [Pontius], Santino, Fred, Christian [Gmez] and Jaime [Moreno], those are all kind of interchangeable pieces.”
Luciano Emilio lashed out at the team’s water bottles when he was substituted in United’s 2-0 win over New York on June 4, proving that Soehn isn’t immune from some disagreement, and D.C. (4-2-7) will be without the suspended forward for Saturday’s showdown against Chicago (5-2-6) with first place in the Eastern Conference on the line.
But a year removed from being thought to be on the verge of losing his job, Soehn has a group of players that have made him a frontrunner for coach of the year.
“I think he’s got more options this year, ” said United general manager Dave Kasper. “He’s got versatilities, and it’s a luxury. I think he’s doing a great job with it … We didn’t have that last year. We didn’t have as much depth or quality depth.”
