United @ Columbus

[Hokie_Skinz]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=424606&cc=5901

first off, DC will be wearing maroon uniforms tonight with VT logos. After the game, they are going to auction off the jerseys and send the procedes to the Hokie Memorial fund.

Hopefully Soehn has got the defense back on track. They have been completely MIA since the beginning of the MLS season. I am looking for a close match. This one will be too close to call.

*edit: they are 1 hour delaying the game on comcast...lame

[Hokie_Skinz]

Very poor showing by DC United tonight. I am not impressed by Fred at all. For all the preseason hype, he is TERRIBLE. The D looks lost, and the Offense looks uninspired. I don't know what the problem is. The team appears to have the talent, they just aren't playing together as a unit. Soehn needs to get it together soon, or he'll go the way of Roengen...a has been who didn't contribute much for very long to the Red and Black.

[RobertGoulet]

What was the final score?

[browncl]

I'm with you Hokie_Skinz - I have been very unimpressed with the showings so far this "season" from DC. I don't know what happened, they looked really good when I saw them against the foreign teams in the preseason cup... and I think those were arguaably better competition. What happened?

[Hokie_Skinz]

The team doesn't seem to have any direction. Soehn was a defensive player, and is running a 3-5-2 configuration. I personally am a huge fan of the 3-5-2, as it is quite possibly one of the most dominating configurations you can run....if run correctly. Unfortunately Soehn, being a defensive minded coach, is running it incorrectly. If you are too defensive with the 3-5-2, you lose control of the midfield and are constantly running, or 'chasing' the ball.

If allowed to play too defensivley, this formation is counterproductive for the defense, as the space becomes too crowded and it is easy to lose assignments. Whereas I feel this formation is good, I don't think the philosophy or personel match. Soehn needs to change either his formation to something more traditional, or change his mindset when running this current formation....or change both. Whatever he decides, he needs to do it quick because the current situtation is not working.