DC United return to Montreal Fort Lauderdale to play against the Montreal Impact Club de Foot Montreal in what is sure to be an odd spectacle caused by COVID reality. After a packed house at Audi Field, DC United returns to an empty stadium. Fans will again be treated to distracting visual advertising effects and simulated crowd noise (Ed note: Please get vaccinated so we never ever have to return to this again). DC United, a team on short rest, faces another team who had a bye last week. I just want to say, thank you MLS schedulers for yet another brilliant and balanced schedule. Now kindly go to hell. Anyway here are three things to watch.
Rotation?
One of the running jokes of the Olsen era was he almost never rotated once he had his guys figured out. Unless an injury forced his hand, it was the same eleven players, week in and week out. Most would argue that was due to the talent around the team. Once you got past the Rooneys and Acostas, it was the Pedrosos and Jefferys of the world. That doesn’t appear to exist in 2021 DC United. They have at least five capable center backs and several options at midfield. Forward appears to be the only slightly thin spot, but still there at least a couple of options Losada could opt for to keep legs fresh.
With the condensed schedule there are going to be several multiple game weeks. DC United is facing two road games where they must make up a few points to keep pace in the playoff race. Of the two remaining matches this week, CF Montreal presents probably the best opportunity to pick up a win. I think we could see a more aggressive lineup from Losada. He will most likely want to get out in front early so he can reserve some extra options for Sunday against New York.
As far as changes I think we could see, I think Moses Nyeman presents the most likely option for a lineup change. He brought a different skill set and much needed energy when he subbed in for Felipe last game. I think Losada should utilize that option to put Montreal on the back foot early. Brilliant could sub in for Najar despite his MOTM performance on Saturday. It seems clear DC United needs to keep his minutes limited and not risk re-injury. He has a natural ability to relieve pressure from the back that could come in handy should DC United need to chase the game. Mora may come in for either Gressel or Paredes, but I am not sure Losada will want to split that tandem considering their effectiveness at finally providing the service to the forwards this team has needed for a while. Speaking of forwards…
If not Ola, then who?
One of the main takeaways from last week was the amount chances DC United’s leading goal scorer Ola Kamara had and how many of those he was unable to turn on frame. The silver lining? He is finally finding those spots. In all of 2020, Ola was invisible and hardly ever got even a good look at goal. DC United is unlikely to get any serious help in this transfer window and I question the players behind him in that spot. That leaves Ola to turn those chances into goals and fulfill the prophecy this podcaster has been talking about since he was signed a century ago in 2019. If he can turn those opportunities into goals, DC United may have not just a playoff team but a playoff team nipping at the heels of the Eastern Conference contenders.
Of course, we could just as easily see him rotated for Yordy Reyna or Nigel Robertha. I would put my money on Robertha since he was the one player on this team Losada appeared to have a say in acquiring. He will undoubtedly be given plenty of rope by the new coach. Otherwise maybe preseason MVP, Kimarni Smith makes an appearance? There are some options, but I still don’t see any good and MLS proven ones like Ola Kamara. But hey, maybe I need a come to earth moment after basking in the glow of my Najar 2021 projection.
Hey, national MLS media are you watching?
One of the more frustrating things about being a DC United fan in 2021 is that the team’s success is more viewed as an indication the opposing team is bad. This isn’t exactly far from the truth. Chicago and Inter Miami wins have been viewed in a less than stellar light from national MLS talking heads and perhaps rightly so. Still I have seen teams like Orlando and Philly dominate bad teams and get consistent praise. I will say Andy Najar’s destruction of Miami’s midfield in one play and Keven Paredes’ performance have finally gotten DC United some respect. Matthew Doyle even took it upon himself to rile up the Eurosnob USMNT fanbase by praising Paredes’ performance with jab at the Euro 2020 tournament.
While CF Montreal are far from contenders, they are far from the disasters of DC United’s more recent wins this season. An effective or even dominant win could finally start to turn heads amongst the national media group. It could, at the very least, start to generate some more buzz and excitement amongst DC United fans.
Losada has talked about how coaches now respect DC United. They have to think about how they want to play them. Well now i want the national media to do the same. There is some amazing young talent that is developing here in DC. We as fans watch a team that is fun and entertaining and it is time the national media recognized that. Picking up points over the next two games could go a long way to achieving that.
Prediction: I am actually bullish on a win here. I am going to say a 1-0 win with a goal early from Ola Kamara.