Who is to blame?

[TCompton]

United's performance has brought out some extremely entertaining reading--particularly around who's to blame.

I've read that it's the front office (Kevin Payne and Stephen Zack) who traded Gomez for Gallardo, given Boswell and Perkins their wishes to play elsewhere, put together a team without a organization strategy.

I've read that the Management (Tom Soehn, Chad Ashton, and Mark Simpson) don't know how to use incorporate Gallardo effectively, have thrown players under the bus to deflect blame, have no response to United's poor performances.

I've read that Emilio should be sold, that Peralta and Martinez are a waste, and that Niell should be on a U-8 team in Arlington.

I've read that injuries to Olsen, Fred, Moreno, and Gallardo have crippled this team and made it impossible to succeed.

I've read that the League's scheduling practices are to blame and that the lack of depth prevent the team from responding to injuries are to blame.

I've read that everyone and everything is to blame.

We need to fire the Soehn, fire Payne, sell Emilio, bench Moreno, bench Wells, etc.

Honestly, and amazingly, no one is blaming the Referees for our performance.

And all of my reading has led to me one serious question. When it comes down to it, who is ultimately responsible for United's performance on the field? Has our strategy been the fault or the implementation of it? Has the Front Office given Soehn players who can't perform?

I think the fault begins and ends with the players. Regardless of which players are ask to step on the field and represent United, they have expectations to perform and adapt to whatever situation they face. Whether they need to step up and become more vocal, play a style they're not use to, or simply to talk to one another, the players are the men who are responsible for implementing that change. They should not need an explanation of how to perform. The coaching staff gives them a strategy, they implement it. They are simply soldiers.

It's the players who need to look at themselves and find the heart to bring DC United back to it's place among the League's elite. It's the players who need to block out the distractions. It's the players who need to forget about their pedigree. It's the players who need to forget about last season. And it's the players who need to block out the distraction of the press to allow them the soul searching self examination that is needed to play for United.

Don't fire Payne. Don't fire Soehn. Don't fold under the pressure of a knee-jerk reaction. The problem can only be solved on the field.

Our players need to do it themselves. The Front Office has brought in good players. Management has given them game plans to implement. It's the players who have failed. All of them. All 27 of them.

[Bootsy Collins]

I'm to blame. It's my fault. I haven't been able to put together a working lucky shirt + pre-match ritual like I have in previous seasons. I hope I'm able to soon; but in the meantime, I'm sorry for letting everyone down.

[Knave]

In these situations like this there's always somebody who wants to excuse the coach and the management and blame the players for failing to deliver. But in situations like this you've got to ask who exactly assembled these players and created an environment in which it was possible for them to play so badly. The answer is obviously the coach and the management.

Unrelated to that, I also think for years there's been a systemic failure to get and develop the kind of core, blue-collar, backbone American talent that any MLS team needs in the long run. That too is a failure of the coaching and management.

[Stan Collins]

In these situations like this there's always somebody who wants to excuse the coach and the management and blame the players for failing to deliver. But in situations like this you've got to ask who exactly assembled these players and created an environment in which it was possible for them to play so badly. The answer is obviously the coach and the management.

I've never seen much evidence that Tom Soehn makes the personnel decisions. It's Kaspar's job.

Unrelated to that, I also think for years there's been a systemic failure to get and develop the kind of core, blue-collar, backbone American talent that any MLS team needs in the long run. That too is a failure of the coaching and management. This does bring up a point. DCU has drafted like crap and/or given its picks away cheaply (at least in terms of drafting real talent with high picks, anyway. We've done fairly well a couple times getting role players really late, like Josh Gros) for YEARS and skated by with a mix of undrafted walk-ons and foreign acquisitions.

I can't help but think that with a roster prominently featuring other teams' castoffs (Quaranta, Burch, Doe, and Kirk, at least, all fall into this category, as they were all more or less let go by their previous teams) we may be paying the bill now. Not that we necessarily wouldn't still be having a tough patch, but we might not be so tragicomically bad if there were some talented young Americans on the team to either not make some of our gambles necessary, or help bail us out when they didn't work out.

[TCompton]

I agree that the Front Office and Management own a share of the blame, but the problems we're seeing on the field (i.e., the lack heart, not fighting for balls, poor passing, poor goal tending, generally a lack of interest in the game) are the result of the PROFESSIONAL players on the field.

THEY should demand more of themselves. THEY should take pride in their work. THEY should be the first to say, "we've got a problem here" and attempt to solve it. Regardless of who the Front Office gives the Management Team to work with, or who the Management Team puts on the field, it's the players who have to step up.

I have no problem blaming Soehn or Payne, but last night and for several weeks I've seen a group calling themselves DC United as if they were some how entitled to do so. There has been piss poor decision-making ON THE FIELD that has led us to where we are now.

The players are to blame and have got to get it together... immediately.

[Stan Collins]

I agree that the Front Office and Management own a share of the blame, but the problems we're seeing on the field (i.e., the lack heart, not fighting for balls, poor passing, poor goal tending, generally a lack of interest in the game) are the result of the PROFESSIONAL players on the field.

THEY should demand more of themselves. THEY should take pride in their work. THEY should be the first to say, "we've got a problem here" and attempt to solve it. Regardless of who the Front Office gives the Management Team to work with, or who the Management Team puts on the field, it's the players who have to step up.

I have no problem blaming Soehn or Payne, but last night and for several weeks I've seen a group calling themselves DC United as if they were some how entitled to do so. There has been piss poor decision-making ON THE FIELD that has led us to where we are now.

The players are to blame and have got to get it together... immediately. The coach is pretty much always going to take the heat for that part of it, because you can't exactly fire the whole roster.

So Soehn will understandably be on a real short leash. But if accountability stops at his desk, without going higher up, I'm gonna be pretty pissed.

[Eric Shinn]

I think its clear..Kevin Payne and Dave Kasper.

They are the ones that hires Soehn, and the ones that constructed this new roster. They are the ones most culpable for oue failures this season. IMO they got a little to cocky and arrogant thinking they could do no wrong. They made bad decisions. Soehn as the coach will be the fall guy here, but Payne and Kasper are most to blame.

[austinwetherby]

stop blaming management and coaches, your goaltender sucks. Ive seen 10 year old keepers stop better quality shots. Look carefully at the goals hes let in. Easy swoop up balls that travel 1 mph through his hands.

[bigredfutbol]

stop blaming management and coaches, your goaltender sucks. Ive seen 10 year old keepers stop better quality shots. Look carefully at the goals hes let in. Easy swoop up balls that travel 1 mph through his hands.

We're quite aware that we're pretty shaky between the pipes. That doesn't explain why this team struggles to create, and finish, scoring opportunities.

[Nacional Tijuana]

I'm to blame. It's my fault. I haven't been able to put together a working lucky shirt + pre-match ritual like I have in previous seasons. I hope I'm able to soon; but in the meantime, I'm sorry for letting everyone down.

I am so neg repping you every time the rep machine lets me from now on, man. I have had the runs for two days and blame it on DCU's performance lately, which....well...means your wardrobe/ritual choice, ultimately (is that a dangling participle? I'm going to use it anyway). Good thing I can't even see this failure of yours, as I'm in Pennsylvania. But if it happens again, I shall have to take steps.

[LJSoccer]

Not to flame or troll or what ever it's called, but your management has loaded it's roster with players that love to show personal flair, but you don't have anyone who is willing to do the hard work of defending in the middle of the field, winning a 50/50 ball and taking personal responsibility for anything. It looks like a bunch of guys who are looking to get the ball in a place that suits them to make a play that makes them look good. It looks like you are loaded with players that are a whole lot more worried about personally looking bad than winning. You have a bunch of guys who don't have any heart or have the faintest idea of how to step up and not quit when they fall behind. When DC is passing the ball the way that they can, they are a very enjoyable team to watch, however, when it comes to a street fight, they would rather dive than stay on their feet, dig in their heels and get the job done. I'm sorry if I am angering you DC fans but from where I am sitting, right now you have a bunch of thoroughbreds and not enough honest mules. Let me finish by throwing more gas on the fire by saying that when Chivas puts more honest mules {Americans} on the field than DC, DC is making bad player moves. When Chivas brought on the likes of Curtain, Razov, Chiestan, pardon the spelling, Bornstein, Marsch, Braun and Guzan, it paid dividends. You got out worked last night DC, out worked by a bunch of American mules. Chivas learned the hard way their first season, DC needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Maybe I'm wrong but that is my observation.

[John L]

I'm to blame. It's my fault. I haven't been able to put together a working lucky shirt + pre-match ritual like I have in previous seasons. I hope I'm able to soon; but in the meantime, I'm sorry for letting everyone down.

I haven't been responsible for my Tailgating Party's grilling for any game so far this season - No Brats - No Brats rolling off the grill onto the coals or the ground - No said Brats rinsed off by beer and eaten by the cook - This tradition was establised in the 2005 season with Boswell's goal against Chelski at Reskin stadium - Since then its assured DC United of winning seasons and games at crucial points in the season

Though I've responsible for the Scotch and specialty beers so far this season, that's still no excuse

I beg forgiveness



(I'm so ashamed)

[BBBulldog]

1996-1999
2000-2003
2004-2007
2008-2012

we're just due for 4 year suck, that's all :)

[terp fan]

I think its clear..Kevin Payne and Dave Kasper.

They are the ones that hires Soehn, and the ones that constructed this new roster. They are the ones most culpable for oue failures this season. IMO they got a little to cocky and arrogant thinking they could do no wrong. They made bad decisions. Soehn as the coach will be the fall guy here, but Payne and Kasper are most to blame.

BINGO! Finally someone gets it.

[Boda United]

DCU clearly controlled the first half. It was a coaching choice to fall back in the second half. Preki out-coached Soehn. The decision to fall-back (bunker) falls completely on Soehn. That is what caused us to lose the game. If we keep the high pressure................aww screw it!

[Publius]

DCU clearly controlled the first half. It was a coaching choice to fall back in the second half. Preki out-coached Soehn. The decision to fall-back (bunker) falls completely on Soehn. That is what caused us to lose the game. If we keep the high pressure................aww screw it!

DC neither controlled the first half nor did they bunker. I won't dispute that Preki outcoached Soehn, but in all honesty I don't remember the last time Soehn outcoached his counterpart.

[Boda United]

DC neither controlled the first half nor did they bunker. I won't dispute that Preki outcoached Soehn, but in all honesty I don't remember the last time Soehn outcoached his counterpart.

I guess I am comparing the 1st half to the 2nd half for the "controlling the game" thing. But when you are giving Chivas 10-15 yards to get to midfeild before they are pressured, I'll call that bunkering......how many shots did we have the 2nd half?

[dsheon]

I would think Dave Kasper is going to be the first to go, but not necessarily deservedly so.

Kevin Payne will make him the fall guy.

Only when Will Chang and Victor MacFarlane realize they've been dupped by a megalomaniac who has never played soccer, who takes credit when something goes right then blames his players when it goes wrong, will we turn the ship around.

Can they be happy with an employee (and part owner right?) who cut Gomez on the grounds that he wants too much money, then turned around and pays an inferior player (in terms of his ability to play in MLS right now) 5 times the money Gomez wanted?

[Publius]

I guess I am comparing the 1st half to the 2nd half for the "controlling the game" thing. But when you are giving Chivas 10-15 yards to get to midfeild before they are pressured, I'll call that bunkering......how many shots did we have the 2nd half?

Bunkering would entail having the defense playing 9 or 10 men behind the ball with sufficient organization in the defensive third to deny passing lanes to the attacking team. DC attempted to play offensively but kept turning the ball over leaving defenders out of position where Chivas ran riot through them. Just because Chivas had gobs of space available to them doesn't mean DC was bunkering or even attempting to bunker.

Can they be happy with an employee (and part owner right?) who cut Gomez on the grounds that he wants too much money, then turned around and pays an inferior player (in terms of his ability to play in MLS right now) 5 times the money Gomez wanted?

DC didn't cut Gomez. Gomez simply wasn't going to re-sign for fewer guaranteed years than he wanted. Yes, DC paid much more for Gallardo but DC didn't cast Gomez adrift to get him.

[DCSharksFC]

Not to flame or troll or what ever it's called, but your management has loaded it's roster with players that love to show personal flair, but you don't have anyone who is willing to do the hard work of defending in the middle of the field, winning a 50/50 ball and taking personal responsibility for anything. It looks like a bunch of guys who are looking to get the ball in a place that suits them to make a play that makes them look good. It looks like you are loaded with players that are a whole lot more worried about personally looking bad than winning. You have a bunch of guys who don't have any heart or have the faintest idea of how to step up and not quit when they fall behind. When DC is passing the ball the way that they can, they are a very enjoyable team to watch, however, when it comes to a street fight, they would rather dive than stay on their feet, dig in their heels and get the job done. I'm sorry if I am angering you DC fans but from where I am sitting, right now you have a bunch of thoroughbreds and not enough honest mules. Let me finish by throwing more gas on the fire by saying that when Chivas puts more honest mules {Americans} on the field than DC, DC is making bad player moves. When Chivas brought on the likes of Curtain, Razov, Chiestan, pardon the spelling, Bornstein, Marsch, Braun and Guzan, it paid dividends. You got out worked last night DC, out worked by a bunch of American mules. Chivas learned the hard way their first season, DC needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Maybe I'm wrong but that is my observation.

yes and no

we had the americans to start out, gros is retired, olsen may be done as well, boswell was traded away, adu, traded away, carroll, traded away, eskandarian traded away, there's a good chunk of our last mls cup side

gomez was the backbone of that team, and the FO thought, ok lets try bringing latin role players see if it works out, erpen was iffy and traded away for, fred has worked out, but he's injured, emilio did fine his first year, but now he's a head case, there's a good chunk of our supporters shield winning sides the last 2 years

FO thought, lets add more, we're only a few wins away from an mls cup, niell is outmuscled, peralta can't defend, martinez seems to know what to do, but hasn't gelled with peralta or simms, gallardo's got a big head, and carvallo is back up to wells, meanwhile, gomez leaves cuz he wanted 2 more yrs, not 1 more, and emilio develops a head case, which is our team now

soehn however, is afraid to handle these ego's, furthermore, he's afraid to take off moreno when he's been very ineffective this year, he was outcoached the last game handily, doe was doing fine, and he took him off early, with the game still close, he put in dyachenko for gallardo who was controlling the middle just fine, quaranta is still playing out of position, and soehn has proved he doesn't know what to do with niell, preki wasn't afraid of taking razov off for an uknown, and pushign the pace of the game with atiba, the game was still close and soehn wasn't pushing dcunited on preki's makeshift backline, so yes coaching has been an issue

looking at our FO, we do have youngsters, american youngters, who won't see the field b/c of the coaching problem, arguez was allowed to leave, as was moose and deroux, and while not american, so was addlery, they've been replaced with the likes of kirk, doe, quaranta, and cordeiro, cordeiro and doe have proven they have potential, while quaranta still shows inconsistencies, and kirk, hell he hasn't really had a chance, and that goes to coaching

so as much as we can point fingers at the FO, they don't do any of the coaching, thats the coaches job, and thats why soehn will be the fall guy, not b/c kp, kasper, chang/macfarlane are like that, but its b/c its how the setup is structured, soehn can coach a group of blue collar players, but he can't coach egos, and there's our problem right now