WASHINGTON -- Several years of postseason and tournament disappointment for D.C. United have driven home the value of roster depth and the competition for playing time it helps foster.
Even at this early point in the season, head coach Tom Soehn's lineup decisions have underlined those priorities, with squad rotation, formation changes and in-game substitutions used to offer opportunities to some players and entice improvement from others.
"Opportunity" has been a recurring theme and so far, 17 members of United's 28-man squad have started at least one match this year -- and that number could increase further now that recent signing Francis Doe has received full clearance to don a D.C. uniform.
Last week Dan Stratford was both a beneficiary and a victim of that adventurous approach. The Englishman's toil on the training ground won him his first-ever MLS start, but he lasted less than a half as a tentative display prompted Soehn to yank him off four minutes before halftime and insert Rod Dyachenko in his place.
"I just thought he had some first-game jitters," said the United boss. "It's common with guys who get their first shot. All I told him after was, what he needs to focus on is the things he does every day of the week, and carry that into the game. There's no different pressures, just do the things that you've done all week. That's something that you learn as you get your chances and opportunities."
Stratford says he was "very frustrated" and "bitterly disappointed" with how his first start unfolded, but hopes to earn another chance with more hard work in practice. His passing range and reading of the game increase that likelihood, and his colleagues dismiss the notion that the rough intro to MLS might damage his psyche.
"That's our job as teammates, to instill that confidence in him," said fellow holding midfielder Clyde Simms. "He'll be all right. Dan's a big boy. I thought he got it together after a while. I know in my first couple starts, I had a good amount of turnovers. You just can't let it get to you."
Soehn's decision was validated by a tidy performance from Dyachenko, who has experienced similar situations himself over a three-year career full of promise but plagued by unpredictability.
"You know, he's been a little more consistent this year and as he builds that consistency, he's going to get more opportunities," said Soehn of Dyachenko. "That's a part I thought lacked in his game last year is, you didn't know what you were getting. This year, you're getting a more consistent result from him."
The coaching staff is also demanding more from left back Marc Burch, who enjoyed a breakout 2007 campaign but has not always met expectations this season. United's use of a three-man back line would seem to further threaten Burch's playing time, but the converted striker has also been used as a winger to provide width and left-footed service like the cross to Marcelo Gallardo for D.C.'s fourth goal against Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
"He had some tendencies that weren't good, and I told him he's got to work hard just like everybody else to make sure that you get rid of those things," said Soehn. "I thought he did admirably on the wing. He's been a forward, he's been a back, he's been a midfielder. I think the ability to adjust to whatever your situation holds is what makes you a good player."
It looks as though the rest of the squad will have to be just as adaptive.
"There's no one that's a guaranteed starter," insisted Soehn. "You still have to come to work every day and earn your spots."
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