DC United 2014 Post Mortem

Misery, joy, and football. These three concepts seem to be married to one another. Perhaps it is the change of emotion that a football team or match can bring, but the tide of emotion that can come from one match can shift entire perceptions of a season.

On Saturday afternoon, the tidal wave of joy that DC United supporters have rode all season ended abruptly at the hands of their I-95 derby-mates, New York Red Bulls. Gone was the chance to host the MLS Cup. Gone was the chance to one up the Los Angeles Galaxy and their propaganda/ Landon Donovan love train. Gone was the chance to put a cap on one of the greatest comeback seasons in MLS history.

“I’m gutted for the guys, obviously. They gave us everything today and we fell short. They’re [New York] a good team and hard to keep off the board,” said DC United coach Ben Olsen after Saturday’s match. “I’m sure we’ll look back sometime soon and say that this was a good season and pat ourselves on the back, but right now it doesn’t feel great.”

But should DC United supporters feel bad for themselves? After all, this was a season where Ben Olsen and his boys were able to turn around a club that won just three games in 2013, that scored just 22 goals, and allowed an astronomical 59 goals. It is a team that was able to win the Eastern Conference title, to make it to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, and get something out of Eddie Johnson after he went into Operation Shutdown mode.

Putting aside the tired debate of whether or not the playoffs cheapens the regular season, the questions is how does this team and their supporters reconcile a superb regular season with a shock loss in the playoffs?

This situation is eerily reminiscent of Newcastle United during the 2011-2012 Premier League season. Newcastle, having not won a major title since 1955, had gone through some serious difficult times after success in the middle to late 1990’s. Although the Magpies supporters continued to come out, fluctuation in ownership and managers soured what had been one of the Premier League’s most prestigious clubs. Although MLS does not have relegation, 3 wins is pretty much the equivalent of being dropped to the League Championship.

But much like DC United this season, Newcastle rebuilt their squad in 2011-2012 going with younger players like goalkeeper Tim Krul (Bill Hamid,) midfielder Yohan Cabaye (Luis Silva,) and buying low on forward Demba Ba (Fabian Espindola). Although expectations were low, Newcastle were able to make it as high as 4th place in the Premier League before finishing in 7th.

By any measure this would be seen as a success particularly when one considers how hard it is to develop chemistry among a group of 18 players. It takes years to develop a squad, but to have turn-around success in 1-2 years time in the Premier League or MLS is outstanding.

The key to remembering these moments in a positive light seems to be whether or not the team has long-term success. Although Newcastle has managed to stay in the Premier League and made it to the Quarterfinals of the Premier League, they have become just another team. A team with proud supporters, but a team that will likely finish no higher than 7th and no worse than 13th or 14th.

For United to avoid this trap they need to have multiple years of success as opposed to one great year. Although MLS does not have the disparities in team salaries like the Premier League does, situations like the Expansion Draft and Supplemental Draft give teams the chance to yo-yo from a poor season to a great season in consecutive years.

The blueprint to long-term success seems to be in investing in one’s Youth Academy and in Homegrown Players. While United have had success with Homegrown Product Hamid and in drafting players like defender Steve Birnbaum and midfielder Perry Kitchen, they have yet to see the fruits of their relationship with USL Pro side Richmond Kickers. The hope of the franchise seems to rest on the shoulders of 18 year old Michael Seaton, the Jamaican international who will certainly be on their 18 man roster next season.

But United will need to supplement their roster with younger players, particularly on the attacking end. Forward Eddie Johnson will certainly not be back and one would expect United to expose either Chris Rolfe or Conor Doyle in the expansion draft.

There is also of course the question of if any players will go abroad. Both Hamid and Kitchen should receive interest from European clubs and with MLS being more of a seller than a buyer on the international market, one has to wonder what offer might be asked of two of United’s biggest players.

It is not all doom and gloom though for DC. This is a team that has brought in a strong set of veterans to help their younger players grow. It was important on Saturday that the man leading the charge to get three goals late was not a Davy Arnaud or even a Chris Pontius, but rather Nick De Leon.

Players like De Leon, Taylor Kemp, Chris Korb, Birnbaum, and Silva have all shown that they are able to start and play at a high caliber in this league. United will also have defender Samuel Inkoom for a full season and will likely be able to pick up another key piece through making the CONCACAF Champions League again.

United seem to have some of the right pieces to make this one season wonder into a series of greatest hits. But long-term success will depend upon the in-roads the club makes in their Youth Academy system and whether they can hold on to some of their young, high-ceiling players.