For United head coach Ben Olsen, "a little injection of energy and freshness midway through the season is always healthy." With just over three months left in a regular season taut with playoff races throughout the Eastern Conference, both Olsen and Dave Kasper (general manager and VP of soccer operations) have made sure the most decorated club in American soccer has been infused with just that.
Over the past several months, the club have welcomed new faces to the side, with an emphasis on young talent: Patrick Mullins, 24, from New York City FC; Alhaji Kamara, 22, on a free transfer; Chris Durkin, 16, the club's youngest-ever and eight overall Homegrown signing and Kennedy Igboananike, 27, from the Chicago Fire. Kasper also acquired Lloyd Sam from the New York Red Bulls, a player Olsen described as "one of the best guys in the league in getting crosses off."
Mullins, a former Maryland Terrapin who won the MAC Hermann Trophy (awarded to the best player in college soccer) twice, was someone the Black-and-Red technical staff knew well. "We have had him on our radar since his time at Maryland and look forward to his continued development here," Kasper said. "We are delighted he is joining us and believe in the value he can add to this club." The left-footed forward posted solid numbers while playing behind Spanish star David Villa in New York; he scored 6 goals and added four assists while only playing 1,040 minutes (his 0.78 non-penalty goals plus assists per 90 was ninth-best in MLS). Only two matches into his United career, Mullins is already proving his worth; his 19th-minute header against the Montreal Impact helped the Black-and-Red earn a draw on July 31.
Before Mullins' return to Washington, United made headlines when they signed Sierra Leonean forward Alhaji Kamara on a free transfer from Swedish club IFK Norrköping in May as a Discovery Signing. The 22-year-old, who Kasper called "a fast, dynamic striker...a true number nine,” set an MLS record when he scored the fastest goal for an MLS player making his debut. While the addition of Kamara and Mullins provides United with two quality strike partners, both of whom are under the age of 25, the 34-year-old Álvaro Saborío leads the team in goals with four.
Igboananike, meanwhile, allows Olsen and his staff flexibility in tactics when it comes to formations and personnel. The 27-year-old Nigerian forward, who comes into the side as the new team leader in shots with 35, can play up top as a number nine, underneath the forward or on the wing. A player with similar versatility to Lamar Neagle (who has spent time as a lone forward and out wide this season), Olsen is pleased with the group as a whole: "Going forward, with the group we have now, with some of the changes, I think it’s a group that can score a bunch of goals and also be defensively sound. That’s a pretty good recipe, but we have to prove it."
Lloyd Sam is a player that fits that mold of attacking prowess coupled with defensive know-how. A fifth-year veteran of Major League Soccer, Sam was crucial in the Red Bulls' Supporters' Shield-winning season last year and is already forming a formidable partnership with right back Sean Franklin. "Before we even played the game, in practice, I went to [Sean] and I said, ‘I know I’m going to enjoy playing alongside you," Sam said. "You can tell that he’s got a lot of football IQ about him...so I wasn’t surprised it looked like we played before."
"He can hurt you with early service, he can get after you one-v-one and he’s willing to put in a selfless shift on the defensive side," Olsen said about Sam.
And speaking of defense, United have someone that could be breaking down opponents' offenses in the Black-and-Red for a long time: 16-year-old Durkin. A product of the Academy since 2011, Durkin can play across the back line as well as defensive midfield, where he played in his competitive debut for United in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match back in June. The six foot Homegrown signing completed 38 of his 45 passes in his 86-minute debut (misplacing only two in the first half). “His maturity, ambition and understanding of the game are unparalleled for a player of his age," Kasper said. "Under the leadership of Academy Director Nolan Sheldon, Chris rapidly excelled in each of his five years in our Academy and was integrated into first team trainings and friendlies for the past year."
From back to front, United have acquired various players that fit both Olsen's and Kasper's strategy in their continued push to reach the playoffs for a third consecutive season and build a deep squad for years to come.
