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Goal.Commentary: Will Allsopp Prove A Success With D.C. United?
Can Danny Allsopp make an immediate impact to reverse D.C. United's fortunes?
Mar 5, 2010 9:45:00 PM
By Steven Streff
After the disappointment of missing the MLS playoffs for the second consecutive season, D.C. United underwent a massive overhaul during the offseason. Out went Coach Tom Soehn, in scooted former United assistant Curt Onalfo. In addition, D.C. separated with four main pieces of the squad -- striker Luciano Emilio and midfielders Fred, Christian Gomez, and Ben Olsen.
Key to the rebuilding process is how well newly acquired Danny Allsopp acclimates himself.
In Emilio, United lost a true goal scorer who managed 41 league goals in 83 matches in three years with the capitol club. But after a disappointing 2009, in which he managed to score 10 goals, Emilio did not sign United's offered contract extension, which included a pay cut. With the departure of Emilio, United had a pressing need to find a goal scorer, especially given the lack of experience of Chris Pontius and the age of Jaime Moreno.
On January 18, United announced that the club had signed experienced striker Danny Allsopp. In the Australian, United picked up a striker who has plied his trade in several countries during his career.
"The thing that attracted us to Danny was obviously his strike rate of near 50 percent, which is excellent," stated D.C. general manager Dave Kasper at the press conference unveiling the signing of Allsopp. "Everywhere he's gone he has scored goals, and he always plays big in big games."
By signing with United, Allsopp has immediately become a trailblazer of sorts. Although he is not the first Australian A-League player to join MLS, he is the first Australian player to make the move to MLS. The striker realizes that with the move comes a bit of pressure.
"I know a lot of people are sort of watching to see how I go, so I feel a little bit of pressure," Allsopp told dcunited.com after the press conference. "But the person who puts the most pressure on me is myself, I want to do well myself, and obviously that will help the team."
The 31-year-old underestimates exactly how much pressure the anxious United fans can exert on him. Consider that Emilio managed 10 goals last season. With his 10th goal, he joined Juan Pablo Angel as the only players in MLS to hit double digit goal tallies in each of the last three seasons. But throughout the past season, United supporters were frustrated with his level of play, energy, and commitment to the squad. Team management must have felt similarly, as they offered Emilio a contract that would remove his designated player status.
Allsopp will be expected to at least match the output of Emilio's 10 goals. Fairly or not, he will be directly compared to Emilio, as he was brought in as a direct replacement for the Brazilian hitman. The problem is whether or not United will be able to produce the same amount of chances for Allsopp as they did for Emilio. With the massive changes at the club, it might take some time for the team to gel and started playing with the fluidity that has characterized the D.C. brand throughout the years.
Consider it a good year if Allsopp manages seven to eight goals throughout the season. At 10 goals, he will have met the expectations of the supporters, which means any goals after that would propel him into the realm a bona fide success (at least for the first season -- Emilio had 20 in his first season, which only bought him two more years at the club). Fans will look for him to put in the effort as well. Should he manage to seem more interested than Emilio, then he'll likely claim the support of the D.C. fans.
While it may take some time to win over the fans, he seemingly already has the full backing of his manager, Onalfo.
"He's a proven goal scorer, he's a winner, and he’s got a great attitude and works extremely hard," Onalfo stated at the press conference. "He’s one of these forwards who can be a target forward who holds up the ball well, gets on the end of crosses, but he also has the savviness to make extremely intelligent runs."
At the end of the season, the fans hope to be able to make the same assessment.
Steven Streff is the D.C. correspondent for Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
Key to the rebuilding process is how well newly acquired Danny Allsopp acclimates himself.
In Emilio, United lost a true goal scorer who managed 41 league goals in 83 matches in three years with the capitol club. But after a disappointing 2009, in which he managed to score 10 goals, Emilio did not sign United's offered contract extension, which included a pay cut. With the departure of Emilio, United had a pressing need to find a goal scorer, especially given the lack of experience of Chris Pontius and the age of Jaime Moreno.
On January 18, United announced that the club had signed experienced striker Danny Allsopp. In the Australian, United picked up a striker who has plied his trade in several countries during his career.
"The thing that attracted us to Danny was obviously his strike rate of near 50 percent, which is excellent," stated D.C. general manager Dave Kasper at the press conference unveiling the signing of Allsopp. "Everywhere he's gone he has scored goals, and he always plays big in big games."
By signing with United, Allsopp has immediately become a trailblazer of sorts. Although he is not the first Australian A-League player to join MLS, he is the first Australian player to make the move to MLS. The striker realizes that with the move comes a bit of pressure.
"I know a lot of people are sort of watching to see how I go, so I feel a little bit of pressure," Allsopp told dcunited.com after the press conference. "But the person who puts the most pressure on me is myself, I want to do well myself, and obviously that will help the team."
The 31-year-old underestimates exactly how much pressure the anxious United fans can exert on him. Consider that Emilio managed 10 goals last season. With his 10th goal, he joined Juan Pablo Angel as the only players in MLS to hit double digit goal tallies in each of the last three seasons. But throughout the past season, United supporters were frustrated with his level of play, energy, and commitment to the squad. Team management must have felt similarly, as they offered Emilio a contract that would remove his designated player status.
Allsopp will be expected to at least match the output of Emilio's 10 goals. Fairly or not, he will be directly compared to Emilio, as he was brought in as a direct replacement for the Brazilian hitman. The problem is whether or not United will be able to produce the same amount of chances for Allsopp as they did for Emilio. With the massive changes at the club, it might take some time for the team to gel and started playing with the fluidity that has characterized the D.C. brand throughout the years.
Consider it a good year if Allsopp manages seven to eight goals throughout the season. At 10 goals, he will have met the expectations of the supporters, which means any goals after that would propel him into the realm a bona fide success (at least for the first season -- Emilio had 20 in his first season, which only bought him two more years at the club). Fans will look for him to put in the effort as well. Should he manage to seem more interested than Emilio, then he'll likely claim the support of the D.C. fans.
While it may take some time to win over the fans, he seemingly already has the full backing of his manager, Onalfo.
"He's a proven goal scorer, he's a winner, and he’s got a great attitude and works extremely hard," Onalfo stated at the press conference. "He’s one of these forwards who can be a target forward who holds up the ball well, gets on the end of crosses, but he also has the savviness to make extremely intelligent runs."
At the end of the season, the fans hope to be able to make the same assessment.
Steven Streff is the D.C. correspondent for Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
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