Unsung veterans Creavalle, Collin show their value

CHESTER >> An in-game humanitarian message you may have heard about Sunday night took center stage at Jim Curtin’s Wednesday press briefing, and deservedly so.

When it came time to dole out praise for things other than Alejandro Bedoya’s courageous shout-out to Congress, and turn the focus to what was behind a 5-1 thumping of D.C. United, however, Curtin hit on two names that might have been unexpected.

Andrew Wooten garnered a mention, for in his first start for the Union, it was mostly his hard work that set up the first goal. But the other two names were, in fairness, probably close to the last two that Curtin penciled into the lineup.

Masked somewhat by the offensive outburst and the Union’s numerical advantage after Junior Moreno’s red card, the Union don’t win in D.C. without the steadiness provided by Warren Creavalle in midfield and Aurelien Collin in defense. After losing their last two road outings 4-0 and having surrendered 13 goals in their last four road trips, that pair was the logical choice for Curtin, the conservative route to settle matters in the middle of the field.

It worked, not just because of the tactics, but because of the larger energy Curtin has fostered in the locker room all season. Collin, drenched with sweat after two hours of training Wednesday, allowed a chuckle in describing it.

“I think everything is about the team,” the Frenchman said. “There is the coach’s decision and even if sometimes you disagree with it, you have to play for your team. Sometimes it’s for you to be the best teammate you can be in training, and sometimes it’s on the field Saturday night or Sunday. Whatever is my job, I try to do the best I can for my club, for my teammates and Jim.”

Collin and Creavalle epitomize what the last nine games of the regular season will be about for the Union (12-7-6, 42 points). They are in first place in the Eastern Conference. It would take a monumental collapse not to make the playoffs (top seven qualify), and even a mild downturn might still get them a home game, given the upheaval in D.C. United this week. So the challenge for Curtin, in continuing to build toward the postseason, is to both get his team peaking in terms of performance and parse the roles that every player can occupy.

With a full complement more or less available, some have become clear. Ilsinho is the super-sub. Wooten and Fafa Picault will be the second striker playing off Kacper Przybylko. When healthy, Jamiro Monteiro, Bedoya and Haris Medunjanin don’t leave the field, and some combination of Brendan Aaronson and Anthony Fontana will duke it out for minutes as a reserve defensive option spelling Marco Fabian.

But Creavalle and Collin open up possibilities. Collin, 33, isn’t the defender of the year finalist he was in 2012 with Sporting Kansas City. He’s taken a back seat to Auston Trusty for most of the season for obvious reasons, given the Homegrown defender’s high ceiling and future with the club. But in recent weeks Trusty has looked like a high-risk/high-reward proposition, with a handful of missteps. When Curtin wanted to shore up the defense in D.C., bringing in the nine-year MLS veteran was the secure option, and Collin delivered.

D.C. United squandered a couple of good chances, both by Paul Arriola. But Wayne Rooney and Luciano Acosta were mostly muted, and the defense provided a platform for the Union to strafe the D.C. cage with 25 shots, including 16 in the first half.

“This year, I have to be very patient and I have to make sure that I push the younger guys, so it’s my job when I’m not on the field to try to be the best professional I can to push Trusty and Jackie to be the best they can,” Collin said. “And anytime I have the opportunity to be on the field, the club knows I’m ready and I show them every day that I’m ready, so when I’m on the field, I do the same. Same mentality every day, whether I play or I don’t play.”

Creavalle was just as solid. He had an interception and three recoveries in clogging the middle of the pitch as expected. But he also had a lot of possession in the attacking third, including an assist on Przybylko’s goal among three key passes (those which set up shots).

“Every day, he brings all he’s got,” Collin said of Creavalle. “And when Jim puts him on the field, it’s the same as training. So what he brought to the team last game was big, defending, he even had an assist and this is that fighting and the team mentality that can only bring positive things to the team.”

Both vets can be potent weapons as the season goes on. If the Union need more ball-winning, say in a playoff game on the road in Atlanta, Creavalle fits the bill. If Curtin wants a sturdier defense, particularly against teams that will sit and counter (where Trusty has particularly struggled), Collin might be the guy.

Both will be ready, since it just fits with the mentality Curtin has espoused all year, one his team has bought into.

“The team has a certain philosophy and they know that they can count on the players that are more veterans,” Collin said. “And whenever we step on the field we give everything. But that is the mentality of every day.”