New formation gives options for matchups

A formation change born of a cross-heavy D.C. United team and Jonathan Mensah’s one-game red card suspension could end up being one of Crew SC’s most important secret weapons this season.

With Mensah, a designated player and center back, sitting out against D.C. United after being shown a red card in the 87th minute of a 3-1 loss to Houston, the Crew rolled out a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Josh Williams making his first appearance of the 2017 season and Alex Crognale making his MLS debut.

Crew SC coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter said the deviation from the Crew’s regular 4-2-3-1 formation was due in part to recognizing D.C. United consistently has numbers in and around the penalty box.

“They’re getting a lot of crosses in the penalty box and we felt it was better to defend with three guys,” Berhalter said. “If we play four (defenders) and one of the (two) center backs leaves the middle, you’re isolated. This way we’re defending every cross with three guys.”

The Crew’s ability to limit D.C. United in the penalty box — D.C. finished without a goal in three shots on target — perhaps caught D.C. United off guard, Berhalter said. Crognale, who finished with 11 clearances and two block shots, agreed.

“From my understanding, that’s the first time the Crew has played that system since Gregg has been here,” Crognale said. “It’s a little different than what teams expect from us, which could have played to our advantage.”

For all the compactness created on the back line in a 3-4-2-1, there are still many elements suggesting it’s a rather aggressive formation. Wing backs Jukka Raitala and Harrison Afful played far enough up the field to the point where they defended D.C.’s fullbacks, and central midfielders Wil Trapp and Artur played higher up than usual.

“I thought for the most part we were able to balance the transition moments really well,” Trapp said. “I’m just locking down the movements and getting a little bit more used to being higher up the field, but I thought it was good.”

Though it adds an extra center back, the formation takes away a midfielder. Last week, that lineup casualty was Ethan Finlay, who subbed on for Justin Meram in the 63rd minute.

“Ethan is a very good player and he will find a way to fit,” Berhalter said. “I think he does (fit), I think he can interpret a number of different positions in that formation well in his own way. He’s a guy that is good enough to be on the field, so I think he does fit in.”

There is no guarantee the Crew will immediately return to a 3-4-2-1 against Portland.

The Crew worked on the two formations — different in positioning, similar in their possession-heavy philosophies — in preseason and will continue to use one or the other based on matchups. With two formations used in the first three matches, the challenge for opponents now stems from having to prepare for each.

“I’m not sure how other teams prepare for us, but if I was preparing, it would certainly be something to consider,” Berhalter said.