Surge by D.C. United quiets coach’s critics

Apparently, nobody bothered to listen to Ray Hudson last spring.

D.C. United’s coach warned fans and media that this year’s team would start slowly and then improve. More than once, Hudson urged patience, especially in the wake of United’s 0-3-4 start.

Hudson’s words didn’t stop published reports questioning his job security or prevent fans from unfurling a “Fire the Coach” banner at recent home games.

With 12 games remaining, including tonight’s match against the streaking Colorado Rapids (7-8-3) at RFK Stadium, United (6-6-6) is firmly entrenched in a playoff spot, has a .500 record for the first time since June 2002 and is just five points out of first place in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference.

“It’s funny — the people that don’t know the game are the ones that are the first to criticize,” captain Ryan Nelsen said. “Obviously, when you’re playing well, they don’t really say much.”

United certainly is proving the naysayers wrong. Those who thought this was going to be a train wreck of a season are looking pretty foolish right now. Since June7, United has gone 6-3-2, which is tied with the Rapids for the best record in the league over that span.

MLS’ seven-month regular season, plus the fact the top four teams in each conference make the playoffs, should have been enough to keep the wolves at Hudson’s door until later in the season, but it wasn’t.

Immediately following United’s shocking 3-2 loss to the MetroStars on July5 after they had played with a one-man advantage for 60 minutes, a reporter asked Hudson if he planned to resign given the way United lost the match.

In so many words, Hudson said he wasn’t going to fall on his sword. It has been five weeks since that question, and United appears closer to the top than the bottom.

“It’s looking good, but the momentum still has to be followed through because you can fall off of that climb very easily,” Hudson said. “The application and the whole focus has got to become even harder because we have turned the corner, and we have won people over, and we have started to turn the thing around. We’re not out of the woods — we’re probably right in the middle of the woods. Now what do you do? Do you push on or do you go back to where you come from?”

One look at the veteran-laden roster and you could sense it was just a matter of time before the club started to win. United has plenty of experience — and in the case of forwards Earnie Stewart and Hristo Stoitchkov — on the game’s biggest stage, the World Cup. Twelve players on United’s 23-player roster have three or more seasons in MLS.

“I think things are going according to plan right now,” midfielder Ben Olsen said. “Saying that, we all know that we are not playing the best soccer. That shows a little bit of the character of this team — we’re winning on character a lot. [Hudson and assistant coach John Trask] have also made some good tactical changes, I think, in the last couple of games — big-time subs coming on. We’ve recommitted ourselves to this season.”

United may not play the prettiest soccer, but it’s the results that count.

A key turning point in United’s season was the club’s 3-1 road victory against the Dallas Burn on July2. United simply dominated the Burn for the full 90 minutes and attacked relentlessly throughout the match.

With three consecutive wins away from RFK Stadium, United has picked up more points on the road than it did all of last season (1-10-3). It is also the first time United won three straight road games since 1999, dating back to the team’s glory years.

“It’s an interesting team — the guys they brought here have a lot of character, personality and attitude,” said midfielder Dema Kovalenko, who has a team-high three game-winning goals this season. “It took a while for us to become a group. I knew we had a good team, I said it from the beginning.

“It’s not easy for Ray and John to deal with all these guys. Unfortunately, only 11 can play. People come to the games and they see what is happening on the field, but they don’t know what is happening in the locker room. We’re not where we want to be.”