Vadim Demidov was meant to be Minnesota United's hub.
As one of United's marquee signings ahead of this inaugural Major League Soccer season, the 30-year-old came to training camp as an experienced and international center back who could bring the expansion team some cohesion. Having played in several of Europe's top leagues — Spain, Germany, Russia and Norway — the multilingual Demidov could connect the Loons' diverse roster.
But just eight matches into the season, the player earning the top salary on the team finds himself pushed to the perimeter. The reason: His performance hasn't lived up to expectations.
"As a defender, if you're not 100 percent, it's very easy to see," Demidov said. "You can't, like, go back to having fun as a defender. You have to be sharp as a defender. You have to be 100 percent all the time. So I haven't been happy with my start here."
Demidov, named team captain before the season, started and played only three matches for United before losing his spot to hometown favorite Brent Kallman. He hasn't made the match-day squad since April 1, resulting in the captain's role shifting to his former center back partner Francisco Calvo.
The matches Demidov played in coincided with the Loons' worst results — a 5-1 drubbing at Portland to start the season, a 6-1 trouncing by Atlanta in the home opener and a 5-2 beating at New England a month ago.
While those outcomes weren't solely Demidov's fault, he yielded two penalties that resulted in goals. And he contributed to a fairly hapless defensive showing at the beginning of the club's big-league history. Since the New England match, United has gone 2-1-1 in a defensive turnaround, including the Loons' first clean sheet (shutout) last weekend. The team now has a chance to start a winning streak against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at TCF Bank Stadium.
Demidov, like many of United's players, is living and playing in the U.S. for the first time. His wife and 8-month-old son joined him shortly after the preseason. Demidov said while that adjustment period isn't an excuse, it is a reality.