Black and Red on Both Sides...

This Seasons Storylines…Mid-Season Evaluation (Part 1)

2011-07-15T16:40:00.005-04:00

The Youth Movement

Photo Credit: Matt Mathai

As the DC United roster of last season was dismantled and retooled it became apparent we were amidst a rebuilding process focused around youth. The foundation of the team came from young players such as Najar, Pontius and Jakovic and was being complimented by Davies, Kitchen and McCarty. The focus of the team seemed to be to build a talented team that would have the ability to be competitive now and continue to grow together. Injuries have even led to the surprise inclusion of Ethan White and Chris Korb who have both shown promise that they can succeed at this level. Three quarters of the backline at one point couldn’t rent an automobile, yet they were being called on to defend Thierry Henry!

Photo Credit: Matt Mathai

We have seen several positive things happen regarding the youth this year. One, we may have had one of the most successful drafts in a long time with Kitchen, Korb and Brettschneider proving to be valuable assets. Two, we continue to see benefits from the academy with the success of Ethan White and the development of Bill Hamid. The reintroduction of the reserve league has also given us early evaluations of academy products that may be called to the first team. Two academy players who have seen time in the reserve league were even called in to the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland with the U-18 USMNT this week. We look forward to finding out about the continued progress and what that may mean for the future professional careers of Marcus Salandy-Defour (Midfielder) and Jalen Robinson (Defender).

There are always many variables to every equation as complicated as a professional soccer team, but, currently, the team has set itself to meet its goal of reaching the playoffs this year. Even as there appeared to be a more pragmatic turn for immediate results with the addition of Dwayne DeRosario and Brandon McDonald, the team has managed to keep its most valuable young players. The team saw a chance to find success, add more talent and not sacrifice the current youth movement in the two trades that were made. DeRosario appears to still have gas left in the tank given his performances so far with the team and McDonald is only 25. In fact, eight of the players who were in the starting 11 that beat New York last week would still be in the prime of their careers if this team were jettisoned five years in to the future. This team is in a great position to continue to develop, leaving the future almost so bright, you’ve got to wear shades.

Mid-Season Grade- A

Coming next, Mid-Season Evaluation (Part 2)…The New Captain….errr, Wha???

Conor Shanosky Interview

2011-04-01T15:44:00.006-04:00

"The motivation of seeing the first team and being a part of the most successful club in this country can really help players develop their potential."

The growth of soccer in the United States has taken a new direction in the previous few years with an emphasis on MLS teams having academies. United’s academy has shown that it is a leader in providing strong talent for the first team as well as at grooming strong prospects for the future. One of the players United has signed is Conor Shanosky, a USA u-20 player. Conor was kind enough to answer a few questions for the blog regarding his adjustment to Major League Soccer and who might be United’s next Academy stand out.

Black and Red on Both Sides: Thank you Conor for taking the time to answer a few questions! First, what has been the biggest adjustment to becoming a full time professional soccer player?

Conor Shanosky:
The biggest adjustment to becoming a full time pro is going from being one of the best players on the team to one of the lower guys on the depth chart. It is definitely a healthy adjustment though and is necessary for any player looking to prove himself at the highest level possible. I want to improve every day and help this club as much as I can no matter where I stand.

B&RoBS: What can you tell us about United's academy system and how it helps prepare young players for the full team?

Conor:
The academy system is great to help a player prepare for the first team. Being able to be involved with a professional organization is great for youth players. I was able to see firsthand how the first team was, and I wanted to be right there with them. The motivation of seeing the first team and being a part of the most successful club in this country can really help players develop their potential.

B&RoBS: Which players in the academy now should fans be looking out for in the future?

Conor:
Our academy has produced some great players and I think that will definitely continue. I know we have a good amount of players that are very talented. Marcus Salandy Defour has trained with us the past two days and is a very good player.

B&RonBS: Which of your teammates have reached out to help ease your transition to the full team and what have they told you?

Conor:
Everyone in the team has been great at welcoming me to the first team. I think Jed Zayner has reached out to me a lot. He has given me good advice about dealing with the ups and downs of the game and just a lot of good advice about being a professional.

B&RoBS: Lastly, just for fun, which pro league in Europe do you follow and who do you have as the team to win it?

Conor:
My favorite league around the world to watch is the Premier League in England. The intensity of every game and the big name clubs and players throughout the league make it my favorite league to watch. On the other hand, I can't get enough of this Barcelona team. I love the way they play the game with the beautiful passing and fluid movement. I think they are going to be recognized as one of the greatest teams ever, so I try to take in every aspect of their game.

B&RoBS: Thanks again Conor and good luck this season. I look forward to speaking to you again in the future! For those that wish to follow this blog on twitter, click this link and follow!

Revolution 2, United 1, Tole-Doh!

2011-03-27T14:03:00.005-04:00

It has been reported that Ben Olsen did not want to discuss the officiating in this match. I too would like to take the high road, almost. It is without question that the game was littered with incorrect or questionable calls. Still, United should have done better. This is a tough loss for a team coming from the momentum of an emotional opening week win. Now we start to see how this team has changed mentally from last year. How will we rebound going to Colorado next week? How will the depth do? So far so good, but next week will be an even bigger test.

Observations

-Possession was lopsided throughout the entire match. United held approximately 60% of the possession, but ended up with the same number of shots on goal (5) and fewer shots in total (9 vs 11). Some of this could be a result of United being exposed from pushing to recover from the two goal deficit in the second half, but this push did not result in their chances being any more dangerous.
-United's possession did result in a disparity in corner kick attempts (7 vs 3), but set pieces continue to be a woe for United. Pontius did have a header saved off the line, but generally United has not seemed dangerous on set pieces nor safe when defending them.
-McCarty had a bit of a wobble to his step towards the end of the game but was not removed since United had used their three subs. We haven't heard anything about this in the post game report, but it is something to keep an eye on.
-Wolff is apparently battling a hamstring issue...it wouldn't be a season in DC without them, would it?
-Jakovic sees red and will miss the Colorado match. Depth is definitely getting tested. Early reports have either Burch moving to CB with Woolard covering LB or Zayner moving to CB and keeping Korb at RB. I believe the latter option is preferred but is contingent upon Zayner recovering from his week one injury.
-Bosko-gate is in full effect. Why does our DP get DNP's?

Player Ratings
Ratings are 1 to 10, 10 being Etch

Pat Onstad (6): With United dominant in possession, he didn't have much to do. He probably wishes he had that penalty back since he got a hand on it.

Chris Korb (6): A good debut. He made some well timed aggressive runs and only had one awkward moment in the back which he recovered from. With Korb and Zayner both showing well, I am feeling comfortable with our RB position now and in the future.

Dejan Jakovic (7): I felt Dejan had a really good game. He showed some good ball skills and an ability and willingness to get in to the attack, adding another offensive option. Although this did not pay off this time, I like having dimensions to our attack.

Rodrigo Brasesco (6): Seemed to do well for the half he played. Got pulled when we committed more players to midfield.

Burch (5): Was ok in the back. I felt his service on set pieces could be better. There is a stark contrast in what our RB's provide in a game to what Burch brings. He seems limited going forward.

Morsink (5): Looked to move the ball to the forwards from deep midfield but also had some poor giveaways. As much as I wish Simms would get the ball to offensive positions more often, he is stronger at helping us keep possession.

McCarty (5): I felt his service on set pieces was spotty and was not as comfortable as in the first game. Still fought the whole game though, but New England had the better of the middle of the park.

Pontius (6): Had some shots on goal that he could have done better with. He and Najar were active but didn't seem to get the service to our forwards that was necessary.

Najar (6): He is still working on dealing with the additional pressure being put on by the defense. I believe Cirovski said he needs to let the game come to him rather than try to force things. I agree.

Ngwenya (6): Held the ball up better this game but was not particularly dangerous. He made one good turn on a defender in the second half which did not result in a shot.

Wolff (5): Josh was much quieter this game and was a good sub for Davies for the second half.

Subs

Davies (6): He was going towards goal and causing problems. He took the penalty well, but lets hope we will see more of his goals coming from the run of play as the year progresses.

Fred (6): He set up Pontius for a nice shot and held the ball well. He was the surprise sub over Boskovic.

Quaranta (5): He was more active than the first game, but I am not convinced that the super sub role is the best for him. I don't see him making a huge impact when he gets on the pitch.

Coaching

Ben Olsen (7): There was nothing he could have done regarding the ref and I give him credit for rolling the dice and committing more people forward early instead of as a last ditch effort. One has to wonder what is going on with the Bosko saga as he keeps showing well in reserve games.

What are your thoughts and ratings?

Alecko Eskandarian Interview

2011-03-24T17:38:00.006-04:00

"I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to play again so I promised myself that when I came back I would celebrate every single goal like it was my last."

Alecko Eskandarian brought many emotions to United fans during his time in DC. His career gave both joy, with his 2004 MLS Cup MVP performance, and sadness, as he struggled with lingering effects of his tragic concussion. Whether he was performing a controversial goal celebration or simply being a stand up guy with a contagious smile, he was a player who brought a playfulness to the game mixed with an unforgiving intensity and competitiveness. Having stepped away from the pitch, Alecko was kind enough to answer a few questions for the blog, giving an update on what is currently keeping him occupied and what he’d do with a designated player spot if he were running a team.

Black and Red on Both Sides: As a result of your awful injury, you have been forced to step back from the game. Is your focus still on eventually making it back to the pitch, or do you see yourself involved in the game in some other capacity?

Alecko Eskandarian:

My focus at the moment is to just try and live a normal, healthy life. As a result of the injuries I sustained while playing pro soccer, I have a lot of issues that still that have not been resolved which led to doctors refusing to clear me to play. At first, I was on a mission to beat this thing and get back on the field. But after some scary symptoms involving vertigo, dizziness, painful migraines, depression, etc., playing soccer was put on the backburner. On one occasion I had to call my friend to drive me to the emergency room. That's when I really got scared for the 1st time because I was actually afraid that I might die. It puts everything into perspective....

So at this point, I'm just grateful for every day which I am able to wake up and be productive and try to be a better person. With that said, I will ALWAYS live and breathe soccer. I am obviously limited in what I can and can't do but I will definitely be involved with the game in some capacity. I enjoyed being in the booth broadcasting for the LA Galaxy. Coaching with the UVA men's soccer team and with the US U-20's has been a wonderful experience as well. And my ultimate goal is to get into management and possibly an MLS front office position.

However, my primary focus as I continue to recover is to graduate from the University of Virginia, which is a promise I kept to my Mom (and to myself) before I left school to go pro. It's been a long road and I've made a lot of sacrifices throughout the years to make this a reality, so I'm ecstatic about graduating in May.

Photo by Rafael Crisostomo

B & R oBS: There are many moments which United fans remember you by, which moment, or moments, stand out to you while you were a member of the Black and Red?

Esky:

There are so many great moments! From a soccer perspective I guess I can narrow it down to a Top 3. The 1st being the 2004 MLS Cup because the team we had was so special. It was an amazing season which was capped off by a great final, and the feeling of being named MVP of the championship game is one I will never forget.

The 2nd would be scoring a goal vs Real Madrid in front of almost 70,000 people in Seattle in 2006. As a kid you always dream about scoring against the top teams in the world, and on that day my dream came true. I don't know how many Americans have ever scored a goal against them, but I guess I can always tell my grandkids that I scored on Iker Casillas and Real Madrid.

And the 3rd would have to be the banner that our fans put up for me after my devastating concussion in 2005. I'm not sure who's idea it was, but I remember some fans telling me to make sure I could see where the Screaming Eagles and Barra Brava sit during the 11th minute of the match. And sure enough they put up this giant banner that said "Esky #11" and I literally started to tear up. As a player I took pride in giving everything I had for my team each time I stepped on the field, and it was so humbling for the fans to show that they hadn't forgotten about me and were keeping me in their thoughts while I was out injured.

B & R oBS: As someone who came to Major League Soccer via the college draft, what are your thoughts on the team youth academy systems and their affect on the NCAA soccer?

Esky:

I think the Academy systems are a huge step in the right direction for soccer in this country. Though there is still a lot of work that needs to be done, it’s important for our best youth players to be put in an environment where they will play against good competition on a consistent basis and learn how to be young professionals. Sometimes we underestimate how talented our youth players could be.

I think our youth can do amazing things if they are just challenged and held to a higher standard. Rather than just being content w/ being the best player in their city or scoring a couple goals against kids their own age, some of these kids have the opportunity to now practice with MLS teams where they are challenged and can develop necessary skills at a younger age.

I love NCAA soccer as well and especially in a conference like the ACC, there is a high level being played where these kids learn a lot and develop not only as soccer players but as people. I know our program here at UVA tries to incorporate a "young professionals" mentality and we hold our student-athletes to high standards that will allow them to be successful as pro soccer players or in any other avenue they choose to pursue.

B & R oBS: The DP rule is one that has had mixed results since its 2007 inception. If you were in charge of an MLS team, what attributes would you look for in an ideal designated player?

Esky:

That is a tricky question because there are so many different factors that go into it. The player's qualities, the style of play of the team, the supporting cast, the coach, life off of the field, everything. Just look at all the different types of DP's that have been successful or unsuccessful in our league. Look at Ferreira from Dallas. With all due respect, his 1st 2 months in MLS I didn’t think he was anything special. A year later, with a new supporting cast and a new system, he tears it up and becomes MVP of the league.

It was the same thing when Christian Gomez came to DC United. I remember after his 1st training session, we all looked around in the locker room like "Really? They signed THIS guy??" He was SO BAD! Haha, then a week later he scored like 5 goals in a practice and we were like "Wow. THIS guy is awesome!" Some players adapt and fit in, some players struggle with it.

The same can be said for any professional player, really. Certain players fit in better in certain systems, so the trick is to find how these players will fit into your system and if the supporting cast compliments this player to maximize his abilities. This is why I would love to get into a management/technical director position in MLS someday!

B & R oBS: Whether it was doing pushups or spitting out Red Bull, you know your way around post goal exuberance. Please take us through what makes a great goal celebration.

Esky:

Its funny to me that I have gotten attention for my celebrations because all the way up until my senior year of high school I never celebrated any of my goals. My friends would always get on me for being too boring, and they ended up creating a monster. Haha to be honest, I just think you have to have fun playing this game and when you score a goal you have a chance to show a bit of your personality and to be creative. Soccer is such a team sport, but when you score you have about 5 seconds of everyone's attention.

After my season ending concussion in 2005, I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to play again so I promised myself that when I came back I would celebrate every single goal like it was my last. I wanted to have fun with it and enjoy each and every moment. Peter Nowak created an environment where we all worked our asses off each day in training but also had fun doing it, and we reaped the rewards of our work on gamedays.

So the celebrations were along that same philosophy of working hard to score goals and having some fun while doing it. Some of the celebrations were planned, and some weren’t at all! For example, when we played at Chicago in 2006, I was coming off of an injury so I didn't start. Peter asked me to warm up a couple minutes before halftime and when I was behind the goal, the Fire fans were heckling the crap out of me. They were actually hilarious! But I knew I had to do something to return the favor if I got into the game and scored. Sure enough I scored a goal but had no idea how to celebrate. So as I ran to their fans, the stadium was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop and instinctively I did the "Hulk Hogan hand behind the ear" to let them know I couldn't hear them anymore. Haha that one might be my favorite.

Thank you Alecko for your taking the time to answer a few questions. We all wish you the best with your continued recovery and all of your future endeavors!

Davies Debut

2011-03-20T10:18:00.003-04:00

The Comeback Kid
From never being able to play soccer again, to debut double delight! Charlie Davies reflects on his immediate impact last night as proof of his long comeback.

United 3, Crew 1

2011-03-19T23:12:00.005-04:00

What an exciting way to return to the season. United showed a new look and a new attitude to the game. First a few observations followed by player ratings.

Observations:

-You could tell from the very beginning that this team is different from last year. At the end of the day, there is just more quality on the field. There is a reason Boskovic and Quaranta are on the bench, they have been out played for starting spots.
-The team seemed to have trouble on set pieces.
-We capitalized on mistakes by the other team, a big change from last year.
-Charlie Davies was overwhelmed by his success. Shedding tears at the end of the game, and not in the Miami Heat sense, you could see the attitude of this team. You could see what we all hoped Ben Olsen would give to this team. This game mattered to them.
-Zayner came out injured - hamstring. TBD the extent of the damage.
-Ngwenya was reported as having ice on his ankle at the end of the game, but that it was just maintenance. It is still something to keep an eye on.

Player Ratings
Ratings are 1 to 10, 10 being Etch

Pat Onstad (5): Seemed to struggle a bit on timing some crosses, but came up with some key reaction saves when needed.

Jakovic (7): Played a good game and was called for a questionable hand ball in the area which made for a soft penalty. It was commented that playing next to a vocal organizer such as Kitchen has made him a better player, lets hope so!

Burch (6): Didn't make any key mistakes, didn't do anything to stand out either. I am a big fan of his ability to deliver a long ball. I am not a fan of the fact that his only way of relieving pressure on tight situations is to lump the ball up field and give up possession. He does get props for his goal line save.

Zayner (7): I feel he is fitting in to our system well and we must hope he is not seriously injured. Had the assist on the first goal.

Kitchen (6): He can certainly play with the big boys. He took a little time to settle in, even making some early ill-advised slide challenges, but got his footing and kept the defense organized well.

Simms (6): Did well, won a good amount of headers in midfield and seemed to be a little more physical than in the past. Still has a penchant for the horizontal/back pass.

McCarty (7): Had a great first half with a good chance at goal that had the keeper (and the post) beat to the outside. He was not as noticeable in the second half, but was not needed to be as prevalent.

Najar (7): Did not score a goal, but had to deal with extra defensive pressure that was not given last year. He dealt with it well and still seemed to be a cut above.

Pontius (7): It was mentioned that Pontius was enjoying the competition for spots as it gave him the motivation to work hard. He certainly showed some extra class, particularly in the first half, that should keep him in the starting spot for a while. Welcome back Chris.

Wolff (8): Man of the Match. He worked hard, scored a great goal that came from work, a good assist from Zayner and a nice finish from the outside of the foot. I thought Ngwenya would be the starter up top with Davies, but perhaps it will be flipped around with a Wolff/Davies combo.

Ngwenya (6): Did alright at holding the ball, alright at being an outlet for long balls, but all the things he did alright at do not make up for his poor finishing. I hope that he isn't planning on continually shooting high and wide instead of hard, low and to the far post. Still, the Davies sub for him was perfect.

Subs

Davies (8): Came in for Ngwenya in the 52nd. Did well and showed that there is speed, there is fast and there is Charlie Davies. He can close on a defender holding the ball in the blink of an eye. He did two circles around Marshall, dizzying him, causing him to lose the ball in befuddlement to Davies for his second goal. I think he answered a lot of critics tonight and answered a lot of questions he had of himself. This is truly an inspirational story and I wouldn't be surprised to see him starting next week.

Brasesco (7): Came in for Zayner in the 70th. Came in on a minutes notice and held his own. Seemed to be comfortable with the ball at his feet and coming in to the attacking half. He also had a good sense of the game, awareness, and was strong in the tackle without being reckless.

Quaranta (6): Came in for Wolff in the 83rd. Didn't show too much but also didn't have as much time to make an impression. I hope we see more from him as the season goes on because he is a likable guy. But I will like him more when he is part of a successful United team.

Coaching

Ben Olsen (8): He has remained tempered and has seemed to make this team his own while modeling it after his fighting spirit in a short amount of time. He made a smart switch to put on Davies and looked sharp in his Pea-coat.

What are your thoughts?

MLS 2011 Award Predictions (with Black and Red colored glasses)

2011-03-15T16:34:00.003-04:00

I love the predictions game! Truth is, as Beau Dure points out,
no one knows anything when it comes to season predictions. Since I accept this truth to be self evident, I have decided to make my predictions with a heavy DC United bias. Thus, let me present the MLS award predictions for the 2011 season with Black and Red colored glasses. Yes, this is being prepared after drinking the kool aid. Please help yourself and have a read!

1. Most Valuable Player

First award is going to....Dax McCarty. He will end up being the lynch pin in the middle of the team. He will be the type of grit and leader the team will need and will lead the team to spoils this year, leading the league in assists.
Runner up: Clyde Simms

2.Defender of the Year

Defender of the year will be Dejan Jakovic. He will have a renaissance year, and will benefit from the vocal organization of being paired with Perry Kitchen. We will see him live up to the promise horse he came riding in on back in 2009. He will be the stand out figure in a defense that will allow the fewest goals in MLS.
Runner up: Marc Burch

3.Goalkeeper of the Year

This will be the year in which Bill Hamid will show why he was brought in to the league with high expectations. After working his way back from shoulder surgery and reclaiming the starting job from placeholder Pat Onstad, Hamid will lead the league in shutouts and Goals Against Average.
Runner up: Pat Onstad

4. Rookie of the Year

Perry Kitchen. Hands down. He will become the leader on our defense. He will get a call up to the full senior side and will displace Tim Ream as the next up and coming American defender.
Runner Up: Chris Korb

5. Newcomer of the Year

As a new player to the league, and everyone pulling for him to succeed, Charlie Davies will walk with this award. He will lead United and the league with goals (18) and be an easy choice for this hardware.
Runner up: Rodrigo Brasesco

6. Comeback Player of the Year

Branko Boskovic makes amends this year for his rude and lackluster entrance to the league last year with a stellar follow up chipping in 7 goals and 8 assists from the left wing, despite helping Montenegro in Euro qualifying for a few games.
Runner up: Santino Quaranta

So there are my predictions. In all honesty, I would settle for only 75% of this happening. Glasses off, kool aid down. Have a great day everyone.

Pre Season Champions!!!

2011-03-12T22:16:00.003-05:00

We won the Carolina Challenge Cup and go undefeated in pre-season! What does that mean? Who knows. We won this tournament last year and went from success to disaster as soon as the season began. Nonetheless, I would rather win than lose. Come on real games!

A New Season, A New Hope

2011-03-12T08:36:00.006-05:00

It is that time of year again...the beginning of the MLS season. United has had their share of turnover and one thing can be said with absolute sincerity, things will be different. After a nightmare-ish last season, roster fluctuation should have been expected, but the way the roster has been revamped is more than most could have hoped for. Players were not just added for their skill level, but for their competitive attitude. I think the focus of the front office was to build this team with fighters while be competitive enough to make it to the playoffs. In order to do that, three questions definitely needed to be answered: 1) Where are the goals coming from, 2) Who was the coach on the field and 3) Who was the vocal organizer from the back line. I believe the team has done its best to answer these questions with these players.

1) Charlie Davies

Will he score the goals? His acquisition is shrouded in uncertainty due to his severe accident. I think the key thing to remember is that he is still young and he has the competitive spirit to power an army. The fact he has made it back to his current level of form should be enough to give anyone hope for the playing level he will eventually reach. The acquisition of Davies and Ngwenya certainly give us more speed than your average Allsopp.

2) Dax McCarty
Will he be the coach on the field? He has captained the US National team recently and has a striking similarity in playing style to Mr. Olsen. Nothing is certain yet, but this seems to be the role he is meant to fill. He brings skill and tenacity to the midfield and has both the credentials and personality of the player that will grab the team by the collar when need be.

3) Perry Kitchen

Kitchen has the track record of being a vocal leader. Jakovic has shown defensive skill, but has been unable to fill this role. Has United found their ideal centerback pairing for years to come? Kitchen comes with glowing praise from all his previous coaches and has done nothing but impress since arriving. On top of all that, he just looks tough.

In summation, I think three big questions were answered for United in the off season. Most importantly, we got faster and YOUNGER! This is a team with great potential to grow. The players I just highlighted are all under 24. I think it is an exciting time to be a United fan. First up, Columbus!

Holly, Jolly Cristman! and Oh Danny boy, the doctor's office calls you...

2010-02-04T17:04:00.003-05:00

As we look to understand the type of system United will play under coach Onalfo, it is best to look at the acquisitions being made. At this point, it would appear that we are looking to have attacking wings and a strong defensive middle of the field in order to cover for any ground the wide players will leave exposed.

Exhibit A: Castillo - an attacking left wing
Exhibit B: Allsopp - a big target striker
Exhibit C: Flo - a defensive mid
and now Exibit D: Adam Cristman - another big target type of forward

I like the Cristman pick up. I think you can't ask for much more to round out your group of forwards. His production versus salary (while not injured) has been great. He is also local, another thing I like. He is American, making him less of a sexy choice, but allows us the freedom to look for quality in other areas from overseas.

Also, Danny Szetela is to go under the knife. I think if the front office was truly content with the players they have, then this should be the wake up call. With one injury, the middle looks even weeker. It is looking like Danny will be out for a month. Good thing it is just pre-season.

Lastly, is it just me or are we missing a lot of players right now? What is the body count or MIA?
-Castillo - Wisdom teeth (if they really made you wiser, then why do you take them out?)
-Allsopp - Visa issues
-Szetela - reference above
-Namoff - Alecko/Gros syndrom
-Quaranta - recovering from surgery
-Wicks - recovering from surgery
-James - recovery from injury
-Jackovic - international duty
-Perkins - international duty
-Pontius - international duty

That is a long list!

Follow me on twitter!

Is Allsopp Hopeless?

2010-02-03T13:30:00.005-05:00

There have been three things which have puzzled me and have forced me to do a little research in order to either substantiate or debunk what seems to have reached common knowledge status at this point. Today I present you with the first story. Here we go!

Danny Allsopp’s performance versus Indonesia for the Socceroos.

Upon the signing of Danny Allsopp, many DC United fans became discouraged due to his most recent performance for the Australian national team. Guided by the most notable source of Wikipedia, fans began to question Allsopp’s ability based on the quote written in his Wiki regarding his last national team performance. Coach Pim Verbeek described his performance as “absolutely hopeless.” Ugh. I can’t deny the fact that I was turned off by the statement as well, but further research has shown that there was much more involved in the situation. I do not have all the facts, but I believe I have unearthed a few which should make any supporter feel a little better about the situation.
First, we must look at the entire quote from Pim Verbeek, someone decribed as “frank” and seems to be out to bash the level of the A-League according to the rest of the article. "I am just being honest. They were absolutely hopeless” he said reagrding the forward pairing of Allsopp and Thompson. But, obviously, that was not all he said. "But in the last games (for Melbourne) I have seen they were very good, so maybe it was because of Indonesia or the trip." So he is already bringing to question a factor which could have affected play. Jakarta, where the game was played, is 3,235 miles away from Melbourne, the place of Allsopp’s previous match. This led to an approximate six and a half hour flight. Comparatively speaking, Los Angeles is approximately 1,000 miles closer with a flight that would be two hours shorter. I believe this is something United fans can appreciate given our teams struggles on the west coast in recent seasons and the amount of travelling done for international tournaments.
Some may point to the fixture congestion United has had in addition to these trips. It seems Danny was in the middle of a bit of fixture congestion himself, as well as eleven of the other players named to the Australian squad. Verbeek named twelve players to the squad who had played the season finale in Melbourne five days earlier. That may lead to some tired legs. If the previous matches were not enough, Melbourne’s strike pair of Thompson and Allsopp were gearing up for the A-League playoffs, which began for them ten days later.
I imagine that many United fans follow the US men’s national team. This would give us a distinct understanding of another factor, home field advantage. The match was played in Jakarta, a city of close to ten million people. Imagine that kind of hostile environment! San Salvador, Tegucigalpa, Guatemala City and Mexico City would most likely provide a similar environment. How would you feel if a group of MLS players played to a draw in Guatemala? I believe that most would come to an understanding that it was a fair result.
Lastly, looking at Allsopp’s highlight films, he tends to thrive from service. I can imagine he received very little given the Indonesian’s 63-37 advantage in time of possession. Perhaps Verbeek should have been criticizing the midfields inability to hold posession in order to provide better service for the forwards. Despite this, Allsopp got at least one good shot on goal. When looking at the highlights, you see Allsopp win a header and then rip a shot from outside the box which gives the keeper a little trouble at the forty five second mark.

None of this guarantees that Allsopp will be the second coming of Diaz-Arce, but it does seem to point to Verbeek’s description of his performance as a poor barometer of his ability. What are your thoughts?

Follow me on twitter!

Twitterific

2010-02-02T15:29:00.001-05:00

For those that are interested, you can also follow the blog through twitter. Account name MRoadarmel.

Steve Goff Interview

2010-02-02T15:21:00.002-05:00

Hey Steven, myself, as a DC United fan and blogger, and DC United fans are grateful you taking the time to answer some questions. We all appreciate the work you do.

B&R: There are a few reporters who follow United, but you provide the most encompassing coverage, year round. Do you prefer being the big dog on a particular beat, or having a competitive situation with numerous colleagues from other papers?

Steve Goff: It doesn't matter to me. I go about my job the same way, whether I'm the only reporter (as is the case with DCU away matches) or among several. My job is broader than DCU, so besides covering the team on a regular basis, I also try to break stories involving other MLS teams, contribute to the Freedom coverage and follow the national team, particularly in a World Cup year.

B&R: What has been the most memorable moment you have had in your time covering United?

SG: I don't know if I could pinpoint one particular moment, but the first MLS Cup was special because of the comeback, the extra-time drama, the weather, the setting. The most emotional game was probably the 1998 final, Bruce Arena's last in league competition.

B&R: United has had some colorful characters come through their roster, who would you say you have had the most "interesting" professional relationship with?

SG: Ben Olsen has been the most enjoyable to cover because conversation often went beyond soccer and turned to politics, movies, family, etc. Hristo Stoitchkov had the fiercest presence (on and off the field). Freddy Adu was intriguing because of his age and the massive expectations surrounding him. Ray Hudson was a hoot -- greatest quote ever: In describing Dema Kovalenko's disposition, "He would stab his grandmother in the eye for another bowl of porridge."

B&R: What do you see, from your objective standpoint, as the biggest weakness for the team going in to next season?

SG: United addressed the goalkeeping situation, so that's one issue resolved. The club needs another center back, a true central midfielder (assuming Gomez does not return) and perhaps another forward. Bryan Namoff is a concern because of post-concussion issues.

B&R: As someone who follows MLS closely and has spoken with many officials for the league, what is seen as the next "big" step for MLS?

SG: The next step should be greater investment in players. You get what you pay for, and with the salary cap as tight as it is, the quality of play is limited. Until MLS is able to retain American players (instead of losing them to second-tier European leagues) with better compensation and attract more well-known internationals, it will remain what it is today: a good league, not a great league.

Thanks again for participating Steven. We all look forward to your continued coverage of United and soccer throughout the world (but particularly United)!!!

It's been a while...

2010-02-02T13:54:00.002-05:00

Hey all, it has been a while since I have posted, but I have a few subjects I want to tackle in the upcoming days regarding the blog. First is to address what we have learned about DC United. One has to think that we are not the completed article yet. We have seen some departures and some additions. But there have been several areas of concern. Let’s look at those and see what has been done about them.

1) Striker: With the departure of Emilio, we have acquired Allsopp. Is this the answer? Who knows? I was hoping there may be another addition to the forward ranks or further midfield coverage to ensure that Pontius will not need to fill in unless absolutely necessary.

2) Midfield: We have lost Jacobson, Fred, Olsen and it has recently come to light that Gomez is not in the current plan for United. We have added...........uh,.....oh yeah, Floribert N'Galula and Castillo. He comes from a good pedigree and was on the Manchester United Reserve side, he is still young, so there is upside to this signing. There has been some debate as to whether he was on trial at Crewe (English 4th division) and was not offered a contract which would lead to many questions about his ability, but that is for another blog post. Just by sheer numbers, we need to add to this group. I think we have lost a large amount of attacking flair which has been partially replaced by Castillo, but needs further reinforcement.

3) Defense: Are we comfortable with Jackovic and James as our starting centerbacks? Who will be our right back when Namoff does not come back due to lingering concussion symptoms? Is it Lawson Vaughn? Who will be at left back? Wallace? Burch? Are we comfortable using Burch as a backup centerback? So many questions.

4) Goalkeeper: Perkins. Done.

So I still feel that we are not done acquiring players. We have yet to see too much come from the South and Central American scouting trips. There was the rumor regarding the Honduran u-23 Quiarol Arzu had been invited for a trial during pre-season. Is this an attempt to get a Honduran before they go play for the national team since we seem to have such a high rate of failure at completing transfers with Senior Squad Hondurans...Pery Martinez, Carlos Will Mejia, Osman Chavez...anyone I am forgetting? There was also the rumor that we were looking at the Uruguayan Matías Corujo, a right sided midfielder, but Goff poured water on that fire. So bring it on front office, earn the paycheck and make us happy.

Roster sicheeashun...

2010-01-20T15:58:00.002-05:00

For those that may have missed it, here is the current roster situation.

Surprises or interesting bits:

-DiRaimondo is currently under contract.
-Habarugira is not in the plans for the next season. He fit in well to the token young African player brought in late in the season, only to not return in the following season.
-We currently have four keepers under contract.
-Lawson Vaughn is not under contract, but will have a chance to earn a contract at pre-season.
-Continued speculation in regards to Gomez who is said to be "under consideration." I read that as an all else fails plan. Wasn't that what led him to going to Colorado?
-Continued speculation in regards to Namoff's status. I hate concussions.

Tony Limarzi on the Upcoming Season and Being an Original Fan

2010-01-20T14:24:00.003-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of getting Tony Limarzi to answer a few questions for me. You know him as the radio voice of United and the face of Access United, here he is answering questions about television and United!

Tony, Thank you so much for answering a few questions for the blog! We look forward to hearing your goal calls more than ever in the upcoming season.

B & R: What was the moment you fell in love with DC United?

Tony Limarzi: Day One. I remember watching the inaugural game against the Clash and being pretty bummed when we lost at the end. As a soccer player and fan growing up in D.C., there wasn't any soccer easily accessible except for the World Cup. I went to some Dips games but I was pretty young. Then this new MLS came out of nowhere and I was an instant fan. The memories from the Big Bertha Game vs. Tampa Bay and Leg 2 of the 1996 Eastern Conference semifinals against the MetroStars still stick out as the best memories.

B & R: You have done work as a commentator on CSN for United broadcasts, is this something we can expect more of in the future?

TL:It seems like I'm still going to be the backup for Dave Johnson who has been the Play-By-Play man for D.C. United since the beginning. Dave is one of the best two or three soccer announcers in the whole country, so people are naturally very happy with his work. I'm always ready to contribute to Comcast Sportsnet whenever they call on me.

B & R: As a close associate to the team, how do you feel the direction of the team has changed to try to redirect the team back to achieving the lofty goals expected of the club?

TL: It's very detrimental to keep trying the same thing year after year without the success you want and demand. It's going to be a very different United team this year, but the club felt as though running the race with the same horses was not the way to go. The chemistry has not been great the past few years. It's not simply the talent level that matters most. I don't think anybody would say that Real Salt Lake had the most talented roster in 2009, but they had the right pieces in place.

B & R: The DC United fans hold Jaime Moreno in the highest regard due to the time he has spent with our club. Can you give us some perspective on how the rest of league (fans, clubs, players) view Jaime Moreno and the impact he has had on this league?

TL: Jaime is certainly well-respected around the league, and no one can deny his greatness and impact to MLS and American Soccer. I think one of the reasons that you don't hear as much about Jaime as you should is that he always has a sort of business like approach. Jaime doesn't really look happy that often, even when he's scoring beautiful goals. With all of his success, and his demeanor, it's easy for other teams and fans to dislike him. No one can say anything bad about him, so that's why you don't hear much about him at all. The masses prefer flamboyant and flashy players and Jaime will never be that. I feel like that's the reason he was overlooked for the 2004 MLS MVP award, and that's the reason he's not a media darling. Jaime is a hero to everybody who loves D.C. United.

B & R: The work you have done with DC United.com is providing more access to the players, something that is not normally provided for the sport on the national level. What can we expect from DCUnited.com in this regard for the upcoming season?

TL: We have a lot of fun stuff planned this season. People have already seen the live coverage from Ben Olsen's retirement, and Curt Onalfo's hiring. Last season, "Access United" was a great way for fans to get a little closer to their favorite team, and this season the great people at dcunited.com are coming up with new ways to make the website even better for the fans. D.C. is sort of leading the way in MLS in terms of on-line content and we're trying to stay in front. So, all the fans need to check out dcunited.com first thing, every morning. They won't be disappointed.

Tony, thanks again for answering some questions. We fans truly appreciate your work and your love for United!

-Black and Red on Both Sides

Off Season Video of a Brazilian Exodus...

2010-01-20T13:58:00.003-05:00

This off season has seen its share of changes so far. Players of fans affection and objection are on the move to and from the club. Below are a couple of videos to help you keep track and for your viewing pleasure. Let your imagination run wild and your eyes tear up as you become reminiscent of good times.

Our new left sided winger...
Christian Castillo.

Our new well traveled forward...
Danny Allsopp.

Our beloved trickster and inconsistent finisher who is on to pastures more Novak...
Fred.

Our poacher, our singer, our notoriously slow and lead footed forward who will samba in the land of samba this upcoming season...
Emilio.

And last, but never in the least, Happy Birthday to our legend...
Mr. Ice Water in the Veins Moreno

Waiting for rumors...and I get news!

2010-01-18T12:11:00.003-05:00

As I was about to post about how I was disappointed there were no rumors about who United was looking at, I get a text from my twitter account saying we had acquired Danny Allsopp! I should hurry and get ready to post something similar so we sign more players! In all sincerity, he looks like a finisher, although most Internet videos don't show players missing a lot of shots. I was listening to the UnitedMania podcast yesterday, and this was one thing they pointed out as a position of need. A killer instinct guy. Hopefully this is it!

I feel like a lot of people are currently down on the teams chances heading in to this season. I believe there are two ways to look at what is going on. Negatively, we have lost some players (Emilio, Fred, Jacobson, Olsen, possible Gomez, #7 draft pick). In our current state, we may struggle, but the season hasn't started and the roster is not even close to complete. So I think it is easier to look at the positive side. While we have lost those players, we have brought in new and exciting options. Emilio, Fred and Gomez were really victims of their performance not being worth their salary. There is no need to ride the old horse if we don't have to! We can move in a new direction and keep our young nucleus together. Let's face it, we still have a young and exciting core to our team (Pontius, Wallace, Quaranta, Jakovic, James, Szetela). There will be more additions coming. I think there is a lot to look forward to with this team.

Lawson Vaughn Interview

2010-01-17T12:49:00.004-05:00

Below is my interview with Lawson Vaughn. He signed with United on September 11 of last year and provided cover at right back when Namoff suffered from his concussion. Here is what he had to say about the differences at United and his hopes for the team in the next season:

1 ) In coach Onalfo's introductory press conference, he mentioned the infrastructure of the club as a reason he desired to be here. As a player who has recently spent time with Chivas USA, what have been the differences you have noticed between the two clubs?

For the most part everything was pretty similar. It really is the little things that set the two clubs apart for me. Obviously DC has a longer and more successful history behind them which leads to very high expectations. Anything we accomplished at Chivas was really the first in club history. At DC, I feel the general expectation among everyone here is to win the MLS Cup and Supporter’s Shield every season. Every team strives for that and that’s their goal, but at DC it feels like an expectation which is what I like. The relationships from top to bottom here at DC are very good and there is a high level of respect shown from everyone which is something I like.

2) What were the biggest challenges you had to face as a player coming mid season as opposed to starting the season with a team from the beginning?

It was actually an easy transition in the locker room. All the guys welcomed me in and made it simple. On the field it was about the same. Playing right back, for me, is playing right back. Both teams like to attack and as an outside back my role was pretty much the same. The only difficult part really was learning my teammates tendencies and just picking up that sixth sense of where each players going to be. At the end of the day, we’re all professionals and are able to adapt to playing with different players and in different systems. With that said, I think being able to go through an entire preseason would be better for me. It allows for a team to really become a strong unit. In order for a back four or team to be great defensively, we need to train and work together as much as possible to become a cohesive unit.

3) Other than consistency, what do you feel the biggest opportunities are for the defense of United?

I think the defense can definitely be better. We have good young defenders here and 2010 will be a good chance to show the league and fans what we’re capable of as a unit. This season will give us the opportunity to really establish ourselves and help the team win something. I would like to see more shutouts and holding teams to no more than 1 goal a game. We have the offensive players to create havoc and to score some goals, but we as a defense need to keep our team in games. The longer we keep the other team at 0, even if we haven’t scored, we have a better chance of winning or coming away with points.

4) What have you been doing this off season in order to prepare for next season?

First, I wanted to give my body a little time to rest. When I came to DC, I hadn’t played in a meaningful game in over a year so my body took a little beating in trying to get back to that level. I have been following our workout program which consists of a little yoga, weights, and conditioning. I would like to get my first step back to where it was a couple years ago so that is a focus. Also, I’ve been playing some to keep my mind going and to stay in shape for soccer.

5) What do you feel are realistic expectations for DC United in the upcoming season?

The first expectation is to make the playoffs and finish in the top 4 if not win the Supporter’s Shield. From just the past few years, we’ve found out that any team can make the playoffs and make a run once they are there so I don’t think winning an MLS Cup is impossible either. I definitely expect the team not give up 44 goals again. To win championships you either need to have a strong defense or an extremely potent and explosive offense.

Thanks once again for taking the time to speak with me and to the fans of DC United.

-Black and Red on Both Sides

Perkins Acquired...

2010-01-14T10:42:00.002-05:00

We have a new goalkeeper! I am excited about Perkins coming back, but also sort of bummed we lost our first round draft pick. I believe that both teams got pieces that they needed in order to get better. My dissapointment comes from my increased interest in the draft due to the increased media attention. It is a part of MLS that is unique in comparison to foreign leagues. I am still holding hope that DC finds a way to get in to the earlier rounds of the draft, but I am not sure what assets United has left to deal other than the players we don't want to lose.

I am choosing to stick to the positives of this trade though, and we not only got a starting goalkeeper, but we got a known quantity. Someone that wants to be here. Someone we know works well with our coaching staff. There is also something to be said for his first quote after returning to United from behind the Badge:

“Since my wife and I have been discussing this, we’ve had a lot of excitement about coming back to DC. To be able to raise a family in the states and to be back in the black and red – it’s more than just a feeling. It’s something deep in the heart and the soul. D.C. United is where things began and where I belong.”

Goalkeeping has been a major issue for the team since he left. I liked Josh Wicks because I am predisposed to like people with fire and intensity (Ben Olsen), but there needs to be something better to say about your goalkeeper than, "Well, he's better than Zach Wells!"

Now is also time to put faith in the front office to either make trades or, more likely, sign foreign talent. There is quite a bit of cap space left after Olsen, Fred, Emilio and possibly Gomez are removed from the books. We still have holes all over the field. Midfield has now lost three contributors from last season in Olsen, Jacobson, Fred and possibly Gomez and we have only added Castillo. There are still questions about the forwards as well. Let's go United! Make it happen. I can't wait for the off season to be over just so I know what's going on!

Later today on the blog, thoughts on the draft. Tomorrow, I will post a short interview with Lawson Vaughn.

Short John DiRaimondo Interview

2010-01-12T12:32:00.001-05:00

John DiRaimondo is the young central midfielder brought to United in late March of last year. He has experience playing for Colorado and also had loan stints at Harrisonburg City Islanders and Richmond Kickers while with United last season. He scored two goals during his five games on loan with the Kickers and has been invited back to training camp by United this year according to Steve Goff. Below are a few questions John answered for the blog regarding his hopes for the new season and the complexities of playing at altitude.

Hey John, thank you so much for answering some questions for the blog.

1) As someone who played quite a bit at altitude while with Colorado, can you help describe the difficulties playing at Dick Sporting Goods Park and if altitude could be reason for United's struggles in away matches there.
John D: Playing at altitude is definitely a hard thing to do. The problem is that it takes the body a week or so to get acclimated to the altitude so there is really no way to go into a game in Denver and be fully prepared. Also, it isn't right down the block from D.C. and it is tough to travel such a far distance and then play at altitude.

2) What have been the best parts about coming to play for United?
John D: The best part about coming to play for United has to be representing a club with such a deep tradition and passion for the game. Also, playing in front of the fans at D.C. is great. There are very few places around the league that even come close to the atmosphere our fans bring at RFK.

3) What are your personal goals going in to next season?
John D: I think one of my personal goals next years is to contribute more. Unfortunately last year I didn't get a whole lot of playing time and this year I want to make sure I go into preseason, work hard, and hopefully get a chance to prove myself.

4) Which MLS player have you looked up to in your career so far?
John D: While in Colorado I really looked up to and admired Pablo Mastroeni. Not only is Pablo a great player, but he is also a great person. He really helped me with my game a lot and taught me what it takes to be a professional. In D.C. we have several great veteran players so I tried to learn from them, but I would have to say I looked up to Ben Olsen. I used to watch Ben play on the national team when I was younger and really admired the way he played so I was really fortunate to be able to play with him last year. He, like Pablo, is also just a good guy to be around.

5) What do you think are the biggest opportunities for the team to focus on in order to regain their status at the top of the league?
John D: I think this year with a new coach coming in it's a new start for the team. If we focus on being organized as a team and buying into the new system we will succeed. We have an extremely talented team, we just need to get out on the field and show it.

Thanks John, and good luck!
-Black and Red on Both Sides

Steven Cohen Interview

2010-01-11T17:59:00.005-05:00

I recently got Steven Cohen to answer a few questions for the blog. His work with Kenny Hassan on their daily radio show has to be admired, even if you don't agree with them. Their discussions span across the world and they have built a large base of highly respected and entertaining correspondents. Below are the answers to a couple questions.

Steven, thanks for answering a few questions for the blog.

1) As a Chelsea supporter, you may be partially biased, but which model do you think provides the most exciting league format, Premiership big four or MLS salary cap parity?

Personally I still prefer Premiership big 4 model. Beyond the big 4 is really the issue though. With the European leagues you have teams fighting for Europe whether it be the Champions League of Europa League and then of course the all important issue of relegation which means that throughout the season you can probably find 6-7 games every weekend that have a compelling story and consequence.

2) Do you feel that the current economic climate which has led teams such as Portsmouth in to crisis, that the MLS league format has gained further legitimacy?

Yes and no.

Yes, because it shows, along with the other well run US sports leagues how you run a league where everyone can and should make money. To this point MLS has stuck to its guns and is progressing down a tried and true path.

No, because at the end of the day MLS is not the NBA, NFL, NHL or MLB. The financial nature and structure of single entity means that the league will always be 98% journeymen.

You can change the rules every once in a while to accommodate David Beckham, or Blanco, Lopez, Ljungberg and Angel but let’s be honest, it is not enough. We watch the Premiership, La Liga and Serie A to watch the stars. It is why I watch the NBA and NFL...those guys are the best at what they do for their sport. This is not true of MLS.

My feeling is that after 15 years the rules of single entity should have been relaxed...it is time to let clubs sink or swim. If Joe Roth in Seattle wants to spend his personal fortune in making the Sounders the best team in the world he should be allowed to. What i cannot stand is that I still feel that the rules are changed and bent to suit the LA Galaxy...the league needs the Galaxy to win to give the league legitimacy which I disagree with.

It is a much better story that Real Salt Lake with a great young manager in Jason Kreis and with super players like Beckerman and Findley beat the star heavy LA Galaxy. The league is only looking at it from the point of view of trying to make the Galaxy one of the world's super clubs and that if they had won they would have got Beckham and Donovan on Leno and Letterman whereas Leno and Letterman are not interested in Beckerman and Findley.

The Galaxy will never be a super club but that is a question and answer for another time.

3) How is your radio partnership with Kenny Hassan different from the relationship with your previous co-hosts?

It is mainly different because we are very equal partners in the business as well as on the radio.

He is always well prepared and well rounded and it takes a lot of pressure off of me. Geber could really only try and be funny or talk about Liverpool. The show as it is today could never have accommodated Geber because he was too lazy and would not do the work or watch the games and thought that reducing the show to a frat boy exercise served the show well.
Howard was great but too anti-America and actually just simply anti anything that was not Manchester United. Kenny is really good.

4) It seems that your interest in MLS has increased gradually over the years, what has helped foster or grow your interest in the league?

My biggest argument about MLS was that there was nothing to talk about. What I mean by that is that the MLS season would begin, the games would be played but between the games there was nothing of any interest to talk about from a neutrals perceptive.

One thing i will say for Beckham is he gave us stuff to talk about. That is when it changed for me.

His arrival, his injury, his second season and his abject lack of interest and motivation, his laziness and his general lack of giving a shit about the league and the country was golden. Landon coming out and saying what he did to Grant Wahl for Grant's book was beyond golden and by the way 100% true. The fact that Landon was forced to swallow it is unfortunate because everything he said about Beckham at the time he said it and based on what Beckham had delivered thus far was 100% true. It made Landon in my eyes a bigger man etc...

We talk about the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga Monday - Friday because it is so easy because there is a soap opera that follows the game. Until Beckham got here we did not have that with MLS.

The America soccer fan in my opinion also grew up massively this season with its approach to Beckham. Beckham and his people thought he could simply phone it in. The American soccer fan this season told them in no uncertain terms that he could not and you saw his attitude change 180 degrees because of it. MLS is growing up and it’s really good.

Also when you look at RFK, Toronto, Seattle and even LA you are seeing serious crowds, serious noise and serious fans. It is much easier to follow something and be interested in something when there is an atmosphere about it. When i look at some of these stadiums i finally say to myself that i would like to be there.

5) If you were allowed to make one change to Major League Soccer, what would it be?

Relegation/Promotion. Simple as that...it would revolutionize American sport.

The one thing you hear and read American sports journalists talking about when they do talk about soccer are relegation and promotion. "What if Donald Sterling had to contend with being relegated to the CBA...now that would be great." It seems to me that the one thing that even the most anti-soccer writers are keen on is relegation and promotion. This notion of being rewarded for being the worst is wack!!!

6) Do you feel that the United States will eventually have rivalries as great as Rangers/Celtic, Boca/River, Man U/Man City, Real Madrid/Barcelona, or will the size of our country keep us from ever having such geographic rivalries?

Not really to be honest and the answer is in your question. The country is too big. Not enough people travel to follow their team and the size of America does not really allow for it.

That said it is come on leaps and bounds. You would expect a nice rivalry between Phili, NY and DC starting next season and certainly with each city being drivable to.

On the west coast with LA/Chivas, San Jose, Seattle and of course Portland and Vancouver in 2011. So the league is making steps to create these rivalries and that should be applauded.

That said...we do not want rivalries like Celtic and Rangers in this country. Rivalries based on religion and sectarianism...no thank you.

Finally, I am a big fan of Curt Onalfo and i hope he does great things with DC United this season and i love that he has put together a coaching staff of all ex DC United players and all ex DC United players who won titles with DC United.

Good luck in 2010 and thanks for asking me to contribute.

Cheers,
Steven

Thank you for your time Steven and we hope to get you to answer more questions in the future. I strongly suggest people go to www.worldfootballdaily.com and sign up for the premium plan. The price you pay for the amount of content you get is nothing. It makes my hour I spend driving to and from work each day a lot easier.
-Black and Red on Both Sides

New United Unis

2010-01-10T22:14:00.002-05:00

Here are the new unis according to this website. Not too much different from last year. I think the VW logo limits the ability to do too much different. The website laments the loss of the three stripes on the uniforms, but I am not too torn. What are your thoughts? Miss the stripes? Like the new unis?

More draft info

2010-01-10T21:39:00.003-05:00

Soccer America re-emphasizes that United simply cannot draft by position, and must take the best player possible.

D.C. UNITED. The attack will need shoring up whether or not Luciano Emilio and/or Christian Gomez find other employment. Chris Pontius and Santino Quaranta are good starting points but neither is a striker like Emilio. Fred has been retained, so he and Clyde Simms form a midfield framework in need of some dressing up. Back-line help would help. General manager Dave Kasper has announced he'll take his first scouting trip to Africa during this preseason.

DC just has too many areas in need to not draft the best player available.

Also, a little video from day one of the combine.

Gone, Baby Gone

2010-01-08T13:53:00.003-05:00

Emilio has left the building! As had been hinted at by Mr. Goff at the Washington Post, Emilio has left the team. The 2007 MVP and Golden Boot winner has signed with a second division Brazilian club. Was Emilio the victim of his own early success? He could never live up to the expectations he created with his first season. People began to expect him to be something he was not. As the service from midfield dried up, Emilio struggled to adapt. Buen viaje Emilio. Thanks for the great memories! Payne was quoted in the article as saying that they already had other options in mind which will have a less severe impact on the salary cap (read not a DP). So let's do it! Make it happen. While we are doing top fives, what five things would you want in a replacement for Emilio? Here are mine, meant with no disrespect to the man himself as he will be missed.
1) A first touch.
2) Ability to consistently create his own shot.
3) Beautiful singing voice.
4) Richard Pryor style sense of humor.
5) Explosive first step.

Fantasy Land...

2010-01-08T11:47:00.010-05:00

So I was thinking the other day, if there were five players you wish had played for United, who would they be? The only constraints would be that they have actually played in MLS. Here is my five:
1) Shalrie Joseph.

He is a versatile player with the skillset to move to Europe, but never could because of the hardball the Rev's have played with his contract.

2) Kyle Beckerman

I always felt like this is the type fo player which should have come to United. He is a local guy, has good feet, and is not afraid of a tackle.

3) Robbie Rogers

A UMD guy that I remember tearing us apart when UMD scrimmaged DCU reserves before he went off to Holland. I knwo we made a play for him when he came back, but to no avail. Hopefully he'll still make it this way.

4) Wade Barrett

If you could not already tell, I have an affinity for local players. Wade is from VA Beach and I always followed him and wished he would have made it to United. Always provided solid leadership and defense for the Dynamo.

5) Arturo Alvarez

I always thought this guy had great potential, but struggled with consistency. i thought he would eventually blossom, and I have always hoped that it would be a United coach that would help his talents come to fruition.

I guess the great thing about my five, is that it is not too late for some of the players to still make it here and be big contributors to our future. What are your five?

Ange...we hardly knew ye..

2010-01-08T11:44:00.002-05:00

I stated yesterday that i was still hopeful that Ange N'Silu would turn in to a productive player, which may still happen, just not with United. Steve Goff reported yesterday that the team has waived him. He becomes the third player waived this offseason along with Janicki and Allen.

That Pesky Draft

2010-01-07T10:45:00.003-05:00

This picture is awesome! Get your hands off of Coach's Heine!

So the MLS Draft combine and Superdraft are coming up and I am in no way an expert on college players or their potential ability at the professional level. I have viewed the many mock drafts and kind of assessed in my mind who I would like for our team, but who does everyone else hope we end up with? I hope United is planning on taking the best player available as this is the best assured way to add talent to your roster. Drafting for position is a big NO NO! You end up reaching and drafting a less talented player. Also, I don't believe United is in a position where they can discount talent at any position. Let's look:

Forward: We don't know if Emilio will be back, in fact it is said that he most likely will not be. While I agree with DCUMD's resolution of getting more playing time for the most productive players, there is no question that Moreno has a few miles on his legs. Chris Pontius is the young up and comer, but while he and Santino are formidable options up front, it would mean a big change in the lineup since they were primarily played in midfield last season. Ange N'Silu...still waiting and hoping for him to be a threat. I like Khumalo and I hope he finds his most productive position since it seemed that it was questioned whether it was better for him to play on the wing or up top. So there are many questions in this group, including a big doubt as to whether Emilio, who played in 27 games last season, will even be here.

Midfield: We lost Benny Olsen and Andrew Jacobson since the end of last season. This leaves us with some interesting options, but fewer players in the midfield pool in general. Many draft boards have us taking Stahl from UConn, who is described as Strong, smart, tall (6-foot-3) and technically sound, Stahl is widely-regarded as the most polished defensive midfielder by Soccer By Ives. In the central midfield we currently have Simms, Szetela, DiRaimondo, Barklage, Gomez, and Fred, who has always been more comfortable in the middle if not best suited to play there. That leaves us with Shipalane, Pontius and Quaranta if they are not being used as forwards, Castillo and Wallace, who may be looking at trying to compete for time at Left back with the arrival of Castillo, to play out wide. It seems that the middle of the pitch is already crowded, particularly for the holding and defensive mid position. Gomez is also currently out of contract.

Defense & Goalkeeper: We shipped 44 goals last year. Jakovic has real promise and James has good potential. Burch is continuing to develop. Namoff is our rock. John, Vaughn and McTavish have been filling in the holes and Habarugira is a project. While I feel there are real useful players in this group, we allowed 44 goals last season. Period. Our goalkeeping situation seems to have depth, but consistency and competent decision making made Cronin a welcome late season addition. We are still suffering from a lull after our years of riches when we had the best backup goalkeeper in the league in Rimando.

All of this simply goes to show that we cannot afford to discount talent in any area. We should be looking to get the most talented player available. There are plenty of opportunities all over the field. Personally, I hope we find a way to get Tony Tchani for a couple of reasons. He is described as a 6-foot-4 playmaker who combines strength, a deft passing touch and goal-scoring ability, meaning he 1) has size, and 2)has potential to be cover for the A-mid position Gomez holds. He is also a UVA kid and from my neck of the woods in South-eastern, VA. It allows us to bring in a somewhat local player and keep the UVA link.

Lastly, here are some MLS Draft links for ya:
MLSDraft.net
Soccer By Ives has been updating their Draft Big Board
Mock Draft from Goal.com
Great analysis on what seems to be every single college player and person who thought about soccer while in college this year. Awesome!
All of Buzz Carrick's work from 3rddegree.net shows up here. Really tight analysis on top prospects by position

Video From the Onalfo Event

2010-01-07T10:36:00.001-05:00

Found some video of the Onalfo and assistant coaches at Black Finn.

Changes, they are a brewin...

2010-01-06T11:49:00.004-05:00

I could only imagine the title of this post said in a Brad Pitt, Inglorious Basterd accent. Thus, the picture. So there is quite a lot going on right now, so lets recap.

New coach- CHECK
Roster- not so much check
Draft- soon to be check
Stadium- ZZZZZZZZZZZ (hopeful 2014 check)

Please refer to some earlier posts regarding the coaching position. Right now, we are going to look at the current roster situation. Yesterday, The Washington Post reported that the option on Fred's contract has been picked up, but that the option on Christian Gomez's has not. This, in addition to the option on Emilio's contract not being picked up can only mean one thing, the team could have a different look to it next year. Last year was always going to be a difficult year for United since it was the beginning of what has been called "a youth movement," "a transition year," or as I like to call it, "the young bucks taketh over the team." This year, we see a continuation of this reflected in the contract negotiations. It has been reported that both Gomez and Emilio have been offered lower salary amounts to come back, that Emilio has been pursuing other options and that Gomez appears to want to return. It is all a waiting game at this point. I will say that professional soccer players are very opportunistic with contracts. One good season and they want to lock in at a high rate, but they are unwilling to take less money if their performance lessens. Interesting, isn't it? The last player in what could be considered the old reign is Jaime Moreno, whom Goff reports is close to signing another one year deal. Good move. He was effective in limited minutes last year and should be treated as royalty for what he has given this team and league. There will definitely be more regarding the roster and these players, so stay tuned!

The Onalfo Presser...

2010-01-06T11:10:00.006-05:00

There were some interesting quotes in the Washington Post today regarding some of the doubts supporters likely have regarding Onalfo's previous head coaching record at Kansas City. Steve Goff reports:

"I know people will question that, but situations are different everywhere," United President Kevin Payne said.

"I was reminded the other day that [Patriots Coach] Bill Belichick had a losing record in Cleveland before he went to New England and became one of the most successful coaches in the history of American football. It's a matter of the fit and the growth of a person. Curt has grown."

I can buy in to this. I think this is an optimistic way to begin looking at a new coach. Needless to say, this argument could be made for a lot of new head coaches, but Onalfo certainly comes from a background which make him seem to be a great fit in the organization. He sure is enthusiastic, which I am a huge fan of.

"D.C. United is dear to my heart," said Onalfo, who prior to coaching Kansas City was a U.S. national team assistant under former D.C. coach Bruce Arena. "It's a big market, it's an important market and I've prepared myself now 10 years as a professional soccer coach for a place like D.C. United. It's a dream job. We have enormous work ahead of us, but make no mistake about it, priority number one is to get this team back to the playoffs and qualified for international tournaments."

So day one complete for the new coach. I would like to think he ended it with what could only be considered as the equivalent of a hat trick for any coach. According to Goff's twitter account he bought the supporters who stuck around at Black Finn last night a round of drinks. WOW! Great one coach! Attacking soccer...fans are important...free booze...Coach Onalfo knows the way to our hearts, doesn't he?

...and the assistance comes from...

2010-01-06T01:53:00.005-05:00

Kris Kelderman, Mark Simpson, and Benny Olsen will be the assistant coaches for Curt Onalfo. Kelderman was Onalfo's right hand man in Kansas City and also has experience as a player for DC United and coach of the U-17 team for the club. He was also previously an assistant at George Mason University. Simpson stays on and Olsen fills out the contigent which has all played for United previously. I am excited that Benny is back, but not all too surprised. Would it have been the same team without having Benny clsoely involved. Let's hope he can develop a way to put his heart and determination in to coaching and pulling the same attributes out of the players!

Onalfo and the Draft

2010-01-05T14:12:00.005-05:00

An analysis of Onalfo's success in the Superdraft courtesy of Goal.com

Fact about D.C. United's new coach Curt Onalfo's draft history: in his three years in charge of Kansas City, he had fourteen picks (including a #1 overall pick), only two of those fourteen turned into regular starters. That was a team that started Lance Watson frequently. MLS - "Where improving your team in the off-season is optional." This team definitely needs some help at defense, but there are no players on the board worth a pick this early in the draft. That said, Onalfo chased a fullback last year and the year before that, he is going to do it again. There is always a bad decision in the top half of the draft and this is it. To Loyd's credit, he is going to be a very useful professional especially in a league where utility is a huge benefit with small roster sizes.

We are all aware of United's past difficulties in the draft. let's hope last year was a sign that we have turned a corner in this area.

Onalfo...

2010-01-05T13:48:00.005-05:00

The team announced the sixth coach in team history today. It can be debated whether this was a good move, but I, for one, will put faith that the club has done it's due diligence in making the decision to have Curt Onalfo lead the charge starting this season. I believe there are reasons for optimism:

1) Youthful, energetic coach, 2) His familiarity with the team ideals and staff, 3) His history of working with young players in his time directing our United Youth Development program for two years.

I also believe there are issues which make this a questionable decision:

1) His sketchy success as a head coach while in Kansas City, 2) Despite his resume which boasts time leading our youth development, he has had sketchy results in the MLS Superdraft, 3) The continued recurrence of his language abilities as a qualification to be a head coach of United.

I believe there are certain things which will dictate whether or not this new leadership will be successful. I first believe that the relationship between Kasper, Onalfo and Ashton must click. There has to be communication and a consensual understanding on the direction of the club and player acquisitions. I also believe that Onalfo's ability to direct the transition of Moreno, Emilio and Gomez to younger legs will be critical.

My ultimate feeling is that the Onalfo decision was high risk, but could also be high reward. I do believe the resourses and set up at United are advanced in comparison to Kansas City and that this could be helpful for Onalfo, but I am equally not placated by the excuse that Kansas City was a team without talent as a reason that Onalfo struggled during his tenure there. I think that his enthusiasm and understanding of the high expectations that come with the coaching position at DC United are important. We want people who understand what it means to wear OUR badge. He has my support and my hopes. Good luck Curt!

Welcome

2010-01-05T13:18:00.001-05:00

This is a new venture for me. I have never blogged, nor had I ever thought that I would. But here I am. Let me first state that I am neither a professional writer or analyst. I am a fan and will always remain one. My intention for this blog is to create a space where people come to discuss DC United on a regular basis. Conflicting opinions are expected and welcomed. Thank you for coming to my site and I hope you come back and visit often.