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Defensive injuries mount for D.C. United

Marc Burch (ISIphotos.com) 

                                                       Photo by ISIphotos.com

Right in the middle of a playoff run, a fully fit squad is vital for D.C. United to prevent a second consecutive absence from the playoffs. Unfortunately for the club the injury bug has struck their back line again, with news that Marc Burch had his ankle operated on yesterday.

According to the Washington Examiner, Burch had been suffering from a scar tissue build up and joins defender Dejan Jakovic on the sidelines. Jakovic, who was suspended from last Saturday's draw in Dallas, is out a few weeks after undergoing sports hernia surgery in Germany.

The defensive gaps will be rather significant, with recent acquisitions Julius James and David Habarugira likely to come into action. Avery John has been used at left back for D.C. as well. Another option will be Clyde Simms in the center, though it's possible that was a one-game solution.

What do you think of the defensive situation in D.C.? Is this the beginning of the end for their playoff run?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Dear lord Julius James and Avery John.

    Not good. If D.C can manage a win against KC and a draw against Seattle I believe they’ll be fine.

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  2. and this where the American Youth would come in handy…….. 6’0 17-year old RB/LB Julio Arjona Jr. a DC United Academy player with the US U-17 team; would come in handy. Sugn the Youth MLS!

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  3. A victory on Wednesday against KC and DCU is only 4 points off the Shield lead. With 4 straight home games coming up. Write off DC at your own peril.

    Of course, a loss against KC (while missing 2/3 of their defense) and the season’s over.

    Funny.

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  4. I’m a DCU fan, in all honesty, we’re on the border. Every injury hurts, esp. w/ CONCACAF games. It’s gonna be close. Mind you this has a lot to do with the number of games played under an MLS salary cap vis a vis international play. Still, excuses are just that.

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  5. Oops–I got that wrong–the Seattle USOC loss doesn’t count as an MLS home loss (they have more home losses when you include non-MLS matches but with just MLS, only one loss at RFK and that isn’t from Seattle).

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  6. I think DCU probably makes the playoffs. They’ve lost once all season at home–to Seattle in the USOC. And they’ve got 5 MLS games left with 4 of those at home. They play: KC, Seattle, San Jose, Columbus and then KC on the road. Chivas has 3 road wins this year: against SJ, Dallas and Red Bulls. Seattle has 2 MLS wins on the road: against TFC and LAG. San Jose has yet to win on the road in MLS. KC has 3 MLS road wins. And when they play Columbus, the Crew may have nothing left to play for and are trying to avoid injuries and give subs PT for playoff depth (maybe).

    Now I’m not confident of DCU advancing (unless by some weird quirk they faced Chicago in the playoffs). But unless the team falls completely apart (which is possible), they benefit from a schedule of home games against comparatively weak teams (ie: they’re not playing Houston twice, an in-form LAG, the Crew on the road). That is a huge edge when it comes to making the playoffs.

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  7. DC is too deep in that quicksand.

    How many times this season has DC had just 2 or 3 days to rest between games?

    How many players are on the roster?

    Looks like a serious problem to me.

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  8. The combination of losing Burch and Jakovic will be a disaster for us while we seem to be transitioning from 3 backs to 4. Just don’t have replacements. I guess the only good news is that if we miss the playoffs, it should be the end of Soehn.

    I’m with Steve-o…my heart says yes but my head says no.

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  9. beginning of the end for United’s playoff hopes? that started months ago. I don’t see them making it. My heart says yes, my brain says no. Yes they are only a point out, and yes we have 5 straight home games. However, we have injuries, and old, slow, tired players. They are going to have to dig DEEP!!

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  10. Advocate, that’s not being a poor sport. Being a poor sport is saying “ZOMG teh Sounderrzz r sooooo much bettr then teh united cuz um we gotz a lot of fans.”

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  11. Hate to be a poor sport, but as a Sounders fan, I’m hoping this gives Seattle the slight opening needed to pick up 3 points on Saturday.

    United will be gunning for a result following the USOC Final, and I’m afraid ten days off will put a little rust on the Sounders performance.

    These two clubs could be battling each other for “wildcard” spots at the end of the day.

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  12. Burch isn’t that important to this team. Simms plays a much larger role but I don’t see him on the back line. The D is in shambles but I could see DC making the playoffs as long as Tommy plays mostly reserves in the remaining CONCACAF games. Lots of home games left for the black and red……would be nice to pick up a quality DP center back and ditch Emillio in the offseason.

    Reply

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