Photo by ISIphotos.com
By AVI CREDITOR
The offseason was one of great change for D.C. United.
A number of major personnel moves make this season a bit of a mystery for the four-time MLS Cup champions, who are hoping to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
First-year coach and former D.C. assistant Curt Onalfo inherits a team that had Ben Olsen retire to the coaching staff; Fred, Luciano Emilio and Christian Gomez depart; and a number of players don the black and red for the first time.
"We're getting better each day," Onalfo said. "Physically, we're exactly where we should be four weeks in. I think we can be technically sharper, which will continue to happen. Overall, I'm pleased with where we are, knowing that we still have enormous work ahead of us."
With a little less than half of the preseason remaining, there is still a lot to be learned about how United will be playing and who will be fitting into various pieces of the formation. Here's what we do know:
THE ONLY BATTLE AT GK IS FOR NO. 2
The offseason trade to bring Troy Perkins back to Washington was a bold and expensive move, but one that Onalfo was thrilled to make. Since camp began, Onalfo has stressed the importance of having a no-questions-asked, No. 1 keeper, and in Perkins, he has just that.
The real battle is for Perkins' understudy, and it appears that academy-product Bill Hamid has a grasp on that spot. The team cut last-year's backup, Milos Kocic. Last year's starter, Josh Wicks, is still recovering from shoulder surgery.
That leaves Hamid and trialist Andrew Quinn as the only other keepers in camp. While still very raw, the 19-year-old Hamid has shown great vocal leadership and has all the physical tools. He was the de facto No.1 while the team trained in Bradenton, Fla., with Perkins away at national team camp, and he is not surprised with his acceleration in the program.
"My thought for the half-season I was here was work hard in the offseason, so when the preseason comes around I could start to make a name for myself and show everybody I mean business," Hamid said. "The feedback I've gotten has been extremely good. I feel like I can really step into a No. 2 spot and shine."
ACADEMY STILL PRODUCING
Hamid's emergence on the first team is an indication that the team's youth academy is taking the right steps, and it appears that the next potential first-teamer in the academy has been anointed.
Andy Najar, who will turn 17 next week, impressed many when he trained with the team in Bradenton. Hamid called him a "special" player, and the young striker is someone to keep an eye on in the coming years.
DEFENSIVE DEPTH IS LACKING
Marc Burch's recent foot injury is the latest blow to an already-thin back line. Bryan Namoff is still dealing with concussion complications, though he may begin his training when the team travels to Charleston, S.C., March 11 to play in the Carolina Challenge Cup.
With Burch, last season's starting left back, out for four months, the defense as currently constructed would figure to look like this: Rodney Wallace, Julius James, Dejan Jakovic, Devon McTavish.
Wallace's talents shine in the midfield, but the lack of depth would force him to the back line. He starred at left back while he was at the University of Maryland. The other defenders currently on the roster are Lawson Vaughn and fourth-round draft pick Jordan Graye.
The team has had a series of defenders on trial without offering anyone a spot just yet. Jamaican international Jermaine Taylor, Bolivian international Juan Manuel Pena and former Chicago Fire defender Daniel Woolard are currently training with the team. Keep an eye out for some roster moves.
QUARANTA WANTS TO SHOULDER THE LOAD
Onalfo has called Santino Quaranta a "man on a mission," and the 25-year-old Baltimore native speaks like someone ready to build off a strong 2009 campaign.
"It was a big year for me last year," said Quaranta, who scored a game-winning goal in the Gold Cup for the United States against Honduras at RFK Stadium in July. "I enjoyed a lot of the things that happened, but you just want more.
"I don't want to be a guy that doesn't fulfill the potential I could have. I want to experience everything. I'm at the point in my career where I've got to take that next step to being a better player in this league and seeing where it takes me."
Quaranta has returned to training after recovering from a foot injury and said he would welcome playing the role of creative central midfielder in United's proposed 4-4-2 formation.
PLENTY OF OPTIONS, ROLES STILL UNDEFINED
The offensive pieces are like a jigsaw puzzle that has yet to be assembled. Between Quaranta, Jaime Moreno, Chris Pontius, Danny Allsopp, Danny Szetela, Christian Castillo, Clyde Simms and the newly acquired Kurt Morsink, D.C. has some intriguing pieces. How will everyone line up? Some of the bigger questions are:
- Will Pontius play outside midfield, the position he played while away at national team camp? Or will he play up top?
- Will Quaranta get his wish and play more of a central midfield role? Or will he resume his duties out on the flank?
- Will Allsopp be more of a target forward or an on-ball creative-type?
- What will be Moreno's role after starting just more than half of United's games last season?
One of last year's biggest issues for the team was finishing in the attacking third. Onalfo has yet to tip his hand, but coming to a conclusion on everyone's position and role by the end of camp are a must for a stable start to his reign at the helm.
"Knowing that we have good options, it's a matter of how we can get our best 11 players on the field," Onalfo said.
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Do you think D.C. United has what it takes to return to the playoffs? How do you want to see them line up?
Share your thoughts below.
With the personnel we have in place right now I don’t think a 4-4-2 is going to work.
I would like to see us play a 4-3-2-1
Namoff/McTavish Jackovic James Wallace
Barklage Simms/Szetela Castillo
Tino Pontius
Allsopp
I really disagree with the assessment.
This United team is perhaps the weakest ever getting ready for a new season. There are holes all over the place and a very thin bench.
United is a team significantly weaker than the one that ended last season. The only place where United has improved is at Goalkeeper with Perkins.
In the back there is only one quality back and that is Jakovic. The only other above average back is Namoff and he is out indefinitely due to affects from one too many concussions. The only other significant starter from last year in the back is Burch and he is out also. Its clear United has problems in defense when a natural Winger like Wallace is being played at left back to substitute for Burch.
United’s Midfield is a mess. Olsen-retired, Fred-traded and Gomez-waived are all gone. Quaranta is way overrated, Simms is coming off a so-so year, and Sztela is also hurt.
Up top we’ll have to see about Danny Allsopp. Emilio is gone and Jaime Moreno is another year older. Chris Pontius is a major brightspot with the attack but he is a wing playing forward. Pontius may or may not make the transition.
Unless United add some more quality to the roster it could be a long year for United.
Well DadRyan you’ve seen so much that I’m sure nothing worries you at this point. But I’ve gotta tell you I’m a little nervous. The last thing we need with everything going on is low attendance. I like our chances too but at this point it’s almost like it’s win or else that’s all.
RBNY wasn’t smart enough to write it into his contract.
Uh oh, the sky is falling…LOL>
I wouldn’t be surprised if United takes plenty of points off all the teams who are now burdened with the workload they’ve had the last few seasons. Shucks, with no extra play except for the Open Cup, I’m fine with our chances.
If this team doesn’t make the playoffs all hell will break loose. Hell I was told that season tickets dropped drastically and may be amongst the lowest. I can’t imagine what would happen if they don’t make it. It better be followed by a stadium announcement RFK will look empty.
Emilio isn’t that big of a loss his production went down each year. I know nothing of Alsopp, except. From what I’ve read. I really have no expectations for this year. The east just got tougher with the addition of Philly.
“The defence has been bad and I’m not sure if Morsink and Woolard will be an improvement over Namoff and Burch, but maybe they will.”
Not a chance in Hades. Actually, I don’t think either will start, except possibly in USOC games.
As long as DC doesn’t make the playoffs, I’m cool. 🙂
DCU will back in 2010!
Sorry, just not seeing how United can make up for their losses, both departures and injuries.
Fred, Luciano and Gomez were a great team for a couple of years. Olsen and Moreno were support characters.
The defence has been bad and I’m not sure if Morsink and Woolard will be an improvement over Namoff and Burch, but maybe they will.
Basically every new player will have to be a strike in order for this team to make the playoffs.
But DC is a great franchise and will likely be back in the hunt soon enough.
I think DCU is absolutely a work in progress. To project a good season for them is to either be naive or a huge fan expecting everything to work out perfectly. To expect them to be out of the playoffs and one of the bottom teams in the league is to ignore than they have about $700k in cap space available plus an open DP spot. They’re clearly still looking for new talent (as they cut guys they brought in or trial guys and then pass on them while they still have cap and roster space). Predicting how DCU will do at this point is like reading tea leafs.
Good assessment. Pretty no-nonsense for the rest of us.
He criticized MLS teams for their attacking philosophy or lack there of. He said they didn’t try to play good football.
I think we’re going to see what happens when DC tries to be solid in lieu of being slow, creaky, and awful. We’re looking to be a competitive team by off loading what was once our defining property. It frustrates the hell out of me that we didn’t get a guy like Castillo in the past few seasons, when we could have really used a speedy winger with some skill.
DC United have two principal issues to address: first, have they shored up what has been statistically one of the worst defenses in MLS over the past two seasons and, second, who will run the offense now that Jaime Moreno is in the twilight of a fabulous career? Your piece indicates that they have failed to secure a solid back line and that there are still many questions about who will start and where in the midfield. I have written in this space many times previously that the DC United front office has lost the script. I see no signs that situation has changed. It looks like DC is in for a rough season-again.
Stadium out near Dulles is going to be great!;)
Vamos United!
I’m pretty optimistic about the club no matter what, and in all honesty think they could gel just fine as long as injuries are minimal and some other signings are made. Everyone complained about how slow the team had been, and they’ve gotten rid of a lot of that dead and ineffective weight.
Don’t get fooled, we won’t be missing Fred with Castillo in the mix. We won’t be missing Gomez with Castillo in the mix, and I’m pretty confident that Mick Dundee and Albright=1 semi productive Emilio for a fraction of the cost.
Vamos United!
I agree with Ike, except I think Barklage is better on the wing. I think he’ll push Szetela on the right. He should contribute more than Morsink over the year.
I agree that a stadium deal would be better than anything that could happen on the field. I fear it’ll have to wait until after the election, when DC might be rid of Fenty’s cronyism — either because he’s voted out, or because he’s given a really big scare.
I’m surprised no mention of Brandon Barklage. Seemed pretty solid in that play-maker role during open cup games before the injury. I think by mid-year he’ll be a regular in MLS fixtures if he can come back from the knee injury.
Honestly no matter how the team does this year I just want a stadium deal done by the end of the season! (just not in b’more)
Hmmm….Let’s take a look at your life, Mr. Harsh Realist. Can we?
Your big on “proven in the past”. Onalfo was a pretty dang good coach his first 2 years in KC. so I’d say he’s “proven in the past” that he’s a good coach. Tino has “proven in the past” that he can stay clean.
And, Washington DC is not without its considerable charms.
You’ve proven in the past — at least reaching back a few minutes — that you’re kind of a jerk. I expect that will continue.
I kinda like that look. It’s pretty clear from the preseason that they’re not going to go that way, but then again most of these guys haven’t played together yet. Simms went down just as Castillo was coming in, Szetela hasn’t played and neither has Tino (I think). Pontius is just getting back from the USMNT camp. When Simms comes back, I think your formation might be well-suited to the players DCU has.
As for Pontius — I also wrote that I wasn’t impressed with his finishing, but he’s very young and inexperienced. Unlike a lot of Americans, he doesn’t even have the Bradenton experience. This was his first year playing with other top talent. He looked very exciting with the ball at his feet — frankly, I’d rather see him centrally than Tino. The thing is, when you just look at Pontius, you see a forward. The idea, I think, is to let his technique develop to fit his body.
I could be wrong about this, but I think the rule last year was two players every two years.
With who we have, I’d prefer a 4-3-3. Maybe:
Perkins
McTavish-Jakovic-James-Wallace
—Szetela–Simms–Castillo—
Tino——Allsopp——-Pontius
If I could compare playing style, I’d mimic Man City’s. The two outside forwards come back to scope up the ball, Simms the battler.
Only question would be Castillo: Can he fit in the middle? Can he swap with Pontius and hold down the left winged forward spot. I was impress with Pontius’ midfield play last year and think he misses far too many shots on target to be expected to develop as a striker.
A problem I see (as has been the case) is after the starting XI, the team drops about two levels. Having McTavish in the start XI says something about that…
I’d like to see us grab another striker (DP?), another midfield battler to compensate for Olsen, and two defensive covers (CB and SB).
Could someone explain the rules again for signing a player out of the Academy? When can DC United (or any team) sign another Academy player after inking the first one?
Not sure if you’re being disingeuous. 2 huge differences. Quaranta didn’t test positive for a performance-enhancing drug. Also, I believe Tino’s biggest problem was not a coke problem. He was hooked on pain-killers, mostly OxyContin. He did test positive for coke once, but the rules did not offer a suspension for that first offense. The first time, it’s regarded more as a legal matter, except that it’s not admissible. If you get caught again, then it’s clear it’s not a one-time thing. You can be suspended then. He didn’t test positive again because he stayed away from cocaine after that. It’s as simple as that.
i cannot wait for this season…sadly, it may be one of my lasts as i am leaving the DC area at the end of summer.
i would like to see something like:
Perkins
James, Jakovic, McTavish, Wallace
Szetela, Simms, Quaranta, Castillo
Ponitus, Moreno
didn’t Payne (GM?) of DC come out last year and criticize most MLS teams for not having enough attacking power? it sure does not look like he added much in terms of attacking quality. Maybe castillo adds a lot and Stezela, Allsopp and Quarantta step up, but I am not seeing much from DC.
fishy, I hope you are correct and we see a post-WC signing either on the back line or at striker.
I dunno, I’m not seeing great things for DC this year. With teams like Chicago, Kansas City and New York stepping it up in terms of acquisitions, I could see DC finishing near the bottom this year with Philadelphia and Toronto. Now I know that new players/coaches to the league don’t always work out, but at least the other teams are trying something different.
Thank you.
I didn’t mean to sound harsh about Morsink. Honestly, I’m sure I’ve seen him play, but he didn’t make any impression I can recall. All I meant was that he wasn’t brought in to be part of DCU’s first XI. He’s there to provide depth on a very thin, unimpressive bench — which is the role he filled for Onalfo last year at KC. Never mind whether Vermes knew what he was doing in cutting Morsink, if Onalfo thought more of him, he would’ve featured him more.
Another trialist worth mentioning is Barry Rice. I didn’t see him play at UK, but he had excellent reviews. Not sure why he wasn’t drafted, but I think he could be a nice surprise. I think he’ll make the team, and grow as a player with more experience.
the glass is half full.
Pretty darn good assessment.
United payed too much for Perkins, and lost most of its offense. I see them continuing down.
Sorry, SBI, read your comment after posting this.
But lets face it, if you don’t do a preview no one will get one.
Ditto, third request from me. Biggest game of the week for US soccer fans.
I still don’t understand why Jeff Parke and Conway got suspended for GNC suplements while the league looked the other way on Quaranta’s coke problem. I wish Red Bulls could have taken some legal action against him like Chealse with Mutu.
Intriguing pieces? Kurt Morsink? For real? I’m more interested in trialist Daniel Wasson. Not that I expect him to contribute outside of US Cup,even if he is signed up. I’m a big United fan, but I have to admit this is not a good team right now. Most of the people they have brought in over the last couple of years are castoffs from other MLS teams or lower foreign leagues. Exceptions would be Castillo and Pena, and maybe Allsopp.
Hopefully, Pena can nail down a spot. James is not up to carrying the load as a starting center back. He may grow into being a starter, but a team that needs to rely on him is in trouble. There’s a reason 2 other teams were not hesitant to part with him. Even with Pena, United will struggle in the back until and unless Namoff can return.
The midfield lacks a defined starter on the right– Szetela? He’s got a lot to prove, because he was not good last year, and he’s way behind in training this year. Quaranta is a real X factor pushing the ball up centrally. From what he’s shown in the past, this would not be a good position for him. It doesn’t play to his strengths. Also, he’s been prone to injury. If he or Szetela go down, they do not have starting quality replacements.
The front line may be OK, although Pontius needs to show much better touch finishing. The biggest problem is I don’t see them getting lots of chances because the back eight aren’t strong enough to drive the play. Castillo looks as if he can give the team more productive wing play than Wallace did, but he needs some help.
As I see it, DC United’s season is in a holding pattern, waiting to see who the team brings in after the World Cup. They’ve saved up a lot of cap room — enough for a DP and more. I hope the front office is serious about using that cap room on some serious talent, because that is in short supply for DCU as of this moment.
Random negative comments about the MLS.
lol charles thats great
Any previews for tonight’s match?
step brothers is hilarious
Every milli-second matters? I don’t think so and neither does the league. if they did, they wouldn’t schedule games conflicting with official international matches.
Of course they have a chance of making the playoffs.
DC was US Cup runners-up and zero points ( tie breaker ) away from making the playoffs last year.
BTW, tied with the team that won it all.
This is MLS. The most competitive entertaining league in the world. First kick-off until final whistle in MLS Cup, every milli-second matters.
Stay tuned for some soccer genius/Euro-only-lover’s comments trying to knock down their nation’s league….
Young team, they’ll need a while to develope and without Emilio or Fred I think they’ll struggle to score. Maybe next year they’ll be in the playoff hunt.
(SBI-Come on Kev, no need for that.)