Sports
Burch wants it left to him
By: Craig Stouffer
Examiner Staff Writer
February 5, 2009
Last year’s utility man will be pushed by Wallace
With the way Marc Burch burst onto the scene at left back in 2007, there were some who thought it would just be a matter of time until the former Maryland forward was vying for his new defensive position on the U.S. national team.
But after a detour last season, thanks to D.C. United’s staggering set of injuries and games, Burch hopes to take his play to the next level even as he expects increased competition just to stay in the starting eleven.
“Last year, I would’ve loved to had spent the whole year at left back and getting better,” said Burch, whose accurate and powerful left foot is a rare commodity. “Who knows where I’d be right now.”
Instead, Burch was forced into a utility role, playing centrally, which exposed his need to refine the positional skills required to complement his ball-striking ability.
“The biggest thing Marc needed to learn was how to defend,” said United head coach Tom Soehn. “He had come from a college system where he was a forward. It’s hard to learn. There are a lot of intricacies, off-the-ball runs, which he’s gotten a lot better at … I’ve really seen it this year in his development. His starting points are so much further than where he was last year.”
Meanwhile, another former Terrapin, rookie Rodney Wallace, is an ideally suited left-sided player who has looked sharp in United’s first few practices.
“Rodney’s a great athlete and a great kid,” said Burch. “I know that he’s going to be pushing me every second.”
Second-year development player Mike Zaher also hopes to retain his spot on United’s final 24-man roster.
Note » D.C. United added two more players to its preseason roster on Tuesday, Bob De Jong, a 17-year-old midfielder from the Netherlands, and goalkeeper Evan Bush out of Akron.
Position battle
Each week leading up to D.C. United’s March 22 season opener, The Examiner will look at competition for roster spots. This week: left defender.
With the way Marc Burch burst onto the scene at left back in 2007, there were some who thought it would just be a matter of time until the former Maryland forward was vying for his new defensive position on the U.S. national team.
But after a detour last season, thanks to D.C. United’s staggering set of injuries and games, Burch hopes to take his play to the next level even as he expects increased competition just to stay in the starting eleven.
“Last year, I would’ve loved to had spent the whole year at left back and getting better,” said Burch, whose accurate and powerful left foot is a rare commodity. “Who knows where I’d be right now.”
Instead, Burch was forced into a utility role, playing centrally, which exposed his need to refine the positional skills required to complement his ball-striking ability.
“The biggest thing Marc needed to learn was how to defend,” said United head coach Tom Soehn. “He had come from a college system where he was a forward. It’s hard to learn. There are a lot of intricacies, off-the-ball runs, which he’s gotten a lot better at … I’ve really seen it this year in his development. His starting points are so much further than where he was last year.”
Meanwhile, another former Terrapin, rookie Rodney Wallace, is an ideally suited left-sided player who has looked sharp in United’s first few practices.
“Rodney’s a great athlete and a great kid,” said Burch. “I know that he’s going to be pushing me every second.”
Second-year development player Mike Zaher also hopes to retain his spot on United’s final 24-man roster.
Note » D.C. United added two more players to its preseason roster on Tuesday, Bob De Jong, a 17-year-old midfielder from the Netherlands, and goalkeeper Evan Bush out of Akron.
Position battle
Each week leading up to D.C. United’s March 22 season opener, The Examiner will look at competition for roster spots. This week: left defender.
