Sports
Vide is released
By: Craig Stouffer
Examiner Staff Writer
February 17, 2009
Smaller teams made D.C. midfielder odd man out
D.C. United released midfielder Joe Vide on Tuesday, a move that signaled the team is increasingly pleased with its depth as it approaches the midway point of training camp.
Vide, who was picked up last July off waivers, had one goal in eight regular-season appearances (seven starts, 590 minutes played) and was a significant contributor over the second half of last season. He was upgraded to a senior roster spot in the offseason, but his prospects took a hit after the arrival of 2008 draftee Andrew Jacobson from France.
“I don’t think that Joe changed,” said United head coach Tom Soehn. “I think the circumstances around him changed. Our team, it’s been said, is really deep, and losing some roster spots affects not just Joe but some other guys too.”
For one, Soehn had six goalkeepers in training on Tuesday — four will travel with the team today to Puerto Rico, where the team will train for the next week, a stint that includes an exhibition game against the minor-league Puerto Rico Islanders on Feb. 21.
The newest trialist is Nic Platter, who spent 2008 with the minor-league Minnesota Thunder. Projected starter Louis Crayton also has rejoined the team after a spell in Liberia following the death of his 74-year-old mother, Dora.
“He’s made a lot of progress in a short amount of time even though he went back to Liberia,” said Soehn. “He did a good job of working because he lost a lot of body fat, and he’s come in a lot fitter and stronger with his [injured] shoulder.”
United’s 28-man travel roster is expected to include a full spectrum of projects to starters, from newly acquired Mamadou “Futty” Danso, who played at Southern Polytechnic University last fall, to Christian Gomez, who rejoined United via trade with Colorado last week and trained with the team for first time on Friday.
“He’s the same player I remember two years ago,” said United midfielder Clyde Simms. “He’s great with the ball, and his awareness is pretty unbelievable. It’s almost like he never left.”
D.C. United released midfielder Joe Vide on Tuesday, a move that signaled the team is increasingly pleased with its depth as it approaches the midway point of training camp.
Vide, who was picked up last July off waivers, had one goal in eight regular-season appearances (seven starts, 590 minutes played) and was a significant contributor over the second half of last season. He was upgraded to a senior roster spot in the offseason, but his prospects took a hit after the arrival of 2008 draftee Andrew Jacobson from France.
“I don’t think that Joe changed,” said United head coach Tom Soehn. “I think the circumstances around him changed. Our team, it’s been said, is really deep, and losing some roster spots affects not just Joe but some other guys too.”
For one, Soehn had six goalkeepers in training on Tuesday — four will travel with the team today to Puerto Rico, where the team will train for the next week, a stint that includes an exhibition game against the minor-league Puerto Rico Islanders on Feb. 21.
The newest trialist is Nic Platter, who spent 2008 with the minor-league Minnesota Thunder. Projected starter Louis Crayton also has rejoined the team after a spell in Liberia following the death of his 74-year-old mother, Dora.
“He’s made a lot of progress in a short amount of time even though he went back to Liberia,” said Soehn. “He did a good job of working because he lost a lot of body fat, and he’s come in a lot fitter and stronger with his [injured] shoulder.”
United’s 28-man travel roster is expected to include a full spectrum of projects to starters, from newly acquired Mamadou “Futty” Danso, who played at Southern Polytechnic University last fall, to Christian Gomez, who rejoined United via trade with Colorado last week and trained with the team for first time on Friday.
“He’s the same player I remember two years ago,” said United midfielder Clyde Simms. “He’s great with the ball, and his awareness is pretty unbelievable. It’s almost like he never left.”
