Soehn and DC United split up

By: Craig Stouffer
11/03/09 11:45 AM

D.C. United has announced that head coach Tom Soehn has decided to remove himself from consideration for the head coachign position with his current contract set to expire this offseason. Soehn came to the club before it had made a decision on whether or not to move forward with or without him.

The details of the club's announcement and Soehn's coaching record can be found here.

A potential list of replacement candidates can be found here. Add Puerto Rico head coach Colin Clarke to that list but for heaven's sake remove Sasho Cirovski.

Another big week for DCU - off the field

By: Craig Stouffer
10/30/09 2:52 PM

Well, so far D.C. United’s offseason has been as interesting as the games were themselves, eh? Actually, maybe more.

First, there’s goalkeeper Josh Wicks getting shoulder surgery. What started out as 4-6 weeks has turned into 4-6 MONTHS. Nice. An interesting coincidence that it was announced the same day Wizards guard Javaris Crittenton appeared with a cast and crutches SIX DAYS after getting surgery on his foot.

That makes offseason player acquisition job No. 1 the same as it was last year: find a goalkeeper. (Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, are forward – because keeping Luciano Emilio at $750,000 isn’t worth it – and finding another defender – unless you think Julius James is a long-term solution.)

Second, there’s United president Kevin Payne getting fined $5,000 by Major League Soccer and then apologizing for these comments: “I deeply regret some of the comments I made in an interview published earlier this week. In trying to explain the, sometimes, unfair expectations on the Head Coach of D.C. United, I made critical comments of Colorado, New England, Real Salt Lake and the League. Those comments were unprofessional. I have great personal regards and professional respect for my colleagues at those organizations and for their ownership and fans. I have apologized to those teams and individuals privately and now do so publicly.&rd...

DCU runs the end-of-season gauntlet

By: Craig Stouffer
10/27/09 2:46 PM

One by one, they filed out of the D.C. United locker room: the team's five highest-paid players -- well, except for Christian Gomez ($321,000), who declined to be interviewed -- each answering a few questions on the team's disappointing season.

First up, Fred ($257,000; 23 appearances, 17 starts, 2 goals, 4 assists in MLS play): "The same last year, we didn't go to playoffs because of one point again so we're all disappointed."

Is it your intention to return to D.C. United? "I don't know yet. They have a one-year option, and I have to wait now."

"I think the games at home, we didn't win the games at home in September. This, I think, is the key to why we didn't go the playoffs. But you have your head up, and we do it again next year."

Next, Jaime Moreno ($355,000; 24 apps, 11 starts, 9 goals, 3 assists): "Usually it’s good when you see the team playing the same kind of games, the same kind of football at least five, six games, where you see that we’re really connecting with each other. But I don’t think that happened this year."

How do you feel? "I want to play. I don't know where, but I feel like I still have it. I've been pretty healthy this year. I'm actually feeling better than a lot of years. Definitely, I want to play. Definitely, I'm not retiring. It would have to be something like a critical injury to retire, so f...

Kasper says no decision yet on Soehn

By: Craig Stouffer
10/26/09 7:22 PM

Sorry for the little delay getting this posted…

D.C. United general manager Dave Kasper says he’s not going anywhere after United missed the playoffs for the second straight season, but no decision has been made yet on the future of head coach Tom Soehn or of nearly all of the D.C. roster.

“We’re going to decompress and take our time with it,” said Kasper. United has its award banquet on Tuesday and current player contracts run out December 1.

Asked about his own job security and whether it had been discussed with United president Kevin Payne, Kasper replied: “I talk to Kevin frequently, and he’s assured me that I’m in the club’s plans moving forward.”

Despite earning a win over Columbus and a draw at Kansas City in its final two regular season matches, United (9-8-13) was eliminated from postseason contention in a three-way tie with Real Salt Lake (11-12-7) and Colorado (10-10-10) for the eighth and final spot in the MLS playoffs. It left Kasper wondering where the one extra point could’ve been gained.

“You know, at midseason we were in first place in the conference and doing well,” said Kasper. “I think we hit that really tough stretch again this year of playing not only in the Open Cup final, but now you add the CONCACAF play-in, which was also difficult. We picked up some injuries along the way ...

D.C. United ties but misses playoffs

By: Craig Stouffer
10/25/09 12:37 AM

After all that -- a wild 2-2 result at Kansas City for D.C. United (yes, another typically unsatisfying draw -- United's MLS-leading 13th this season) -- they were left only to root first for Dallas to draw -- not win or lose -- at Seattle and for New England to draw or lose on Sunday.

Unfortunately, United can watch football instead. Because Dallas lost to Seattle, United lost a combined tiebreaker against Colorado and Real Salt Lake at 40 points in a battle for the final two postseason berths. It doesn't matter what happens to the Revolution. If Dallas had tied, a four-team tiebreaker would've ensued, actually putting D.C. in a tentative playoff spot, assuming again the Revs had lost.

No matter now...

It certainly felt like last year earlier tonight when Julius James hit the post with a header off a corner kick before -- United, of course, hit the woodwork three times in last year's season-ending 1-0 loss at Columbus. And then, also in similar fashion, the Wizards went ahead courtesy of Kei Kamara.

But United fought back with some really interesting roster moves - Jaime Moreno off the bench for an injured Christian Gomez in the first half, Ben Olsen off the bench for Danny Szetela to open the second half, and Boyzzz Khumalo replacing again ineffective Luciano Emilio early in the second half -- before actually getting on the board with a Moreno penalty kick after Fred drew contac...

Picture in picture, get the picture?

By: Craig Stouffer
10/21/09 2:58 PM

All of a sudden, I'm twisted in knots over D.C. United. It could be the sleep deprivation after having a baby last week, but my head is spinning because United's season is teetering between utter disaster and actually not that darn bad -- and it may not even be up to them to decide which it ends up being.

Did you see United draw with Toluca last night? The second time in 19 matches that a MLS team has gotten a draw on Mexican soil. The other 17 were losses. Excuse me, but are you talking about the same team that tanked its five-game homestand by losing three consecutive league matches at RFK for the first time? Can't be. I recognized Luciano Emilio, who not surprisingly struggled again with poor touches, slow runs and was basically a non-factor. In fact, FSC analyst Christopher Sullivan rightfully recognized that Emilio taking a free kick was tough call but no one else on the field had enough clout to argue with him. And of course, Emilio, shanked it back to Mexico City.

After his ridiculous strike -- which probably won't change the fact that he's slipping in the MLS rookie of the year race -- Chris Pontius should've been awarded free kick duty for the rest of the night. Steve Cronin also has been an amazing example the backdoor route to get a huge roster addition. Yes, head coach Tom Soehn deserves credit, but Raul Nava's header off the woodwork probably did more for United's b...

D.C. United at Toluca

By: Craig Stouffer
10/19/09 10:28 PM

What » CONCACAF Champions League

Where » Estadio Nemesio Diez, Toluca, Mexico

When » Tuesday, 8 p.m.

TV » FOX Soccer Channel/Telefutura

The gist » Despite sitting in second place in Group B, D.C. United (3-2-0) needs to achieve at least the same result against group-leading Toluca (4-1-0) that Marath?n (3-2-0) does against San Juan Jabloteh (0-5-0) in order to advance to next spring's quarterfinals.

The rub » No U.S. team has ever won a meaningful match on Mexican soil. United has been shut out in each of its last three visits south of the border.

The real dilemma » By virtue of its 1-0 win over Columbus last weekend, United has kept its MLS playoff hopes alive until the final weekend of the regular season, forcing the team to again balance its travel roster against domestic ambitions. D.C. can make the playoffs with a win at Kansas City and a combination of other favorable results.

Sat. Oct. 17 » Crew at United

By: Craig Stouffer
10/15/09 11:53 PM

When » Saturday, 8 p.m. Where » RFK Stadium TV » Comcast SportsNet+

The gist » D.C. United has lost any remaining margin for error for getting into the playoffs, but four of eight MLS playoff postseasons still remain up for grabs. Only a combination of favorable results in other matches and a win in the regular season home finale against the defending MLS Cup-champion Crew (13-5-10) will keep United (8-8-12) in contention for one of those berths.

The revolving door » While midfielder-forward Santino Quaranta had surgery Tuesday for a ruptured plantar plate in his left foot’s first metatarsal, United added USL-1 goalkeeper of the year Steve Cronin on loan from the Portland Timbers (USL-1) after getting MLS approval for the extreme hardship roster addition.

The past and present » United will celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the 1999 squad that captured both the Supporters’ Shield and the MLS Cup at halftime.

Bradley's low point

By: Craig Stouffer
10/13/09 9:45 AM

After U.S. national team practice yesterday afternoon at RFK -- one in which D.C. United teen-aged goalkeeper Bill Hamid was helping out in net -- head coach Bob Bradley was asked if there was a low point for him during CONCACAF qualifying. It struck me as unusual the way he responded without his usual stoicism: "When you start the qualifying, you know that it's ten game, ten tough games. You split it a little bit into halves, if it makes sense. You know along the way that not every result is going to go your way, and you have to treat it as a whole. If there was one game that we still would look back upon as being disappointing, it was the Costa Rica game. We went down right away in the game, where we didn’t handle a situation well, a play that we lost the ball in our own end, we didn’t cover it well, and [Alvaro] Saborio hit a great shot. The crowd was already excited, but that really set the tone for that night. As we tried to respond, we gave up a second goal. If there was one game, one moment where we were not pleased with just how we handled things, it would’ve been the Costa Rica game, especially early on, the first 15 minutes."

Wambach, Whitehill earn U.S. call-ups

By: Craig Stouffer
10/06/09 11:26 AM

Did you see the list of players called up for the U.S. women's team exhibition against Germany later this month? Washington Freedom players Abby Wambach and Cat Whitehill are both on the roster. So, too, is Lori Lindsey, who got left unprotected in the WPS expansion draft and was picked up by the Philadelphia Independence. It's still so shocking that Lindsey isn't with the Freedom anymore that even the orginial release from U.S. Soccer had her listed with Washington. Nice.

Lindsey can add to her one cap if she gets on the pitch in Augsburg on Oct. 29.

Wicks gets the Blanco treatment

By: Craig Stouffer
10/06/09 11:20 AM

In the same manner that U.S. Soccer hacked off Cuauhtemoc Blanco's U.S. Open Cup eligibility -- essentially, for good -- last year after his incident-filled experience vs. D.C. United at Maryland SoccerPlex -- banning him for six games or two years, whichever came first -- United goalkeeper Josh Wicks has been handed the greater of an additional four games or one-year suspension from the tournament.

Wicks already had the mandatory one-game suspension via the red card he earned for stomping on Seattle forward Fredy Montero in the U.S. Open Cup final. He also "refused to leave the field of play in a timely fashion and used highly inflammatory language to insult the fourth official," according the USSF, giving rise to the additional penalty.

If you recall, Blanco got a red card, also took his sweet time leaving the field and then tried to head-butt a game operations official.

The suspension does not affect Wicks' eligibility for Open Cup play-in games, which are administered by MLS. The usual format once MLS teams are in the tournament itself consists of four matches if a team advances all the way to the final. The format could change next year, or Wicks might find himself banned for the first game in 2011, too, if D.C. goes all the way to the final in 2010.

He has until the end of business Tuesday to appeal.

United-Chivas postgame

By: Craig Stouffer
10/03/09 11:41 PM

There are way more questions than answers after D.C. United's 2-0 loss to Chivas USA, their third consecutive home loss in MLS play. They had never botched a homestand like this, and the last time they lost this many home games in a row in the domestic league? 2000, which is a bad sign.

Playoff hopes? They're now on life support. I haven't done all the permutations, but the way I see is this: United can only catch New England. Now, the Revolution, who tied Colorado on Saturday, finish the season with two games against Columbus and one vs. Chicago. But still. Let's just avoid the confusing scenarios for now.

Jaime Moreno: "We got nothing to say. There’s only two games left, and we know the situation, where we are, is very critical.”

What did United think of the performance tonight?

Marc Burch: "I feel like they outworked us a lot today. Even though they didn’t have many chances, they were the better team today. They outworked us. They outran us. They won a lot of balls in the midfield. They won a lot of balls off our forwards, and they were making good runs up top, and it was tough for us to defend them. I think in the first half, we got ran into the ground, and it was tough to bounce back in the second half."

Ben Olsen: "They were a better team. They took advantage us, some of our shortcomings, and obviously after I’m out, the game changes...

Pretty quiet at RFK

By: Craig Stouffer
09/30/09 11:16 PM

Well, besides the postgame blowers after D.C. United's 5-1 win over San Juan Jabloteh. It was pretty darn quiet during the game, too. How much noise can 3,411 fans generate, really?

Here's the report.

The postgame media session did have a nice quirk to it, as Christian Gómez joined head coach Tom Soehn to talk to reporters [they don't let us in the locker room after CONCACAF games]. First, Soehn gave the Argentinian a hard time for falling back on the crutch of an interpreter, telling him, "English." But then it got slightly awkward, as Gómez happily fielded questions about his recent lack of playing time -- he has one start in United's last four MLS matches. It'll be interesting to see what happens Saturday vs. Chivas USA.

I also asked Chris Pontius about getting featured in ESPN Magazine's upcoming Body Issue, in which he's photographed with Ben Olsen, Clyde Simms, Bryan Namoff, Santino Quaranta and Jaime Moreno in some state of undress but which is also supposed to be humorous: "I think you guys will get a kick out of it when you see it, and I think my mom's going to kill me."

Doubt sets in around D.C. United

By: Craig Stouffer
09/27/09 9:31 PM

Karma felt like it turned on the Washington Redskins the moment they took the field on Sunday afternoon. It turned on D.C. United 40 minutes into their match, but the net result was the same.

And once it turned, there was no looking back. Yes, D.C. United once again had chances – such as Santino Quaranta’s clear miss in the first half or the bicycle kick by Chris Pontius that completed the game’s most beautiful sequence but was cleared off the line by Ramiro Corrales. But the lack of a killer finish is still yet to materialize, and the overthinking and questioning – which seemed to begin when United abandoned the 3-5-2 about a month ago – has reached a new level, not only among players, but coaches and the fans, too. The Barra Brava was pleading for Christian Gomez, and there were even some boos after the final whistle.

Ugh.

(And by the way, how bad was referee Baldomero Toledo and his crew? Questionable offside call on Ryan Johnson in the first half, Toledo blows his whistle in the middle of the play when Josh Wicks went down -- the shot by Johnson, who had continued on the play, fell into the net -- Toledo also gave Pontius a yellow on what didn't look at all like a dive, and then blew his whistle for a DCU back pass in stoppage time on a ball that was clearly deflected. Can't wait for U.S. Soccer to tackle this one.)

How’s this for a cross-sec...

DCU/Marathón: feel good or feel bad?

By: Craig Stouffer
09/24/09 11:49 PM

Here's the report from D.C. United vs. Marathón.

Feelin' good: D.C. United, for once the rested team, wins handily, boosting its hopes in CONCACAF Champions League and in MLS, to be honest, given Luciano Emilio's performance.

Feelin' bad: Poor Marathón. Not only did it take them two days just to get to Washington from Honduras. They can't even go home because the airports are still closed. Domestic games have been canceled this weekend, too. Stinks to be them.

Feelin' good: Jaime Moreno. He scored - in the run of play!

Feelin' bad: Moreno. Gets sent off after late foul. Not sure about the play itself, but I did watch him jaw with Marathón coaches -- "I don't want to talk about it" -- and gesture "3-0" to the Honduran fans. "It’s the heat of the moment,” said Moreno, “and we’re at home so they have to respect us.” So he's out of the home game against Jabloteh. Might CONCACAF also spare him a trip to Toluca?

Champions League Group B standings

1. Toluca 4-0-0, 12pts, +13 GD

2. D.C. United, 2-2, 6 pts, 0 GD

3. Marathón, 2-2, 6 pts, -6 GD

4. Jabloteh, 0-4, 0 pts, -7 GD

Other notes: Did you see the 2010 MLS schedule?

REGULAR SEASON – WEEK 1 First Kick presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods – Thursday, March 25, 2010 Philadelphia Union at Seattle Sounders FC, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2/Deportes, ESPN360.com) ...

Fred, the flu, and DCU

By: Craig Stouffer
09/23/09 2:40 PM

I was planning on asking D.C. United midfielder Fred about his calf injury after practice today. He's listed as probable for tomorrow's match against Marathón in CONCACAF Champions League play. I got more than I bargained for.

Me: You feeling better?

Fred: Much better after swineflu. Yeah, I got it last week, me and my family.

Well, then. So, DCU head coach Tom Soehn didn't have it when he missed United's match a couple weeks ago, but there it is: H1N1 made an apperance at RFK. Fred said he had it for five days and that it was much worse than normal flu: stronger, with headaches, diarrhea, no appetite and body pain everywhere. Yuck.

"I don't want it anymore," said Fred. Apparently, there are no other cases in the DCU locker room.

As for D.C. United, a multi-goal win is a must against the Hondurans, who can thank the political unrest at home for closing the airports and thus requiring them to take an 8-hour bus ride to Guatemala in order to catch a flight to Washington. They are expected to arrive tonight. United won't complain if they're worn out because they need at least a two-goal win to gain the tiebreaker advantage after losing in Honduras, 3-1, last month.

"I think if we can go out and put in a good performance and score a couple goals, it would help us in our own league play," said United midfielder Santino Quaranta. "Entertaining and hardworkin...

Tuesday evening roundup

By: Craig Stouffer
09/15/09 11:18 PM

Well, well, well. What do we have here? None other than D.C. United's first win in CONCACAF Champions League play in 11 tries, a 1-0 victory over San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad, which couldn't hit a free kick inside and around penalty box and looked a lot like they should've been playing against a D.C. United team down a man after GK Milos Kocic upended a player outside the box but walked away with only a yellow card.

That said, Christian Gomez took an awarded penalty kick, for a handball, nicely in the early going, Kocic was a presence, and Julius James went airborn to clear a clear game-tying goal off the line late in the first half. Tiyi Shipalane and Danny Szetela each squandered chances to double the lead in the second half -- (Szetela played? Really?) -- but the random assortment of players on the trip deserved to check out the scene and the rum in Port of Spain afterward -- can Bill Hamid drink there? Not sure -- since they don't have another match for more than a week.

Back at home, Ely Allen, Ange N'Silu and Greg Janicki were added to the "You ain't playing another MLS match this season" list but will still be available for CONCACAF, and Boyzzz Khumalo was re-activated from the injured list.

In women's soccer, Washington Freedom players Lori Lindsey and Sarah Senty were picked up by the Philadelphia Independence in the WPS expansion draft. Tough for Lindsey, who ...

D.C. United - Seattle postgame

By: Craig Stouffer
09/12/09 11:47 PM

Here’s the thing about D.C. United’s 2-1 loss to Seattle earlier tonight: As you’ll see from my game story, I’m going to have to disagree with head coach Tom Soehn’s assessment:

“It was disappointing. The first half I thought we took -- we killed plays off by being too cute in the final third, and giving them counterattacks. We addressed it at halftime, and I thought the energy and the way we opened up the game was pretty good. We had so many less turnovers, created a lot more opportunities, and giving away the goal on a half chance like on the near post, it was deflating.”

Although United dictated 90 percent of the match, including as determined and gritty a second half as I remember in a while, I would substitute “not very good at all” for “too cute.”

The truth could certainly be that D.C. United is plum worn out after 12 games in the last 43 days. But the attack never looked crisp against the Sounders – even Rodney Wallace’s goal was borne out of determination to get to a loose ball, not the precision of strung-together passes.

I wonder if Josh Wicks' hesitancy on the first goal was due to lingering thoughts about the stomp in the U.S. Open Cup final?

Hard not to feel bad for Julius James, but the errors are what will be remembered.

It was also my first time seeing Fredy Montero in person. Don't be foole...

DCU pre-Seattle notes (and Vaughn signed)

By: Craig Stouffer
09/11/09 2:48 PM

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I missed the game last week. Vacation had to happen.

But here we go again, this time for playoff positioning, and hopefully no stomping.

[Time out! Before we look to tomorrow, D.C. United just announced that Greg Janicki has gone on the Disabled List with back spasms -- and a case of lingering Marathon trauma -- allowing the team to pick up former Chivas USA defender Lawson Vaughn. I was starting to think Janicki was already gone, but I did see him in the locker room after Wednesday's game -- getting his back worked on...]

Back to the Sounders. First, Ben Olsen, on the mood and turnaround in confidence: "I think it’s an exciting time for us right now. We’re looking forward to the chance to keep building on what we have this last couple weeks, and what a great chance against a team that’s been very good this year and certainly had our number last game in the Open Cup final. It’s not something you forget real quick, even though we’d like to say we do. I think it’s still pretty fresh in everybody’s mind. And hopefully we can go out and fix that situation."

Olsen, on the "rivalry" with Seattle: "I hesitate to say we have a rivalry with an expansion team. But they’re also, let’s be honest, not your average expansion team. I think they’ve fielded a very good team, and they’ve got ...

United-Wizards thoughts

By: Craig Stouffer
09/09/09 11:16 PM

Back in the playoff picture, eh?

Thoughts: 1) D.C. United head coach Tom Soehn pulled Christian Gomez at halftime of tonight's 1-0 win over Kansas City. But he said it wasn't because of performance: "It wasn’t necessarily Christian, why we took him out. Just the game dictated that we needed to get Benny [Olsen] in there. Sometimes that’s the reality of things, and I told him at halftime, it’s not you, it’s what our formation is right now. We need to solidify things, and Benny added a lot the minute he came in. He shored the middle up, and now we started to possess the ball a little bit better. Some subs you have to do, not because of performance, but because of what’s required."

That's true, but for a team that is leaning more and more toward a 4-4-2, Gomez has a difficult argument for being included, given his defensive limitations.

2) Clyde Simms said the removal of Davy Arnaud in the second half might have been one of the main reasons why D.C. kept K.C. from getting a shot on goal after halftime, as he had been a constant danger on balls from Claudio Lopez and Josh Wolff. (He didn't put many on frame, however.) Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the tactics of interim Wiz coach Peter Vermes.

3) Take a Chance, go to jail. Second-half sub Chance Myers lasted 41 minutes, picking up two yellows in five minutes. Not awesome for just his third...

Beckham at RFK

By: Craig Stouffer
09/09/09 4:15 PM

Did I miss this while I was on vacation? Just saw David Beckham work over RFK during his recent visit when challenged by Alan Gordon. How do our friends at D.C. United feel about that one?

DCU's defensive casualties mask offensive needs

By: Craig Stouffer
09/08/09 2:27 PM

Here's a date for you: July 18.

It's the last time D.C. United scored a goal at RFK Stadium in a MLS regular season match.

Okay, technically, that was only two games ago. But it's starting to feel like the spark has been missing for longer, and I'm not sure why Santino Quaranta really needs to be sorry for simply being frank about United's offensive struggles and his frustration in comments he made last week.

Nevertheless, a la Landon Donovan, today Quaranta apologized for going public: "I regret doing it that way because it wasn’t, at this time, from what went on last week – with Josh [Wicks], we had some issues -- just to continue that wasn’t the smartest thing in the world. But I can’t take back what I said. I dealt with it, and I apologized to Tommy [Soehn] for it."

At least he didn't back track on the penalty kick he drew against Dallas: "The thing about this is, we’re running full speed, and this guy’s behind me, and so anything that he does to throw me off, I’m going. I couldn’t finish it so I’m going down. I didn’t dive. He clipped the back of my heel twice. I didn’t dive. I promise you that. I have to do that more often, start making those runs and being more aggressive. That’s something that we talked about, something that I’m doing more comfortably in a four-back system. I’...

Learning about the Hamid deal

By: Craig Stouffer
08/28/09 12:46 AM

What was learned here on Tuesday and in the print edition of the Examiner on Wednesday was that D.C. United was moving closer to signing academy goalkeeper Bill Hamid to a professional contract. By late Wednesday, as seen on my Twitter account, @craigstouffer, the deal was imminent.

What was learned Thursday evening was that Hamid's contract with Major League Soccer -- and thereby, D.C. United -- is all set. Everything just has to be finalized. Pen to paper, my friends.

What you're learning here right now is the hope is that everything gets signed on Friday. What you also need to know is that, according to a source with knowledge of the deal, Hamid is esssentially taking a senior roster spot, which by pay grade, would put him ahead of No. 2 goalkeeper on the depth chart Milos Kocic. It certainly sets up an interesting dilemma this offseason, as United is all but assured of being unable to protect Kocic in the next expansion draft. With two senior roster goalies next season, Kocic might have to accept another developmental deal if he wants to stay in Washington.

Now please excuse me, i'm taking the high road out of town on vacation.

United, Toluca thoughts

By: Craig Stouffer
08/26/09 11:29 PM

Is this 2008? It sure feels like 2008, after the 3-1 defeat to Toluca. (Hey, I recognize that coach! Jose Manuel de la Torre was manager of Chivas Guadalajara when it faced D.C. United four different times in 2007. Guess I had my own sense of deja vu in the RFK Stadium media room.)

1) With all due respect, when D.C. United trots out a lineup in Trinidad on Sept. 15 that has fewer "regulars" -- we'll consider that group the Galaxy game starters plus Jaime Moreno and Chris Pontius -- than the five that started against Toluca, it'll be all but official that United is punting the CONCACAF Champions League.

2) A 4-4-2 is nice defensively for D.C. United. But where's the offense when the four-man midfield is Andrew Jacobson, Clyde Simms, Devon McTavish and Ely Allen? Nonexistent. By the time Tom Soehn threw in Fred for Allen, 35 minutes were gone. I can't figure out Jacobson. He's the box-to-box guy, yet much of game he was sitting in behind Simms, and offensively there's not nearly enough punch.

3) Both of United's new defenders - David Habarugira and Julius James - were partly responsible for opposing goals. That's a not-awesome return on investment.

4) Still no Danny Szetela in the 18-man available roster. Whatever he's rumored bust-up was, it had to be serious. Again, not awesome.

A little confusion, a little DCU news

By: Craig Stouffer
08/25/09 10:12 PM

Riddle me this, how does the Virginia men's soccer team, which was ranked second in the ACC preseason coaches poll, ahead of both Maryland and Wake Forest, end up being omitted from the Soccer America preseason rankings? Surely, it's a typo, right?

I've inquired with both the Cavaliers and Soccer America. We'll see.

In the meantime, I'm hearing that D.C. United academy goalkeeper Bill Hamid is moving closer to a professional contract. The next steps have been taken with Major League Soccer -- which owns all its player contracts, remember -- but the timing and details with D.C. United are yet to be resolved. It's complicated, considering United's roster is at the 24-player maximum at the moment. "Discussing the possibilities," was how it was phrased when I asked...The MLS roster freeze date is Sept. 15.

To round out the local soccer news, Abby Wambach, Cat Whitehill, and Lori Lindsey -- nice one -- were called up to the U.S. women's national team for a 12-day camp for players in contention to be selected for a match against Germany on Oct. 29. Wambach and Whitehill are the most-capped players in the camp, with 130 appearances a piece. Lindsey has represented the U.S. once.

By the way, here's my D.C. United/Toluca preview...

United, Galaxy thoughts

By: Craig Stouffer
08/22/09 11:33 PM

First off, have you noticed that my colleagues in sports are all blogging like crazy these days. An excellent development.

Anyway, a couple quick thoughts about the scoreless tie between the Galaxy and D.C. United.

1) That's the first we've seen that D.C. United lineup this season -- arguably the strongest one it can put out. Jaime Moreno and Chris Pontius merit consideration, obviously, but their inclusion either way hasn't been the difference maker, as least based on my examination of every first eleven DCU has used thus far in the regular season.

2) Chad Ashton had a phone on the bench to talk with sick Tom Soehn, and he said it was used a couple times.

3) David Beckham appears to have a hard time finding a middle gear. Despite the danger he is when he's got the ball, too often there's too much or not enough.

4) The night's best play: when Jovan Kirovski and Bryan Namoff got tangled on a long ball late in the first half, and Namoff more or less body-slammed Kirovski, who wasn't happy about it, at all. Gregg Berhalter appeared to get away with his own share at the other end.

5) Will leave you with this from Santino Quaranta: "We had eleven guys put in a positive performance tonight. Anytime you can do that – we’re going to win games if we play like that. It’s the older guys still trying to keep the younger guys knowing that it’s such a long season, if w...

Quaranta excited to be back

By: Craig Stouffer
07/31/09 3:14 PM

Here's what Santino Quaranta had to say today about rejoining D.C. United after a month with the U.S. national team during Gold Cup.

"It’s real good to be back. It was great. [U.S. head coach] Bob [Bradley] was great. The whole time, really, I took a lot out of the trip. The whole attitude part of it was just a great experience. I think that it was unfortunate what happened in the last game, but overall, the guys that were in there worked hard. You come back with more of a role in leadership and wanting to win games again, and understanding what it takes. So it’s been good on that part."

How do you feel physically?

"It’s tough to be away for a month, mentally, you know, and the ups and downs of the tournament. But I’m excited to be back, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow night. Especially when we’re struggling a little bit now, and to get back in the locker room and bring some life back into the locker room is good. That’s the most important thing now, we’ve got to get back on the same page, and understand that we’re a good team, get the swagger back that we had."

What did you learn this time with the national team that you didn't before?

"Just how amazing it really is to play for your country. There are so many people out there that would love the opportunity and never get it. Especially, the game here...

DiCicco set to take one for the team

By: Craig Stouffer
07/30/09 11:11 AM

Boston Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco made sure to make his point about referee Jose Carlos Rivero after last night's 1-0 loss to the Washington Freedom. You can see the quote that I used here in my game report -- I felt the need to explain Alex Scott's tackle on Sonia Bompastor.

DiCicco continued, though, feeling the need to explain his perspective on officiating in WPS' first season: "There was a star of the game today, and it wasn’t Abby Wambach, and it wasn’t my players sprinting around. It was the referee. He changed the whole game, and all he had to do was yellow card, fair enough. He has three options: speak firmly to the player, yellow card, and a red card is for something that is way over the top. I haven’t seen the film, but when [Freedom assistant coach] Clyde Watson says to me, 'I wouldn’t have called a red,' that tells me that the referee -- let’s face it, the referees are learning in this league. Unfortunately, especially the international players, they’re just farther along than our referees. We’re losing Alex Scott for the next game, too. We’re playing on Saturday. So this call is far-reaching... He's over his head. Most of the referees in this league have been over their heads, and they can look the part and play the part but that is just a very, very difficult call in that stage in the game."

Fine city,...

Should DC United feel slighted?

By: Craig Stouffer
07/28/09 9:19 AM

Here's the 32-player list of MLS All-Stars, 18 on the active roster for tomorrow night's silly match against Everton, 14 other who simply get a nice little bonus in their paychecks.

GAME-DAY ROSTER (18) GOALKEEPERS - Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC); Zach Thornton (Chivas USA). DEFENDERS - Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire), Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (Seattle Sounders FC), Bakary Soumare (Chicago Fire) MIDFIELDERS - Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Chicago Fire), Will Johnson (Real Salt Lake), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards), Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake) FORWARDS - Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC) INACTIVE ROSTER (14) GOALKEEPERS: Pat Onstad (Houston Dynamo); Donovan Ricketts (LA Galaxy); DEFENDERS: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA); Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew); Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards); MIDFIELDERS: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew); Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution); Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC); Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo); Paulo Nagamura (Chivas USA); Amado Guevara (Toronto FC); FORWARDS: Brian McBride (Chicago Fire); Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo); Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls)

No Bryan Namoff? ...

Lots to read

By: Craig Stouffer
07/08/09 9:13 AM

I know, I haven't been around these parts recently. But I haven't left completely, and there's tons to check out on this Wednesday morning.

The soccer page.

My U.S./Honduras preview.

My recap of D.C. United's win over Harrisburg in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals.

Lastly, but not to miss, my Cheers & Jeers column on Santino Quaranta.