D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen has some decisions on his hands this weekend when the team takes off tomorrow for Los Angeles for Sunday night’s contest at Chivas USA. The short turnaround before Wednesday’s all-important U.S. Open Cup semifinal against Columbus takes precedence, but the last thing D.C. wants to do is squander the precious good feelings they’ve got after last weekend’s victory against Philadelphia.
One player that won’t be in contention for both matches is Branko Boskovic, who will fly from Los Angeles to back to Europe – ugh, I don’t envy that trip – on Monday to join the Montenegro national team, which plays its first two Euro 2012 qualifiers the back end of next week – Sept. 3 at home vs. Wales and Sept. 7 at Bulgaria. That rules Boskovic out of two D.C. United matches next week against the Crew, both in the Open Cup and in league play three days later. According to a team release, Boskovic should be back for a visit to Toronto on Sept. 11.
Against Chivas, perhaps might we see the opening group from yesterday’s 4-0 scrimmage win over Georgetown? The starting 11 was Perkins, McTavish, Jakovic, Rice, Graye, Boskovic, King, Morsink, Quaranta, Cristman, Allsopp.
Another player who did well against the Hoyas was trialist Carlos Varela, but D.C. doesn’t have to make a decision just yet – he’s on an extended trial. “He’s been good so far,” said Olsen. “He’s an offensive guy. You can tell he’s played at a high level, he makes good decisions on the ball. His fitness looks good. He’s impressed.”
Meanwhile, new signing Conor Shanosky has been called in to join the U.S. under-20s for three games in Peru next week. Northern Virginia native Samir Badr and Crystal Palace Baltimore’s Korey Veeder are in the team as well.
One other note as D.C. United tries to salvage something from its season. Yesterday, the club announced its season ticket campaign for the 2011 season. Not only is United offering discounts, but as part of the program, United president Kevin Payne is going to engage in a series of Q&As with fans prior to each of the team’s final four regular-season home games on Sept. 4, Sept. 25, Oct. 9 and Oct. 23. The club continues to wait for the results of the latest Maryland Stadium Authority economic feasbility study next week while working behind the scenes on its own stadium pursuit. Given the state of the team on the field, there are few things that could help placate fan concerns more than some kind of encouraging words about the future of the club itself. Unless D.C. somehow embarks on a redemption tour over the final quarter of the year, the longer that D.C. waits to talk about its plans going forward, the harder it will be to get the fans back who are already leaving in significant numbers. It will be interesting to see how much Payne can say and how much it will help.
