It was a move that neatly summed up D.C. United’s offseason priorities and its regard for the 2010 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
Late Wednesday night, United gave up Brazilian midfielder Fred, their first-round draft pick (7th overall) in Thursday’s draft and allocation money to the expansion Philadelphia Union in exchange for the Union’s top spot in the MLS allocation order.
By moving into that spot, United reacquired goalkeeper Troy Perkins, who bolted for Norway two years ago after four years in D.C., including two as a starter. In both of those years, 2006 and 2007, United won the MLS Supporters’ Shield. In 2006, Perkins also was named MLS goalkeeper of the year.
D.C. already had three goalkeepers going into 2010, but clearly neither Josh Wicks (injured, back mid-March), second-year backup Milos Kocic, nor teenager Bill Hamid were desirable to start for a team that has given up more goals than it has scored in each of the past two (playoff-less) seasons.
Meanwhile, the departure of Fred — who never lived up to his potential over three seasons — signaled the end of United’s Brazilian era, since forward Luciano Emilio decided to stay in his native country this spring. Emilio and Fred also accounted for more than $1 million worth of salary.
United did make one draft pick Thursday, picking North Carolina defender Jordan Graye, a District native, in the fourth round. Had he not been picked, Graye might’ve been an undrafted training camp invitee anyway.
