Two days after D.C. United’s season-ending playoff loss to New England, defender Bobby Boswell found himself alone in the team locker room juggling a tennis ball.
“[Head coach] Peter [Nowak] yelled at me to go home,” said Boswell.
United players aren’t hanging their heads despite a disappointing 1-0 loss to New England in the MLS Eastern Conference final. But the way the season ended still hurts as much as the team’s 2005 finale, in which they were thumped, 4-0, by Chicago in the first round.
D.C. finished with the league’s best regular-season record, which secured a spot in next season’s CONCACAF Champions Cup. But United clearly peaked too early and struggled for most of the season’s final three months and the playoffs.
“If this team had this record playing in a lot of countries in the world, they would’ve been crowned the champion of the league,” said United technical director Dave Kasper. “That’s not the way it works in this country. The playoffs have a value and an excitement to them. Unfortunately we fell a little bit short, and I don’t see [the playoffs] changing.”
What is likely to change is the look of United’s roster. With Freddy Adu’s possible move overseas, and an injured and ever-aging attack — Alecko Eskandarian had another knee scan scheduled this week and Christian Gomez and Jaime Moreno are both 32 years old — Kasper will be likely be searching overseas for players.
United is certain to lose a player in the expansion draft as the league welcomes Toronto FC next season. With 13 teams, the league’s competition format also could change.
“I thought last year when we lost the way we did in the first round, I thought there were going to be a lot of changes. I was pleasantly surprised that they kept the same group,” said Eskandarian. “It’s tough because the front office wants to do the right thing to make the team better. Sometimes it’s at a cost.”
Three offseason storylines to follow
» Adu due to leave: Freddy Adu’s has hinted since the season ended it’s unlikely that he’ll be back in 2007. Adu, who will train with Manchester United this month, also said a Spanish powerhouse is looking at him.
» Ownership changes: United is likely to announce the sale of the team, which would help set in motion the process for a new stadium. Former Duke basketball player Brian Davis told The Memphis Commercial Appeal he’s part of group that will buy United’s operating rights for $33 million.
» Coaching carousel: United head coach Peter Nowak is on the short list of contenders for the U.S. national team coaching job. But the Poland native could also make his own move to Europe. Assistant Tom Soehn is also a top prospect for promotion in MLS.
