Is the season really that close? Hard to believe with the piles of “snow” in Lot 8 at RFK Stadium (can’t say anything more than that).
But here we go with a round-up of team news from today and yesterday.
Injuries: Clyde Simms (torn meniscus in left knee) got operated on yesterday and is done for most of the next month. Will he return for the season-opener. Seems highly unlikely.
Marc Burch is getting operated on Thursday on a fractured sesmoid bone (under the ball of the foot) in his right foot. He’ll be shelved four months. Yikes, that’s July by my count.
Bryan Namoff is making progress on what United general manager Dave Kasper said yesterday is agreed by all parties to be lingering effects of whiplash. “He’s going to get through this,” said Kasper. “This thing has to run its course.” Namoff could join the team next week in Charleston.
Among the candidates to fill the vacancies: trialist Kurt Morsink, a defensive midfielder from James Madison who played under D.C. head coach Curt Onalfo in Kansas City and could get signed; Julius James, who is back fully after shoulder surgery and is a strong candidate to slot in alongside Dejan Jakovic; and Devon McTavish, who has been playing right back. Given the guy couldn’t hold down any position last season, it’s nice to have the door open.
“I like that position,” said McTavish. “With Namoff gone for a while, it leaves an opening, and coach has been giving me a shot back there.”
Goalkeeper Josh Wicks (shoulder surgery) might do the same, but in the meantime Andrew Quinn was still taking reps in net at yesterday’s practice, as was assistant athletic trainer Pete Calabrese to give D.C. a foursome of netminders.
Danny Szetela (knee) was working on the side, but he said he’s much better.
Matches: United departs for Mexico at the end of the week. They’ll play an exhibition at Santos Laguna on March 10 to help that team open it’s brand new stadium.
United will also play FC Dallas in a U.S. Open Cup play-in game sometime before the end of April, according a report today by FC Dallas. The winner will play the San Jose/Real Salt Lake winner before the end of May for a birth in the tournament proper.
Other player news: On trial this week are Shintaro Harada (Crystal Palace but a free agent, said Kasper) and Barry Rice (Kentucky). Both are primarily defenders. Out are Ray Burse, TwoBoys Gumede and Quiarol Arzu. You never know when you’ll see more new guys, but it seems likely with the challenge United faces putting together a defensive group.
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