How many comeback stories are there for D.C. United this season? Too many to count. I tackled Marc Burch’s return to left back in today’s print edition.
Burch and whoever D.C. head coach Ben Olsen decides to put with him on the back line at New England on Saturday will be scrutinized closely, but perhaps the more curious question is why Olsen left the highest-paid member of his roster, designated player Branko Boskovic, on the bench last weekend. After asking Olsen about that situation yesterday, it could be a good bet that it happens again.
“It’s a fair question,” Olsen said. “Unfortunately, a lot of times, the DP thing, it’s ‘Hey, the DP guy is on the bench.’ All I can say is that he’s been great. His attitude has been fantastic, and the way he’s playing has been pretty good as well. Right now, I just view [Chris] Pontius as being pretty sharp at that spot and helping us. Not that Branko couldn’t step in there and do just as well. We’re a very deep team in the midfield, and it’s one of those decisions that you have to make.
“This is a week-to-week process. Fred didn’t even dress last weekend, and he hasn’t put a foot wrong since he’s gotten here. He’s been playing great. This is fortunately, who we are. It’s tough at times because everybody is working hard and doing their part, but only so many guys can dress in the midfield, and only so many guys can start.”
Saturday will also mark yet another special occasion for United forward Charlie Davies, who will play for the second time as a professional at Gillette Stadium, essentially the hometown stadium for the Manchester, N.H., native, who attended tons of Revolution games growing up and played against them when he went to Boston College. The last time he played in Foxborough was for the U.S. as a substitute in a 2-2 tie with Haiti during the 2009 Gold Cup.
Davies said he’s had about 50 ticket requests, between he and his fiancée, Nina.
“To win the game,” Davies said when asked about his goals for the match, “and for me personally, it’s just to contribute, whether that be with a goal or an assist or holding the ball up, whatever the team may need, just to continue doing that and to take steps forward with my progress and confidence and then three points, which we’re expecting to achieve.”
Olsen said Davies has been good this week as he and the entire team have sought to move forward from the emotional euphoria of last week’s stunning result.
“Obviously, it was a big high for him,” said Olsen. “Getting not only him but everybody back on the same page and onto the next task is very important, and we tried to do that early, turn that page onto what is always a tough battle up in New England.”
United is winless (0-3-1) in its last four league matches against the Revolution, getting shut out in both encounters last year. D.C. hasn’t won in Foxborough since 2008. The teams will play a reserve match immediately after the conclusion of Saturday’s game.
