Is this 2008? It sure feels like 2008, after the 3-1 defeat to Toluca. (Hey, I recognize that coach! Jose Manuel de la Torre was manager of Chivas Guadalajara when it faced D.C. United four different times in 2007. Guess I had my own sense of deja vu in the RFK Stadium media room.)
1) With all due respect, when D.C. United trots out a lineup in Trinidad on Sept. 15 that has fewer “regulars” — we’ll consider that group the Galaxy game starters plus Jaime Moreno and Chris Pontius — than the five that started against Toluca, it’ll be all but official that United is punting the CONCACAF Champions League.
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2) A 4-4-2 is nice defensively for D.C. United. But where’s the offense when the four-man midfield is Andrew Jacobson, Clyde Simms, Devon McTavish and Ely Allen? Nonexistent. By the time Tom Soehn threw in Fred for Allen, 35 minutes were gone. I can’t figure out Jacobson. He’s the box-to-box guy, yet much of game he was sitting in behind Simms, and offensively there’s not nearly enough punch.
3) Both of United’s new defenders – David Habarugira and Julius James – were partly responsible for opposing goals. That’s a not-awesome return on investment.
4) Still no Danny Szetela in the 18-man available roster. Whatever he’s rumored bust-up was, it had to be serious. Again, not awesome.
