United remains wary of being overconfident
Summer has not been so hot for the New England Revolution.
On the heels of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2001, the Revolution (3-9-7) are mired in last place in MLS’ Eastern Conference. They haven’t won in nine regular-season games (0-6-3), and their most die-hard fans, the Fort, walked out of their last home match in protest over the club’s decline and conflicts with Gillette Stadium security.
| Up next |
| Revolution at D.C. United |
| When » Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. |
| Where » RFK Stadium |
| TV » Comcast SportsNet |
| » After missing United’s last match with a hamstring strain, forward Josh Wolff (four goals, five assists) is listed as probable for the Revolution. |
| » D.C. midfielder Andy Najar has been invited to a Honduran under-23 training camp next week. Should he be permitted to go, it would be his first inclusion with his national team. |
But D.C. United (5-5-8), on a five-game unbeaten run, isn’t falling into a trap of believing in fortunate timing for New England’s visit to Washington.
“I think it’s more of a dangerous time for a team to play against them,” said D.C. United forward Charlie Davies, a New Hampshire native. “I think coach [Steve] Nicol has probably hammered them for the past couple of days.”
New England will also be without U.S. national team midfielder Benny Feilhaber, who is suspended after receiving a pair of yellow cards in the Revolution’s 3-0 loss to Philadelphia last weekend.
But Davies has his own set of worries. He has struggled to find the net in recent weeks as D.C. United has adjusted to the integration of Dwayne De Rosario as its central playmaker.
“It’s been a little difficult for me trying to get involved in the games and into a rhythm,” Davies said. “I’m hoping tomorrow I break out of that little slump I’ve had and get back on the scoring sheet.”
Davies remains tied for third in MLS with eight goals, a total that would seem to merit his inclusion on the roster of all-stars who will play against Manchester United at Red Bull Arena on July 27. Instead, United didn’t have a single player selected, both a blessing and a curse for D.C. United coach Ben Olsen.
“Am I speaking as a coach who isn’t going to lose his players for an extra game?” Olsen said. “I certainly think we have a couple guys that are worthy of being on that team. But these all-star games, you never know how they’re being picked. I hope we don’t put too much stock in it, but the guys that think they should’ve been on it move forward and use it as motivation.”
Davies said the omission has nothing to do with his determination to improve and progress.
“It was a little bit of shock,” Davies said. “But all I can do is focus on what I do on the field, and if I’m the leading goal scorer at the end of the year, then that’s just kudos to me for my hard work.”
