Anybody starting to get nervous that D.C. United is once again having a solid preseason? Another win yesterday, this time 3-1 over the Ventura County Fusion – even if 11 D.C. players were on the field in the second half for all the goals (two by Blake Brettschneider, one by trialist Sergio Villarreal) despite Josh Wolff getting himself red-carded in the first.
By the way, noticeably absent in the Ventura County match was D.C. midfielder Dax McCarty, who rolled an ankle late last week. I’m told it’s nothing serious and that he’ll return to training this week.
United could actually get its toughest challenge yet on Tuesday against UC Santa Barbara – don’t think for a second that soccer-crazed school won’t be up for it, or that Chris Pontius won’t be up for a return to his alma mater.
But D.C.’s 2010 campaign should be the poster for not buying into preseason results in any way, shape or form whatsoever.
In any case, newly reacquired Fred reached out to D.C. United about a month ago, looking to return (to put it mildly) to the place where he still owns a home and to the team where his brother, Junior Carreiro, is on the roster. Think he took a pay cut to make it happen (that, and a not exactly valuable 2013 second-round draft pick for New England)? Absolutely.
Think it might actually work out for D.C. United? Could be. Fred’s pretty far down the depth chart, given that United is carrying four forwards and a gaggle of midfielders. If D.C. is fully healthy and has all players available, the Brazilian is on the bench. But if Branko Boskovic is with the Montenegro national team – which he will be to finish up qualifying for Euro 2012 (next match, June 4) – Fred can fill in on the wing or as a playmaking midfielder. He can also substitute on either wing for Andy Najar, who could also be dealing with international duty, or for Santino Quaranta.
“We’re pretty pumped about it,” said United general manager Dave Kasper.
*Speaking of Junior, Kasper said the timeline was 4-6 weeks for his ankle sprain.
*Speaking of June 4, D.C. United’s visit to the Los Angeles Galaxy on that date has been moved up a day to Friday, June 3, at 11 p.m. ET so it can be on Fox Soccer Channel, which re-upped its current MLS broadcast deal for another season. A couple other D.C. matches were also affected by the FSC TV schedule: at Toronto FC on April 16 was moved back to a 7 p.m. kickoff, and July 2 vs. Philadelphia was moved forward a half hour to a 7 p.m. kickoff. Along with D.C.’s visit to Houston on April 29, that makes four FSC matches for D.C.
