Dax McCarty had all the personal attributes D.C. United was looking for in a centerpiece of its rebuilding effort.
The only thing missing was a position on the field, a realization that was apparent when McCarty was traded to New York last week in exchange for Dwayne De Rosario.
“I felt like more like myself of old with one game with New York than 13 games with D.C,” McCarty said following his Red Bulls debut last weekend. “I don’t think that says anything about D.C. or myself, just that maybe New York is a better fit.”
McCarty was always difficult to peg since he doesn’t want to be a pure central playmaker or defensive midfielder. With the Red Bulls, he played alongside Teemu Tainio behind three offensive-minded midfielders and a lone forward.
When he came to United, the club assured McCarty he wasn’t redundant next to Clyde Simms. But McCarty knew being comfortable in the United lineup was going to be an obstacle.
Not afforded time to adjust, he was equally stung by a trade that took him away from a close relationship with teammates Chris Pontius and Charlie Davies. But McCarty bears no hard feelings, and he’ll see his friends as adversaries Saturday at Red Bull Arena.
“I wish I would’ve been able to play better than I did because I really don’t think I ever got to my best level with D.C.,” he said. “That’s a shame because I think in the long run I really could’ve helped out that organization.”
