With less than two days to go before D.C. United kicks off its 2010 campaign, here’s a look at the nearly-complete roster with some initial thoughts about each player headed into the year:
20 D Lyle Adams Age: 23 Nationality: USA
Wake Forest product was a 2009 draft pick for D.C. – he tested the waters overseas before landing with Austin in USL-1. Tall, athletic, could add some promising depth to the back line.
9 F Daniel Allsopp Age: 31 Nationality: Australia
Can the Australian make his country proud in MLS? His more important role will be to give quality minutes that allow Jaime Moreno to stay fresh.
24 M/F Brandon Barklage Age: 23 Nationality: USA
Industrious backup midfielder showed surprising signs of promise last year as a central playmaker before a knee injury ended his rookie season. Also used on the wing.
4 D Marc Burch Age: 25 Nationality: USA
Stress fracture in right foot will keep him out until summer. Will there be a place for him in the defensive rotation when he returns?
12 M Christian Castillo Age: 25 Nationality: El Salvador
Inherits the legacy of former United El Salvadorans like Raul Diaz Arce and Ronald Cerritos. If he can adapt to MLS, Castillo can add real quality to the right wing.
7 F Adam Cristman Age: 25 Nationality: USA
Former Virginia striker has overdelivered since being drafted in the fourth round in 2007. Big, powerful, but for now likely stuck in a reserve role.
28 G Bill Hamid Age: 19 Nationality: USA
Begins his first full MLS season as a clear number two keeper behind Perkins. Big hands, big body, big presence, huge upside.
5 D Dejan Jakovic Age: 24 Nationality: Canada
As important to D.C. last year as the double draft swoop for Wallace and Pontius. With Peña and Talley on board, Jakovic’s game is poised to grow.
2 D Julius James Age: 25 Nationality: Trinidad & Tobago
Great athlete played a substantial role in the middle of the defense last season. Error-prone at times, had shoulder surgery in the offseason.
17 M/F Thabiso “Boyzzz” Khumalo Age: 29 Nationality: South Africa
Good candidate to start on the left wing in United’s season opener. Has improved steadily since joining the squad from third-tier Pittsburgh in late 2008.
18 D/M Devon McTavish Age: 25 Nationality: USA
Jack-of-all-trades is always fighting for minutes. Could fill in at right back, can also play right wing.
99 F Jaime Moreno Age: 36 Nationality: Bolivia
Scored a ton of goals in preseason. The trick is managing his minutes over the course of a long regular season. But don’t expect him on the bench when things kick off on Saturday.
6 M Kurt Morsink Age: 25 Nationality: USA
Didn’t take him long to supplant Danny Szetela as the primary backup for Simms in defensive midfield.
14 M/D Andy Najar Age: 17 Nationality: Honduras
What’s his best position? Right wing, right back, even forward? He’s going to play, but is D.C. United rushing him along too quickly?
26 D Bryan Namoff Age: 30 Nationality: USA
Patience continues to be required for the veteran right back as he recovers from concussion/whiplash symptoms. Savvy and tough as nails when healthy.
3 D Juan Manuel Peña Age: 37 Nationality: Bolivia
United GM Dave Kasper says the former La Liga player has kept himself in tip-top shape. Peña’s calming influence in the back could play a huge role.
23 GK Troy Perkins Age: 28 Nationality: USA
The D.C. defense has been shaky since he left two years ago. No coincidence, then, that nervousness has suddenly gone away.
13 M/F Chris Pontius Age: 22 Nationality: USA
Is double-digit goals a fair target? A pair of national team camps should have the second-year forward in good form early in the year.
25 M/F Santino Quaranta Age: 25 Nationality: USA
Moreno is still around, but this is Quaranta’s offense. He’s earned the chance to hold the reins and play attacking midfield. Now he needs to prove he can handle them.
G Andrew Quinn Age: 22 Nationality: USA
Former DeMatha and Notre Dame keeper appears set to hold down United’s third-goalkeeping spot for now.
21 M Tiyiselani Shipalane Age: 24 Nationality: South Africa
Never far from making a spectacular play. Expected to bring that spark off the bench.
19 M Clyde Simms Age: 27 Nationality: USA
United’s starting defensive midfielder is the epitome of dependability. More killer passes going forward would make him one of the best at his position in MLS.
D Carey Talley Age: 33 Nationality: USA
Reports have former United defender returning to where he played his first four MLS seasons, including as a member of the 1999 MLS Cup winners.
22 D/M Rodney Wallace Age: 21 Nationality: USA
Left back is his position to keep. After 2,200 minutes as a rookie, the challenge is maintaining that consistency in his sophomore campaign.
31 GK Josh Wicks Age: 26 Nationality: USA
Scheduled to join team late after fully recovering from shoulder surgery. Rumblings are team may move on without him.
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