Game 1 - DC United 1:2 Colorado Rapids
Game 2 - DC United 2:4 Kansas City Wizards

Let's fire up this blog again...

After four games of pretty decent tournament soccer during the preseason, United threw up all over themselves in their first two games of the regular season. So let's sum up the first two games in one post as the issues that plague the team, and the few bright spots, are relevant to both games.

The Good:

Emilio is the real deal. Isn't it nice to watch him finish plays with authority? Jamie, as great as he is, is all too often tentative in the penalty box. Emelio doesn't seem to suffer from that problem.

The Bad:

Facundo, Carroll the Elder, Olsen, and Gros seem to have regressed to a distressing degree. Watching the game against the Wizards was distressing in so many ways, but none more so than the sheer volume of unmarked forwards and midfielders standing within 20 yards of the goal. On the third goal, two defenders were standing alone in the box. I've never seen that before.

Grades:

Forwards (Emilio, Jamie) B

Two goals should result in nothing less than a tie with the talent put on the field by United. The forwards did their jobs.

Midfielders: (Gros, Carroll the Elder, Olsen, McTavish, Gomez) D

Nothing resembling defense on the wings. Carroll the Elder must have given the ball away a dozen times including the giveaway which directly resulted in the 4th goal. I hate to say this, but Simms and Fred may be a better option than Olsen and Carroll the Elder. God help my #14 jersey for saying so. Benny certainly can't play out on the wings and if Brian can't be bothered to look up before getting rid of the ball, some time on the bench is justified. Maybe not next game, but much sooner than I would have imagined a few weeks ago.

Defenders (Erpen, Boswell, Namoff, Perkins) F

Nothing short of abysmal. Worst performance in years.

Sub: (Fred) B-

Some nice creativity. A few runs at defenders which resulted in quick giveaways. I really want to see him in the first eleven soon.