Preview of Leg 1 - DC United at Harbour View
DC United opens the 2008 campaign with a road match in Jamaica against a familiar foe in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, a North and Central American club tournament. United was able to dispatch Harbour View three years ago, 4-2, but fell in the next round. This season, DC United may start five new players who were not with the team last season. How quickly the attack and defense jell and how the midfield is able to connect the two will determine how successful United is between now and the end of April. There will be two new central defenders, the Gonzolos, a new #10, a new goalie, and Olsen is out. It's possible the Moose will get time, but from what I have read, he is on the outs with the coaching staff, possibly not being on the eighteen man roster once the season starts. Quaranta however, should get a major look in the next ten weeks and probably has passed Moose on the depth chart. I also expect Niell to play a lot during the first half of the season, perhaps averaging forty-five minutes a game and alternating starts with Moreno to keep him Jamie fresh.
I expect the starting eleven to be Emilio, Moreno, Gallardo, Fred, Simms, Quaranta, Namoff, Peralta, Martinez, Burch, and Wells. Look for Niell, McTavish and Kirk to get time in the second half.
You can find the DCenters preview of the game here.
Prediction:
DC United 2:2 Harbour View
2 comments:
it will be very interesting to see who starts on the right wing. i've heard mctavish, mediate, quaranta, and even kirk. with my personal preference for safety i expect to see mediate, but if quaranta has really impressed he may get the nod. i guess we can't complain too much about depth on the wing, now we just need to see if any of them are quality.
Ended up being McTavish. Interesting problem to have this year. Too many wingers as opposed to last year when Olsen was forced out there from the middle.
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