Leg Two - DC United 5:0 Harbour View FC

United advances 6-1

Okay, a very late recap of this game. I wasn't at the game due to a birthday coinciding with the game of a person related to me by marriage (can't skip out on your wife's birthday), and I didn't actually see the game until the next night. At that point most everything has been hashed and rehashed. It was nice to see the offense light it up. It was better to see McTavish play the role of Kaka. What was best was how quickly and dramatically the new players (Gallardo, the Gonzolos, Wells, and Niell) have integrated into the team and are also applying their own flair and style. DC United is now big in the central defense, faster up top, and just as creative in the middle. Was is just me or were there more quality runs behind the defense in that one game than in a month of last season? McTavish, Emilio, Niell, and Fred were all anticipating passes rather than chasing after them. Good sign of things to come. So, let's all get ready for the MLS opener this weekend. Preview should be up by Friday.

Leg One - DC United 1:1 Harbour View

Well, that was a boring game. I love my soccer and this was the first game of the year, but after a really boring first half, I found my attention wandering in t he final fifteen minutes. And isn't that interesting, so did the defense. It's hard to formulate my thoughts into a coherent analysis since so many different things were happening, so I will tackle what I feel were the major questions entering the game and see if I think any answers were given or alluded to...

1. Gallardo as the new #10 was as expected. He clearly doesn't have the same skill set at Gomez, and he isn't as familiar with the DC United system. However, his on the ball skills were apparent. He seems to hang a bit further back than Gomez did and will try more long balls from midfield, much like another former #10 did, Etcheverry. One of his dead ball strikes was really nice, and he seemed to have the creative eye any team would want. So I am pleased with his first game.
2. The Gonzolos as the central defenders. They are big boys, huh? I like that. They don't seem particularly fast, but with proper positioning, that can be mitigated. After a very nice, easy first sixty-five minutes, things began to get more interesting and the corner kick equalizer was part hand ball, part poor marking. I'm not sure who was at fault, but no one was in the middle with two Harbour View players and no one was on the far post.
3. Zach Wells in goal. Well he sure plays a different game from Perkins. I had no problem with him at all, he just seems to be more at home on his line with crosses and takes fewer chances. He did come out to jump on balls at the top of the box a few times and seemed to be fearless when he does decide to come out.
4. The uniforms will take some getting used to. The front seems like a black hole. I have to assume there will be a sponsor by midseason to fill all of that space.

Grades:

Forwards (Moreno and Emilio) B-

Midfielders (Fred, Gallardo, Simms, McTavish) B

Defenders (Namoff, Burch, Martinez, Peralta, and Wells) B

Substitutes (Niell and Stratford) B+

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