Game 18 - DC United 1:0 LA Galaxy

There are three different story lines following this game.

DC United moves into second place in the Eastern Conference and remains a Juggernaut at home. As bad as United has been on the road this year, they have been that good at home. More than two and a half goald per game, only one loss on the year, and a ten game unbeaten streak in all competitions. So, this makes winning the Eastern Conference even more important. Home field advantage could mean everything come the playoffs.

United's red card luck continues. This makes three of four where United is up 1-0 and is the beneficiary of an opponent's red card. Two of three they have won the game 1-0 and one 1-1 tie. This will not continue. Combine this with DC's recent run of futility near the goal and it could go bad for United if they can't muster the second goal on a semi regular basis.

A spectacular night for soccer at RFK caused me to wonder what the night would have been like at a soccer specific stadium like the one proposed at Poplar Point. If instead of 30,000 extra seats, there were only 7,000 extra seats, the demand would have been enormous. This is what United needs to move to the next level in the local sports pecking order. If on a normal night, you couldn't get good seats by walking up to the stadium, more people would buy tickets in advance. If on a good night, the game might sell out, even more people would buy tickets in advance. If more than a few games sell out, more people will buy season tickets. None of that happens when there are 15,000-30,000 tickets available every night.

Grades:

Forwards (Emilio and Kpene) B-

Emilio nets a great goal but leaves a few on the field. Kpene looked better and dangerous.

Midfielders (Fred, Simms, Olsen, and Gros) B

Fred seemed a bit out of sorts in the first half sending passes with the wrong pace or just struck badly. He looked much better back on the wing with Olsen in the middle. Gros was very good, if not dangerous. With Burch in the back and Gros on the wing, United is better. Unfortunately for Josh, when Gomez is healthy, he is odd man out I think. Simms was consistent and defended well.

Defenders (Boswell, Namoff, McTavish, Brurch, and Perkins) A

Boswell was a beast marking Landon. Burch was great again and set up the lone goal with a very nice pass. Namoff and Mctavish I have no specific memories of, which for defenders is a good thing. Perkins was in complete control.

Substitutes (Moreno, Carroll, and Mediate) B

Moreno nearly had #109 and looked better than last week. Carroll and Mediate did nothing of note.

Game 18 Quick Comments

Now that was a fun and frustrating night. A spectacular crowd, which reminded me of the crowds that would arrive when Michael Jordan would arrive in town with the Bulls. They wanted their team to win, but wanted MJ to score 50. Well, another #23 arrived in town and his every move was watched with eyes and binoculars, recorded with cameras, and screamed at when he did something new (warm up, put on his jersey, take off his jersey).

Thank goodness Emilio put away one of his half dozen chances because he and the rest of United couldn't hit the net tonight. United deserved to win, but they were awful at finishing.

Full recap tomorrow...

Preview of Game 18 - DC United vs LA Galaxy

DC United, 8-3-6 (W-D-L), come home for a Thursday night game against LA on national television. The big question is: Will David Beckham Play? The answer is probably not, and he probably shouldn't. I will be disappointed if he doesn't play like everyone else who has a ticket to this sold out game. But, the man is clearly injured. He did everything he could to play for Real Madrid when they needed him to secure the league title. I have to believe he is very aware of the criticism he and his team are receiving and if he could play, he would play. Maybe he makes a token appearance in the second half, but I hope it is only if he is healthy enough to do so. He signed a five year contract and will be coming back to DC every year. I for one will give the man a break and hope he is healthy enough to help the league expand it's reach later this year. If he can inspire one or two internationals, like Shevchenko, to come to MLS this winter, he will have succeeded in my mind, regardless of what he contributes on the field.

DC United looks to capitalize on its surprising and dominating win over Eastern Conference leading New England with four starters unavailable. Everyone trained this week, but Moreno (back) and Gomez (thigh) are still questionable. United has been very strong at home this season with a 5-2-1 (W-D-L) record and a +7 goal differential. United averages 2.63 goals per game at home in league play. They are in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference (1.59 PPG), six points behind New England (1.74 PPG) with two games in hand. They are in 5th place in the Supporter's Shield race, seven points behind Houston (1.70 PPG) with three games in hand.

The Galaxy, 3-5-5 (W-D-L), have only played three league games since the end of June (1-2-0) including Sunday's 0-0 tie with Toronto, and have played only thirteen league games all season. LA are 0-3-2 on the road season with a -3 goal differential. They are in 5th place in the Western Conference (1.08 PPG), twenty points behind Houston with seven (!) games in hand, and in 12th place in the Supporter's Shield race.

United and the Galaxy tied their only meeting this year, 0-0 in LA. United will should have everyone available, if not in the starting lineup. I expect the starting eleven to be Emilio, Kpene, Gomez, Fred, Olsen, Simms, Namoff, Burch, McTavish, Boswell, and Perkins a 4-4-2 formation. Carroll, Gros, and Moreno should get in during the second half. Beckham or no, United should outclass the Galaxy and build on their impressive victory in New England.

Prediction:

DC United 3:1 LA Galaxy

Game 17 - DC United 3:0 New England Revolution

I have to say, I was not optimistic when I saw United's starting lineup. No Gomez, no Moreno, no Fred, and Dyachenko in the #10 spot. Where were the goals going to come from?

Turns out there was nothing to worry about as United scored three of them. So let's talk about the goals, as notable things happened on all of them. On the first goal, it seemed to me after watching the replay that for a split second, Matt Reis, the Revolution keeper, had his hand on the top of the ball before Josh Gros poked it away and into the goal. So what is the rule? According to the FIFA Laws of the Game, it is as follows:

The goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball by touching it with any part of his hand or arms. Possession of the ball includes the goalkeeper deliberately parrying the ball, but does not include the circumstances where, in the opinion of the referee, the ball rebounds accidentally from the goalkeeper, for example after he has made a save.

So, it would seem to me that however brief it was, Reis was touching the ball with his hand a fraction of a second before Gros kicked it. United got lucky.

On the second goal, Kpene and Emilio executed flawlessly on a play from the middle of ther field. I can't remember the last time DC scored on a pass liker this. Beautiful.

The third goal is a mystery to me. Why you ask? It's because Comcast was showing player reactions instead of the quick restart by Emilio. His give and go with Olsen was a thing of beauty on replay, but we never saw the overhead view which would show if Emilio was onside on the return pass. This was a real problem during the game, especially during the second half. We didn't see the short free kick on the end line which the Revs almost scored on. So, was Emilio offside? No idea. However, onside or not, he took a well timed shot which went in despite the deflection by Reis. Come on, Comcast. You're better than that.

The Good:

• Emilio notches two and plays well for the whole 90 minutes. He is now tied for the league lead in goals scored with Eddie Johnson.
• Burch, Boswell, McTavish, and Namoff is a nice back line. Who goes off when Vanney heals up?
• Even with all the midfielders and forwards unavailable, Brian Carroll is left out of the starting lineup. I call that significant and about time. Simms played well, and he was light years ahead of what Carroll had done recently.
• Perkins was excellent, and played with a command that bodes well for the rest of the season.

The Bad:

• Moreno leaves after 30 minutes due to back issues. Let's hope it was just a tweak.
• Olsen gets another silly yellow card. Just a moronic play by Benny. I will be thinking of that one when the inevitable suspension due to yellow card accumulation happens sometime in September.

Grades:

Forwards (Emilio and Kpene) A-

Kpene looked very good in 45 minutes of play. He seems to be almost fully fit. And Emilio, as mentioned above, was fantastic.

Midfielders (Dyachenko, Gros, Simms, and Olsen) B

Let's hope we don't get to the point where Dyachenko plays the attacking midfielder role again. Not that he was horrible, but he played far from inspiring soccer. Gros played nicely on the left and Olsen was adequate on the right. Simms seemed in control in the middle. Good game from this crew.

Defenders: (McTavish, Burch, Boswell, Namoff, and Perkins) A

A shutout speaks for itself. If Burch doesn't continue to start, Soehn and I will have a problem.

Substitutes: (Moreno, Carroll, and Mediate) C

Moreno still is suffering from a failure to make quick decisions which I think are directly related to how he is feeling. The healthier he feels, the more decisive he is. He seems to hold the ball much longer when he is not 100%. Today he was dispossessed a lot after dribbling into trouble. Carroll was not a factor and Mediate didn't make an impression either.

Preview of Game 17 - DC United at New England Revolution

DC United, 7-3-6 (W-D-L), heads to New England for a Sunday afternoon matchup with the Eastern Conference leading Revolution. DC continues to struggle on the road with a 2-1-5 record and a -3 goal differential. United averages 0.63 goals per game on the road in league play. They have been shut out four different times as well. Jamie Moreno and Guy-Roland Kpene should both be available to play the full 90, so United should have a more potent offense than they have been able to trot out there recently. They are in 5th place in the Eastern Conference (1.50 PPG), nine points behind New England (1.83 PPG) with two games in hand. They are in 8th place in the Supporter's Shield race, ten points behind Houston (1.79 PPG) with three games in hand.

New England (9-6-3) are unbeaten in their last six games (4-2-0) including Thursday's 2-0 win against Kansas City. The Revs are 4-4-1 at home this season with a +10 goal differential. They are in 1st place in the Eastern Conference (1.83 PPG), four points clear of Kansas City with one game in hand, and in 2nd place in the Supporter's Shield race, one point behind Houston.

United and the Revs tied their only meeting this year, 1-1 at RFK. United will be very tired as this is their 5th game in fifteen days. With Moreno, Kpene and Namoff available and Vanney quesionable and, I expect the starting eleven to be Emilio, Moreno, Gomez, Fred, Olsen, Carroll the Elder, Namoff, Burch, Gros, Boswell, and Perkins a 4-4-2 formation. Kpene and Simms should get in during the second half. I'd prefer to see Simms in place of Carroll, but I'm not hopeful.

Prediction:

DC United 1:1 New England Revolution

SuperLiga Game 3 - DC United 0:1 Houston Dynamo

What to take from the loss:

1. DC United needs Moreno on the field. I don't know if it is him or the rest of the team, but when he is on the field, everything seems to flow more smoothly.
2. Moreno took a cheap shot in the box from behind right in front of the referee. Should have been a penalty.
3. Direct evidence of why Boswell isn't a forward. Swing and a miss!
4. Kpene isn't nearly as skilled as I thought he was earlier in the year.
5. Carroll still hasn't played a good game this year, regardless of the competition. He was finally subbed out by Simms with under ten minutes to play. I just don't know what the coaches see in Carroll.
6. I'm not sure who hired the officials for these games, but they have been consistently one sided. Game one was pathetic at 22-6 for fouls, game two was better at 18-15 against DC, game three was 20-15.

EDIT: With the Club America win over Morelia, United is through to the semifinals.

SuperLiga Through Two Games

DC United is tied atop the Group B standings with 4 points along with Houston Dynamo. Morelia is in third with 2 points and Club America is in fourth with no points and is eliminated from advancing to the semifinals. United and Houston will go through with win, or a tie and a Morelia loss or tie, or a Morelia loss. DC and Dynamo play on Wednesday in Houston.

United has looked good in their first two games. The games appeared very similar in how they developed. DC takes an early 1-0 lead, the opposition has a player sent off, and United tries to hang on. Against Morelia, a volley from distance into the upper corner against the run of play cost United the full three points. United seemed to learn from that mistake and controlled the midfield and the pace of the game against Club America on Sunday.

I watched the game with my father-in-law, a Brazilian born soccer nut and he had some interesting comments on United's personnel. He was very impressed with Burch. His crosses were useful and he seemed to mesh well with Fred. He was very excited by the first half that Gomez had and was raving about him during the halftime. He could see Fred was very talented but still acclimating to the wing as he kept drifting to the center on occasion. Emilio had an off night, but he could see the vision. He loved Simms as a sub and wondered why he didn't start. And because I wear the #14 to all games, he took a particular interest in Olsen and saw why he is my favorite.

So this experience has caused me to look at what my "Ideal Eleven" would be at this point in the season. This assumes complete health for all players on the roster.

...................................Perkins.................................

Namoff.............Boswell...............Vanney.................Burch

...................................Simms...................................

..............Olsen..........................................Fred.........

....................................Gomez..................................

......................Moreno.....................Emilio................

Subs:

McTavish
Carroll the Elder
Gros
Addlery
Kpene
Moose
Nolly

So there is your 18 man game day roster. I firmly believe that group wins the Eastern Conference.

And on a side note, I hope DC United and the District officials have a plan in place to open as many parking lots as possible for the LA Galaxy game which is now sold out. Trying to force all cars through Lot 8 and letting that overflow into Lot 7 is a slow, painful process. Please, please, please open Lot 7 completely with multiple entrances. Lot 7 is gigantic, easily accessible from two exits off I-295 and always underutilized by those in charge. Have four people at each entrance to all lots taking money, not one or two. I really don't want to have to leave 2 hours early for that game to be in my seat at kickoff.

Game 16 - DC United 0:1 New York Red Bulls

Quick recap...

This result is not a surprise given the lack of personnel available. Moreno, Olsen, Namoff, Kpene, and Moose were all sidelined. So, Burch got the start along with Simms, Gros moved back to midfield, and the result was a reduced attack. Not that there weren't chances. Boswell narrowly missed twice. Addlery had a great chance as well.

Now, the missed call on Fred in the box was atrocious. His jersey was torn for goodness sake. But, I am tired of blaming officials. United was outplayed. Fred got a red for being stupid, Carroll was invisible again, and DC's depth was show to be a bit lacking at this point in the season. Hopefully the SuperLiga will be a better result.

Grades:

Forward (Emilio) C
Midfielders (Fred, Gomez, Gros, Simms, and Carroll) C+
Defenders (McTAvish, Vanney, Boswell, Burch, and Perkins) B-
Subs (deRoux and Addlery) B-

Preview of Game 16 - DC United at New York Red Bulls

DC United, 7-3-5 (W-D-L), travels up the NJ Turnpike for a Sunday afternoon game looking to rebound from the second half collapse against Dallas last week. Jamie Moreno left the game with a hamstring injury and his availability is questionable. United's bench is very thin so Moreno's ability to play will be key to their chances to post three points this week. DC has been struggling on the road with a 2-1-4 record and a -2 goal differential. They are in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference (1.60 PPG), two points behind New England (1.73 PPG). They are in 5th place in the Supporter's Shield race, nine points behind Houston (1.83 PPG) with three games in hand.

NYRB (7-3-6)has won only one of their last six games (1-1-4) including last week's 1-0 loss to New England. They also only have two wins since May. Perhaps their hot start in April (3-1-0) was similar to United's cold one (0-1-3), not indicative of the real strength of the team. Midfielder Claudio Reyna has not been on form the last few weeks and was pulled early during the 4-0 drubbing by Houston two weeks ago. Juan Pablo Angel hasn't scored in four games. However, Josy Altidore should be back from the U-20 tournament and in the starting lineup which makes them a much more dangerous team. NYRB are 4-1-2 at home this season with a +9 goal differential. They are also in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference (1.50 PPG), two points behind New England, and in 5th place in the Supporter's Shield race.

United has had great success against the Red Bulls over the last few years in a very one sided rivalry. With a win, United will clinch the Atlantic Cup for the fourth straight year. Moreno and Namoff are questionable for this game and Moose is out after having groin surgery to repair a hernia. I expect the starting eleven to be Emilio, Moreno, Gomez, Fred, Olsen, Carroll the Elder, Vanney, McTavish, Gros, Boswell, and Perkins a 4-4-2 formation. Kpene and Simms should get in during the second half.

EDIT: Since Moose, Namoff, Kpene, Moreno and Olsen won't make the trip, this is going to be quite the interesting lineup. Addlery is the obvious choice to replace Moreno. The midfielder is more interesting. I'd go with Simms, but Mediate and Jeff Carroll are also options. A more remote possibility is Burch on the backline, with Gros moving to winger. What Soehn does will be very interesting. I'm actually very intrigued now as to what he does.

Prediction:

DC United 2:1 New York Red Bulls

EDIT: With all the substututes, new Prediction:

DC United 1:2 New York Red Bulls

Ralston: MLS Career Assist Leader

Steve Ralston moved into first place on the all time MLS career assist list this weekend with number 115, breaking his tie with Carlos Valderama.

Game 15 - DC United 3:3 FC Dallas

Let me get a few thoughts off my chest which have nothing to do with what I think caused this result.

1. Brian Carroll doesn't get involved with the offense, he doesn't make good passes, and he doesn't track back when the defense is in trouble. And now, he doesn't mark his man and slow down his movement towards the goal. So what good is he doing on the field? To say I am not happy with his play would be a grotesque understatement. I've never been impressed with him, but I was convinced by others that he did the little things to help his team win. Nope, not buying it anymore.
2. After being up 3:0, the team again got complacent and gave up the quick goal and that put Houston back in the game. This has to stop. Which when followed by Moreno leaving with a hammy, you could see United deflate for about 25 minutes.
3. The referee was very questionable, but not the reason for the loss. He just made it easier for Dallas to come back. And the linesman on the Barra Brava side was horrendous. We sit even with the top of the 18 yard box at the La Norte end of the field, and watched him make mistake after mistake all game long. Painful.

Now the reason why I think United lost? We have a bigger drop off in talent from starting eleven to substitutes than at any time I can remember. There is really no question who should be in the starting lineup except for two positions where it isn't that the player on the bench is really good and pushing for minutes, but the starter is playing badly or out of position. You could argue, as I would, that Simms should start over Carroll, and that Namoff is better than McTavish and/or Gros, but when in the history of United has there been a time when there was no one on the bench you were hoping would get the call in the second half to spark the team. Now, you are hoping no subs are made in case something like tonight happens: a complete drop off in production as when Moreno was replaced by Kpene and Olsen was replaced by Simms.

The Good:

• Emilio was tremendous. His spacing was great, his finishing was textbook, and his presence was felt all over the field.
• Fred had another good game and is now consistently more dangerous than Gomez over the course of 90 minutes.
• Moreno had one of his best halves of the season.

The Bad:

• Perkins was at fault for the second and third goals. He should have charged the second goal and he misplayed the third goal by coming out and missing it.
• Carroll, as discussed above, was an empty shirt.
• Vanney and Boswell did not have a good game. Not sure what the problem is, but FC Dallas had wide open people in the box continuously in the last 45 minutes.

Grades:

Forwards (Emilio and Moreno) A+

The two best players on the field in Black and Red.

Midfielders (Fred, Gomez, Carroll the Elder, and Olsen) B-

Fred and Olsen were good. Gomez was okay. I'm not sure Carroll was on the field.

Defense (Boswell, Vanney, Gros, McTavish, and Perkins) C

Along with Carroll, losing the three goal lead falls to this group. No team at any level should lose a three goal advantage.

Subs (Kpene and Simms) D

Kpene wiffed on a great setup inside the box and was consistently pushed off the ball. I don't know if he is still hurt, but he didn't seem to have his normal quickness. Simms wasn't much of a factor in only a few minutes of play.

United Knocked Out of US Open Cup

I know I am late to the party commenting on this, but here is my take:

1. I hate artificial fields. It's a different game when you play on them. The turf at Toronto's stadium isn't bad, but seriously, is it too hard to require all outdoor fields to be grass to play in MLS and in major US tournaments?
2. I'm not sure I understand why this game was awarded to the lesser rated team. If I remember right, if the previous round's result had been reversed, United would have hosted the game. I'm not saying home field determined the result, but one of these teams just flew back from Houston and then had to bus it north to Pennsylvania. Which brings me to...
3. If United is only going to start two of their top eleven, screw it and withdraw. I hate the fact that DC lost this game playing a bunch of scrubs. If they lost with the top lineup, fine. What a sour taste this leaves.

Game 14 - DC United 0:1 Houston Dynamo

This was a game that followed the script almost to perfection. Unfortunately it was Houston's script. United displayed an excellent possession game in both halves. It didn't lead to very many offensive chances though. Gomez had one excuse-me-shot off a free kick smack the cross bar on the bounce, and Emilio had a one-on-one chance which he put directly into Onstead's legs. And that was the offense. Defensively, United was stellar. If only Fred had stepped up with the back line offside trap or Addlery had not jumped over the shot from the top of the box, this would have been a scoreless draw. Perkins was fantastic again, Boswell and Vanney controlled the middle, and Gros and McTavish played steady on the edges.

The Good:

• Perkins continues to excel. Only good things happen when your keeper is at the top of his game. This bodes well for the rest of the year.
• Boswell and Vanney look good together in the middle. I'm guessing United will stay with the 4-4-2 for the rest of the season.

The Bad:

• Olsen, Gomez, and Carroll were invisible for large stretches of the game, especially Carroll.
• Addlery and Emilio had great difficulties controlling the ball with a defender on their back. Lots of giveaways on passes that bounced away.

Grades:

Forwards (Emilio and Addlery) C

Emilio didn't convert his one chance and Addlery had none.

Midfielders (Fred, Gomez, Carroll the Elder, and Olsen) C

Full of great possession signifying nothing.

Defense (Boswell, Vanney, McTavish, Gros, and Perkins) A

Perkins had no chance to react to the deflection, but otherwise the defense was first rate. I only wish they wouldn't clear crosses to the top of the box so often. I don't think it led directly to the goal, but if that had gone to the side or out of bounds, things may have turned out differently.

Subs (Burch, Simms, and Dyachenko) C+

Another ineffective performance at forward for Dyachenko. Simms was fine in limited action, Burch looked pretty good moving forward pressing for the equalizer.

Steve Ralston Ties MLS Assist Record

Steve Ralston assisted on New England's lone goal to tie Carlos Valderama's record of 114. Ralston, Cobi Jones (87), and Jamie Moreno (84) are the only active players in the top 10 for career assists.

Preview of Game 14 - DC United at Houston Dynamo

DC United, 7-2-4 (W-D-L), moves on to Houston for a Sunday night match. United should have some of their walking wounded and Copa America players back for this match. Boswell, Namoff, and Kpene should be available. It is not yet certain if Moreno and Olsen will make the trip. DC is 2-1-3 on the road with a -1 goal differential. They are in 1st place in the Eastern Conference (1.77 PPG), one point ahead of New England (1.69 PPG). They are in 3rd place in the Supporter's Shield race, six points behind FC Dallas (1.71 PPG) with four games in hand.

Houston is red hot after spanking New York on Thursday 4-0. Brian Ching leads this well oiled offensive machine which recently added Nate Jaqua from LA. They score a ton at home (13) and have only allowed four goals in eight games. The Dynamo are 5-1-2 at home this season with a +9 goal differential. They are in 2nd place in the Western Conference (1.73 PPG), three points behind FC Dallas, and in 2nd place in the Supporter's Shield race.

United stole one on Wednesday and Houston will be ready. They are at full strength and are playing well, unbeaten in their last seven while only allowing three goals. If Boswell, Namoff, Vanney, and Gros play well, United has a good chance to draw with Houston. However, that is a tough task as this will be the first time they will have played together. I expect the starting eleven to be Emilio, Addlery, Gomez, Fred, Moose, Carroll the Elder, Vanney, Boswell, Gros, Namoff, and Perkins a 4-4-2 formation. Moose, Dyachenko and Simms should get in during the second half.

Prediction:

DC United 1:2 Houston FC

Game 13 - DC United 1:0 Kansas City Wizards

DC United pulled out a well earned three points on the road this week to move into first place in the Eastern Conference for at least one day. United also now has the most points per game in MLS. FC Dallas has played four extra games and has 29 points, but their PPG of 1.71 is less than United's 1.77.

United was without four starters and was able to play just enough defense and convert one goal scoring opportunity to record their first shutout of the season, a 1-0 win over a very tough Kansas City. With none of the defenders on the field who started the season, United looked to veteran newcomer Greg Vanney to solidify the back line. However, the combination of McTavish and Perkins were the stars of the game as they deflected a dozen solid chances by the Wizards offense.

The Good:

• Excellent positioning by Perkins. He was quick in his decision making, and he was able to make himself big and reduce the open area the Wizards had to shoot into.
• McTavish was able to make up ground and get in the way of open shooters and had at least three sliding blocks of players with an open net to shoot into.
• The Brazilians, Emilio and Fred, showed great poise in creating and finishing the lone goal of the game.

The Bad:

• The midfield continues to have trouble maintaining possession. Giveaways in the center of the field were prevelant and resulted in immediate counters that put the defense in terrible positions.
• Vanney was not the smooth operator he was advertised as. And one particularly bad giveaway should have resulted in a goal. Hopefully this will work itself out over the next few games.

Grades:

Forwards (Emilio and Addlery) B

Emilio extends his goal scoring streak to five consecutive and does it in traffic. An amazing bit of skill from him. Addlery had a disappointing game following his Player of the Week honor.

Midfielders (Fred, Gomez, Moose, and Carroll the Elder) C+

Fred was the most dangerous player on the field for United, and Gomez played well with several darting runs through the midfield. Moose was erratic and deserved the midgame benching. Carroll was good defensively, but almost invisible when United had possession.

Defense (Gros, McTavish, Simms, Vanney, and Perkins) A-

Hopefully, this is the last time we see this particular back line. Boswell should be back soon and Namoff as well. But, for all it's difficulties, a clean sheet speaks for itself. Well done.

Subs (Mediate, Dyachenko, and DeRoux) B-

Mediate was passable as a replacement for Moose on the left wing. Dyachenko and DeRoux didn't make an impression.

Moreno Scores at the Copa

Casal Released

As reported elsewhere, DC United has cut ties with Kasali Yinka Casal, the 19 year old Englishman. He played very little for the team and counted $40,000 against the cap. So three changes in the last week. I'm still looking for signs of an overall plan. I can be patient. Really, no rush.

Preview of Game 13 - DC United at Kansas City

DC United, 6-2-4 (W-D-L), travels to Kansas City for a Wednesday afternoon game looking to improve upon their pitiful road record. United will continue to be shorthanded with Boswell, Olsen, and Moreno missing due to Copa America national team duty and Namoff and Kpene questionable due to injury. DC is 1-1-3 on the road with a -2 goal differential. They are in 4th place in the Eastern Conference (1.67 PPG), two points behind New England (1.69 PPG) with one game in hand. They are in 6th place in the Supporter's Shield race, six points behind FC Dallas (1.63 PPG) with four games in hand.

Kansas City welcomes DC to on a four game winless streak (0-2-2) including last week's 1-1 draw with Toronto FC. The Wizards are 3-1-2 at home this season with a +3 goal differential. They are in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference (1.62 PPG), one point behind New England, and in 4th place in the Supporter's Shield race.

United only posted three of six points in their two games against the worst MLS has to offer. Now comes the hard part. Going to Kansas City short handed is always a tough prospect. Fortunately, Kansas City is not at full strength either. United killer, Eddie Johnson, is in Venezuela. Greg Vanney will make his first start with United, possibly on the left side of the back line. With Boswell, Olsen, and Moreno out of the country, I expect the starting eleven to be Emilio, Addlery, Gomez, Fred, Moose, Carroll the Elder, Vanney, McTavish, Gros, Namoff, and Perkins a 4-4-2 formation. Dyachenko and Simms should get in during the second half.

Remember, this is a 1 PM Wednesday start. Don't forget to program your DVRs if you won't be home in the afternoon on the 4th.

Prediction:

DC United 1:1 Kansas City Wizards

Facundo Erpen Traded

It is now official. Facundo Erpen has made his last Flying Facundo as a member of DC United. Erpen, 24, has been traded for 33 year old Colorado Rapids defender Greg Vanney. This is like a old time Washington Bullets trade, young for old, long term for short term. As I mentioned below, unless this is followed by an international signing before the end of the summer, this will be a Bad Trade.

Erpen to Be Traded for Vanney?

According to the Washington Post, there is a possibility Facundo Erpen will be traded for USMNT veteran Greg Vanney.

I have two thoughts about this:

1. Erpen is not the problem on the defense, a lack of bodies is. And I'm not sure a straight up swap makes United better. If this is the reason, I'm not too excited.
2. Maybe this is a foreign roster spot thing and United has a player they want to add when rosters open up later this summer. Emilio, Fred, Gomez and Erpen are the senior team foreign players, I believe. If Erpen is moved, maybe United signs an international defender. If this is the reasoning, I am all for it.

EDIT: Erpen doesn't currently count as a senior team international because he is younger than 25. However, he would count as such next season and one of the internationals would need to be moved as United is at the limit.

Game 12 - DC United 4:1 Colorado Rapids

DC United turned a potentially disastrous game into a rout with a kind of persistence usually associated with, dare I say, championship teams. Everything was against United on Thursday. Kpene hurt his hamstring in the 8th minute, and with Moreno in Venezuela and Dyachenko clearly ineffective, this was an ominous start. Addlery quickly entered the game and joined the DC United B squad on the field. The first fifteen minutes of the game were dreadful. The back line was uneven, the midfield was very prone to the quick giveaways, and the forwards were not getting good service. All this lead to the Colorado goal. Two or three DC United defenders had a chance to either closely mark a player or clear a 50/50 ball, but the result was a goal in the 19th minute which was indicative of Colorado's ability to keep the ball in DC's third of the field.

That seemed to get United's attention, and the next fifteen minutes were much better. A nice play in the box led to Greg Vanney reaching with his hand and he clearly touched the ball. Play was allowed to continue momentarily and the penalty should have been moot as Addlery had an open goal to shoot into, but he pushed the ball way left. All was righted when the referee (who had an excellent game) pointed to the spot. Penalty! With Moreno absent, Gomez, calmly slotted the ball in the corner and all was even.

DC seemed to dominate play over the next 45 minutes, but there was the occasional big save needed from Perkins to keep the game level. Fred missed several chances to put United ahead and seemed very frustrated with his lack of ability to notch his first MLS goal. Finally, Addlery was able to nod home a beautiful corner from Fred and as if in celebration, the heavens opened with rain and lightening.

We now pause for 30 minutes for safety reasons.

So with about 15 minutes remaining in the game, United looked to maintain their lead and a spectacular sprawling save from Perkins was required. Soon after, the Brasilians were able to put the game out of reach. Fred scored off a nice pass from Addlery and Emilio converted a clinical finish off an assist from Gomez. A dedicated crowd was treated to a rout. Things got a little chippy at the end as the Rapids were clearly embarrassed and angry about the result, but no one was hurt and the celebration was on.

The Good:

• Addlery and Fred join the Goal Scorers list.
• Perkins was in top form, best I've seen him all year.
• Emilio continues to be the player we hoped for, a true goal scorer.

The Bad:

• Other than the sloppy start and the 30 minute delay, not much to complain about.

Grades:

Forwards (Emilio and Kpene/Addlery) A-

Addlery took a while to get going but had a hand in two of the goals, and Emilio continues to excel.

Midfielders (Fred, Gomez, Carroll the Elder, and Moose) B

Good service from this group. Would be a higher grade if not for the terrible passing in the first 15 minutes. I really like Moose. He never quits on a play and has a nice touch in traffic. He had one great lob pass to Emilio which was very clever. I want to see more of him playing the wings. Maybe when everyone gets back, Carroll can take a game off and we can see what Olsen in defensive midfield with Moose on the right looks like.

Defense (Erpen, McTavish, Simms, Gros, and Perkins) A

An excellent effort from a group we hope to never see. Simms played well. McTavish looked more comfortable in the center, rather than the right. Gros is really coming on and other than a laughable crossing attempt, he was very good. Perkins was stellar. Erpen was very steady. Nice work all around.

Subs (Burch and Dyachenko) I

Only 5 minutes combined in a 4-1 game. No grade.

Jamie Shows Some Nice Moves for Bolivia

DC United Waives Wilson

DC United Defender John Wilson was waived yesterday by DC United. Since he hadn't seen the field this year, I am not at all surprised. His salary of $39,930 is not a large one, but could free up some money for a future signing of a young player. So, thank you, John, you had some good moments for DC and we will remember you fondly. I won't even mention the penalty fiasco at RSL last year.

Preview of Game 12 - DC United vs Colorado Rapids

United, 5-2-4 (W-D-L), enters this game after their worst performance since April, a 2-1 loss at Real Salt Lake. United will be very shorthanded with Boswell, Olsen, and Moreno missing due to Copa America national team duty. As a result, some of the younger players will get a chance to play the full 90. DC is 4-1-1 at home this season with a +4 goal differential. They are in 4th place in the Eastern Conference (1.55 PPG), five points behind New England (1.83 PPG) with one game in hand. They are in 6th place in the Supporter's Shield race, eight points behind FC Dallas (1.67 PPG) with four games in hand.

Colorado comes to DC to on a four game loosing streak including last week's 1-0 loss to FC Dallas. The Rapids are 2-4-0 on the road this season with a -3 goal differential. They are in 4th place in the Western Conference (1.15 PPG), ten points behind FC Dallas (1.67 PPG), and in 8th place in the Supporter's Shield race.

United failed to win the easy one against the MLS' worst team, Real Salt Lake, so now they need to regroup on a short week to prepare for a streaking Rapids team on Thursday Night Soccer. With Boswell, Olsen, and Moreno out of the country, I expect the starting eleven to be Emilio, Kpene, Gomez, Fred, Simms, Carroll the Elder, Erpen, McTavish, Gros, Namoff, and Perkins a 4-4-2 formation. Dyachenko, Addlery, and Moose should get in during the second half. I hope I am wrong, but this could easily be a one goal stinker of a game.

EDIT: It appears that Namoff will be unavailable due to a hamstring issue. So, Moose should replace him and we may see a return to the 3-5-2 formation. Kpene and Emilio up top, Fred and Moose on the wings, Gomez, Carroll, and Simms in the middle, and McTavish, Erpen and Gros in the back. Eeek. And the rain may come crashing down. Bring your umbrellas.

Prediction:

DC United 1:0 Colorado Rapids

Game 11 - DC United 1:2 Real Salt Lake

It took me a while to muster up the motivation to recap this disastrous game. DC came in looking as good as they have in 10 months. Seven game unbeaten streak, 7 goals in their last two games, and only missing one player from the starting eleven. RSL is the dregs of MLS, can't score, can't defend, can't win. Ninety minutes later, you'd have been forgiven if you thought the teams switched uniforms before kickoff.

The Good:

• Nolly wasn't as bad as I thought he would be. I have to say, I am not happy with the decision to give him the start. Starting every game shouldn't be a problem for a goalie with no injury issues. This isn't hockey.
• Kpene, Emilio, and Fred make something out of nothing to end the shutout. Not a pretty goal, but at least it went in.

The Bad:

• Boswell made huge errors, one of which lead to the breakaway goal. And I can't stand this constant raising of the hand to indicate offsides every time a defender gets beaten. What ever happened to a player putting his head down and getting back in the play?
• Dyachenko, Forward. Can we end this experiment now? Maybe a year or two from now, he may be a great target forward. But now, today, this minute, his goal last week not withstanding, he isn't an MLS quality forward. Kpene and Moose are definitely more effective.

Grades:

Forwards (Dyachenko and Emilio) C

Emilio is the unsung hero of this team. He is constantly tracking back to midfield when it is necessary. But he never shirks he responsibilities up front. I am thrilled to have him on the team and look forward to years of him in a DC United uniform. Dyachenko, ugh.

Midfielders (Fred, Gomez, Carroll the Elder, and Olsen) B-

Fred looked good again, but not much else from this group.

Defense (Erpen, Namoff, Gros, McTavish, and Perkins) C-

We're back to the all or nothing defense. When they keep their man in front and play with their legs rather than try to either make the spectacular play or mess up the offside trap, they are very successful.

Subs (Addlery, Simms, and Kpene) C+

I remember nothing of note from Addlery and Simms. Kpene should have started and his clever flick into the box with his back turned led to the lone DC goal.

Preview of Game 11 - DC United at Real Salt Lake

United now has a seven game unbeaten streak, 5-2-0 (W-D-L), including last week's 3-1 win over Chicago. United has scored 7 goals in their last two games, their two highest outbursts of the year. DC is 1-1-2 at home this season with a -1 goal differential. They are in 4th place in the Eastern Conference (1.70 PPG), 4 points behind NYRB (1.75 PPG) with 2 games in hand. They are in 6th place in the Supporter's Shield race, 5 points behind FC Dallas (1.57 PPG) with an amazing four games in hand.

Real Salt Lake welcomes DC to Utah looking record their first win of the MLS season. Salt Lake has only scored 2 goals in their last 4 league matches and a pathetic nine all season. Their record (0-6-5) is the worst in MLS. RSL is 0-3-2 at home with a -3 goal differential. They are in 6th place in the Western Conference (0.55 PPG), 16 behind FC Dallas, and in 13th place in the Supporter's Shield race.

These are the games when you "harvest your nuts" as Wizards coach Eddie Jordan so poetically put it. What he means is win the games you should win so that when winter comes (@KC, @HOU, FCD, and @NYRB) you are in the best shape possible. United will not be satisfied without the full 3 points this weekend and 3 more next Thursday against Colorado. RSL is quite simply a mess, and they are pissed off because they were promised Adu would be available for this game. Instead, he is with the U-20 team preparing for next month's tournament in Canada. Moreno is still with Bolivia for a few more games and Casal is away with his national team. Boswell (red card) and Kpene (injury) should both be available. I expect the starting eleven to be Emilio, Kpene, Gomez, Fred, Olsen, Carroll the Elder, Erpen, McTavish, Gros, Namoff, and Perkins a 4-4-2 formation. Dyachenko, Simms, and Moose should get in during the second half. Maybe this is the week Kpene gets his first goal? And this is the first game in the Ben Cup for 2007. Let's all get behind this great idea.

Prediction:

DC United 2:0 Real Salt Lake

Game 10 - DC United 3:1 Chicago Fire

DC took advantage of several gifts from the Fire this week. It's a simple statement, but it is a very accurate way to sum up game 10 on the schedule. And how many points are missed in the standings because a team is unable to take what is given to them? So, good show from United this week. Well done, Dyachenko and Emilio, for finishing the easy chances. Seven games since the last loss is a great accomplishment no matter how it happens.

The Good:

Erpen was very steady for the second week in a row. He may have been at fault for the goal, but there were three or four other players who could have cleared the ball before Erpen misplayed the situation.

• Emilio's two goals were exactly what United thought it was getting when they signed him. Someone who can make the hard stuff look easy and be a good target inside the 18 yard box.
• Both Gros and McTavish looked very good at the back and Gros and Namoff were moving well up into the attack on the wings.

The Bad:

• Perkins misplayed the shot which resulted in the goal. He claimed some sort of field irregularity contributed to the gaffe. If he says so...
• Fred looked very tired during the last 15 minutes. I was shocked he wasn't subbed out as he was clearly gassed. Not really a fitness issue, but more of a "he ran until he couldn't run no more" situation.

Grades:

Forwards (Dyachenko and Emilio) B+

Nice lob shot from Emilio and two fortunate bounces which were converted for three goals from the forwards.

Midfielders (Fred, Gomez, Carroll the Elder, and Olsen) A-

All the problems from the first three games are gone. No more ridiculous giveaways from Carroll, Gomez was involved in the attack and distributing well, and Fred and Olsen were pushing up the sidelines and testing the Fire's backline.

Defense (Erpen, Namoff, Gros, McTavish, and Perkins) A-

The one goal was not good, but they were dominating in the first half. The second half wasn't quite as good, but still an above average effort. Overall, their game should result in a win every week.

Subs (Adderly, Simms, and Moose) B

Another good week from Moose. Simms played fine, but Adderly looked a bit lost out there when it came to linking up passed and moving into open space.

Preview of Game 10 - DC United vs Chicago Fire

United is on a six game unbeaten streak, 4-2-0 (W-D-L), including last week's 4-2 drubbing of NYRB. DC is 3-1-1 at home this season with a +2 goal differential. DC United is in 4th place in the Eastern Conference, 6 points behind NYRB with 2 games in hand. They are in 7th place in the Supporter's Shield race, 8 points behind FC Dallas. FC Dallas has played four more games than United at this point, however.

Chicago comes to DC with only one win since April (1-1-5). Chicago is 1-1-3 on the road with a -6 goal differential. Like United, The Fire is in 4th place in the Eastern Conference, 6 behind NYRB, and in 7th place in the Supporter's Shield race with 2 games in hand.

While this rivalry doesn't have the same venom as the DC-NY matchups, this is arguably the most competitive series in United history. United looks to extend their season best results streak to seven games against a Chicago team looking for direction. Moreno will be with Bolivia for the next four games at a minimum and Boswell is out due to his double yellow last week, so changes are afoot. I expect the starting eleven to be Emilio, Kpene, Gomez, Fred, Olsen, Carroll the Elder, Erpen, McTavish, Gros, Namoff, and Perkins in the same 4-4-2 formation. Casal, Dyachenko and Moose should get in during the second half. Look for United be very aggressive early after last week's offensive output. If Kpene is fit, I see him notching his first goal and solidifying his place as Moreno's replacement.

Prediction:

DC United 3:0 Chicago Fire

Game 9 - DC United 4:2 New York Red Bulls

Now that was a soccer game right from the 2004 and early 2006 archives. See the specifics below, but the overall impression was that DC saw NY as a quality opponent and brought the 'A' game from the start. And let's just say I was thrilled with Benny's performance. I have faithfully worn my #14 jersey for years and have never been prouder to do so than today. Hats off to my favorite player.

The Good:

• Excellent flow on offense. Moreno, Gomez and Fred serviced Emilio and Olsen (!) on numerous occasions, resulting in four goals. There were at least three others which required highlight reel saves from their goalie.
  
• Multiple points of attack resulted in pressure from the edges on crosses and diagonal runs, pressure up the middle on nice builds through possession passing, and long balls due to NY pressing for goals late in the game.
  
• Erpen had an excellent game, especially after Boswell was sent off.

The Bad:

• I hate doing this, but it has to be said: Brian Hall, the match official, was tremendously one sided in his calls. Boswell was sent off for two normal fouls which were nothing to look twice at and the second yellow was abysmal. There were 10 calls he didn't call on NY which were five times as physical and what you would call professional fouls. I usually like Hall's games. This was really bad.
  
• Giving up the quick goal was unfortunate and when paired with the goal they gave up after saving the penalty a few games ago, leads me to think that they need to keep their concentration immediately after big events during the game.
  

Grades:

Forwards (Emilio and Moreno) A-

Luciano and Jamie were excellent creating from the chances created by the midfielders and Jamie was great when United was reduced to ten men by keeping possession and finding the open man. Emilio tallied the second goal to end his drought and was dangerous with his back to the goal, almost scoring another on a nice pivot shot in the box.

Midfielders (Fred, Gomez, Olsen, Carroll the Elder) A

Olsen was the clear MVP with three goals. He made the most of his chances and had his most productive game in years. He seems to be much more comfortable on the wing now that he's had a few games playing there exclusively. If he and Fred can get on the same page in play interchangeably, it will make things very difficult on the opposition. Fred set up a beautiful goal and had just been robbed of another when Gomez floated his over the crossbar. Carroll was steady in a very quiet match from him other than two or three attempts on goal from distance.

Defense (Boswell, Erpen, Namoff, Gros, and Perkins) B+

Boswell was absolutely jobbed on his two cards, however Erpen raised his game after Bobby left. It bodes well for next week when Bobby will be unavailable. Gros made a beautiful cross that Olsen threw his head onto for the first goal. Just a wonderful ball. Gros and Namoff played well on the outside and Perkins was in command of the box. The first goal was off a deflection and he was not at fault. Honestly I didn't see the second goal as I was still celebrating Benny's hat trick.

Subs (Moose, McTavish, Burch) B

Moose played very well as the only sub to get more than 5 minutes. He ran well and kept the ball out of NY hands when they were desperate for goals.

Overheard in Section M-32:

After watching Brian Hall give more fouls to United, more cards to United, and then sending Boswell off, we were sure that the next logical step in the progression was a penalty to NY when they were down 2-1. Luckily United kept possession for long stretches and there was no contact in the box to give Hall a chance to screw that up too.

Game 8 - DC United 0:0 LA Galaxy

This was a game of three parts. And a boring one at that.

Part I: Why Use What Has Been Working When You Can Try Something New?

Boy, Namoff looked comfortable on the left side, huh? And whose bright idea was it to put Simms on the back line? This opening lineup was the weirdest I can remember in a long time. Everyone keeps saying that Gros is going to need a dozen games at least to get comfortable. He looked better the last few games. So the logical conclusion is what? Switch it up, of course. Namoff was awful, Simms was ineffective, and Gros was invisible. Well done by all.

Part II: Hard to Port! Full Reverse! Oh, No! We're Doomed!

So, that didn't work, so Simms to central midfield, Olsen to the wing, Namoff to the right, and Gros back to the backline on the left. This, the preferred lineup in my house, was able to settle down the defense, but there was very little in the way of offense. Fred was able to be a little dangerous, but Moreno was almost playing midfield in order to get the ball. And the giveaways were constant and maddening.

Part III: You Mean We Need To Play Offense Too?

Finally, Gomez and Fred were able to start finding Emilio and Moreno up top and push the LA defense. Nothing really dramatic, but far from the inept play of the beginning parts of the game.

Add 'em all up and you get? A scoreless draw which wasn't even as exciting as the scoreline would indicate.

Brief grades:

Forwards (Moreno and Emilio) B-

Midfielders (Olsen, Gros, Gomez, and Fred) C

Defense (Simms, Erpen, Boswell, Namoff, and Perkins) B+

Subs (Kpene, Casal, Dyachenko) C

Preview of Game 8 - DC United at Los Angeles

Three wins in a row for DC United and undefeated in their last four, 3-1-0 (W-D-L), including last week's 2-1 victory over Houston. DC is 1-0-2 at home this season with a -1 goal differential. DC United is in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, 7 points behind New England and New York with 2 games in hand on New England and 1 in hand on New York. They are in 8th place in the Supporter's Shield race, also lead by New England and New York.

Los Angeles enters the game with an 1-0-2 record on the road and an even goal differential. The Galaxy are winless in their last three league games including a 1-0 shutout at Colorado last weekend. LA is in 5th place in the Western Conference, 11 behind FC Dallas and in 12th place in the Supporter's Shield race.

This game matches the two teams who have played the least amount of MLS games in 2007. United because of a scheduling gap in case they made it to the finals of the Concacaf Champions Cup and Galaxy due to a backend heavy schedule due to Becks' arrival in midsummer. United looks to extend their season best results streak to five games and four wins in a row against a very average LA team. I expect the starting eleven to be Moreno, Emilio, Gomez, Fred, Olsen, Carroll the Elder, Erpen, Boswell, Gros, Namoff, and Perkins in the same 4-4-2 formation. Kpene and Simms should get in during the second half. Look for United to run the offense through Fred and be very physical with Landon Donovan. Boswell should never be more than 5 yards from him when he is over midfield.

Prediction:

DC United 1:1 LA Galaxy

Preview of Game 7 - DC United vs Houston Dynamo

DC United is finally on a roll in 2007. United is undefeated in their last three, 2-1-0 (W-D-L) including last week's 2-1 victory over TFC. DC is 1-1-1 at home this season with a -1 goal differential. DC United is in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, 10 points behind New England and New York with 2 games in hand. They are in 8th place in the Supporter's Shield race, also lead by New England and New York.

Houston Dynamo enters the game with an 1-0-2 record at home and an even goal differential. Houston has have lost their last two matches and four of their last five. Houston is in 4th place in the Western Conference, 9 behind FC Dallas and in 8th place in the Supporter's Shield race.

United should have all hands on deck for this game. I expect the starting eleven to be Moreno, Emilio, Gomez, Fred, Olsen, Carroll the Elder, Erpen, Boswell, Gros, Namoff, and Perkins in the same 4-4-2 formation. Kpene and Casal should get in during the second half. Unfortunately I will not be at the game because I will be in North Carolina and I can't record it due to the fact that it is only on HDNet. So unless the house I have rented has that channel, no dice here. I can't remember the last time I missed two games in a row. Disappointing.

Prediction:

DC United 3:2 Houston Dynamo

DC United to Play in Copa Sudamericana

Boy is it going to be busy in July and August. DC is already scheduled for 9 games in 35 days. Now United has added another series of home and homes which should start in late August. I am of two minds about this. On the one hand, I am more focused on winning the MLS Cup and I don't want anything to distract from that. I see this as an enormous opportunity to get injured and exhausted at the exact wrong time of the year. On the other hand, since United's chances of winning the MLS Cup is probably 8 to 1, the more tournaments they enter, the better chance of having some sort of trophy to add to the case at the end of 2007.

Game 6 - DC United 2:1 Toronto FC

Due to a scheduling snafu (I could have sworn it was a 7 PM kickoff) I didn't see the game. For a complete recap, please head over to The DCenters.

Preview of Game 6 - DC United at Toronto FC

DC United should be rested, healthy and hungry after 12 days with no matches. DC is undefeated in their last two games (4 points). DC United is 0-0-2 on the road this season with a -2 goal differential. DC United is in 6th place in the Eastern Conference, 10 points behind New England. They are in 11th place in the Supporter's Shield race, also lead by New England.

Toronto FC enters the game with an 2-0-1 record at home and a +2 goal differential. Toronto won their last two matches after not winning in their first 4 of their inaugural season. Toronto is in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, 8 behind New England and in 10th place in the Supporter's Shield race.

United will have both Fred and Clyde Simms available but not McTavish. Interestingly, McTavish has been described as a "slow healer" by the team in what appears to be a not so friendly shot at the youngster. I expect the starting eleven to be comprised of Moreno, Emilio, Gomez, Fred, Olsen, Carroll the Elder, Erpen, Boswell, Gros, Namoff, and Perkins. Kpene, Casal and Moose should all get in during the second half. In the first meeting between United and Toronto, I expect a pretty boring game. United will try to dictate tempo and Toronto will try to extend the winning streak.

Prediction:

DC United 0:0 Toronto FC

Game 5 - DC United 2:1 Chivas USA

What an odd but satisfying game. It started with a very strange lineup, which included Kpene and Moose but no Emilio. Brian Carroll received another start, whether it is deserved is another matter. It was a 4-4-2 formation for the second straight game which led directly to a very dull 0-0 first half which United seemed to have the better of. Moose, in his first start had two good chances, one of which nearly connected with Gomez as he ran to the post. Only one card in a first half which was well judged by the match official, Kevin Stott. United opened the second half with one substitute, Moose came off in favor of Casal. Gomez put United on the board with a very acrobatic scissor kick about shoulder level off a neat little flick from Kpene. United 1, Chivas USA 0. Casal was also very dangerous from the start of the half, including a sequence where he maneuvered down the left side and cut back to the box. The defender was beaten and resorted to kicking Casal in the chest just inside the box. Penalty! Moreno non chalantly chipped the ball over the sprawling goalie reminiscent of what Zedane did in the World Cup last summer. Now last year, United would have immediately subbed in 2 defenders and a midfielder and removed all the attacking players except for Adu, who would have been the lone player harassing the other team. In an obvious change of strategy, Emilio and deRoux came in for United for Kpene and Gomez. United kept up the attack and was able to keep Chivas from packing it in the United end for the balance of the game. Seven cards from Stott interrupted the flow of the match. I'll never understand some of the cards MLS officials hand out. Simply maddening. The lone United mistake came from Gros who seemed overwhelmed with his defensive responsibilities as the left back. He was beaten repeatedly in the second half and fell down numerous times when Chivas ran at him. In all, a much better performance. Best of the season in fact. Numerous subs were used, and the played well with the regulars. Nice to finally have three points in the book even if it took 5 games to get them.

The Good:

• Kpene continues to impress with his ability to maintain possession. He and Moreno worked well together along with Gomez and Olsen.
• Carroll didn't assist on any goals for the opposition.
• Perkins was excellent.

The Bad:

• Gros seemed over matched at left back.
• Emilio was strangely on the bench for the first 65 minutes. Did he need rest?
• The officiating was terrible in the last 40 minutes.

Grades:

Forwards (Moreno, Kpene) B

Well played game by both. Moreno seemed to tire towards the end.

Midfielders (Olsen, Gomez, Moose, Carroll the Elder) B+

Much better play from this group. Olsen seemed like the Benny of old, controlling the play, distributing well, well organized. Gomez scored a brilliant goal off the corner and Moose showed flashes. Carroll didn't wet the bed, an improvement.

Defense (Erpen, Boswell, Namoff, Gros, Perkins) B

Very good game for the most part. Erpen had a "Flying Facundo" which he pulled off, but was able to stay in front of the Chivas forwards for the most part. Much improved play from him in the middle as opposed to on the right. Perkins was great. He was not at fault on the lone goal.

Subs (Casal, Emilio, deRoux) B+

Casal draws the penalty, Emilio and deRoux keep the pressure on Chivas for the second half. Exactly what was required in this game.

Preview of Game 5 - DC United vs Chivas USA

DC United enters the game fresh off their best MLS performance of 2007. Unfortunately that isn't saying much as it only resulted in a draw. DC United is 0-1-1 at home this season with a -2 goal differential. DC United is in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, nine points behind Chicago and New York. They are in 12th place in the Supporter's Shield race, also lead by Chicago and New York.

Chivas USA enters the game with an 0-0-2 record on the road and an even goal differential. Chivas lost their last game to LA Galaxy 3-1. Chivas is in 6th place in the Supporter's Shield race, four behind New York and Chicago and in 3rd place in the Western Conference, one point behind Colorado and FC Dallas. Chivas has alternated wins and losses in their four games this season.

Fred may not be able to go the whole 90 or at all depending on the severity of his injury which forced him off the field on Thursday. Moreno didn't start last game but I expect him in the starting eleven in this game along with Emilio, Gomez, Fred, Olsen, Simms, Erpen, Boswell, Gros, Namoff, and Perkins. After a nice debut, expect to see Kpene get a longer look, possibly the who second half. Chivas has never played well on the road. They don't score will away from home either.

Prediction:

DC United 2:1 Chivas USA

Ellinger Out, Kreis Out and In at RSL

Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts fired coach John Ellinger Thursday. Checketts named forward Jason Kreis Ellinger's replacement. Kreis also retired as a player.

There are a few DC United angles on this story. One of the reasons given for RSL's pursuit and eventual trade for Freddy Adu was his relationship with Ellinger from his days on the U-17 national team. Ellinger will stay on as Technical Director among other duties.

This also means that Jamie Moreno is now the active MLS leader in career goals. He is now two behind the Kreis after his penalty conversion against New England. Look for Jamie to move into first place later this summer.

Game 4 - DC United 1:1 New England Revolution

Well, that was a little better. United started the game in a 4-4-2 formation with Gros, Boswell, Erpen, and Namoff on the back line. Fred, Olsen, Gomez, and Simms manned the midfield and Emilio was joined by a newcomer, Nicholas Adderly, up front. The first half had United with the better of play. Fred was very dangerous on the right wing and with darting diagonal runs to the box. Emilio, Gomez, and Fred played well together to keep the Revolution back line on their toes. United's defense was well organized and other than one Erpen bad pass, played well. That all changed in the first minute of the second half. Namoff played a bad ball which was intercepted and forced Erpen to go out wide and cover for him. Instead of putting the ball out of bounds and allowing the defense to reset itself, Erpen played a high ball to the center of the field which landed at the feet of the Revolution and they moved forward with purpose. Ten seconds later, the Revs were on the board and another give away in the back resulted in numbers for the opponent.

United responded a few minutes later with a long ball to Moreno, who replaced Adderly at the half, on the right side of the box. Reis and Reiley converged on Moreno and Reis would have had the ball easily. However, Reiley shouldered Moreno aside and Jamie ended up on the ground. Penalty! Jamie converted the penalty and all was even again. Shalrie Joseph was ejected on a late challenge which was too far away for me to judge. Fred went down in the 79th minute and was replaced by another newcomer, Guy Kpene. There were three hand balls in the box which were not called during the last 30 minutes, two by the Revolution and one by Carroll the Elder. United attacked with a flurry of shots including one of the crossbar, a spectacular save by Reis, and a cowardly no call in the box by the ref on a ball played by the arm of a Revs defender in extra time. Alas, the go-ahead-goal was not to be. All in all, a better effort, but three points were there to be had on this night.

The Good:

• The new players shined tonight. Emilio, Fred, and Kpene were particularly dangerous.
• Eighty-nine good minutes of defense.

The Bad:

• Gros was invisible for most of the game. Maybe his defensive responsibilities were the cause, but you could be forgiven if you didn't remember he even played.
• One minute of bad defense.
• Unable to take advantage of more than 20 minutes of the man advantage.

Grades:

Forwards (Adderly, Emilio) B-

Emilio was dangerous for good stretches of the game, but Adderly was largely invisible.

Midfielders (Olsen, Fred, Gomez, Simms) B+

Olsen played very well for a large part of the game, but seemed to tire towards the end. He took three shots from distance in the second half, probably two more than he should. Fred and Gomez were very effective in the the middle 30 minutes especially. Did Simms actually play? I can't remember a single sequence he was involved in other than running off the field to be replaced by Brian Carroll.

Defense (Boswell, Erpen, Namoff, Gros, Perkins) C+

Boswell and Perkins played very efficiently. Erpen and Namoff both made mistakes leading to the only goal.

Subs (Moreno, Carroll the Elder, Kpene) B

Moreno drew the penalty and was very effective throughout the second half. Might he be most effective as a second half replacement? Something to consider. Carroll the Elder did nothing to warrant his regaining his starting spot. Who should it go to? Kpene was great. Admittedly he played only for about 15 minutes, but I really liked his style and skill.

Preview of Game 4 - DC United vs New England Revolution

It's desperation time for DC United. Tied for last place in the league, United is 0-0-3 and needs to show significant improvement against the Revolution. United is 0-0-1 at home this season with a -2 goal differential. United is tied for last place in the Eastern Conference, ten points behind first place New York and Chicago, with a game in hand. DC is also in last place in the Supporters Shield race, which New York and Chicago also lead.

New England Revolution are 2-1-1 on a 3 game unbeaten streak. New England is 1-1-1 on the road with an even goal differential. They are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind New York and Chicago. They are in fourth place in the Supporters Shield race, seven points behind New York.

Early indications are that John Wilson will get a turn on the back line and Facundo Erpen and Devon McTavish will start on the bench. The 3-5-2 formation will survive for another week. Of most importance in my mind is the performance of Brian Carroll. He must cut down on the give aways. After being pulled at the half last game, one hopes he was read the riot act. If this leads to him occasionally looking up to see who is in front of him before making a pass, nothing but good can result from it. Three points are too much to expect. I'll be happy with a point. It'll be a step in the right direction. One last note, Twellman has scored 12 goals in 17 games against United. Take note, defense. Do not leave him alone in the box.

Prediction:

DC United 2:2 New England Revolution

Game 3 - DC United 0:1 Columbus Crew

Is it time to blow this thing up? That's the question facing this team as they deal with the reality that they have started the season 0-0-3 and dug themselves a gigantic hole in the Eastern Conference. The defense seemed better, but was unable to clear the ball out of the box after a shot and no one covered the eventual goal scorer, a constant theme this season. Unmarked men in the box have an easy time beating the goalie. Marked men have a more difficult time scoring. Not a difficult concept. How the midfielders keep allowing the opponents to take the ball and fail to mark men in the offensive third of the field is maddening. I don't think it is time to reconstruct the team, but I definitely feel that the lack of defensive subs and a dramatic decline in the production of Carroll the Elder, Olsen, and Gros is the problem. If it is a scheme issue having to do with the coaching change, it should be fixable. If it is a talent issue, it may be a long season.

The Good:

• Fred looked very dangerous as did Emilio.

The Bad:

• Gomez was invisible and the coach seemed to notice as he was replaced in the second half.
• Caroll the Elder also seems a shadow of his former self and was replaced at the half.

Simplified grades:

Forwards: B-

Midfielders: D+

Defense: C-

Subs: I

Preview of Game 3 - DC United at Columbus Crew

DC United comes into this game looking to rebound from their second consecutive loss to start the season. United is 0-0-1 on the road this season with a -1 goal differential. United is tied for last place in the Eastern Conference, ten points behind first place New York, with two games in hand. DC is also in last place in the Supporters Shield race, which New York also leads.

Columbus Crew are on a 3 game tie streak. Columbus is 0-2-0 at home this season with an even goal differential. They are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, seven points behind New York, with one game in hand. They are in ninth place in the Supporters Shield race, seven points behind New York.

Early indications are that Facundo Erpen will sit in favor of Devon McTavish on the back line. United will stay with their traditional 3-5-2 formation which may include Fred for the first time in the starting eleven. Crew forward Andy Herron will begin his four game suspension this weekend and is thus unavailable. Columbus has only managed two goals in three games and the loss of Herron will further tax an already weak attack. If United can sort out it's marking responsibilities, they should walk away with 3 points on the road.

Prediction:

DC United 3:1 Columbus Crew

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.