Match Previews

DC United Focusing on Final Touches

This year DC United has big plans this year for domestic and international trophies, but while the top of their roster appears to be ready for those challenges, no team can count on just their top guys to deliver the glory. And at DC United, even the very last roster slot is not taken lightly.

Asked about the the Richmond game, DC United assistant Coach Chad Aston said “It’s a chance for us to see the guys who are not regularly seeing regular minutes, to see where they fit in, it’s more for the reserve guys to get a full 90 in to see where they’re at. We always want to play well and win, but we also need to see where we’re at with these guys to see where we need focus in training so we know where and how they will fit in.”

United has always taken it’s relationships with other teams very seriously, and especially a very successful local team like the Kickers, can expect DC to give them a good show regardless of whether its their top flight talent or not. So, even if it’s not to be Gallardo slipping silky passes through the midfield, United will expect the same style from top to bottom and certainly expects the same success.

New goalkeeper Zach Wells, who will not play, put it best by saying no matter who is on the field for United their goals are “to keep progressing [as a group], to make sure we’re organized on both sides of the ball. We like to keep possession and that way control the game. We want to make sure we’re doing those things [no matter who is on the field].

It should be interesting too as United has some very tough decisions to make in the next week to ten days according to general manager Dave Kasper. Officially, United has three senior roster slots open, and two developmental slots available. However, they have at least eight players vying for those slots, and some of those could qualify for either slot causing even more consternation.

Domenic Mediate is expected to fill one of those senior roster slots, as is Rod Dyachenko, which would leave only one slot on the senior roster for maybe Guy-Roland Kpene, or trialist Jeff Curtin. However, Dyachenko or Kpene also qualify for a developmental slot which would leave open slots on the senior roster for a future player to be added.

Then again, if Dyachenko and Kpene earn senior roster slots, Curtin is out and there’s still four players salivating for those two developmental slots. Brazilian forward Cezar Hermenegildo certainly has the inside track for one of those as he’s been consistently dangerous in the attack since he’s been here; however, with a precious lack of defenders on the roster overall, rookie defenders Dane Murphy, Brandon Owens, and Galen Thompson all have a shot at earning those last slots.

Should be interesting to see who ends up with a chair when the music stops playing at the end of this dance down in Richmond. However, just as important as the last roster slot is the pecking order of the middle range players.

Certainly DC has a solid eleven starters and we’ve seen Niell and McTavish slot in easily for the injured Moreno and Olsen respectively. We’ve also seen Quaranta come in very successfully for a wing forward postion and Dyachenko come in for Gallardo as playmaker, but beyond that, there might be considerable room for thought as to a second string for some other positions.

United is decidedly thin in pure left sided players, so who is the first choice if Burch has to come out? How about Simms? Rookie Dan Stratford seems set as the first choice defensive midfielder off the bench, but can Dane Murphy edge his way in there too? Or will he have to adjust to becoming a defender, maybe a left back? What about Fred’s understudy? Is it Justin Moose? Or Cordiero? Where might Brandon Owens or Galen Thompson fit in?

So, even though this appears to be a meaningless scrimmage, there’s no rest for the weary United coaching staff as they have to prepare for every eventuality in what will surely be one of the most grueling season’s in MLS history, considering the number of competitions United will be in and the expectations that will dog them all year.

Beyond that, it will simply be interesting to see how United’s young players stack up against a solid A-league squad. Richmond is at the very beginning of their pre-season, but they have ex-MLS talent including guys like former DC winger Mike Burke. Richmond has even bounced United from the Open Cup as recent as 2004. Considering DC is still burning over their ignoble ouster from the Open Cup last year playing reserves against the A-league Harrisburg Islanders, and it’s likely reserves will play a huge role early on in this year’s Open Cup, this game is absolutely a dress rehearsal for understudies who would be ready for such a challenge later this Summer when United enters the Open Cup this year.

The game should be a lovely occasion in its own right as it kicks off Richmond’s fifteenth anniversary as one of only four teams to win a coveted “double” in recent times. In 1995, Richmond won their USL league Cup and the Open Cup to complete the double, DC United did the same in 1996. The Chicago Fire collected a double in 1998, and LA Galaxy repeated the feat in 2005.

“To host DC United is a wonderful way to kick-off our 15th anniversary celebration,” comments Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Vice President, Soccer Programs. “We are much honored to be able to play DC United a week before their MLS season opener. The exhibition will be challenging as our players will just have begun their preseason program but as always, I am sure they, along with our staff and fans, will be looking forward to the match up immensely.”

While it might seem a bit odd for a team to play such an exhibition just prior their season debut, and while they are in the middle of a crucially important international tournament, for certain DC United doesn’t begrudge making the sacrifice all things considered. As mentioned it is a good last minute tune-up, but it also is a much deserved payback for Richmond for allowing DC United to spirit Clyde Simms away from them in 2005. US teams generally don’t get transfer fees, but deals such as this where Richmond can cash in on DC United filling their stadium a few times a season for a few years makes allowing some of their more promising players to advance their careers much more worthwhile. Not to mention the goodwill generated between local clubs.

As always when United plays anywhere near the Washington area, there should be a sizable chunk of their rabid supporters descending on Richmond this Saturday. Local pubs should beware as roaming bands of Barra Brava and Screaming Eagles are not unlike a host of locusts descending on unsuspecting kegs to drain them as mercilessly as any biblical plague. Still, Richmond’s unfailing Southern hospitality has never buckled under the burden in the past, so it should be great fun tomorrow.

So, regardless of the score tomorrow, Richmond should win in entertainment value for their fans and big time experience for their players early in their pre-season, while DC wins by being able to make good decisions on the bottom of their roster and by getting a little insight into how they might stack up come Open Cup time in mid-summer.

DC United opens the MLS regular season next weekend in Kansas City, and has their home opener April 5th against Toronto FC.

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