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In hindsight, DC United probably regrets adding this exhibition to their schedule. There’s no chance “Pompey”, as Portsmouth is mysteriously nicknamed, will be a very big draw even for the most hard core DC fan and with the brutal heat expected and the decimated rosters on both sides, both teams probably wish they’d taken this weekend off to lick their wounds.

DC United only has 14 of 22 field players healthy for this match, but three of them (McTavish, King, and Quaranta have played donkey minutes in the last four matches in 11 days, so they almost certainly will be rested), so in effect, has about 11 healthy and relatively fresh players for this match which will be their fifth in 15 days. Pompey is in even worse shape as according to MLSsoccer.net, given their forced purges and rash of recent injuries, they might be able to scrape together 12 players total. So, given the heat, it’s tough to see anyone used to English weather enjoying this match.

Pompey coach, Steve Cotterill had this to say about the upcoming game with DC United. “We’re down to eleven now if we’re lucky. We may have Tommy Smith and Jamie Ashdown available, but we’re still struggling for a team on Saturday.” Cotterill was quoted just after Portsmouth had scraped by FC Edmonton of the NASL (USL1) to win the Edmonton Cup on PKs after a 1-1 draw in Western Canada Wednesday night.

Considering Pompey was in England Monday, Western Canada Wednesday, and now in sweltering DC, it’s tough to think the English side will come in here with all guns blazing. Cotterill himself pointed out their troubles by saying after the match, “It was a tough game on an artificial pitch. Less than 24 hours after landing here we’ve played 90 minutes. It’s not ideal. The players are fatigued….there are eight flights and four games in 14 days, flying through different time zones.” Given all that, I think it’s fair to say Portsmouth might be rethinking this whole match and will almost certainly come in here playing pretty conservatively.

Not being steeped in the nuances of smaller English teams, since I barely watch English football ever, I don’t know any of Portsmouth’s players, so I can’t hazard a guess as to how they will lineup or really compare any matchups with DC. About all I can do is take a stab at how DC will lineup for this one.

Given DC’s limited player pool, I think it’s almost certain Onalfo goes with a pretty strong attacking lineup, but a pretty thin and shaky defense. The new boys Hernandez and Boskovic should continue to start and work themselves into shape and integrate into the team. Allsopp too is plenty rested and should start too as his partnership with Hernandez shows some delightful flashes of promise.

As for the rest of midfield, Najar and Boyzzz are pretty fresh, Boyzzz having only played in the Open Cup so far and Najar being 17 years old and held out of the Harrisburg win midweek. Morsink, too is reasonably fresh and Simms only played 23 minutes midweek and is legendary for his fitness. I think Morsink may well be asked to play in the back though. Both to help out a thin corps, but also to give Simms and Boskovic more time together. That lets King and Quaranta rest up or maybe just play sub minutes if necessary.

Now, for the tricky part, DC’s defense. Without Namoff (IR), Jakovic (hamstring), Burch (foot), Wallace (foot), Pena (quad) all out, that only leaves Graye, Rice, Talley, and James fresh enough to start, since I can’t imagine McTavish will be expected to play much if at all. Now, Onalfo could put Talley at right back and just play those four, but then he’s handcuffed if a sub is needed, and in 100 degree heat, a sub will be needed. So, I think he trots Morsink out there at right back and holds Talley in reserve.

Almost certainly Hamid will play to give him work and showcase him against players and teams much different than MLS. Might even lead to some leads in Europe for the young keeper too. You never know. But, it’s safe to say there’s no reason to play Perkins at all.

Given Pompey’s tiredness and conservativeness, in addition to United’s fairly weak defense that they will want to protect, and the heat that will sap everyone, and the serious lack of conviction most will show in hoping to avoid any more injuries, as well as the utter pointlessness of this match for all of the players concerned, it’s tough to see any sparkling exhibitions of the beautiful game spontaneously breaking out on the field.

So, while this game is shaping up like that brutally hot, barely contested 0-0 draw with Boca a few years ago, it does seem like DC should have the edge in keeping their sterling record against English teams intact. Incredibly, United is 5-1-1 against English opposition over the years. Only Chelsea in 2005 has managed to beat DC, although two of those win were decided by PKs.

There you go. That’s all I got for you. It’s a game and DC will be in it. But other than that, I can’t imagine too much going on at RFK this weekend that will be all that thrilling. Hopefully, I’m wrong and the four gallons of sweat I will lose sitting there in stupefying heat in the boiling cauldron that is RFK praying for a breeze will be worth it due to a thrilling win over a team I could not care less about, but sadly I don’t think so.