DC United opened up its training camp last week at RFK, and continued this week at the previously snow covered auxiliary field.

Good thing the team's slated to go to Florida and other points south starting next week.

It's fair to say that after last season, United has some work to do in all areas.  Forward, Midfield, Defense, and Goalkeeper.  And United's made a bunch of moves this season to try and address these.  Starting from the back….

Goalkeeper

United traded Fred to get Troy Perkins back after his two year stint in Norway.  Simply put, he's the best 'keeper that United's had since Troy Perkins left.  Though this leaves a logjam in goal.  Bill Hamid, signed out of the academy is likely to be the #3 GK, so that leave Milos Kocic and Josh Wicks to fight it out for the #2 spot.  Wicks may be the odd man out due to some of his on-field antics and laundry list of injuries that put him on the shelf late last season that won't see him returning to action until mid-March.

Defense

Actually, Perkins will help the defense with his communication and confidence.  Unfortunately, Bryan Namoff isn't ready to play after his head injury last season.  It's got to be getting to him to not play, but after the team's mis-adventures with Alecko Eskandarian and Josh Gros' head injuries here's hoping that they've learned that patience and time are what matters.  Though Julius James, Dejan Jakovic, Devon McTavish, Marc Burch are slated to return.  Sole 2010 draft pick Jordan Graye, late season pick-up Lawson Vaughn, and former United draft pick Lyle Adams are also in camp looking to earn roster spots.  Some folks figure that United needs another central defender, but the four man unit of Burch-James-Jakovic-Vaughn actually did pretty well at the end of the season, considering that James and Vaughn were mid/late season pickups a full preseason should help gell that group.

Midfield

This is where the largest player turnover has been.  Out: Olsen, Gomez, Fred.  In: Christian Castillo.  From looking at online highlight footage, he's likely the long time coming replacement for Earnie Stewart: A wide midfielder who stays wide and can cross the ball on the run.  Yeah.  DC United hasn't had one of these guys since 2004.   Clyde Simms, Santino Quaranta, Rodney Wallace, Danny Szetela return.  John DiRaimondo and Tiyi Shipalane (hopefully he continues to wear his shorts the right way) will likely provide some depth.  Brandon Barklage will hopefully return to form after his ACL injury (he provided a nice hungry spark to the team that was definitely missing after his injury).   United also signed former Manchester United prospect Floribert N'Galula.

Also Two-Boys Gumede is on trial.  Don't care about his talent, but just the prospect of Boyzzz and Two-Boys on the field at the same time sound like fun……even more so if Ray Hudson could call the game on TV.

Note here that there's no natural 'number 10' in camp.  Gomez had a horrible 2009 season, and United rightly decided to go in another direction.  At first it seemed as if the team would turn to Fred in that role (where he's played in other leagues but not with a lot of success in MLS), until the opportunity to re-acquire Perkins arose and he was traded to Philadelphia.  Some folks fret over the lack of a 'playmaker', the Nest Liner doesn't think so.  United's been OVER reliant on a 'playmaker' or '#10' for way too long.  Gone are the days where Marco Etcheverry's skill stood above others and he could have his way with them and setup plays.  MLS defenders are more savvy and sophisticated.  Want proof?  Go watch footage from the last 3 or 4 DC United seasons (or just search the Nest Liner archives during the same period).  Shut down/clog the middle of the field, and United quickly runs out of ideas.  Funneling the ball through one player is only going to stifle the offense and make average defenses look stellar.  Attacking from several different areas of the field, using several methods is the way to keep defenses guessing and off-balance. 

The other big hole is the midfield presence that Ben Olsen brought to the field.  No one player can do this.  As a unit they must step up and fill the void……or Assistant Coach Ben Olsen will chew them out.

Forwards

There's more change up front.  Luciano Emilio returned to Brazil.  That's a big hole on the roster in terms of goals, but it's not a big hole removed from the field.  Emilio wasn't getting service and problems just compounded on problems and led to some horrible team play up front in the waning moments of the season.  United is rightly moving in a different direction.   Look for Chris Pontius to be a full time forward this season (he bounced from midfield to forward repeatedly last year).

The question though is who the other forward shall be.  To that end United signed Aussie forward Danny Allsopp. Jamie Moreno has signed on for another season, but Jame is getting older and likely can't log the minutes (though United does have considerably fewer games this season).   Add Boyzzz Khumalo to the mix for depth and spark.

If Pontius and Allsopp gell, this is pretty good group of forwards (along with Tino).  The biggest worry, is depth and injuries.

Salary Cap

Not going through the cap-ology, United's got to be looking pretty good in terms of the (existing) Salary Cap after ditching the contracts of Olsen, Emilio and Gomez.  Every other roster move is pretty much a wash.  Then again, the collective bargaining agreement has expired and they're still negotiating a new deal, stay tuned on this issue.

First, United brings back former DC United player Curt Onalfo as Head Coach, then surrounds him with other former United players Mark Simpson (OK, he's a holdover) Kris Kelderman, and Ben Olsen.

Now, Troy Perkins returns.

United traded Fred, it's first round pick in the MLS Draft and money to Philadelphia for the rights to Perkins (who had re-signed with MLS).  It's a move that helps United in three categories that have been lacking. Goalkeeping.  Defense.  Leadership and Character.

Welcome back, Troy.

Yesterday was a spectacular day for the PR and marketing crew for our beloved Black and Red, huh?

Picked up the paper and there it was – a coaching change on the front page, right?

Nope, that was for little Danny’s disaster of a football team. You can certainly understand the column inches that needed to be devoted to the never-ending soap opera of the Burgundy and Gold.

Well, shoot – the news of United’s most recent unveiling at least made the front page of the Post’s Sports section, right?

Sorry, wrong target. Another little misfiring melodrama had to blow up behold the fold.

Some Secret Agent with Zero common sense decided that it was time to test the TSA-like security procedures at Verizon Center and begin brandishing his hardware as if he was auditioning to become the latest poster child for the NRA.

Sigh. Wasn’t it Hesiod practically three thousand years ago who said,

“Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor.”

Well, at least the internet nuts were satiated for a nanosecond and had a chance to raise a toast or two in the only bar in town where this latest move by the front office was acknowledged, because elsewhere it barely caused a ripple – unless “D4″ excites anyone not playing Battleship.

Well, there’s always the chance of making a big splash in the next issue of the UVA Alumni Magazine!

So, if you want to cheer yourself up with something that the folks at DC United do right… check out all the smiles created here!

Bupkus. Nada. Goose Egg. Diddly Squat. Zero. Nothing.

Who on earth will be willing to lead us to the Promised Land now that Caleb has "gone in another direction"?

This was not quite the press conference from Caleb Porter DC United fans were hoping for during the holidays.

Bad enough to hear about the five-year contract, but these words were particularly stinging to the Black and Red faithful:

"After reaching the pinnacle of college soccer this season, my vision will be to sustain the program for long-term success as one of the nation's elite programs.

This an exciting time for Akron Soccer and with upgrades to the facility on the horizon I am confident we have all the resources necessary to continue competing for national championships for many years to come."

Losing out on one of the rising stars in American soccer's coaching ranks hurts badly enough, but the sinking realization that our facilities are now not enough to lure the best and brightest from even the college ranks is leaving a mark.

Meanwhile, you can check out how those lowly Red Bulls are doing with their wee little stadium via a live webcam…sigh!

For those of you who haven’t been paying close attention to the career of one of the more colorful characters in American soccer, perhaps it is high time you were introduced to Peter Wilt.

Sure, we’re easily influenced by elements of his soccer management philosophy -

…what is good for the fans is usually good for the organization and investors.

If the fans are happy, engaged and supportive of the team, they will spend more money, watch more game broadcasts and promote the team better themselves.

Fans, and I am one also, ultimately cheer for the badge, the team it represents.

They don’t cheer for the organization or the owners.

Then again, perhaps we are just as easily swayed by his concoction – the Schlabst.

Yup, a mixture of bottled Schlitz beer and canned Pabst, poured into a pint glass sounds like a perfectly Midwestern way to avoid all those snooty beer snobs.

So, if you’re ever stumbling around in Milwaukee looking for a good place to catch a match, check out The Highbury where you might even be lucky enough to run into this Patron Saint of sorts.

In the meantime, you can content yourself with his musings on the web.

His latest can be found on a wonderful blog, aptly named – Pitch Invasion.

What drew our attention was that he has an interesting interview up with DC United’s very own Stephen Zack.

There are a number of things that stand out in this Q & A with the Senior (or is it Executive?) Vice President of the club and it certainly is worth the read.

One that made the historians here at the Nest Liner chuckle was the answer to his seventh question.

PW. What did DCU do…or not do…to cultivate its supporters culture?  What role did management play in the growth of Barra Brava, La Norte and Screaming Eagles?

SZ: Before we had even opened our offices in DC, we were aware of a group on the internet that had been formed in the DC area to support the new team.

I don’t recall if Big Soccer existed at that time or exactly what method they were using to communicate but we reached out to the “leader” of this group and asked if we could speak with them.

I was able to speak with Matt Mathai who would become the original president of the Screaming Eagles.

I recall he sounded nervous when we first spoke as if we were looking to shut down their activities.

Quite the opposite.

We wanted to work with them to help us promote the team and grow their support.

Shortly thereafter came the Barra Brava and then La Norte.

In all cases, we work directly with their leadership to help them grow, to provide them with the ability to support the team the way they want while at the same time, helping D.C. United to grow as well.

Photo: Sarah and Sean Baker

On the dreaded MLS coaching carousel?

Way back in June we were all chuckling after securing the Atlantic Cup yet again from the hapless denizens of the Swamp.

Who’s laughing now?!!

After all, it was clear even then that our putative rivals to the North had once again blown it with their managerial acumen.

Sure, they had stolen away Chicago’s treasure and he certainly had an impressive resume. After all, who could not be awed by the wide range of experience that he brought to the proverbial reality-based foosball table.

He had earned his assistant coaching chops in the veritable netherworld of international futbol, also known as lower division soccer in the States, with the Staten Island Vipers.

He used that as a springboard (?) to vault himself to the bench of the MetroStars and subsequently to Man City of all places!

Surely after his stint with Millionarios in Colombia,  the Fire’s choice as the man in charge of righting a sinking ship seemed absolutely inspired. After dispatching our beloved boys, who after all were the holders of the Supporters’ Shield, in the playoffs – he slunk away to try his turnaround magic on the hated (or pitiable) RBNY.

Sure enough, he produced the impossible – a place in MLS CUP for the ultimate underachieving league franchise. Along the way of that improbable playoff run he crushed the favorites from Houston.

So what the heck happened?!! How is it that a manager with such a background and track record of achievement in the playoff crucible suddenly goes 2-16-4?!!

Worse, what does it tell us about the crapshoot that is the hunt for a successful manager of a cup-winning side in this league?

Now that we are stuck watching our front office join in with the other MLS riff-raff playing in the “throw-the-dart-and-pray” derby for a coach, is anyone actually confident in what the result might hold?

Tony Adams – really?!!

Caleb Porter – with zip for MLS coaching experience, no less!

And now word that we might even end up facing Tommy when we play the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2011.

So, grab some popcorn and enjoy the carousel in action. Because we have no earthly idea what criteria are being used, much less how successful it will be in the end.

We’re just along for the ride.

November 24, 2009.  That's the day that Ben Olsen said he's hanging up his boots.

That's 12 seasons of soccer, though unfortunately due to injuries, Ben didn't play in all of them.  But it's probably safe to say that he competed in each of them.

222 games 29 goals 49 assists those are just stats that are obviously up at the top of United's All Time Stats, but they don't scratch the surface of what he's meant….

He was United's first developmental allocation lured from UVA via Nike's Project 40 later to become Generation Adidas.  Ben's only condition was that he went to DC United this was back when MLS played real fast and loose with 'rules'.  (OK, they play fast and loose with rules now, but in the first years of the league, it was like the Wild West.)

Obviously, he was one of the last two on field connections to those early teams that just walked all over the rest of the league, along with Jamie Moreno.  Though we saw Ben Olsen develop and mature in front of our eyes through the years, while Jamie's development period was behind him when he arrived in DC.  Ben has gone from an energetic and tireless winger, to gritty defensive midfielder, to wiley veteran winger, and back to gritty defensive midfielder.  All the while, maturing and taking on more and more of a leadership role with the club.  He's always had fire and determination, he wasn't going to beat players one-on-one on a consistent basis, but he was almost always going to win a 50/50 ball….or even 20/80.  He was on those dominant teams that swaggered through the 1990's he was one of the few bright spots of the dark years of 2000-2003, he was a major part of the resurgence beginning in 2004. 

Despite having his international hopes dashed by a severe ankle injury while on loan at Nottingham Forest, where fans STILL talk about him and ask about him, Ben came back determined and committed after an 18 month injury spell.  He's undergone countless ankle treatments and surgeries over the years as a result, which caused him to miss most of the 2008 season, too (His quality of his character and leadership is such that the team brought him on roadtrips in 2008 as an assistant trainer, just to have him on the bench.).  As a result he's one of the few professional players to be considered for a Comeback Player award multiple times.  Those injuries also robbed him in his prime.  He made it to the 2000 Olympics, but missed out on the 2002 World Cup.  He did make the 2006 team, though, and proved to be a bright spot on an underperforming squad.

Ben is also one of the first DC United players, and rare DC pro-sports player that really embraced the DC area and life in DC.  He's regularly out and about in his neighborhood, and even a regular at Washington Wizards games (enough so that they're having a Ben Olsen night special … see www.behindthebadge.com).

Lot's of games and lot's of highlights in Ben Olsen's career.  Everyone has a favorite….from his hattrick over New York, to his MLS Cup 1999 goal (set up beautifully by Kevin Hartman), a favorite at Nest Liner Headquarters is the Chicago game in 2000.  In the cold rain Ben Olsen willed a victory for United by assisting on the tying goal on a corner kick, and then ripping a shot into the side netting…..both in extra time.

It's hard to find athletes that transcend and represent their sport and team so completely, they can be once in a lifetime type of thing.  Hopefully, we've all appreciated what Ben has brought.  Surely, we'll even appreciate it more as time continues to pass.

Photo: Sarah and Sean Baker

No, Not Santa.

Coach Piotr Nowak and the Philly Union powers-that-be, as they rub their hands with glee (?) while looking down the list of unprotected players around the league.

For those keeping score at home here is the list of our boys in Black and Red courtesy of Behind the Badge:

The Philadelphia Union will select ten players on Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET in the 2009 Expansion Draft. Teams are able to protect 11 players from being selected and can only lose one player in the draft. Here are the United players that cannot be selected by the Union on Wednesday:

• Marc Burch
• Fred
• Dejan Jakovic
• Julius James
• Jaime Moreno
• Bryan Namoff
• Chris Pontius
• Santino Quaranta
• Clyde Simms
• Danny Szetela
• Rodney Wallace

This leaves the following players EXPOSED (er, available for selection).

• Luciano Emilio
• Christian Gomez
• David Habarugira
• Andrew Jacobson
• Greg Janicki
• Avery John
• Boyzzz Khumalo
• Devon McTavish
• Ange N’Silu
• Ben Olsen
• Lawson Vaughn
• Josh Wicks
• Ely Allen
• Brandon Barklage
• John DiRaimondo
• Milos Kocic
• Tiyi Shipalane

It should come as no surprise that folks inside the Beltway were cheering loudly for the little guy with the big heart staring down the favorites in front of a national television audience.

No, it wasn’t just a case of the football equivalent of David vs. Goliath.

Sure there were those who just hated the thought of Beckham and Donovan turning a failed experiment into a recipe for success.

And there were more than a handful of folks unsettled by the thought of Bruce Arena being the one to close the gap in championship trophies between the two clubs.

But deep down inside, every true DC United fan continues to root for Nick’s success.

After all, he was always a standup guy.

Ready with a genuine ear-to-ear grin and always available to the supporters.

Oh, and he did bring us home a little silverware along the way as well… in surprisingly similar circumstances.

So, congrats to the MVP!

United went down to Mexico in search of a win against Toluca to asure advancement into the knockout stages of the CONCACAF Champions League/Cup.  United put forth one of its most complete efforts of the year, but only came away with a tie on Chris Pontius' fantastic goal from distance.  But United needed help from San Juan Jabloteh at home against Marathon.  A SJJ win or tie would have put United through, but Marathon proved to be too much, and United's hopes for international achievement faded.

But that left domestic goals for United……because they were in dire straits in MLS competition, too.  The now traditional late season swoon left United with a 'must win' (actually they've been in 'must win' mode for weeks, now) in Kansas City.  United again had some good chances, and should have been up by one or two goals just minutes into the game (especially if Christian Gomez looked up to have a general idea of where the goal was after dribbling through the defense).  The team played with a lot of drive and desperation (as the situation dictatated), but KC got on the board first.  Then Christian Gomez (already sporting bandages worthy of a fife and drum corps), came up with a hurt foot.  Gomez was replaced by Jamie Moreno.  But the team ended the first half down by a goal.

Tommy Soehn brought in Ben Olsen to start the second half.  You could see four players try and exert their wills on the game: Moreno, Olsen, James and Fred.

Yep.  James and Fred.  James was active all night, despite being the right back in a three man defense.  He routinely exploited space along the flanks, and prodoced scoring plays throughout the night.  Fred was also a revelation, considering he's been MIA most of the season either due to injury or poor form (though one has to wonder if his troubles may be rooted in the heath of his baby that had surgery earlier this year).  But Fred figured in the rest of the game's scoring.  He was fouled in the box, permitting Moreno to add onto his career talley by putting home another PK, knoting up the game. 

United continued to attack, but KC would counter.  On one late counter (after Boyzzz had replaced a rather inactive Emilio) James came up lame with an apparent torn/pulled hamstring.  He still managed to come back and block a scoring attempt.  The training staff could only attempt to wrap and tape up James like a UPS package and send him back on the field.  Simms dropped back to right back, and James just kind of hung out in the middle of the field, only going as far as he could hobble.  But still, he soldiered on.  Fred once again forced a KC foul just outside the 18.  The cross sailed in, and was headed back in front of the goal.  Kevin Hartman (mabye best know in DC United circles for his assist to Ben Olsen in MLS Cup 99……wow that was 10 years ago?), could only meekly punch it as Jamie Moreno causually got in the way, as James hobbled up to it and headed the ball home.  Putting DC United in the playoffs……for about 8 minutes. 

KC, playing for nothing except pride….and maybe free parking, who knows?…brought the game back.  United gave up a free kick from about 40 yards out.  The kick struck a jumping Moreno in the head, but referee Ricard Salazar ruled that Moreno handled the ball, or used improperly tied shoelaces, or hadn't dyed his hair in weeks. and ordered another free kick from about 10 yards closer.  This kick was shot dangerously close to the lower left and corner for Cronin.  The new United keeper desperately dove and stop the ball, but could not handle it cleanly, the ball bounced just feet from him.  Cronin smartly swept the ball out of play behind the goal line with his feet forcing a corner, instead of flopping on the ball with on-rushing attackers.  The ensuing corner however, is where United's fate was sealed.  The ball wasn't cleared in a goal mouth scramble, and KC shot the ball near the post where Fred was standing performing the Brazilian Funky Chicken and the ball happened to glance off of his elbow.

OK, Fred desperately threw his elbow into the path of a sure goal and was caught.  Though he did throw himself to the turf in an effort to hide behind Ben Olsen.  You can't blame Fred for trying.  But Claudio Lopez stepped up to the spot and just ripped home a shot pass Cronin effectively ending United's season….which actually didn't end until an hour or so later when Seattle scored late to beat Dallas.  Which didn't help United in MLS's incredibly complicated tie-breaking procedure, which is based on an incredible equation incorporating wins, ties, losses, average left shoe size, sum of all uniform numbers, and Avagadro's Number.

Denoument

For a second consecutive year, a late season swoon prevented United a chance at the playoffs.  There'll be soul searching in the organization as front office and coaching jobs are evaluated.  And United will need to decide which players they'll want to retain for next year, and which they'll make available in the expansion draft as the Philadelphia Union enter the league.

There are more than enough excuses and blame to go around (more on that later…it's a long offseason), this season wasn't meant to be one with numerous titles, it just wasn't built for it.  And it's strenghts and deficiencies showed throughout the year.  This was more of a transitional year (not so much rebuilding, not so much promising).  What'll be interesting is how things shake out for 2010.