D.C. United look to rebound from disappointing ‘08

by Adam Taylor, 3L
Law Weekly
March 17, 2009

The 2008 season for D.C. United soccer was, in a word, disappointing. A year after winning their second straight Supporters' Shield (awarded to the MLS regular season champions), United missed the playoffs. What made the season especially disappointing was the even higher-than-usual expectations the team generated at the outset of the year.

After 2007, United waved goodbye to former league MVP, attacking midfielder Christian Gomez, who was traded to Colorado after he and the team could not resolve their contract dispute.

In his stead, the Black-and-Red brought in the high-priced Marcelo Gallardo, a former World Cup star for Argentina, but one whose best seasons were behind him. United also brought in a crop of other South Americans, most notably the "Brothers Gonzalo," defenders Gonzalo Martinez and Gonzalo Peralta. They also introduced diminutive striker Franco Niell.

The common thread for all these vaunted newcomers? They're all gone, and Christian Gomez is back after a disappointing year of his own in the Rockies. However, United's trademark attacking flair wasn't the only thing missing last year.

The team's heart and soul, midfielder Ben Olsen, played only 15 minutes of last season due to lingering ankle problems. After rehabbing through the offseason, Number 14 will be in United's First XI when they open play next Sunday in Los Angeles against the Galaxy.

The midfield and the attack, anyway, look set. Christian Gomez is back in the Number 10 shirt orchestrating the offense. Ben Olsen will line up on the right wing or in the defensive midfield. Fred (just Fred, he's Brazilian) will run the left flank, hoping to rebound from a subpar 2008.

Tough-nosed Clyde Simms is the starter in the defensive midfield, wreaking havoc on opposing attacks and going forward to unleash his rocket right foot. In the front, strike pair Jaime Moreno and Luciano Emilio will start. There is little cause for concern on the forward line: Moreno is the MLS all-time leading scorer, and Emilio is one year removed from leading the lead in scoring and winning the MVP award.

The real issue this year, as it was last year, will be in the back. In 2008, United allowed more goals than anyone in the league, save the putrid L.A. Galaxy (Not even David Beckham could shore up their D). This year, the "Brothers Gonzalo" are gone, and in their place is a group of young, big, and generally untested players.

Marc Burch was a revelation at left back in 2007, but he spent 2008 moving from left back to the center of the defense, then to midfield and back again. Needless to say, last season was a step back for the left-footer. Utility man Devon McTavish spent the year playing center back, but he may see time in the defensive midfield or at his natural position on the right wing.

The Black-and-Red may have found a jewel in central defender Greg Janicki, who played three games for the Capital Club after being loaned from the lower division Pittsburgh Riverhounds. He shone in his three appearances, but such a small sample size warrants caution.

Another new addition to the central defense is Canadian youth international Dejan Jakovic, fresh off a transfer from Serbian powers Red Star Belgrade.

Rounding out the options for center backs is Anthony Peters, an unknown quantity, but one with some skill to match his size, which will not be confused for "small." On the right side of the back line is mainstay Bryan Namoff, who has all but locked down the position over his last two years.

In goal, at least to start the season, is the Adventure That Is Louis Crayton. The Liberian joined United from the Swiss league in the middle of last season, when then-starter Zach Wells (now retired due to injury) was having what can only be described as an awful year in net. Crayton's presence immediately boosted the Black-and-Red, and he almost helped the team find the playoffs.

His contract expires in the middle of this year, and he has stated his desire to remain with the team. No doubt, his performance to start the 2009 campaign will have everything to do with whether he finishes it out wearing the United badge.

Returning for his third season at the helm is coach Tom Soehn, who many believe to be squarely in the hot seat this year. Nonetheless, the manager seems upbeat, but realistic, going into the new season. He lauds his team's depth - noting that they have the potential to run out several variations of lineup and formation. He also recognizes the failings of last year and is the first to point out that nobody knows how good this edition of D.C. United really is, yet.

At any rate, all three regular readers of these pages know that I can get to be a pretty fanatic fan of D.C. United. I have no qualms saying that I hope and expect the world of the Boys in Black, as I have since I fell in love with the team when I moved to the District. Another year is just beginning, and hopefully it'll be a return to form for the Black-and-Red.

D.C. United opens its season at the Beckham-less Los Angeles Galaxy Sunday, Mar. 22, at 3:00 p.m. The game will be carried on Comcast Sports Net and en Español on Telefutura. United's home opener is the following Saturday, Mar. 28, at RFK Stadium, against the Chicago Fire. This writer will be there, in the midst of the bouncing masses that are La Barra Brava, and encourages you, and Chicago transplant President Barack Obama, to do the same.