- Ethan Gomberg
SANDY, UT – A night of counter attacks and penalty kicks, probably overshadowed by DC United forward Charlie Davies and a controversial decision, ended in Utah tonight 1-1. The announced attendance of 16, 841 were on hand for important match for both teams.
Showing posts with label DC United. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DC United. Show all posts
- Keith Hickey
There were a number of standout performers in this opening week of the 2011 Major League Soccer season, but no player's contributions will have been greeted with as much excitement from as many disparate sources as Charlie Davies's double against Columbus.
-Keith Hickey
This is the first edition of our new "Tuesday Time Capsule" feature, in which we dig up old articles, videos, and pictures that we really like and share them with you guys. And as it's the inaugural edition of the feature, we felt that the only appropriate item would be the Inaugural MLS match. The San Jose Clash hosted DC United at Spartan Stadium. Eric Wynalda scored the first MLS goal, the only goal of the match, as San Jose grabbed all three points.
WARNING: Gratuitous shots of the denim USMNT Kit.
This is the first edition of our new "Tuesday Time Capsule" feature, in which we dig up old articles, videos, and pictures that we really like and share them with you guys. And as it's the inaugural edition of the feature, we felt that the only appropriate item would be the Inaugural MLS match. The San Jose Clash hosted DC United at Spartan Stadium. Eric Wynalda scored the first MLS goal, the only goal of the match, as San Jose grabbed all three points.
WARNING: Gratuitous shots of the denim USMNT Kit.
- Jason Davis
Charlie Davies just made it a bit harder for D.C. United to say no to a loan deal. Davies scored and provided an assist to Joseph Ngwenya in United's 5-1 victory over the Canadian U-20s in Fort Lauderdale. Even considering the competition, United can't ask much more of Davies than to spark the offense when given the chance during his week-long evaluation period. The performance doesn't guarantee that United will keep Davies, but it does give fans legitimate reason to think consummating the loan is in the team's best interest.
Charlie Davies just made it a bit harder for D.C. United to say no to a loan deal. Davies scored and provided an assist to Joseph Ngwenya in United's 5-1 victory over the Canadian U-20s in Fort Lauderdale. Even considering the competition, United can't ask much more of Davies than to spark the offense when given the chance during his week-long evaluation period. The performance doesn't guarantee that United will keep Davies, but it does give fans legitimate reason to think consummating the loan is in the team's best interest.
The possibility that Charlie Davies could spend the year on loan to DC United is a natural marriage brought about by timing, the vagaries of the MLS allocation order system, and a shared need for both to find redemption in 2011.
Charlie Davies wants to play, DC United could do with some positive press. If the former meets his goal and returns to putting the ball in the back of the net in meaningful competition after sixteen months of recovery from terrible car accident that happened to take place in United's backyard, both sides win. Charlie proves he can play. United gets pulled along for the ride, with all the positive press and good feelings inherent therein. In that way, Charlie Davies is more than just another player for DC United, he's a calculated risk.
-Jason Davis
Saturday's USMNT draw with Chile served a few purposes. Most of them involved Bob Bradley and his nonstop need to evaluate, cull, and refine the National Team talent pool, with an eye towards meaningful competition this year and the 2014 World Cup well down the road. We can only hope that Bradley and his staff gained useful insight with what happened at the Home Depot Center; at the very least several players stood out, causing every armchair analyst from here to Anchorage to draw conclusions as to who should remain in the picture and whose name should be marked out with permanent ink. Bradley's process might differ, but he'll essentially do the same thing.
But by the final whistle, it was clear that Saturday's game had an ancillary benefit that had nothing to do with the fortunes of the USMNT.
Saturday's USMNT draw with Chile served a few purposes. Most of them involved Bob Bradley and his nonstop need to evaluate, cull, and refine the National Team talent pool, with an eye towards meaningful competition this year and the 2014 World Cup well down the road. We can only hope that Bradley and his staff gained useful insight with what happened at the Home Depot Center; at the very least several players stood out, causing every armchair analyst from here to Anchorage to draw conclusions as to who should remain in the picture and whose name should be marked out with permanent ink. Bradley's process might differ, but he'll essentially do the same thing.
But by the final whistle, it was clear that Saturday's game had an ancillary benefit that had nothing to do with the fortunes of the USMNT.
Per Steven Goff of the Washington Post, DC United apparently spoke with Rockville, MD city officials (Montgomery County) about the possibility of putting a stadium for the club on the site of a struggling municipal golf course. This is good news, if only because it indicates that United's leadership is on the hunt; the problem, as usual, is that the talks are almost certain to go nowhere (which Goff relates with caustic humor).
This past winter, five MLS teams hired coaches.
For the second time this year, one of them was fired.
For the second time this year, it was one with previous MLS experience.
Curt Onalfo and Preki have a trend in common. Their teams have progressively gotten worse. This leads me to this question; is MLS player talent passing MLS coaching and front office talent?
In 2007, Onalfo led KC to a fifth place finish in the East with 40 points; in 2008, a fourth place finish (42); in 2009, a sixth place finish (33). In 2010, he was fired when DC was in 8th place on pace for a mere 20 points.
Similarly, in 2007, Preki, using a team largely put together by Bob Bradley, led Chivas to finish first with in the west with 53 points. In 2008, they finished second (43). In 2009, they finished fourth (45). In 2010, Toronto was on pace for 35 points.
If the trend stopped there, it wouldn’t be much of a trend, but looking at current list of MLS coaches, a couple of other names stick out; Frank Yallop and Steve Nicol.
Yallop won two MLS Cups with San Jose in their first incarnation, but in two seasons with the Galaxy and now three with the new Earthquakes has yet to secure better than fifth place in the West.
Nicol’s success in New England is well documented, but trend of the Revolution since the advent of the Designated Player Rule doesn’t look that much different than that of Preki.
Looking back at video from MLS matches four years ago, the difference in playing level compared to today’s matches is clear. The competitive balance in MLS ensures a certain level of equality. So, teams or managers that have been on down trends while the league as a whole has been on an uptrend likely have institutional questions. But, it is not a question of designated players, as RSL and Columbus have both proven effective without them, while teams like DC and Toronto have struggled with them. It is not a question of being on the frugal side, as a resurgent Dallas is now showing. It is primarily a question of effectively culling talent from a growing foreign and domestic talent pool and implementing game plans to be competitive.
Some MLS organizations have navigated these new waters well, while some have severe leaks, or have capsized completely. To me, the initial hirings of Onalfo and Preki were inconsistent with where the league is going. As much as anything, their firings are a sign that the league is growing faster than the management and coaching.
DC United's 2010 effectively ended last night. United fell to Columbus in the semifinals of the US Open Cup in front of 3400 fans at RFK stadium, and while the organization is none too happy with the quality of the referee for the match, their grousing won't change anything. United will now simply finish out their MLS schedule while understandably looking ahead to 2011.
The biggest MLS news of the day is the dismissal of Curt Onalfo, on the job for just eight months, as head coach of DC United. Taking his place on an interim basis will be United legend Ben Olsen, an assistant with the team since ending his playing career last year.
The winds of change are blowing in DC, though some United fans will tell you they're either not blowing hard enough or are blowing in the wrong direction.
Olsen's appointment smacks of temporary fan-sating. The team has been poor all season, one of their most important players is out injured, the club will be forced to eat Onalfo's salary for two more years, and the new man in charge is a fan-favorite from his playing days with zero head coaching experience. Onalfo was sacrificed to gain some goodwill with an understandably frustrated fan base. Whether Olsen's appointment has any actual on-field effect is almost inconsequential. For all intents and purposes, United is playing out the string on a lost season.
This "new" MLS, one in which stadiums are in-place, going up or getting funded, pricey name players are signing up, and organizational consistency and excellent scouting are crucial for budget-conscious owners, has somehow left the league's original preeminent franchise behind. United's situation is troubling on nearly every front, from their last place standing this season and club-crippling stadium situation to missteps in the front office and lack of accountability on almost every issue. As an admittedly partial observer yet far from die-hard fan, I'm left to simply shake my head at what United has become and might yet face. Make no mistake: Eveything is interconnected.
MLS is not yet, and may not be for many years, a league in which the biggest markets are set up to dominate. But a path to that possibility is emerging, and with United unable to pull off Columbus or Real Salt Lake-like success (meaning smart player acquisition coupled with solid coaching on a middling budget), the future won't be any easier. RFK-as-albatross should not be an excuse for losing, but it is undoubtedly a factor. The more fans that stop showing up because the club is not winning, the more the financial burden of RFK weighs on owner Will Chang; United has amazing fans that set standards for support in the league's early history, but even they can't be expected to spend money on a terrible product presented in a terrible venue forever. With no stadium news other than worrying whispers of Baltimore interest, the club's biggest rival in a glimmering new venue with talent to match, and future prospects of the four-time MLS champions less-than-encouraging, it's a credit to United's fans that attendance has remained respectable.
The lack of stadium movement must make the failures on the field that much more difficult to bear for fans of a proud franchise. Stadium uncertainty and the possibility of relocation (to Baltimore or elsewhere) is a black cloud hanging over everything United does; excitement from a return to the playoffs and a deep run back to respectability would help, but would still be muted by the reality that DC United might not be DC United for very long. Even if a move isn't on the horizon quite yet, every year spent in RFK will simply reinforce United's place as a second-class MLS franchise. Almost every other club is moving forward, already has a comfortable situation, or benefits from relationships that keep costs down. Intransigent local government, an easy scapegoat but certainly a major player in where United sits today, has effectively crippled the organization.
All is not lost, of course. This is MLS, where season-to-season turnarounds are possible, where half the league makes the playoffs with a shot at the title, and where a few key acquisitions can make a massive difference. Olsen might turn the club around in the second half, and 2011 could be much better. Attendance could rise again, helping to offset losses the club continues to take from the rent on RFK. The depths of despair in this league are less-deep than they might be in a competition with no salary cap, and parity is a saving grace. But even a bit of on-field success doesn't change the reality that DC United is being left behind by a rapidly changing league. It's almost impossible to see a return to prominence for DC United from where we stand today.
United's last major success, the Supporters Shield in 2007, is not that far in the past. The club's last MLS Cup title was only six years ago. But with MLS changing dramatically from year to year in the post-DP Rule and SSS world, those glories might as well be ancient history.
Ben Olsen is a link to that history, and perhaps he can squeeze some positives out of 2010. At this point, that possibility is just about all United fans have to hold on to.
Whether you're a USMNT fan or a DC United fan, you're likely a little scared when it comes to Andy Najar. You're scared that the teenage talent, full of potential even as he stars for a bad team in DC, might slip through your fingers. In one case, it's Honduras that might steal him away, robbing the US of a true creative talent when they are so rare. In the other it's a plethora of foreign clubs, most likely in Europe, ready to snatch up a young talent and whisk him away to their academy/reserve team in hopes he'll grow into a top flight contributor.
When it comes to the former, it's just a waiting game. Honduras holds all the cards, and though Najar claims to be solely focused on his club career, the questions are coming fast and furious. There's even some confusion over whether the teenager has been contacted by Honduras' U-20 team. Americans are filling up blog comments, message boards, and Twitter with exhortations to "Cap him now!" Hondurans are nervous. Everyone with a stake in Najar's choice is crossing their fingers as hard as they can.
For Americans, the problem is simply that Najar is not eligible for the US. At least not yet. Najar has lived in the country since coming here at 13, and is still the better part of a year away from his 18th birthday. That being the case, he cannot even apply for citizenship until he has reached his majority; the green card his family holds should means he has already met the length of residency requirement (I'm just a little fuzzy on this). Should he decide to become an American citizen, the process begins next year. If he beings that process before being capped by Honduras, the intrigue will increase considerably.
The new FIFA eligibility rules mean that Najar could appear for a Honduran youth team and still switch to the United States at a later date. This is the rule change that allowed Edgar Castillo and Jermaine Jones to become US players; both wore the colors of other nations in youth setups, but neither played in what is deemed a competitive match for the senior side. Unfortunately for the "Cap him now" crowd, Honduras could end the speculation if Najar is called up and appears for the senior team any time between now and when (and if) Najar gets American citizenship. UNCAF, the union of Central American soccer federations, will hold their semiannual tournament prior to the Gold Cup in 2011; the tournament will both crown a champion of the region and serve as qualifier for the confederation tournament later. As far as I can tell, this is the only thing on the Honduran schedule at the moment. It might be the end of the Najar speculation should he be successfully wooed by the Honduran federation between now and then.
The US won't play until the Gold Cup itself, and I'm not sure if Najar's citizenship process will have run its course by then; barring a bit of wheel greasing, my guess is it won't.
If Honduras, for whom Najar is eligible right now, presses him hard to play for the nation of his birth and any possibility of representing the US would have to wait, it's hard to imagine that time is on US Soccer's side. It's not a forgone conclusion that Najar will play for Honduras, but it's hard to imagine he'll hold out that long. He has strong connections to Honduras. It would be unfair to blame him for choosing Los Catrachos.
Word is that DC United has told Najar not to discuss his international future, apparently for fear that it would be distraction. Najar, for his part, has deflected questions about his intentions when asked. This means fans of both countries are left in the dark, left to hope.
On the club front, rumors are flying the Arsenal (yes that Arsenal) will take Najar on trial at the end of the MLS season. The name of the foreign club in question may be slightly surprising, but the interest is not. Najar is young, talented, teachable, and intelligent; it would be more notable had there not been a few rumors sooner rather than later. Unfortunately for United fans, it will be difficult for the club to hold on to Najar should he want to go. This is very much an enjoy-him-while-you-can situation, and there's not much to be done. Even calling for MLS/United to reject any bids that might result from this trial and any future interest would be ridiculous. Who would begrudge Najar the chance to go elsewhere and turn into a much bigger star than MLS could ever make him?
Not that anything is certain. Najar could very well spend another year or two in MLS should he decide it better suits his personal development. He seems to be having fun with United despite their struggles, and it's clear he is comfortable in the environment. Nevertheless, Najar moving on to bigger things seems inevitable. It's only a matter of time.
Everyone, USMNT fans and United fans alike, just keep yours fingers crossed.
*UPDATE*
Okay, so Ives got some info on that Arsenal rumor. Seems it's not true, per Najar's agent. Regardless, the points stands; if Najar continues to impress, he's not long for United and MLS.
Major League Soccer teams are unique. They stray far from the traditional club setup that is prevalent the rest of the world over, and are beholden on the league as whole for their existence. The franchise system is the law of the land, and no matter the issues we might have with it, won't be going away anytime soon.
The reality that MLS teams are franchises means that they're technically mobile; as we've seen with San Jose/Houston, the league is willing pick up and move a team, like a game piece on the Risk gameboard of American soccer, if the situation becomes untenable in a given city. The league can't afford franchises teetering on the edge of failure or dealing with the prospect of an debilitating stadium situation long into the future. Get them somewhere where they're wanted, or where there is at least a chance they can get a stadium deal put together.
It's on the ownership of these teams to work as hard as they possibly can to get a deal done. This is a problem for some, because the negotiation process for a land acquisition, infrastructure, or public/private deals are typically secretive by nature. Fan perception of their club's efforts suffers because it, especially when exacerbated by executives who fail to assuage fear or make comments that add fuel to the dissatisfaction fire.
In DC, the lack of real news on where the club is looking, made worse by the interest of Baltimore in luring the team, causes nervous feelings amongst their rabid fan base. Revolution fans couldn't be happy to hear more than one official claim the club is happy to stay in Gillette for the foreseeable future; even if the team is actively pursuing a new stadium, public perception might be that they aren't doing enough. San Jose's situation is slightly better, and it would be unfair to say that Lew Wolff isn't working diligently towards a permanent home for the Quakes; but the process has taken longer than most would have hoped. Do the fans put that on ownership, or place the blame squarely on local officials or the struggling economy?
And so I'm curious. For those of you out there who support a club without a settled stadium situation, how happy are you with the work being done by leadership?
With just the county to go in Houston, I'm guessing Dynamo fans would give their team a 100% approval rating, while New England, DC, and perhaps even San Jose supporters can't be too comfortable.
Here's the scale:
Strongly Approve: I'm extremely happy with the club's efforts and am confident they will get a stadium built in the near future.
Approve: I have doubts, but believe the club is doing their due diligence to get a stadium built, and am comfortable with the level of communication.
Somewhat Approve: The club could be doing more, and is not communicating clearly with the fans, but I can't find fault with their commitment.
Somewhat Disapprove: The club is making an effort I am comfortable with, but is moving too slowly or without enough urgency for my liking.
Disapprove: I have little faith in the leadership to get a stadium built, and haven't seen enough effort or communication to make me happy.
Strongly Disapprove: Ownership has made a mess of the situation and has alienated me with their public statements (or lack thereof) on a possible stadium deal; as a result, my support for the team might be affected.
Please identify your club and your rating, and of course you're more than welcome to expand on the subject with your thoughts.
While this particular post is on the stadium issue for the clubs in question (DC, New England, San Jose, and Houston), the may be a wider-reaching question on overall satisfaction with front office performance in the future.
Keep United in DC march, May 2009
Pinning down just where Major League Soccer and DC United's ownership is on the frustration scale when it comes to finding a stadium deal for the club has always been difficult. Though the team (through team president Kevin Payne) continues to say they are exploring options in the DC Metro, there have been few specifics and almost no reason for hope.
And there's your problem.
The DC United fan base cannot be comfortable. RFK has been a serviceable home for the team, in part because United's supporters have made it so through their own efforts, but character doesn't pay the bills; Will Chang bought out Victor MacFarlane's share of the operating rights, seems committed to the club and the fans, but cannot expect to eat the cost of running the club with no return forever. This isn't about United being just a little in the red, it's about millions of dollars going out the door because RFK is such a drain on the bottom line.
Chang wants new investors for United, and would likely have little trouble finding them if a new stadium was on the horizon. But without a deal, one has to wonder how hard it will be to find funds, money that might be necessary to bolster the teams ability to contribute to stadium costs. Chang has made it clear he's open to a functional stadium without the mixed-use developmental aspects that seemed to drive MacFarlane; that would require significant investment (see Houston's 75/25 split on their deal), something Chang's position probably doesn't allow.
Garber sounded clearly frustrated in yesterday's conference call. He ripped local government for "backslaps and faux press conferences" and identified their inability to "get out of their own way". He stopped short of commenting on relocating the club, though he's already on record about the possibility. While Kevin Payne continues to evade any real discussion of who the organization is talking to, United fans twist in the wind; how can you give yourself full to a club when they may not be here in a few years?
Even worse that Baltimore appears serious about making a run at luring away United. Perhaps Payne is avoiding specifics because the only locality serious about a stadium is 40 miles up I-95; if that gets out, the fan reaction would be devastating.
The one thing we can count on is that United staying put as long as there's no ready-made deal in Baltimore or elsewhere. The league isn't going to go through the Houston experience again, but with Baltimore studying the prospect of a building a soccer stadium, they're already well ahead of the game. The timeline is getting shorter with every passing month, and though United has assured fans that something would be happening in 2010, it's not good that the future will be more of the focus, again, than the present. Sure, United's passionate support want to see the team back in the playoffs and playing good soccer; but they also want to hear that they're not showing up and cheering for a lost cause.
No one wants to be be backing the lame duck.
Is United definitely headed for Baltimore? I don't know, but I think the possibility is very real and much closer to happening than most would like to think. Still, there's much that needs to happen in Charm City for United's relocation to make any sense, and there's always a chance the club can convince a suburban locality to go in on a facility; but we've heard nothing since the Prince George's County deal fell through, and with legitimate business questions surrounding the wisdom of going too far from the city center, one wonders if the lesser of two evils for Chang and United isn't to head north.
DC Area Counties - with Loudoun misspelled (I didn't make the map)
I don't know where the breaking point is for the club or the league, but Garber's comments lead me to believe that it's just around the corner in relative terms. United's relocation won't be taken lightly, even if it is only to Baltimore. But DC's history with the team only means so much for a league that cannot afford to have one of its leading lights historically withering on the financial vine because of a dilapidated stadium and no area prospects.
I'm crossing my fingers and toes that there's a super-secret deal in the works, that United is destined to land in a DMV locale not too far from their fan base, and the it will be 2010 when the news finally gets good.
Philly v. New York: It started at the SuperDraft
The strength and growth of MLS over the course of the next two seasons will be built solidly upon two geographic pods; with the Northeastern corridor filling up and opening two stadiums, and the Northwest set to come online in full force in 2011, America's soccer identity will come more from rivalry than ever before.
It starts this season, with Red Bull Arena giving hope that New York will have a vibrant stadium atmosphere coupled with the addition of Philadelphia to the league. Philly, in each and every sport, is the city the rest of the Northeast loves to hate. DC United is an immediate natural rival. New York is a step beyond, and the Union-Red Bull clashes in 2010 should be rife with the usual vitriol and aided by a significant away-support element. It will matter little how good either team actually is, and though the matches won't be traditional local derbies, they'll be on par with anything the league has seen to this point.
Red Bull Arena changes things
Philadelphia lives to hate New York, and New York isn't too fond of Philly; like death and taxes it's a certainty, and you can bet that dynamic will manifest itself, perhaps even more explosively (but let's hope not too explosively) in the culture of soccer.
Down the road in DC, the fans are bristling for a shot at the newcomers. United's tradition is a proud one, and though their fortunes have taken a downward turn the last few years, you can bet that La Barra Brava and the other United die-hards are anxious to show the upstarts how it's done. Union-United matches will have almost as much heat as the New York-Philly showdowns, and should swell attendance in the Washington home version. Hundreds (if not more) Sons of Ben in DC to cheer on their boys while the Barra and Screaming Eagles throb with the passionate energy they always bring sounds like a goose bump inducing event if there ever was one. Mark your calendars.
Though DC, Philly, and New York will form a triumvirate of rivalry unmatched until 2011, New England and Toronto will add their own elements to this geographical collection of clubs. The Toronto fans travel, New England is within spitting distance, and the league will benefit from the proximity of two brand new stadiums to passionate fan bases around the region. A confluence of events makes the Northeast, with the potential for New York to take a major step forward in attention in the media capital of the country, a major factor in Major League Soccer's continued development.
United's support set the standard
In 2011, we'll get to see how the Sounders-Timbers rivalry, with the bonus of Vancouver's involvement thrown-in, translates to the bigger stage of MLS. If 2010 proves to be as successful as it can be, then the addition of the Cascadia dynamic will only heighten the excitement, depth of passion, and expanding level of attention the league will have leveraged through the Northeast in 2010.
If MLS is to draw more television viewers to their product, they need full stadiums, loud crowds, and intense, playoff-style atmospheres. No matter the quality of play, a soccer match is always more intriguing on television if it is accompanied by those factors. There's no reason to believe that 2010 won't be a new high-water mark for games of that caliber, with 2011 ready to amplify the gain.
Alecko Eskandarian announced yesterday through Steve Goff's Soccer Insider blog and his own Twitter account that he will be hanging up his boots for the time being due to continued complications of post-concussion syndrome. Eskandarian played for five MLS teams over seven years, including several successful seasons with DC United.
MFUSA reader and passionate United supporter Ted Meyer weighs in with a few words for Alecko.
by Ted Meyer
Alecko Eskandarian announced yesterday that he will be taking an indefinite leave from soccer. Eskandarian has suffered from post concussion syndrome since a collision in 2005 with New England goalkeeper Matt Reis. An event United fans still hold against Reis.
Even when he was traded to Real Salt Lake, then Chivas USA, and finally Los Angeles Galaxy, he was and always will be a member and fan favorite of the Black and Red. Alecko was drafted as the first overall pick in 2003 by D.C. United from the University of Virginia. He was a member of United’s 2004 MLS Cup team, the last United team to win the championship.. In the final he scored two goals and led an inspired comeback for United. He was named the MVP for the game. Also, he scored the opening goal in the 2004 Eastern Conference Final against New England, a match considered by many to be the greatest MLS match of all time.
However, he became a legend with D.C. fans in a game against New York. After scoring a goal, he took a swig of Red Bull and spit out on the field. It was event that Eric Wynalda responded not too well to. He was also fined for the incident and earned the hate of New York/New Jersey fans, which is where he grew up and where his father played in the NASL days. However, since New York is the bitter rival of D.C., most fans loved the goal celebration.
Even after his concussion, he still made an impact for D.C. United in 2006. He even earned his own catch phrase with the headgear he started wearing after the concussion. Fans made signs that said “Fear the Headgear.” It was a tad ridiculous, but still added to his lore.
For me, I have always been a fan of Alecko. I saw him play in his days at the University of Virginia where my father graduated. He was one of two Virginia players on United during the 2004 to 2006 season. He scored goals and was a real classic finisher for United, particularly in 2004. His tireless work ethic just added to the success I felt Alecko could have in this league. Even when he left for Chivas and the Galaxy, I still rooted for Alecko to be successful. He was player who never gave up and always worked for every goal. I still wish I could go back to days when Christian Gomez, Jaime Moreno, and Alecko Eskandarian made United such a dominant team in 2004 and 2006.
It is sad for me to hear that Alecko is taking a leave from soccer. He is not retiring, but at 27 I don’t know if he will return in the same way to MLS. However, I still believe he can come back. I still have hope that United will resurrect him like they did with Santino Quaranta in 2008. I know that it is completely different circumstances than what Santino went through. However, I still believe that Alecko still has the skill and ability to be a great player in MLS. If only Matt Reis hadn’t clubbed him in the head, maybe we would talk about Alecko pairing up with Jozy Altidore for the World Cup team in June. Ok, now I know I am being unrealistic.
Esky, if you are reading this, you are always welcome back in D.C. no matter if you are a player or not.
I love Baltimore. The place has character, something of which Washington sometimes has a surfeit. Sure, some parts of it aren't the best, as highlighted by one of the greatest television shows of all time, but that's no reason to discount the charm of Charm City.
I've long held the believe that Baltimore could be a great professional soccer market if things were done right.
Because of that, I was happy to see that there's push for MLS in Baltimore thanks to a new a group calling themselves the "Lords of Baltimore" (thanks to The Original Winger for the heads up). The group's stated raison d'etre is "to show the MD Stadium Authority that they should build the stadium and that the team will be well supported by the soccer community in the Greater Baltimore Area." With the Stadium Authority moving forward on a feasibility study for a 17-20k stadium in the city of Baltimore, perhaps to lure DC United their way, I suppose it makes sense for such a group to exist.
While DC drags its feet on a stadium deal for United, and the surrounding jurisdictions have yet to step up in the city's stead, Baltimore might be a viable alternative for the MLS franchise. No one, at least south of the burbs that are more DC metro than Baltimore metro, wants United to move, but it would be naive to think that there's some real pull there for Will Chang and his partners. Go where you're wanted.
Except that Baltimore already has a professional soccer club, the NASL's Crystal Palace Baltimore. CP Baltimore is looking to build their own 7-10k stadium, is moving up to the Division II level this year, and despite the financial troubles of its English namesake, appears headed in the right direction. So why not just support them?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing that the Lords of Baltimore are doing anything wrong. I realize the MLS is the top flight with the big pull, and that soccer fans want their city to be involved with the biggest league out there. And hell, the LoBs even have a CP Baltimore ticket package teased on their website. So is the aim to try and lift CPB into MLS, the way that Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver did with their DII clubs? It's hard to know for sure, since the group's website speaks only of proving to the Stadium Authority that support for the game exists in the area.
I wish the Lords of Baltimore the best of luck, no matter what their aim. I would just give them the advice that it might be better to support the club your city already has rather than dream about "stealing" another's.
There's a new wrinkle in the DC United stadium saga, and it comes by way of Craig Stauffer at the Washington Examiner; club president Kevin Payne implies that the World Cup hosting fortunes of Washington and Baltimore could be tied to a new facility for United.
I'm going to take a moment to let you read Craig's post and for the information there to sink in.
Got it?
Payne's contention that the World Cup spot for the cities on the list includes a responsibility to foster "soccer sustainability" is one I'd not heard, or hadn't processed in a way that relates directly to club soccer. If true, and I have no reason to believe it's not, it means that DC United might be playing in Baltimore before too long.
I say that because Baltimore is the city actively pursuing a soccer stadium study, while Washington continues to show abject disinterest in its professional soccer team. United, whether the mainstream sports media and mayor's office like it or not, is an institution in the city, and the only professional team in Washington with a recent history of championship success. It would be a pity to see them leave, and an absolute travesty for their fans.
That means nothing if there's no effort to work with United, though, and Payne's cursory nod towards "quiet talks" doesn't give me much hope. Still, Washington must want the World Cup, right?
I'm not so sure. FedEx Field, the stadium where games would be played, is in Maryland, not the District. Anyone that has seen RFK in recent years knows that there's no conceivable way that facility would host World Cup matches, and will most likely be torn down by 2018 or 2022. If there's nowhere for games to played in DC, and the city government IS responsible for meeting the "soccer sustainability" standard, then United might be out of luck in Washington.
There's one other possible chain of events that could affect United's staying DC, though I expect the club would have either pulled up stakes or found an alternative to RFK by then; the Washington Redskins returning to the District. If the city, as has long been rumored, seriously attempts to lure the NFL team back into DC, then there may be an impetus for them to get a soccer stadium deal done. A brand new Redskins stadium on the RFK site would be a natural place for World Cup matches, and with twelve years until a potential USA World Cup, there's plenty of time for it to happen. If Baltimore is showing the interest in soccer that the bid committee and FIFA want to see, however, and DC doesn't get itself in gear quickly, it may be too late.
I'm fleshing these thoughts out as I write, and might be missing something. Let me know if any of this doesn't make sense, or if you read Payne's comments and the goings on in Baltimore differently.
I'm a bit of a designed-for-soccer stadium junkie; I track the deals to get them built anxiously, I follow their construction progress closely, and I get giddy when they finally begin to take shape (as Philly's is as we speak).
There's not much that will bring more credibility to MLS as a proper professional American sports league than every team playing in its own stadium. Converted minor league baseball stadiums, college football stadiums, and crumbling multi-use relics do nothing to help the profile of a league that is constantly fighting a "second rate" image. The more teams that get into proper facilities, the better.
Three clubs recently on the hunt for stadium deals are Houston, DC United, and Kansas City.
Houston Dynamo
The Dynamo have a provisional deal on the table with the City of Houston, and just needs a commitment from Harris County to get things going. Dynamo fans, rightly anxious and ready for the pact to be finalized, recently held a rally on the proposed site. Despite my initial concerns that newly-elected mayor Annise Parker might scuttle the deal, it appears the hangup is not with the City, but the County.
Houston desperately needs a stadium. After relocating to Texas from San Jose because a deal couldn't be found in California, it would be a massive blow to have a stadium in Houston fall through. The Dynamo have been a model organization, draw well, and carry the MLS flag in more way than one. Let's cross our fingers that Harris County pulls the trigger on the $10 million they would need to contribute to get the stadium started.
DC United
After a flurry of activity in the first half of 2009, there's been little to no movement on any stadium deal for DC United. The club heads into the season with one primary owner (Will Chang) ready and willing to make a deal with whatever nearby locality opens their minds. As with Houston, DC is a flag-bearer for MLS, and every year that goes by without the club in its own dedicated facility, the worse the league looks.
Back in October, Baltimore mayor Sheila Dixon floated a proposal to conduct a feasibility study for a soccer-specific stadium in the city with an eye towards luring DC United north. Forgotten by many (including myself), Baltimore's interest has popped up again, with news that funds have been approved to conduct the study.
United moving to the Charm City would be a devastating blow to its existing fan base. Few, if any, of the club's committed fans will be willing to travel that far to support a team that no longer truly belongs to them. While I love the idea of a top-flight club in Baltimore, and another dedicated soccer stadium in a major US city is always good, United must find themselves a site in the immediate DC metropolitan area. And not too far out from the city, if you please.
Kansas City Wizards
Unlike Houston and DC, the Kansas City Wizards now have a deal signed, sealed, and delivered. Wyandotte County, Kansas unanimously approved funding for a mixed-use project yesterday, green-lighting construction. The Wizards' finally settling on a Kansas site comes after more than a year of haggling over a Missouri site that until as recently as mid-2009 was the front-runner.
With ground-breaking today, the Wizards are on their way to joining the list of teams with proper and club-controlled stadiums. Opening is scheduled for late 2011 or early 2012.
Head over the the team's blog, Hillcrest Road, to see some renderings.
As much of a stadium junkie as I am, I look forward to the day when posts like this are impossible because every MLS club is its own stadium designed specifically for soccer.
J Hutcherson over at the US Soccer Players site posited something interesting today (even if I had a bit of trouble navigating a meandering post to the point); it's nearly impossible to create a club-defining system that will ensure long term success in MLS, and teams are best served to take a "win now" approach each season without any concern for distinctive style.
I think. I may be pulling more out of it than was intended, but this closing parry is the thrust of the piece:
"Like it or not, MLS is trending towards a short-run league. Maybe not to the extent of Mexico or South America, but enough to suggest that system building is no longer the smart move."
I think the question is worthy of some examination. Because MLS is a league of parity (not "parody"), it's difficult for any team to establish themselves as a consistent powerhouse; while clubs like the Revs and Earthquakes/Dynamo have put together solid runs of playoff appearances in one case and playoff appearances and championships in the other in recent years, their type of success is extremely difficult to capture and is actually the result of great coaching rather than any broader philosophy that will carry them through across regimes.
The one club that has managed to create an institutional personality, and the impetus for Hutcherson's post is DC United, who may actually be living off of a faded past. The club's reputation for a more attractive (for MLS anyway) short passing game and clever attacking soccer was built in the early years of the league, when the ability of United's leadership to find talent others couldn't led to multiple championships and the "Tradition" label they use today.
Curt Onalfo addressed that supposed stylistic tradition when discussing his role as United's new head coach:
Onalfo's aim is to play "beautiful, attacking, quick soccer," he said. "We want to play with style and send players forward -- that is what D.C. United has always been known for." (Washington Post)
But should that really be Onalfo's concern? For a club used to winning that has failed to make the playoffs each of the last two seasons, shouldn't Onalfo just concentrate on winning, tradition be damned? As Hutcherson suggests, attempting to create a grand plan that will enable to club to sustain success over a long period is a gargantuan task; wouldn't it better to simply focus on the here and now, ignore the pull of the United style, and build a winner no matter how the play looks?
My guess is that Onalfo is giving lip service to style. He knows his job is to win, he knows the fan base is desperate to see the team back in the playoffs, and he knows (I hope) that it doesn't really matter how that happens as long as it does. But as much as the pragmatic approach makes sense in a quick turnaround league like MLS (see: Galaxy, LA) something will be lost if United no longer at least tries to play the game the way for which they're known.
MLS needs clubs that posses a traditional style, an overriding character, or something they're "known for", no matter the players who line up for them year after year. A club's "style" builds a connection with fans and supporters who come to feel pride because of it that players often can't because of the transient nature of the game. MLS lacks those connections in many cases, both because the league is built to ensure every club is essentially the same, and because long term success (which I'm defining as "multiple championships") is so difficult to achieve. What good is style if it doesn't win you anything?
United fans must now hope that if Onalfo is serious about keeping up the club's tradition of pleasing-to-the-eye soccer, that doing so doesn't preclude them from winning. If Hutcherson is right, and short-runs are the way of MLS, than every club that hope to win a title is best served to put their rosters together with little to no regard for any kind of long-reaching system. Without those grand plans for consistent success, no club will be creating any type of transcendent identity.
For me, that's a little depressing, even if it is the reality of Major League Soccer.
Let me know what you make of all of this.
Guest Post by Ted Meyer
Curt Onalfo has been hired by D.C. United after an extensive search that had international names, MLS assistant coaches and even college coaches. It's hard to believe that D.C. United is putting their trust in a coach who was fairly mediocre in Kansas City. The Wizards did make the playoffs twice under Onalfo’s rein, but had a record of 27-29-22. That's not exactly the record fans want their new coach to have. It is obvious United is prescribing to the theory that under their organization, Onalfo can be successful. Onalfo does have ties to the United organization before his hire. He was a reserve midfielder for D.C. United in 1998 and 1999. He was also an U.S. National Team assistant coach under Bruce Arena. The transition time at D.C. United should be minimal.
Fans are not likely to take well to Curt Onalfo and patience is thin in D.C. Fans have been frustrated with Kevin Payne and Dave Kasper, who have made questionable decisions getting players. Now they make an unattractive hire and passed over fan favorite Richie Williams. D.C. United really ran out of options and needed to make a decision. Onalfo is not the glamorous choice, but he is an experienced coach. I am willing to overlook his seasons at Kansas City. He is an attack minded coach and Kansas City is not an attack minded team. In their 2000 Championship year they only gave up 29 goals and only scored 47. Here, Onalfo fits right in with D.C. United’s style of play.
Onalfo has some serious holes to fill. At just about every position United has some serious questions. Defensively, the team gave up 51 goals in 2008 (2nd most) and 44 in 2009 (5th most). Bryan Namoff and Dejan Jackovic have been solid, but the rest have been average or below. United has to improve their defense if they are to have any success. Much like last year the starting keeper is a big question mark. Josh Wicks got the job midseason over Luis Crayton with some solid play. However, that was coupled with some dumb mistakes, which included stepping on Freddy Montero in the Open Cup Final. He was subsequently ejected from the match. Offensively, Ben Olsen is gone and Luciano Emilio is likely to be gone. It is unknown whether Christian Gomez, Jaimie Moreno, or Fred will return. On the flip side, United has signed El Salvadorian international Christian Castillo. They also have Chris Pontius and Rodney Wallace, who showed promise in their rookie season. United has talent, but there are just too many holes to say that they enough to compete for a championship.
United missed the playoffs for the second year and a row on the last day in heartbreaking fashion. Some fans have spelled doom and gloom about the team for the coming years. United has faced worse times. From 2000 to 2002 the team never made the playoffs and finished in the bottom of league. This slump has seen D.C. United compete for silverware and won the Open Cup in 2008 and has some very talented players. The team was even at the top of Eastern Conference early in the season, before a late season collapse. United’s aging veteran players and a congested schedule played a key role in that demise. Onalfo doesn’t have to worry about a congested schedule or as many aging veterans. He will just have the MLS season and potentially the Open Cup if they qualify.
Onalfo has his work cut out for him. With so many potential changes, it is easy for some teams to label next year as a rebuilding year. That doesn’t necessary fly for United. The fans and organization want success. That success may be judged by just getting into the playoffs. Right now I see United falling right in the middle of the pack. They will be in another dogfight for the playoffs. However, MLS is notoriously unpredictable and we could see make an unexpected return to glory much like 2004.
Ted Meyer is United fan and student at George Mason University, where he hosts a weekly soccer show "The George Mason Soccer Show" at 5 PM ET on Fridays afternoons. He's also on Twitter.
