First!

Why not give someone new a chance? What's the worst that could happen? We KEEP losing?

I have seen other teams in MLS work rookies into their lineup and be successful. DC seems to never want to play their young kids. Give him a chance and don't yank him at the 43 minute mark.

Does nobody realize that Doe actually spent quite a bit of time on the left wing for RBNY last year? I'm sure he wasn't going to make anyone forget Joe Cole out there, but he has at least played the position before. (and he's a lefty with speed & strength)

Has Payne resigned yet?

Alas, the emporer has no clothes

I say give the kid a shot. The team has under performed, but all you have to do is get hot for the second half of the season and through the playoffs and you can win it all.
we have complained about blowing our wad early before so lets not freak out about a slow start now.
It is frustrating to watch though.

Hooray! Another partnership that will let Americans buy foreign club jerseys and tickets to friendlies with no apparent benefit to the quality of play in our league. And there should be an asterisk by the players names, indicating that they may not play if they're transferred.

Selling tickets based on high profile players who may not actually play. Hmmm, that sounds familiar.

I've seen Cordeiro play in a reserve match and was very impressed. (Disclaimer: I was also impressed with Justin Moose). I say play the kid! And while we are at it, I wouldn't mind seeing Quaranta moving up to forward, withdrawn or otherwise, and giving Kirk a run in the second half at right mid. But Cordeiro has outshown Kirk, from what I have seen.

How bad does Kirk have to be to not even get a shot so far? I was pondering that watching the impotent offense in the last game. How about Kirk on the right and Quaranta on the left or up front? It's not like Tino used the space in front of him on the right wing anyway.

If it's his natural position, go for it. It can't get much worse than the Chicago match as far as the midfield is concerned.

PS. I hear Niell has been working on a "dribbling nutmeg" that he's about to break out on the world.

I agree with the comments of giving a new player a chance.

I hope he sticks with the 4-4-2 but don't be surprised if Soehn goes with a 3-5-2, with Burch on the left wing and Dyachenko next to Gallardo.

SOEHN IF YOU READ THIS...THIS HAS NOT WORKED!

I'm already concerned with Tino playing on the wing. He struggled last game.

"he was the one guy that I watched who really dedicated himself, worked hard, did all the things we have asked of everybody"

You gotta hope the reserve situation is better than that makes it sound. What were the other 10+ guys doing??

To clarify...my last statment should have read.

I'm already concerned with Tino playing on the wing. He struggled last game [defensively. I'd much rather see him up top.]

SOEHN IF YOU READ THIS...THIS HAS NOT WORKED!

-----------------------

What could be more natural than bringing a bunch of new faces together and dropping the 3-5-2 bomb on them?

Brilliant, Soehn, simply brilliant!!!

It can't hurt. Besides, he can match up against a guy about the same age, in Kljestan!

me thinks there's a player lurking...

I've seen Ryan Cordeiro play in two reserve matches too and he's a really talented kid. He scored the winning goal in extra time against Columbus about a month ago, and had the more attacking opportunities than any other player from what I saw against Chicago last week. I agree 100% with Soehn that he is one of the hardest working guys on the field. Of course I'd say that about Dan Stratford too, and he was pulled after 43 minutes in his one start.

But from what I've seen...
Cordeiro > Kirk
Cordeiro > Doe

It's a big relief that Soehn looks to be going back to the 4-4-2. All it took was a knocked up Mrs. Gonzalo. I'm a pretty big fan of Dom, but if Soehn starts Mediate in the middle of a 3-5-2, then Tommy might as well not return home with the team on Sunday.

Just to clarify, both Burch and Quaranta said the plan this weekend is to play a 4-4-2 -- Burch behind a left-side MF (Cordeiro?) and Namoff behind Quaranta. Quaranta struggles in a 3-5-2 because he has added defensive responsibilities.
So if the plan stays in place, it's a matter of Doe or Niell joining Moreno up front, and either Mediate or Peralta joining Martinez in central defense.

just got an email from MLS that all-star voting is underway. i can't think of a single DCU player who deserves to be on the best 11. maybe martinez

I-270

Agree completely - all the club tours do is line SUM's pockets which is ok since they have lost so much money over the past 15 years. This and the Stupidliga just further de-emphasize the MLS regular season. I am not sure there is another country that would cannabalize their domestic league like this, except maybe Australia.

In all fairness, Dyachenko isn't an attacking mid or a forward either.

In all fairness, Dyachenko isn't an attacking mid or a forward either.

why not let him try? ALtho if the best we can do in central defense is Mediate we may be doomed anyway. He's about, what 5' 6"?

Good to hear the 4-4-2 is likely to be back.

And is Luci really hurt or is this just a convenient excuse?

3 matches in 8 days will certainly test the team.

Namoff is deserving..

So is Burch...

I've never seen Cordeiro play, but why not? I can't say that I've got any better ideas.

I hate to make excuses, but it has to be said: injuries are killing DC United. Maybe this slow start isn't as much of a mystery as we're making it out to be: of our five starting midfielders in the last game, only one (Simms) was anticipated to be a first-choice midfielder when the season started.

One of the few blessings of having injuries early in the season is that it gives a club the opportunity to give some of it's younger players some valuable experience when the games are not as vital.

I think it would be awesome for United to start Cordeiro. Really, what could it hurt. If there is one team that may be worse than DC United, it's probably Chivas. So, I'd say it's as safe of a gamble that Soehn is going to get.

I'd think that giving Doe a shot would also be smart given the susceptibility of Chivas defenders to make mistakes.

I agree that a 4-4-2 will probably be the better option. It will at least give the team a little extra defense on the road. I'd look for the following line-up on Saturday night:

---------------Wells--------------
Namoff---Martinez---Mediate--Burch
--------------Simms---------------
----Quaranta----------Cordeiro----
--------------Gallardo------------
-----------Moreno-----------------
----------------Doe---------------

The scary thing is that we've got little, if any, defensive depth right now. I don't remember if Pat Carroll has made a travelling squad yet, but it not, he may get his chance this weekend. But even so, if a defender goes down, we're probably more likely to either drop Simms into Defense and put Stratford in, or moved to a 3-5-2.

I'd guess the bench would look something like this:

GK: Carvallo
DF: Carroll,
MD: Stratford, Dyachenko
FW: Emilio

Who else would they use?
Other than putting Niell in goal and Jose and Zach up front as the striker combo, I have not heard of any other option.
Maybe the 2 goalies idea would work maybe start Thorpe as lone striker on top?
Seriously visualize Niell in Goal...
Dudes got hops son!...

This and the Stupidliga just further de-emphasize the MLS regular season. I am not sure there is another country that would cannabalize their domestic league like this, except maybe Australia.

Posted by: AM | May 15, 2008 4:41 PM
___________________________________________

Deemphasize the season? Are you kidding me?

Look beyond the congested scheduling. This is a part of the sport. It's done everywhere else in the world, yet with more prestigious tournaments. If we're going to ever become a respectable league in the eyes of the world (albeit still a feeder league), then we're going to have to show that the players and teams involved can handle the schedule. What was the old way? Play decent enough just to qualify for the playoffs in the broken seeding format, then just play lackluster for the rest of the year and let ticket sales dwindle? Well I'll be damned if there wasn't another tournament (read: SHOWCASE) that a team could possibly qualify for, much less actually attempt to win. Yes, it's a fluke that LA was put into each of the inaugural international tournaments, but you know it was for ticket sales. Superliga was kinda chalked up for him anyway, but to me, was actually some of the better soccer I saw at all last year.

And why is it that everytime there's some sort of partnership, all any American can do is complain about it? Why not think of the fact that we have to actually go and play the sport to show ourselves to the world and get any better at it, instead of crawling back into our hole and wishing we could play San Jose every week so we don't stub our precious little toes?

I think parnership between FC Barcelona and MLS is great. I understand that it will likely sell high price tickets and merchants for Barcelona but it will also increase more fans by exposing the games and our league not only in the US but to the world. Now they need to create partnership with Manchester United.

To play in tourneys you need depth, but with the quasi-obligatory DP/star system, all depth goes out the window.

In all fairness, Dyachenko isn't an attacking mid or a forward either.

Posted by: DDT5583 | May 15, 2008 4:45 PM
___________________________________________

In all fairness, Dyachenko stinks!

Yeah, but Niell and Doe sure have been lighting it up.

Yeah, but Niell and Doe sure have been lighting it up.

Posted by: DCUMD | May 15, 2008 6:42 PM
----------------------------------------

Huh? Doe was just signed, what, 2-3 weeks ago and in his only minutes did kind of light it up -- at least compared to the rest of the team...

GK He'll be good in 2013 or so they say

RB Richmond Kicker,
CB Cut once or twice by United,
CB Guy who doesn't speak English,
LB 1st year gone to my head Syndrome Guy

LW 4 team MLS has been,
CM Overpriced, not meshing with team DP,
DM Hard working yet not super talented Mid, RW Unproven Generation Adidas Player

FW A striker cut by the woeful Red Bulls guy named DOE but somehow our only hope
FW Best years have passed him by Bolivian

We should be able get a point with this, right?

Ryan,

The sooner we stop being a soccer market and become a soccer nation, the better. I am sick of hearing of foreign clubs coming here to 'expand their footprint' and 'open up the American market'. For the long term success of the League, the regular season has to be the most important thing. It can't happen when prestige friendlies, foreign tours and idiotic tournaments designed to fill Jack Warner and SUM's coffers continue to muddle the schedules. For the past 40 years, from the NASL to the MISL to now, every creative idea has been 'well, what if we brought in more foreign teams', but the one thing that has changed the profile of American soccer in the past dozen years is the League. The regular season has to be the top priority, not 45 minutes of defending a vacationing Thierry Henry. We'll never get anywhere in world soccer if we keep relying on one-off foreign exhibitions. The teams are just here for a cheap vacation where they won't be noticed for two weeks.

I'm an advocate to see Quaranta start up top, he did well at the start of the season there. If I suddenly took charge of the team by saturday, here is the lineup I'd trot out on the turf:

-------------Wells--------------
Namoff--Martinez--Mediate--Burch--
-------------Simms-------------
-------Kirk-------Cordeiro-------
------------Gallardo------------
--------Quaranta--Moreno--------

And bring Doe off the bench for whoever is looking lost out there. Be it Kirk then have Quaranta shift back to winger.
United needs to be hungry and at this point, take a gamble. Give starts to guys that haven't been too prominent thus far this year which also serves as a wake up call to players who have been lacking in passion and drive.

I couldn't help but to post this here. Look out for the MLS Thursday announcement and for Colorado thing: Hhahahahha
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/2008-05-13-notes_N.htm

Wasn't Burch a forward converted into a defender when he came to DC? Do we have anyone who can take his spot at LB and let him play left wing.

the answer to all our problems is simple! trade emilo to Colorado for Kovalenko!!!

BTW Blackandredblood I agree completely!

I'm watching the game tonight on ESPN2 and thinking: "we've already lost to both of these teams." It's disgraceful.

Troy Perkins got called into Bradley's camp in preparation for the USMNT's three friendlies.

Congrats Troy!!

What's up, Goff? You don't want to mention Zenit's dominating performance the UEFA Cup Final!
Sinii-Belii-Golubiye! Zenit navsegda!

Wow listening to these announcers on Espn you'd think:
a)They are old school Christian Gomez panty jocking DCU fans.
b)They are new School Panty jocking Christian Gomez fans).
c)They have Gomez mixed up with David Beckham.
Hey unless something changes Gomez still really has not done anything to really "miss him" about has he?
This game is a bore and sore are these teams.
\ I hope DC shakes the Haters off, gets's their poop together and actualizes a play off run.
It may take a lot to get the SS again but hey we could easily make the playoffs and advance looking at thes jokers.
Gomez sucks and will only get worse.

EsPn sucks and you can kiss your Gomez wallbanger all day as he takes this pk!

So now CG has @ for the year eh?
wow

And is Luci really hurt or is this just a convenient excuse?

3 matches in 8 days will certainly test the team.

Posted by: Glenn | May 15, 2008 4:49 PM

Glenn, Emilio has been officially benched:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/15/AR2008051503487.html?nav=rss_sports/dcunited

Payne is rock solid. His WAPO/Comcast Sportsnet bit was all a fan could want to hear.

Keep it up Payne . . . and let's get a DP wing player to shore up Benny's old spot. GIGGS will do . . .

Roster pool for upcoming three friendlies has been released

G - Howard, Guzan, Cervi, Perkins, Seitz

D - Cherundolo, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Califf, Spector, Demerit, Orozco, Pearce, Hejduk

M - Bradley, Adu, Edu, Beasley, Clark, Feilhaber, Rogers, Lewis, Kljestan, Mastroeni, Gaven

F - Donovan, Dempsey, Johnson, Ching, Wolff, Cooper, Altidore, Jaqua

Gomez with another PK...
Gosh you are right everyone, it's really too bad we didn't keep the guy...Lord knows we don't have anyone else on the team that can put those away.

ugh. I have watch Corderio play a couple of times last year at UConn and the combine and at both reserve games.

If you think DCU gives up possession too easily, strap it on, because Corderio is going to give you a lesson in poor technique. Prediction 5 bad passes in each half and he doesn't even last the second half.

Let's not throw out players because there are no others. I'd rather see Barlow.

Without Fred, we're going to have problems.

I like Barlow. He's been one of the best players on the field for the two reserve games I've been to. Great workrate, and he makes nice passes and runs.

Only problem is, he's about the same size as Niell, and I don't know that we need to field yet another feisty, plucky player who'd get beaten up by a big back line.

Not only did Goff not mention Zenit's win, he didn't bring up the speculation that all the violence in Manchester that day may have torpedoed England's chances of getting the 2018 Cup.

I wonder how much Barcelona demanded as an appearance fee. Even with sold-out stadia, MLS might not turn a profit. If Barcelona would cut MLS a break, however, it would still be in Barcelona's interest to have three good matches just before the Euro season begins.

for the friendlies:

---------Howard----------

Boca--Gooch---Demerit---Dolo

---------Bradley-----------

--Beasley------------Dempsey--

--------Donovan-----------

----Adu-----------Altidore----

with Edu, Clark, and Johnson first off the bench (yeah, I know Johnson has a bunch of haters, but I still want to see him in).

got a couple backwards as I was thinking with the keeper at the bottom of the diagram instead of the top. Beasley should be on the left, etc.

I don't know if its old news, but this Sports Illustrate story quotes Goff:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/soccer_america/05/15/orozco.mexico/index.html?eref=T1

C'mon everyone. Get up and get to work so you can start posting on the Insider. I'm bored just reading my own comments.

yeah, that last one was me too.

Must be a slow workday in Portugal.

Without McTavish, Peralta, or Fred available tomorrow, this is what I'd like to see:

------------Wells--------------
Namoff--Mediate-Martinez--Burch
------------Simms--------------
Kirk--------------------Cordeiro
----------Gallardo-------------
------Quaranta-----------------
--------------Emilio-----------

However, it now seems likely that Soehn is benching Emilio, at least in the starting role. I imagine we'll likely see Niell or Doe starting up top in Emilio's place.

I'd like to see Moreno come in for either Gallardo or Quaranta, depending upon whomever is the most gassed around the 65th-70th minute.

Also, if Peralta is able to start, I'd prefer to see Mediate starting at RM. with Peralta at RCB.

DC has too many OLD guys on the field. It's time to let Cordeiro show us what he's got!

IF YOU DON'T ALLOW PERSONAL ATTACKS, THEN WHY IS JSF MAY 16th 12:32 ATTACK ON A PLAYER ALLOWED. WHAT IS GOOD FOR ONE SHOULD BE FOR THE OTHER.

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