Interesting.....very interesting.

Willkommen bei Volkswagen Arena in Poplar Point

I told you knuckleheads that if you just let Fred get some rest, he'll recover quickly and get back on the field. Sheesh.

2011... three years. Not the best news, but I'm in.

I like the whole Business trip to El Superclasico! sounds pretty good to me..........

Hpefully fred can play this thus and im not liking the whole Gllardo jogged on the side! but we'll see in thus .. i really dont care who plays i just want to beat the fire.

Does anyone know what is wrong with Gallardo?

Does anyone know what is wrong with Gallardo?

>>>>

"buyer's remorse" for signing w/ MLS

So... No News today, right?..

2011 -- 2012 is too long. I need to get in the new stadium before I die.

re need to get it built before I die...

no s**t, Sherlock.

My thoughts exactly.

There's nothing wrong with Gallardo from my perspective. He's a different player and we're still unfortunately going through the growing pains of a big roster overhaul and some of those players getting used to a new location and a new league.

Most of these guys didn't get settled into apartments until the end of March.

Think back - it took Fred awhile to get ahold of MLS. It took Emilio an early season dry spell to get on his run last year.

Other players have gone through this before, too. Whether we admit it or not - soccer in the US is played at a higher pace and speed and physicality than most other leagues in the world. It's US Soccer's identity and I'm going to be patient a game or two more. However, I think we are proving that there is a lot more to chemistry than fans will ever give credit too.

2012 is at least better than 2034.

I think Gallardo was hurt in the locker room. DCU is doomed!!!! I guess I have to start supporting my little county team in AA.
AGHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHGH
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHGH
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHGH
HHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHGGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHH
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To everyone who is putting such stock in the Payne-Forbes interview -- if you listen to it, he says "hopefully" they will have something to announce this Spring. He certainly wasn't saying there would be, or that the team was setting up a deadline. The operative word was "hopefully". I think those hopes are clearly not going to be met.

Gallardo is probably just suffering from the hits he's taken over the first month of games. He's probably just on a non-contact day.

Also in reference to the Payne interview...

He's been saying that the hope to make announcement in the next 60 to 90 days since as long as I can remember.

Lesson learned: I'll believe it when I see it.

If only I can convince my boss to let me take a "business trip" to Moscow on May 21st

I'll do it, if no one else will:

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

So at least 3 more seasons at RFK?

I would say either the stadium authority and/or United should invest at least a little bit of $ into it to make it a little nicer.

I'm also confused as to what DCU gets for all this money they pay to use RFK. If I'm paying $1,200/month for an apartment in a 100+ year old building I typically expect the landlord to keep the place up. RFK is only 47 years old, so had they invested any money into it, it should still be in great shape. It would cost $400,000 max to put the stands back in behind the goal? You could easily cover that cost and more in advertising revenue if you put tarps over the seats in the upper sections.

We need to accept the fact that RFK is our home for the foreseeable future and make sure that during that time it is a great soccer venue. If Fenty can't give us a new stadium he should at least give the stadium authority the maintenance budget to keep RFK going strong.

It's in the city and United's best interest to keep RFK working and the team profitable so you would think they could come to some agreements on this.

Off topic but did anyone else catch Etcheverry saying on Telefutura's halftime of the DC game that Soehn should be out as coach of DC? Also said that DC United is going to win a championship before Beckham does.

Gallardo took a nasty bump on the head against CO - landed flat and the back of his head snapped hard on the ground. as soon as I saw that I thought concussion - glad that's not the case. I'm sure he's just battered and bruised and needs a little rest.

Great! Kaspar went to BUenos Aires! Now, DC can sign more South Americans who suck!!!

thank goodness he didn't hit his head at RSL or NJ. He might be dead.

I worry a bit about Gallardo working out on the side too. He needs to be out there with everyone else working on timing and all fo that stuff. Watching from the sidelines isn't going to help him link up better with his teammates and vice versa.

MacFarlane:
"I continue to hear feedback that something is going to get done. We agreed upon the basic outline of a term sheet months ago, and it is not on us at this point."

You mean it's in the District's hands? Why not just say "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here?"

"Off topic but did anyone else catch Etcheverry saying on Telefutura's halftime of the DC game that Soehn should be out as coach of DC? Also said that DC United is going to win a championship before Beckham does."

Posted by: dcchilidog | May 6, 2008 1:59 PM
-------

I saw that piece, but you are inaccurate in your characterization of his comments. He was asked directly (in Spanish) "Should Tom Sohen remain as United's coach"? He smiled, hesitated, looked to the side, and said "um, I'm not going to comment on that".

His response does imply that he's not a Sohen fan, but he didn't go so far as to say he should be fired. What gets me is why the interviewer was going down that road already. Sohen won the Supporters' Shield in his first year. They're off to a slow start, but I thought the question was premature.

Max Bratos on the Fox Football Fone-In last night also mentioned that Tom is a good manager but the players are not suited to him. I kind of get the feeling he meant to say Tom doesn't handle well for the type of players we have. Simple words: he doesn't know what he is doing.

A revolving door of coaches brings no Silverware and smells like Red Bull

Fire Soehn!!!! Use V-Dub $$$ To buy a real coach. There will be plenty to pick from in a couple of weeks

Fire Soehn!!!! Use V-Dub $$$ To buy a real coach. There will be plenty to pick from in a couple of weeks

Posted by: El- Diablo | May 6, 2008 2:47 PM
--------
Sure, let's bring in Morinho or Rijkaard when Barca cans him in a couple of weeks. We all need to get real, MLS teams are only as good as their starting 11. Teams have no quality players on the bench and it's hard to bring new players in during the season who can make a contribution. This team will settle in and may put together a run or they may not. Look at what is happening in Houston right now.

"Max Bratos on the Fox Football Fone-In last night also mentioned that Tom is a good manager but the players are not suited to him. I kind of get the feeling he meant to say Tom doesn't handle well for the type of players we have. Simple words: he doesn't know what he is doing."

*************

Wow--Max Bretos' opinion about DCU players and their suitability for coaching by Soehn might be a bit more compelling if he learned to pronounce their names.

His response does imply that he's not a Sohen fan, but he didn't go so far as to say he should be fired. What gets me is why the interviewer was going down that road already. Sohen won the Supporters' Shield in his first year. They're off to a slow start, but I thought the question was premature.

Posted by: David | May 6, 2008 2:37 PM

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

That was the last question of the piece. It was called a minute with el Diablo so his responses had to be fast. He did not say to fire Soehn but it was clear that it is what he implied. Several questions before he was asked if DC United needed a Latin coach and he said yes. My guess is that he wants the job but he also did say his dream is to coach the Bolivian National team. When asked about Gallardo he said he likes him and has confidence in his play.

P.S. you know the people on telefutura aswell as many Latinamerican sports networks will always call for the Coach's job after a slow start. What have you done for me lately attitude.

I will value opinions from Max Bretos when he can interview David Beckham without needing knee pads or call a Galaxy match without being a shameless homer while on FSC.

Whether we admit it or not - soccer in the US is played at a higher pace and speed and physicality than most other leagues in the world. It's US Soccer's identity and I'm going to be patient a game or two more. However, I think we are proving that there is a lot more to chemistry than fans will ever give credit too.

Posted by: Virginia Blue Blood | May 6, 2008 1:26 PM
----------------------------------------

MLS play may be physical, but the pace and speed is positively torpid. It's the ponderousness of the game that Gallardo may be struggling with, not intense speed. Sure chemistry matters. If you saw the first half of the last home game, you'd struggle to find one moment where ant two players seemed to be acting in concert, on the same page. We had a 1-0 lead, but there wasn't an ounce of team chemistry. It did improve- especially after Jaime's second PK. It's amazing what a 2-goal lead can do for opening up a defense and creating the appearance of chemistry...

You guys have brought up some great points:

1) Bring back the stands behind the goal. It looks empty back there! Better supporter groups can heckle the opposing goalie.

2) If Soehn can't bring success to the team, then lets use some of that money to bring in a coach like Mourinho, Carlos Quiroz, Parreira, Rijkaard!

Fisch Fry, I second what you've got to say about the pace. You wanna see a fast paced game watch the Argentine league. Gallardo didn't seem to have any trouble playing for River. MLS is dog slow.

Max Bratos on the Fox Football Fone-In last night also mentioned that Tom is a good manager but the players are not suited to him. I kind of get the feeling he meant to say Tom doesn't handle well for the type of players we have. Simple words: he doesn't know what he is doing.

Posted by: td | May 6, 2008 2:42 PM

Umm...yeah.... Personally, I don't put much stock in what Max Bretos spouts forth.

I will value opinions from Max Bretos when he can interview David Beckham without needing knee pads...

Posted by: Virginia Blue Blood | May 6, 2008 3:09 PM
-----------------------------------------------

Hey hey, let's keep this a family blog...

MLS is painfully slow. Watch the Bundesliga or EPL and see what I mean. In some ways, the physicality is simply a byproduct of less talent and less skill to accomplish what someone like Messi can do without throwing his elbows etc.

I'd have to say that the pace of MLS is very slow. Sure, its not fair to compare a DCU game to Boca v River but seeing both games in one day really highlighted just how slow MLS is.
I mean, Pachuca practically ran circles around us when we were at home. Consistently, they closed us down with multiple players anywhere on the field.

MLS is absolutely a very physical league, but the fouls generally are thuggish and used to make up for a lack of skill and to slow down the game.

Just watch how Chicago will play DCU on thursday, they are going to kick lumps out of Gallardo and Fred's ankles.

I will value opinions from Max Bretos when he can ... call a Galaxy match without being a shameless homer while on FSC.

Posted by: Virginia Blue Blood | May 6, 2008 3:09 PM

Maybe you should set the bar a little lower...how about Bretos calling a non-Galaxy game on FSC without being a shameless homer for Galaxy? I love his enthusiasm, but his transformation into Galaxy cheerleader is a little much to suffer through - especially when you're watching a game they're not even playing in!

Anyway, I was actually in Denver for the game, and it seemed to me there is a chemistry/communication problem more than anything else. At one point I realized that 6 of the eleven on the field weren't with the team last year (Wells, Peralta, Martinez, Quaranta, Gallardo, Niell) and a seventh, Dyachenko, was not a regular starter. Where have you gone, Ben Olsen?

Well, as we know from this blog, Olsen is injured, and may not play again due to ankle-cartilage problems.

Cant imagine they would put the stands back up at the north end. Dont really sell out the lower bowl enough to justify it.

I posed this question in my blog, but I'll pose it here too. What stat do you find more troubling...

That DC United is the ONLY team in MLS with ZERO clean sheets?

Or that DC United is the ONLY team in MLS with ZERO road goals?

They are equally troubling.

we did score at Harbor View and Pachuca... but it should be EASIER to score within MLS!

re: DCUMD

I am not sure which stat I find more troubling.....getting a clean sheet would be nice but we also need to be able to score on the road to get some type of points. Both are very troubling and need to be addressed. Clean sheets show a teams dominance and we certainly haven't shown that yet (kind of vs. Toronto and Real). Road goals, as we all know, help squeak out a tie or a win when we get lucky and that can mean the difference at the end of the season between 2nd place in the east and not making the playoffs altogether.

That being said, I have faith in the Black and Red and I am sure that they'll work through this and we will end up on top.

I have no idea if anyone mentioned this but there is a picture of the GIANT DCU Jersey on the sports bog, although the world will see that baby in action on thursday night I'm sure.
Looks pretty Rad Dude!
Vamos United!!!!!!!!!

ah, nuts; they made it back from their "business trip." I was hoping that our new german owners were going to find a new home in Argentina for our worthless front office, where they can't hurt our beloved DC United any longer. Hey, if the germans are good for something, it should be hiding our front office where we don't have to pay to watch their stupid decision making any more.

I say bring in Jens Lehmann now that we are partnerd with German product.

DCUMD has ensured that I will have nightmares tonight. I knew both of those facts subconsciously, but hadn't actually seen them in print.

Southeasterner:

I would pay, tops, $5 to cover the upper bowl in tarps advertising my greatness. Camera angles at RFK do not show the upper bowl at all, making them just about worthless.

While an investment by the stadium authority would be nice, it will never ever happen. I am more likely to lead MLS in goalscoring this season (note: I am currently playing low-level indoor soccer and am goalless in 11 straight games). I also doubt McFarlane and co. are interested in sprucing up the city's property for them, after how the city has treated them.

Accepting that our home is RFK means realizing that it will be exactly how it is right now for the duration of our stay there. The only changes will be new VW ads and maybe some new grass after each season.

td:

Max Bretos is an enthusiastic fan of the game, but has little to no tactical understanding of it. Furthermore, Fox Football Fone-In is a dreadful show. The pitch for the show is basically "What if we had 2 knee-jerk overreactors spewing nonsense about a game they barely understand? And since it's soccer, they have to be English, because only English guys know anything about soccer". Do yourself a favor and avoid it at all costs.

What sports bog, Dadryan?

Cant imagine they would put the stands back up at the north end. Dont really sell out the lower bowl enough to justify it.

Posted by: Darth Hater | May 6, 2008 3:56 PM

There are no stands to put back in to the open end - those seats were cannibalized by the Nats (apparently). And they would be helpful for the fact that it could keep the upper levels closed for many matches. Helps the atmosphere and creates more cheap seats too.

I worry more about the zero road goals. To me the problem with our defense is that our offense isn't keeping the other team cautious. There's no sense of danger when they come forward.

Let me re-qualify my statements on the pace. The pace of the game doesn't flow and players and management have yet to find a way to figure out how to use speed and quickness when necessary. MLS is fast in that it's a league that will look for guys to be on full dead sprints all the time. The players who can alter their pace to their advantage on a greater scale is what lacks. With that mastery will come teams abilities to better BUILD attacks rather than the way it is right now where most teams get down the field too soon or too late and then lack the creativity to break down a defense to generate good chances on goal.

As far as chemistry goes - good lord - in the back it's all Zach Wells. Forget worrying if he can communicate in Spanish - I don't know if he can communicate in English enough to organize what he sees on the field or to be aggressive when patrolling the area or coming out to stop a shot. Everytime I see a defender stop, hoping Zach will take control and a ball bounces, I want to kill myself.

What sports bog, Dadryan?

Posted by: Smitty | May 6, 2008 4:31 PM
==========================================

I'm not Dadryan, but...

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/

There is also an item about Quavas Kirk there.

thanks tri-village

RE: Oversized DC Jersey.

[Insert Maradona as the new DP joke here]

Great. Now we know Kirk's porn name...

"Fox Football Fone-In is a dreadful show. The pitch for the show is basically "What if we had 2 knee-jerk overreactors spewing nonsense about a game they barely understand?"

Chest, I basically agree with your critique of the show. But there is a positive aspect in that there is a live phone-in show for American soccer fans, even if many of the callers are Eurosnobs (more specifically EPL-snobs). I occasionally watch it for the highlights and the interviews with coaches. But the analysis is pedestrian. I hope that, as the game grows, more call-in shows will develop with better and more educated hosts.

The FSC programme :-) that has absolutely no merit whatsoever is the one in which a pair of fans (one from each team) calls the EPL match.

These are some great points about United this year. I think that we can compare them pretty easily with the early 2000 teams. Let's hope they can overcome their challenges.

My view on the league is that it's a physical and athletic league. It's weakness can usually be overcome by the players abilities to recover from mistakes quickly. I think players like Marvel Wynn, Josh Gros, and Frankie Hejduk are good examples of that. While the athleticism can lead to a faster game, what slows down MLS is the speed at which players think.

When looking at Gallardo, I think he's the smartest player than we've had on the field since Etcheverry. However, he's struggling just like Marco did as the players around him were not able to keep up. MLS only allows for teams to have a good starting 11. I'd even go so far to think that clubs with DPs and other expensive players end up playing with a top 9 or so. Players like Simms, Burch, Emilio, McTavish, and Dyachenko have tendencies not to think as fast as I would like. For a player like Gallardo to succeed, he needs players around him that can think as fast as him. As the "thinking" aspect of the game relies on the players technical knowledge, it's not surprise that a lot of the American players are struggling.

Gomez on the other hand plays a completely different game. Gomez played a more north-south game (to steal a line from football). When he got the ball, he'd turn towards goal and challenge the thinking quickness of MLS midfielders and defenders. When you've got a player like Gomez attacking the goal, and players like Moreno, Fred, Emilio, and Olsen attacking too, the MLS defenders will no doubt make a mistake, something Christian and Jiame are excellent at exploiting.

As for Soehn's ability to coach a team with Gallardo, I really have no clue. On the surface, it doesn't look that way, but it's hard to tell given the players who surround Gallardo. I've got to assume, based on their pedigree and performance that Moreno, Fred, Peralta, Martinez, and when healthy, Olsen can do so. But a few weak links can hinder their performance.

If Payne and Co. were in Argentina looking at players, they may have identified a weakness related to this. Bringing in players that can think faster can only help.

Given the fact that we've lost our midfield possession, I think that perhaps Payne and Co. are looking for a replacement for Simms or someone to fill in the space occasionally held by Dyachenko. If Payne & Co. can solve the midfield problem, then Emilio can return to pressing defenders, no longer having to play with his back to the goal, thus not have to "think" as quicker than his tendency to shoot on goal.

As noted Steinberg had plenty to say about United today on his Sports Bog on Washingtonpost.com.
Laugh out loud about The Giant Jersey and Maradona being the next DP.
Quaranta was interviewed on Comcast Sports nite. I think they replay it @ 10.
Kinda interesting.
Was his downfall drink/drug related? Party Boy?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qeTz66uCb6Q

I think it would be awesome if the seats were done again in the north end (would love to see La Norte cause more havoc for an opposing keeper) but I just dont see the team doing it because of the cost against return (seems like only games that really get sold out are when we are on a hot streak, the playoffs or when the Gals come to town)

I remember reading a couple months ago that somewhere up in RFK they had the letters and numbers from last years kits...
Anyone know who (Nathan?) knows what's up with this?
I have a jersey from last year that I really think could use Olsen's name and number now that it seems he may never play again.
I wouldn't really want the old fonts if the old stuff may still be around somewhere.
I could try to make it worth someones while who could help(Nathan?)
A phone number perhaps?

I wouldn't normally bother with your kind,

Posted by: DC United with Bag in his face!

But, doesn't that hurt having a bag IN your face? Where exactly do you put it? Or did someone put it there for you??
Try like the old New Orleans Saints fans and put it ON or OVER your face.

For those up late Steve's profile on Gallardo is up on the website...
Great job SG!
Nice to read some more about our new #10.
Thank you.

I-270, I think your silver lining is worth noting. More people discussing soccer will lead to a better understanding of the game across the board. That said, I think my problem is in part with the sports call-in format. The host or hosts are obliged to take extreme or ridiculous positions to keep viewers paying attention. Actual insight doesn't even enter the equation.

The fan announcing is silly, but at least you can see it coming. If you asked me to announce a United game, I would spend a lot of time being cruel to the players on the other team. Fox Football Fone-In could be something a lot better.

About the north end -- as I read the press release, it seems that VW and DCU already have plans for that space, which do not include seating. Interactive fun...

did someone put boring game youtube here? get out?

Our boy Goff is sleeping in this morning I assume.

Hmmmm,

Shirt Sponsor = Check

Stadium = Eh, patient to a fault (Volkswagen Arena!)

Designated Player = Check

SuperLiga English Television = _______

Champions League Details/Television = _______

Awwwwwww so I hear that the Screaming Eagles went crying and whinning to Payne & Co. because Barra Brava was going to be the one unfolding the new huge jersey , thay said "but we want to be the 1st to do it ITS NOT FAIR WAWAAWWAAWAW" u know what.......what a bunch of pus..ies come on now ! but we dont care .... we jump and cheer u grab the damn jersey!!! we rather not do it at all than to do it with u guys sorry u just suck lol !! c u 2morrow have fun with the jersey!!

For the love of Supporters Groups

Betweeen DCU Maniac's post and the emails I've received talking about behavior in the designated areas - you both had better behave. You have one of the best deals in ALLLLLL of sports in this country and this crap is beyond childish.

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