US Open Cup 2009 General Thread

[Bootsy Collins]

So, there've been pre- and post-match threads for the little qualification playoff we were in; but we don't have a general thread for the tournament. So here's one.

We don't know who our next opponent is, but we know when and where:


Tuesday, June 30th, 7:30pm
Maryland Soccerplex, Germantown, MD
Opponent: either Real Maryland (USL-2) or the Ocean City (NJ) Barons (PDL)

[Rjbatzler]

We have no game the weekend before this match. Couple that with the skill level of our opponent whoever it is, and I would be shocked if we lost.

[Bootsy Collins]

We have no game the weekend before this match. Couple that with the skill level of our opponent whoever it is, and I would be shocked if we lost.
You never know. MLS teams have gone down to USL-2 teams in the past. Rare, but it happens. But it would be infuriating if it did.

[John L]

First Real Maryland and then their farm team from Spain - Which one will send their first team against us?

seriously - We should go for this win while we can - At Col Rapids on Sat 06/20, Real MD on Wed 06/30 and then at Crew on Sat 07/04

[fatbastard]

You never know. MLS teams have gone down to USL-2 teams in the past. Rare, but it happens. I've driven a few hours to watch DC do it before, it definitely happens.
So, I guess that means we won't have to travel to OCNJ when they beat Real (:)), though I was almost looking forward to seeing the ferris wheel at their stadium :)

[BBBulldog]

I've driven a few hours to watch DC do it before, it definitely happens.

LOL
http://bastaic.com/ultras/harrisburg/harris_dc_7_11_07_a.jpg

sadly that's better than some croatian first league stadiums :D

[DC06]

After last year I hope we continue to put effort into this competition. We have far greater depth so even if Moreno or Emilio are rested we can still do well in the USOC. Curious if we push hard in the bidding process.

[Bootsy Collins]

After last year I hope we continue to put effort into this competition. We have far greater depth so even if Moreno or Emilio are rested we can still do well in the USOC. Curious if we push hard in the bidding process.
Where it will get hairy is if we make it past the preliminary round of the CCL and into the group phase. If we win a match or two in the USOC, and advance past the preliminary round of the CCL, August and September will get *very* busy. Then add the friendly with Real Madrid in there. Yes, we do have more depth than last year. But I still don't think we have enough to do three competitions simultaneously, two matches a week for a couple of months.

Thank god we don't have StupidLiga this year.

[La Barra Blonde]

Tuesday, June 30th, 7:30pm
Maryland Soccerplex, Germantown, MD
Opponent: either Real Maryland (USL-2) or the Ocean City (NJ) Barons (PDL)


Why Germantown?

[MattMathai]

Why Germantown?

Because it's too expensive to rent RFK for a crowd of 3500.

[BigKris]

Why Germantown?

It's part of a stadium feasibility assessment. The two leading candidate locations are Germantown and Landover. They'll play this match in Germantown and then the Real Madrid match in Landover, and whichever one draws the biggest crowd, that's how they'll know where to build the stadium.

[Bootsy Collins]

sadly that's better than some croatian first league stadiums :D
Croatian First League stadia have American football lines on them? Or worse?

[Marco10]

The fact that the site of the third round game is already established is interesting because it brings up a couple points.

One: DC has an exclusive stadium deal with RFK at a generic price for the next two years. Something like 1.2 million for both years, irregardless of games played, etc. So that would indicate RFK would actually be a more profitable site for both teams especially if it is included in the season tix package as Special game X. That's surely why the first two play in games were played there as opposed to Germantown.

Two: My understanding of the Open Cup is that teams advance and have to advocate their site as beneficial and/or profitable in order to host the next round, then it's a "coin flip", or whatever to decide. Why has that not happened?

Three: Maybe DC United is throwing Real Maryland a bone and ceding "home" field to the Maryland club because their general manager Bienvenido is a former DC United employee and because they want to promote some goodwill between the clubs, etc. that will pay dividends down the road.

Four: The cynic in me says this deal was done to maximize exposure to for either club if they were to advance. Real Maryland gets to have a "home" game against the biggest club in the area, or conversely NJ Barons get exposed to Maryland fans in a venue where they are likely to play again many more times, whereas a home date in NJ against United would probably be a flop.

I could be wrong, but a lot of this seems to be self serving. Not that I really have ay problem with that per se, but it felt a lot more convincing when sites were determined on the fly and more often than not, the bigger club had to play at the lesser club's venue.

Now that felt like it was in the spirit of the Cup. Not conjured sites to appease the greatest majority of dollars.

[John L]

USOC Semis in late July with the Finals Sept 1st (or so) - The CONCACAF Qual Round is late June/early July with Group Stages starting in nid Aug with 2 games - YES - Bad but nearly as bad if we also had that useless SuperLiga

[onefineesq]

And Ocean City is the opponent.

[griffin1108]

And Ocean City is the opponent.

Ferris Wheel at the Soccerplex?

[Bootsy Collins]

When do the USOC brackets become locked-in? Are the third-round winners randomly drawn against each other, or should the bracket on the USOC homepage be taken at face value?

I ask because if the bracket is correct as-is, and if we defeat the Ocean City Barons, and if Charleston defeats Chivas USA, then our next match in the USOC would be a rematch of last year's Final. More importantly, the Coffee Pot Cup would be in play.


EDIT: DENIED. They've updated the page. If we win against Ocean City, we face the winner of New England-Harrisburg.

[gringolimon]

Vamos United!

If D.C. United makes it to the US Open Cup Semis, from July 18th to August 9th, the schedule is gonna be insane but freaking insane (Thank god they are no longer in Superliga). Great for the fans but I think the coach should use 2 teams during that period (that would be my move).

How Insane is the schedule?? Every 3 or 4 days for 3 weeks, they will be playing a game.

See for yourself:

July 18 MLS Match (Colorado)
July 21/22 US Open Cup Semis
July 25 MLS Match (San Jose)
July 28 CCL First Leg
August 1 MLS Match (Houston)
August 4 CCL Second Leg
August 9 Friendly (Real Madrid)

Insane! All I gotta say is that if D.C. United goes unbeaten (maybe have a tie or 2 in there), this team is one of the best and deepest squads we had in a while. No Question.

Now if they win it all . . . . what a Great Summer!!

[BBBulldog]

Croatian First League stadia have American football lines on them? Or worse?

some have sheep grazing :)

[dcchelseafc]

EDIT: DENIED. They've updated the page. If we win against Ocean City, we face the winner of New England-Harrisburg.

its always either NE, or chicago. I cant remember a USOC we havent had to play one of these teams....it would be nice if they redrew after the 3rd round proper, hell I wish they redrew after every round (except first two, the regional idea was great, and hope they keep it)