2004 DC United Trialists List

[Zman Gunner]

With Nick Rimando possibly getting some minutes as a field player tonight against Dallas (we also faced this sort of short bench dilemma back in late May against Colorado when we dressed two reserve goalies out of five possible subs), it made me wonder about all of the trialists that have been brought in this season and why none of them were ever signed or why we have never brought in anybody good enough to sign (it is not like we have ever had a full 24 player roster at any point this season and have several players [i.e. Martins, Quintanilla, Quaranta] who are candidates for season-ending injured reserve which would open up even more roster spots). While salary cap constraints have been a problem until the release of Cerritos and the transfer of Convey, I believe that we have had an open P-40/developmental slot for the entire season. Here is the list that I recall of unsuccessful trialists - please post any other names that you know that have been on trial this year:

Mid-Season Trialists
* Claudio Ciccia: Forward (Uruguay) with Costa Rica club Cartagines. Best known for coming in 2nd in total goals scored in the world in 2002. Trial coincided with DC United's two biggest offensive outputs (3-1 over Columbus, 6-2 over MetroStars).

* Tim Lawson: Midfielder (USA) with German 3rd Division club SV Elversberg.

* Alejandro Curbelo: Defender (Uruguay) with El Salvador club Alianza.

* Roland Aguilera: Midfielder (Bolivia) with A-League Virginia Beach. Cousin of Jaime Moreno. Formerly with Columbus-MLS.

* Musa Shannon: Forward (Liberia) with Hong Kong club Nancheng RE. Formerly with Tampa Bay-MLS.

Pre-Season Trialists
* Sergi Skachencko: Forward (Ukraine) with Switzerland club FC Aarau.

* Junuz Coralic: Midfielder (Bosnia) with A-League Atlanta.

* Judah Cooks: Midfielder (USA). Ex-DC United in 2001.

* Hayden Woodworth: Midfielder (USA). 2003 DC United draft pick.

* Jorge Geddes: Goalie (Malawi). 2003 DC United developmental player.

Did I miss anybody (in retrospect, this list is just not that impressive)?

[Zman Gunner]

With Nick Rimando possibly getting some minutes as a field player tonight against Dallas (we also faced this sort of short bench dilemma back in late May against Colorado when we dressed two reserve goalies out of five possible subs), it made me wonder about all of the trialists that have been brought in this season and why none of them were ever signed or why we have never brought in anybody good enough to sign (it is not like we have ever had a full 24 player roster at any point this season and have several players [i.e. Martins, Quintanilla, Quaranta] who are candidates for season-ending injured reserve which would open up even more roster spots). While salary cap constraints have been a problem until the release of Cerritos and the transfer of Convey, I believe that we have had an open P-40/developmental slot for the entire season. Here is the list that I recall of unsuccessful trialists - please post any other names that you know that have been on trial this year:

Mid-Season Trialists
* Claudio Ciccia: Forward (Uruguay) with Costa Rica club Cartagines. Best known for coming in 2nd in total goals scored in the world in 2002. Trial coincided with DC United's two biggest offensive outputs (3-1 over Columbus, 6-2 over MetroStars).

* Tim Lawson: Midfielder (USA) with German 3rd Division club SV Elversberg.

* Alejandro Curbelo: Defender (Uruguay) with El Salvador club Alianza.

* Roland Aguilera: Midfielder (Bolivia) with A-League Virginia Beach. Cousin of Jaime Moreno. Formerly with Columbus-MLS.

* Musa Shannon: Forward (Liberia) with Hong Kong club Nancheng RE. Formerly with Tampa Bay-MLS.

Pre-Season Trialists
* Sergi Skachencko: Forward (Ukraine) with Switzerland club FC Aarau.

* Junuz Coralic: Midfielder (Bosnia) with A-League Atlanta.

* Judah Cooks: Midfielder (USA). Ex-DC United in 2001.

* Hayden Woodworth: Midfielder (USA). 2003 DC United draft pick.

* Jorge Geddes: Goalie (Malawi). 2003 DC United developmental player.

Did I miss anybody (in retrospect, this list is just not that impressive)?

Goff reports that Kasper will be adding another 2-3 names to this list this week - predictions on the types of players:

(a) A-League players
OR
(b) old, out-of-shape international players

Since it looks like the Convey allocation will be used in the off-season, there should be plenty of salary $ to add some depth players in addition to the Senior International type player (i.e. Luciano Emilio - the Brazilian striker playing in Honduras) that management thinks will be added in August.

[tmas]

Since it looks like the Convey allocation will be used in the off-season, there should be plenty of salary $ to add some depth players in addition to the Senior International type player (i.e. Luciano Emilio - the Brazilian striker playing in Honduras) that management thinks will be added in August.

I wouldn't be suprised if one of those trialists is Emilio considering Nowak said we would get someone to help replace Convey in the next 2-3 weeks and one of Kaspar or Payne was supposed to go down to Honduras to talk to him.

[Zman Gunner]

Todays trialists who were not asked to return to practice tomorrow (per Goff's latest article):

* Addae Rique: Midfielder (Trinidad). St. Louis Steamers (MISL)

* Kevin Taylor: Defender (USA). Colorado 2004 draft pick from University of Michigan.

* Uche Chinyere: Forward (Nigeria) based in Jamaica.

I see that John Thorrington (ex-Man U, Bayer Leverkusen, Huddersfield, Grimsby Town, etc.) is training with LA as of late. I think that it would make sense to make someone like that who actually has done something in their career than the usual type of trialist that Payne/Kasper seem to find.

[Zman Gunner]

Uche Chinyare: Big Nigerian striker playing for Waterhouse (Jamaica). He has the size to solve the target forward problem (6'4" 190 lbs.) but too old (34).

http://jamaicastar.com/thestar/20030919/sports/sports1.html

Addae Rique: Trinidad midfielder with St. Louis (MISL) formerly with University of Southern Illinois - Edwarsville

http://www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/MSOC/2003/rique.html
www.stlsteamers.com/players/index.php?id=43&season=34

Kevin Taylor: big (6'5") centerback who impressed at SuperDraft combine but could not make Rapids team that was desperate for defenders in pre-season

http://www.mgoblue.com/bio.cfm?bio_id=218&section_id=294&top=2&level=3&season=235

[Zman Gunner]

With Nick Rimando possibly getting some minutes as a field player tonight against Dallas (we also faced this sort of short bench dilemma back in late May against Colorado when we dressed two reserve goalies out of five possible subs), it made me wonder about all of the trialists that have been brought in this season and why none of them were ever signed or why we have never brought in anybody good enough to sign (it is not like we have ever had a full 24 player roster at any point this season and have several players [i.e. Martins, Quintanilla, Quaranta] who are candidates for season-ending injured reserve which would open up even more roster spots). While salary cap constraints have been a problem until the release of Cerritos and the transfer of Convey, I believe that we have had an open P-40/developmental slot for the entire season. Here is the list that I recall of unsuccessful trialists - please post any other names that you know that have been on trial this year:

Mid-Season Trialists
* Claudio Ciccia: Forward (Uruguay) with Costa Rica club Cartagines. Best known for coming in 2nd in total goals scored in the world in 2002. Trial coincided with DC United's two biggest offensive outputs (3-1 over Columbus, 6-2 over MetroStars).

* Uche Chinyere: Forward (Nigeria) with Jamaican club Waterhouse.

* Addae Rique: Midfielder (Trinidad) with St. Louis (MISL).

* Tim Lawson: Midfielder (USA) with German 3rd Division club SV Elversberg.

* Alejandro Curbelo: Defender (Uruguay) with El Salvador club Alianza.

* Roland Aguilera: Midfielder (Bolivia) with A-League Virginia Beach. Cousin of Jaime Moreno. Formerly with Columbus-MLS.

* Musa Shannon: Forward (Liberia) with Hong Kong club Nancheng RE. Formerly with Tampa Bay-MLS.

* Kevin Taylor: Defender (USA). University of Michigan. 2004 Colorado SuperDraft pick.

Pre-Season Trialists/Training Camp Bodies
* Sergi Skachencko: Forward (Ukraine - National Team) with Switzerland club FC Aarau.

* Anthony Modeste: Forward (Grenada - National Team) with Jamaican club Hazard.

* Junuz Coralic: Midfielder (Bosnia) with A-League Atlanta.

* Judah Cooks: Midfielder (USA). Ex-DC United in 2001.

* Hayden Woodworth: Midfielder (USA). 2003 DC United draft pick.

* David Topolski: Midfielder (Poland). Cleveland Force (MISL)

* Erik Conkrite: Midfielder (USA). University of Portland.

* Jorge Geddes: Goalie (Malawi). 2003 DC United developmental player.

* Clint Baumstark: Goalie (USA) MLS rent-a-goalie - last year played a 1-1 tie with DCU versus Columbus.

Did I miss anybody (in retrospect, this list is just not that impressive)?

[McOwen]

Good thread...

I am just wondering... With the lack of signings/qualitiy who the hell is scouting these jokers???

[Zman Gunner]

Good thread...

I am just wondering... With the lack of signings/qualitiy who the hell is scouting these jokers???

I believe that the reactive (not proactive) scouting goes like this:

Aspiring MLS Player: "Can I try out for your team?"
Payne & Kasper: "Sure - practice starts at 10:00 tomorrow morning - bring your own equipment".

Granted such an exchange is the way that Troy Perkins and Nana Kuffour were signed but they were real long-shots to be contribute this year - so there does seem to be a lack of quality about these trialists.

[Winoman]

Good thread...

I am just wondering... With the lack of signings/quality who the hell is scouting these jokers???

That's a good question. Are there MLS scouts who share their info with all the teams or are there any dedicated DCU scouts.

I honestly think that Sandon Mibut (especially the college kids) does a good job rating players, and there are a lot of other folks here who spot other good players from time to time.

Maybe its time for us "internet nuts" to inform Kasper and Payne if and when we see a promising player, whether its a college game or A-League. I doubt they would appreciate the effort, but that's the way Charley Casserly got his start with the old George Allen era Redskins. He scouted for free on weekends, while he worked a day job.

Just a thought.

SZ if you're out there, would DCU appreciate the effort or not?

[Zman Gunner]

After a brutal weekend DCU loss with a roster that still has an open spot, I was reading about the other CONCACAF games this weekend and noticed that a few of our 2004 pre-season trialists not listed in this thread played in their countries' WC2006 qualifiers - here they are:

Luis Henriquez - Panama defender (we will probably see him at RFK on 10/13)

Marlon Rojas - Trinidad defender (Trinidad will probably move into the final group of 6. If US Soccer wants to minimize the away support in US stadiums, Trinidad may be a possible RFK game as opposed to the other likely final group candidates (i.e. Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, probably Jamaica despite home loss to Panama)).

While on the topic of players who were of interest to DCU, here are some other names from the past that I recall were here on trial or were targeted by DCU but never signed:

Hudson Era - Targeted Players:
Simon Colosimo - ex-Man City Australian midfielder
Kezary Cucharski - Polish WC 2002 midfielder/forward
Carlos Pavon - ex-Udinese Honduras forward
Milton Nunez - ex-Sunderland Honduras forward
Emil Martinez - Honduras midfielder
Jiri Jarosik - ex-Sparta Prague Czech midfielder
Aldo Osorio - ex-Lecce Argentine forward
Pedro Ojeda - ex-Numanica Spanish forward
Cesar La Paglia - ex-Boca Argentine midfielder
Wilmer Cabrera - Colombian WC 1998 defender
Billy Dodds - ex-Rangers Scot forward
John Moncur - ex-West Ham English midfielder
Steve Potts - ex-West Ham English defender
Claudio Caniggia - ex-Rangers Argentine forward
David Ginola - ex-Spurs French midfielder
Joey Digimarino - Rapids defender

Hudson Era - Players that I Believe Actually Trained with DCU:
Paul Gascgoine - English midfield maestro and pub crawler
Simon Toselli - French midfielder
Ioseb Devidze - Georgian defender
Mario Rosas - ex-Alaves Spanish midfielder
Yuri Petrov - ex-Dutch League Russian forward
Kazimierz Wegrzyn - Polish defender
Tony Menezes - Canadian defender
John Harkes - USA Captain for Life
Paul Dalglish - Scot striker (son of Kenny)
Musa Shannon - ex-Mutiny Liberian forward
Matt McKeon - ex-Wizard defender
Joares Junior - Brazlian forward
Carlao - Brazilian forward
Servilo - Brazilian midfielder


I recall only a few Rongen Era players that fit this list in terms of targeted players - including:

Gregg Berthalter - Energie Cottibus USA center back
Steve Cherundolo - Hannover USA right back
Alex Zotinca - Wizard defender
Greg Simmonds - A-League forward
Michael Blackwood - ex-Aston Villa midfielder

[Zman Gunner]

Latest Addition to the Trialist List since he does not appear to be joining DCU this season:

Dante Washington - Forward - 33 - A-League All-Star with Virginia Beach Mariners (6 USA caps in 1991, 1993, & 1997; 52 regular season goals and 5 playoff goals in MLS with Columbus [2000-2002, 1996] and Dallas [1996-1999]; Radford College)

http://soccerage.rete.it/en/04/13060.html

http://www.uslsoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?m2:gp::72011+Elements/Display+E+47116+Player/+22397+1076100+63514