Is there a lack of a clear need at United?

[TCompton]

The last several off-season, we've known exactly what we've needed in the off season. From goal scorers to central defenders, there's always been a hole to plug.

This season seems to be a bit different. We've got two pretty good central defenders in Boswell and Erpen, and we can only assume that both players will have improved this season. While we can always use better depth in our outside backs, Namoff and Prideaux are solid enough players to make someone else fight for the chance to start.

Out midfield could use some depth, but with a pretty solid line-up the could include Carroll, Olsen, Gomez, Adu, Quaranta, Gros, Simms, and likely Kuykendall and/or deRoux, we're not necessarily bleeding from holes in our midfield.

Our forwards are always a question mark, but Eskandarian, Moreno, Walker, Nickle, and the Quaranta/Adu possibility, puts some heathly competition at the position.

So what are our needs? Is it time to just start finding "better" players. Someone who can come in and provide a new element? Something like Steve Guppy was suppose to do? Do we need Leadership?

Or does the team need to work on something else... like set pieces (i.e., cornerkicks). What is the biggest need for this team to improve off of last season and make a legitimate run in the US Open and MLS Cups/

[mayorofarlington]

The last several off-season, we've known exactly what we've needed in the off season. From goal scorers to central defenders, there's always been a hole to plug.

This season seems to be a bit different. We've got two pretty good central defenders in Boswell and Erpen, and we can only assume that both players will have improved this season. While we can always use better depth in our outside backs, Namoff and Prideaux are solid enough players to make someone else fight for the chance to start.

Out midfield could use some depth, but with a pretty solid line-up the could include Carroll, Olsen, Gomez, Adu, Quaranta, Gros, Simms, and likely Kuykendall and/or deRoux, we're not necessarily bleeding from holes in our midfield.

Our forwards are always a question mark, but Eskandarian, Moreno, Walker, Nickle, and the Quaranta/Adu possibility, puts some heathly competition at the position.

So what are our needs? Is it time to just start finding "better" players. Someone who can come in and provide a new element? Something like Steve Guppy was suppose to do? Do we need Leadership?

Or does the team need to work on something else... like set pieces (i.e., cornerkicks). What is the biggest need for this team to improve off of last season and make a legitimate run in the US Open and MLS Cups/

We need to replace the guys we didn't really replace last year - Ryan Nelsen, and a healthy Alecko Eskandarian. That means a solid defender who can lead the defense by example, and another striker who can take some of the pressure off of Jaime.

[Jegao Paraiba]

The last several off-season, we've known exactly what we've needed in the off season. From goal scorers to central defenders, there's always been a hole to plug....

I tend to agree with you.
But you left off the Keeper.
Let's hope Perkins got some good coaching over in the UK this off-season.

Also, my eye was drawn to the forward section of your list. I'm going to tread awfully close to DC United/Barra Brava/MLS/BigSoccer sacriledge here, but for the first part of the season I'm gonna be watching Jaime like a hawk. If he ain't got it, that list is terrible.

I think he does and I hope he does, but at his age, injuries take longer to heal, fitness is harder to maintain and his suppoting cast of forwards as listed here would seem to put a lot of pressure on Jaime when it would seem that it would be desirable to have someone else that could take some of that pressure onto their shoulders.

Maybe Santino or Freddy or, God willing, Alecko can become that player early this season. Let's hope so anyway.

There's something to be said for competition but w/o Jaime, it's a free-for-all and that's not good either.

[spidergoose]

I'd say the wing midfield positions are our most glaring need.

[elconejito]

I think we have several "clear" needs, In some cases , we just need guys on our own roster to step up and in others we need to look outside for help.

Central defender:
Boz and erpen can fight it out here. Minus the OGs, I thought Boz was a better fit here, but either can probably do the job. However, neither is Ryan Nelsen...
Left defender:
We need an upgrade over prideaux here. He defends decently, but offensively is inept. I like Wilson here, but many others didn't. The solution may be erpen, moving namoff from the right, or looking outside.
Left winger:
Dema was a poor fit here. Gros wasn't as good without Earnie drawing attention on the other side. Freddy hasn't shown (with DC) that he can play here. Is Van Sicklen the answer? I dunno, but right now this is a huge gaping void. Coupled with the lack of a Left Defender, our achilles heel will be our left flank
2nd Forward:
Unlike some others, I hold no hope that Alecko will return (I wish he did, i just don't think its likely given the severity and frequency of his head injuries). Walker is probably the closest fit, but is far from ideal. Tino and Freddy are too similar to Jaime to provide enough of a complement. Filomeno is a big "?". Maybe the Quinteros rumors are true, I dunno. The only positive if Jaime gets hurt is maybe one of Freddy or Tino blossoms in his role. Other than that, we are royally screwed if he goes down.
Keeper:
If we stay with Nick, that won't be *bad* it just won't be good. But unless Perkins improves by a few leaps and bounds from his overseas training he isn't that much of an improvement.

[Dave Brother]

The most obvious need - and I can't belive no one had picked up on this - is another beer man near the wing in section 136. Geez, come on people!!

[Daniel le Rouge]

I disagree--I think there are two glaring needs.

1) Whether it's a wing defender or a flank midfielder, Left flank is our most glaring need, period. And it is glaring.

2) Better effort. Whether it comes from current players or pickups, the level of play has to step up a notch. The only time United shined was in the regular season. And that could have been better. We crashed out of all four tournaments we entered. Just not good enough. Also a glaring need.

So really, we need help all over. It can come internally or externally, but it's got to come, because teams have been making moves all offseason, and we've done precisely Jacques Merde. Losing Dema's salary is a wash, because most of that is already accounted for in re-signings and whatever effect Fred's salary adjustment is going to have.

I'd say we have a couple of clear needs.

[JoeSoccerFan]

Besides more cute, scantily clad ladies in the barra -

more team speed, size, width and depth. A playmaker for the reserve side.

Mostly, a fifth star this year.

[Cweedchop]

All things considered, I think we're in much better shape heading into this season than in past seasons and we're in much better shape than most teams heading into pre-season.

With that being said, I agree with Daniel in that our outside left midfield is a weakness. Dema wasn't the second coming of Arjen Robben out there, but wasn't exactly Lazo Alavanja either. I don't think it's any coincidence that United really started putting things together once Dema got fully fit (Aug-Sep).

If the left side of our midfield is our biggest concern this year, I think we'll be in pretty good shape. Hopefully Nowak and Co. are doing their homework and identifying some help for the outside midfield position.

As others have stated, this is a clear opportunity for a Nick Van Sicklen or Stephen DeRoux to step up to the plate and take that job, provided United doesn't address that need during the pre-season.

[griffin1108]

Height on the back line and in goal. I hope Stokes surprises everyone and becomes an efficient player this year. I'm only 5'-6", so I hate to rag on short guys, but you can't win with a short keeper, especially if your defenders can't win many balls in the air. Again, I hope Perkins steps it up.

The weakness on the left side could be compensated for somewhat simply if the defense was taller and could not be so easily exploited by high balls to the box. (Jeez that sounds dirty:D .)

[freddyboy]

The most obvious need - and I can't belive no one had picked up on this - is another beer man near the wing in section 136. Geez, come on people!!

repped :D

[GrillMaster]

Well nobody has listed the stadium as a glaring need, so I will.

In terms of organic needs I think we will need to toughen up and not get knocied off the ball or off our game so easily. Look at the back line the Hut is putting together in cow-town and consider that the scum will try its best to emulate the feistiness of its coach. Chicago ass-raped us in the playoffs and New England's midfield competes well with ours. As for Kansas, same as the old whiz. So four out of five of our division opponents are sizing up or increasing the aggro quotient. Maybe Bozilla will develop into this but it seems a bit out of character -- kinda like BC not fiercly fouling near the center circle a break away attacker (remember the anchovy in USOC?). Maybe Beninho will assume more of this role, but he's more likely to get hurt than to dish out the pain. A healthy Alecko could take the pressure off the ball 'handlers' a bit, but I think we need a Shalrie Joseph type in midfield or on the back line.

GM

[Red&Black]

I'm only 5'-6", so I hate to rag on short guys, but you can't win with a short keeper, especially if your defenders can't win many balls in the air.
am i missing something here? outside of twellman is there really a bigtime ariel threat in MLS? i can't think of a "leading" forward outside of him that people might bomb balls into. certianly there are plenty of players--defenders coming forward on set plays, mids running to the far post who can score with their heads but i really don't see teams getting beaten in the air much in MLS.

[Colonial717]

am i missing something here? outside of twellman is there really a bigtime ariel threat in MLS? i can't think of a "leading" forward outside of him that people might bomb balls into. certianly there are plenty of players--defenders coming forward on set plays, mids running to the far post who can score with their heads but i really don't see teams getting beaten in the air much in MLS.

Jaqua and Buddle are also in our conference. In addtion to a healthy Ching and EJ in the West. Plus set piece problems. Though you are right, this is mostly coming from our Catholica loss more than anything. But that bonehead throw in goal against the Crew at the end of last season needs fixing somehow.

[JoeSoccerFan]

... is there really a bigtime ariel threat in MLS?

I guess that this Ariel

http://shopping.animazing.com/gallery/disney/images/dis05j_jpg.jpg

might get some competition from this new comer! :D

http://www.barstoolsports.com/img/gallery/img42c175d240a9f.jpg

[DangerMouse37]

I actually think we have a few fairly significant needs if we're going to keep improving and get cup 5.

1. wing midfield -- if you think we don't need improvement here, we were watching different teams last year. we weren't bad, just inconsistent and not as threatening as we need to be.

2. forward -- I wish it weren't true, I am also not optimistic that we'll see the old Alecko back, if he can come back at all. even if he comes back, another concussion is the end of his career like it or not, so we will need another strong forward and I don't see that being Tino. also, someone bigger would take pressure off Jaime who simply will not be able to be the only go-to guy like he was last year.

3. keeper -- I think Nick is a great guy, but he needs to get better to compensate for his height, especially on crosses. if he can make better decisions (when to commit, organizing the defense more actively) he's still the starter.

4. leadership -- boy did we miss Earnie last year. in my opinion this may be our single biggest need, as we saw in the last game of the season.

5. field -- it was awful last year. we were lucky we didn't see more injuries.

6. more offseason happy hours

[tallguy]

I actually think we have a few fairly significant needs if we're going to keep improving and get cup 5.

1. wing midfield -- if you think we don't need improvement here, we were watching different teams last year. we weren't bad, just inconsistent and not as threatening as we need to be.

2. forward -- I wish it weren't true, I am also not optimistic that we'll see the old Alecko back, if he can come back at all. even if he comes back, another concussion is the end of his career like it or not, so we will need another strong forward and I don't see that being Tino. also, someone bigger would take pressure off Jaime who simply will not be able to be the only go-to guy like he was last year.

3. keeper -- I think Nick is a great guy, but he needs to get better to compensate for his height, especially on crosses. if he can make better decisions (when to commit, organizing the defense more actively) he's still the starter.

4. leadership -- boy did we miss Earnie last year. in my opinion this may be our single biggest need, as we saw in the last game of the season.

5. field -- it was awful last year. we were lucky we didn't see more injuries.

6. more offseason happy hours

This is the truth in a nutshell. To be more specific, I'd like to see a left wing midfielder and a "Nat Jaqua" sized target forward, but I'd gladly settle for a Rolfe-type forward ("sigh"). Dang, Chicago also has that Kenny Loggins-look alike wing midfielder that I'd wouldn't mind having as well ("groan").

What we really need is for the stadium deal to go through and for ground to start getting turned. Only then will United get a field that is worthy of our heros and only then will we supporters get pubs within walking distance of our stadium (as well as within the new stadium). And, here's a simple suggestion of my own: Newcastle Brown and Wild Goose Porter on tap.

As for the rest, our young guys (i.e., Carroll, Boswell, Perkins, Erpen, Simms, Gros & Tino) will have to step up and prove that they are truly worthy heirs to the rich legacy & tradition of D.C. United. Quaranta, in particular, has to prove that he will be a worthy heir wthin the next couple of years to Jaime at withdrawn forward.

[griffin1108]

am i missing something here? outside of twellman is there really a bigtime ariel threat in MLS? i can't think of a "leading" forward outside of him that people might bomb balls into. certianly there are plenty of players--defenders coming forward on set plays, mids running to the far post who can score with their heads but i really don't see teams getting beaten in the air much in MLS.

Remember '04 and the playoffs against the Revs? The Revs tied it late when Rimando flapped uselessly against a cross that Dempsey knocked in. A taller or more decisive keeper snares that ball in the air. Reis may be a thug, but no one pushes him around in the box. DCU needs a similar presence.

[Cweedchop]

Remember '04 and the playoffs against the Revs? The Revs tied it late when Rimando flapped uselessly against a cross that Dempsey knocked in. A taller or more decisive keeper snares that ball in the air. Reis may be a thug, but no one pushes him around in the box. DCU needs a similar presence.

Having a bigger goalkeeper would certainly help. However, it was Pat Noonan, not Dempsey, who scored that late goal and Rimando could hardly be blamed since no one decided to mark a wide open Noonan from about 6 yards out. What did you reasonably expect Rimando to do on that play?

[MattMathai]

Having a bigger goalkeeper would certainly help. However, it was Pat Noonan, not Dempsey, who scored that late goal and Rimando could hardly be blamed since no one decided to mark a wide open Noonan from about 6 yards out. What did you reasonably expect Rimando to do on that play?

Be taller than 5' 8"?