Bench All of Our Starters Saturday

[JMStafford]

D.C. United should start what is essentially a reserve team on Saturday vs. Houston to let our starters rest and give our lesser players an opportunity against decent competition. If our reserves can pull out a Super Liga miracle great, but we shouldn't blow our chances in the Open Cup or MLS by wearing out our starters on what is now an extreme long shot.

If we had won or even tied against Atlante I'd be singing a different tune. But the reality is that Wells sucks and we need to test our other keepers (45 minutes each for Thorpe and Carvallo), and there isn't a better way to do so than in a meaningless game.

[CHICO13]

Nothing like paying $35 bucks plus parking for essentially getting something that's free.

[JMStafford]

Hey, it's just a "bonus game" in my season ticket package. :D

And who says our reserves can't pull off a miracle? :eek:

[pr0ner]

Nothing like paying $35 bucks plus parking for essentially getting something that's free.

Repped.

I would be extremely unhappy if I bought a single game ticket for $35 and only getting to see a bunch of reserves.

[Tweaked]

Honestly does anyone think the line-up is going to be our "A" squad?

I know our roster is a little thin right now and some starters might get thrown in, but I'm anticipating a lot of reserve players...unless of course MLS has some directive about fielding the best team possible so Superliga can maintain its "marquee" status. :rolleyes:

[shawn12011]

Honestly does anyone think the line-up is going to be our "A" squad?

I know our roster is a little thin right now and some starters might get thrown in, but I'm anticipating a lot of reserve players...unless of course MLS has some directive about fielding the best team possible so Superliga can maintain its "marquee" status. :rolleyes:

MLS can "mandate" anything it want's. I am glad to pay $20 plus parking to see reserves play. I am more concerned about Tuesday.

[20oth]

Honestly does anyone think the line-up is going to be our "A" squad?

I know our roster is a little thin right now and some starters might get thrown in, but I'm anticipating a lot of reserve players...unless of course MLS has some directive about fielding the best team possible so Superliga can maintain its "marquee" status. :rolleyes:

why would MLS tell us what to do??? Our game Tuesday is much more important.

[Tweaked]

why would MLS tell us what to do??? Our game Tuesday is much more important.
because this is MLS and little they do makes sense.

MLS has a vested interested in this tournament and having MLS teams do well. Who knows what pressure comes down from HQ to team management to make sure the games are competitive rather than third stringers running around. Says the conspiracy theorist in me. :D

[United fury]

I'd start mostly reserves and if by some miracle United is up 2-0 or so at halftime, bring in some regulars to go for the kill.

[rocketeer22]

DC United sent out a coupon for Saturday via e-mail. I wonder if they are worried about attendance for this game.

[gocaps]

Repped.

I would be extremely unhappy if I bought a single game ticket for $35 and only getting to see a bunch of reserves.
That was every game from 2000-2003 :D

[MattMathai]

DC United sent out a coupon for Saturday via e-mail. I wonder if they are worried about attendance for this game.

Wouldn't you be?

[CrimsonChin00]

If we had won or even tied against Atlante I'd be singing a different tune. But the reality is that Wells sucks and we need to test our other keepers (45 minutes each for Thorpe and Carvallo), and there isn't a better way to do so than in a meaningless game.
2 of the goals were the defense fault.

[JMStafford]

2 of the goals were the defense fault.

Defensive breakdowns didn't help, but that doesn't excuse the fact that Saturday's game against Houston is less important than Tuesday's game. So Saturday's game is a great opportunity for United to rest starters and play our reserves. Especially Thorpe.

Houston likely to see the opposite and play starters Saturday and reserves Tuesday.

[garbaggio]

Defensive breakdowns didn't help, but that doesn't excuse the fact that Saturday's game against Houston is less important than Tuesday's game. So Saturday's game is a great opportunity for United to rest starters and play our reserves. Especially Thorpe.

Houston likely to see the opposite and play starters Saturday and reserves Tuesday.


We can use Saturday's game to recruit our future lowly paid scrubs.

"Yes, we're only going to pay you half as much as you would make at McDonald's, but you could play on national TV!"

[Bootsy Collins]

If the point is simply to rest the starters, then yeah. But if the point is to aid the development of the reserves, then field a mixed lineup. A reserve will learn more, and learn to mesh with our starters better, by playing with our starters than by playing with the other reserves.

[John L]

If the point is simply to rest the starters, then yeah. But if the point is to aid the development of the reserves, then field a mixed lineup. A reserve will learn more, and learn to mesh with our starters better, by playing with our starters than by playing with the other reserves.

I hear ya and agree 100% - But at this point we've overused our starters through two rough games, and they all need to be fresh for next Tuesday - I'd say definitely rest Moreno, have Fred and Emilio split 50-50, rest Tino, and have Martinez/McTavish/Namoff switch with ANYBODY else - If a normal top XI does start, then he plays only about 60 minutes - 60 minutes is not nearly as grueling as a full 90 minutes

[Boloni86]

If Soehn had been smart he would of benched our starters against Atlante and Chivas too ... especially Moreno, Martinez, Namoff, Fred, Emilio and Simms.

[elconejito]

With our depth right now, I don't think we could even field a team of all reserves. We'd have to put some regulars in.

[SideshowBob]

I know our roster is a little thin right now and some starters might get thrown in, but I'm anticipating a lot of reserve players...unless of course MLS has some directive about fielding the best team possible so Superliga can maintain its "marquee" status. :rolleyes:

Why would MLS even want us to field a good team? Only one MLS team can possible come out of Group A at this point and Houston is a much more likely candidate that DCU. With our game first, I'm sure that MLS would prefer to simply see Houston win and clinch advancement and have the sure MLS team in the knockouts than have DCU win or tie and place advancement of an MLS team at risk.