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United gets Onalfo. Finally.
Posted 28 Dec 2009 at 10:49 AM by Aaron Stollar
In the end, United goes with one of the two "conventional wisdom" picks in hiring former KC coach Curt Onalfo. It's not a pick that makes you go "wow" or even "ooh," but it'll do. United couldn't really afford to drag this out too much longer. I suspect no one wanted to show up to draft day with one eye on who United is picking and another on who United was going to hire.
Of course the process, more of a journey really, made one ask even more questions of DC United's front office competence. In the end, I am happy that we at least got Onalfo. Is he a bit of a re-tread? I guess so. But he's our retread, dammit. Yeah, I guess that's the best thing I can say of the deal.
There are some real things to like about Onalfo though. One that immediately comes to mind is that he is fluent in Spanish. That's a bit more useful in MLS than Soehn's knowledge of German.
I guess the worst case scenario is that Caleb Porter goes on to later lead Toronto or Seattle (I had originially penned the Galaxy here, but Sounders fans are so much more obnoxious.) In that case, United will look ineffective for not being able to tie up a great coach and I go down as a blowhard of Ron Burgundian-proportions.
If not for my continuing doubts that the season will start on time, I'd be really excited to see what DC does with its draft picks and cap space likely to come with the reduction of cap hits (either through retirement, release or restructure) of Emilio, Fred, Gomez, Olsen, and Moreno.
I should also add that I really like the Cristian Castillo signing. I think he's a quality player who will really enjoy playing in DC, home to the country's largest Salvadorean community. It's good too that United has Salvadorean of some note on the team. If United is truly going to "represent" soccer in the DC area, the club should have a Salvadorean or two. It's not that the club must have Salvadoreans or should retain a quota, it's just better that United does have a Salvadorean, and especially an international. Will his signing help United at the gate? Absolutely.
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Didn't you hate Porter because his team hadn't played anyone and he just wasn't good enough to lead DCU? If so, you should be glad should he take over LA or TFC or Seattle.
Color me confused.
Unless this was all a big joke that I missed.Posted 28 Dec 2009 at 11:24 AM by Cantankerous 
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To clarify again, because (and this sometimes happens) this clearly makes more sense in my brain than it does in other folks'.
Okay, there were two different points I have made about Caleb Porter and DC United. You can agree with one, both or neither. They aren't all that connected to one another.
Point 1. I feel like Caleb Porter isn't yet qualified enough to coach DC United and that he would've have been a bad signing.
Point 2. The fact that Porter actually rejected United in favor of staying at Akron indicates that either DC didn't do its homework, was being jobbed by Porter's agent, couldn't match a MAC school's salary offer or are considered by professionals a disfunctional organization and one not to be touched by a 10 foot poll. (Not a point we've reached yet, but it remains a possibility) That a college coach, and especially a young one, rejected the club represents a black eye for United.Posted 28 Dec 2009 at 11:52 AM by Aaron Stollar
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Heres hoping that DC United learns from there past mistakes and hire ADDITIONAL security for 2010 season. My coworkers were just starting to feel safe in RFK.
I like Castillo. I think he's one of the pure talents of CONCACAF. DC definately needs him more then we need him.
Onalfo... Errr. I would have been more excited with the dude that rejected United. Onalfo isn't bad, nor great. I just hope he can motivate.Posted 28 Dec 2009 at 11:56 AM by 1MADDOG
Updated 28 Dec 2009 at 12:00 PM by 1MADDOG (.) -
moreno
fyi- moreno just signed a two year DCU contractPosted 28 Dec 2009 at 12:46 PM by sedaeve
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moreno
Have we seen a figure attached to that? My guess is that he restructured for a smaller cap hit but I haven't seen that for sure.Quote:Originally Posted by sedaeve
fyi- moreno just signed a two year DCU contractPosted 28 Dec 2009 at 12:58 PM by Aaron Stollar
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You nevertheless are stuck with Onalfo as coach who did a bang up job in KC. At least if DC got Porter and it didn't pan out, his lack of MLS experience and youth could have been blamed. If Onalfo flops, United is left with two black eyes.
Posted 28 Dec 2009 at 01:22 PM by AJStank
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frankly, your article about DC traffic was less depressing.
Posted 28 Dec 2009 at 02:39 PM by Morris20
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Now that I think about it, the Mexican 2nd division is an alright place to comb for players. Some of those teams are probably only down there due to the way their system of promotion and relegation works.Posted 28 Dec 2009 at 04:41 PM by FijiUnited
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Quote:Originally Posted by FijiUnited
Now that I think about it, the Mexican 2nd division is an alright place to comb for players. Some of those teams are probably only down there due to the way their system of promotion and relegation works.
Knowing how pro/rel works in Mexico, this makes no sense whatsoever.Posted 28 Dec 2009 at 06:21 PM by AndyMead
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If DCU cannot succeed next year, then I don't know what to think. We have a fresh new face at the helm, a perfectly manageable schedule with only USOC and league play, and tons of young talent returning. Let's take a look:
Keepers: Wicks (?), Hamid, Kocic, maybe Cronin
Defenders: James, Jakovic, Namoff, Vaughn, Burch
Midfielders: Simms, Pontius, Wallace, Quaranta, McTavish, Barklage, Szetela, maybe Gomez
Forwards: Jaime, Boyzzz, maybe Shipalane
I doubt we'll keep Emilio or Fred, but the FO has shocked me in the past.
Plus we just got Castillo on loan and possibly for keeps, and we have the draft coming up. We definitely need a new LB; Burch just isn't cutting it. He's a very solid backup, but not a starter. We also need to sign a PROVEN striker. Pontius was great last year, but his lack of experience let us down sometimes. We need a true striker with a nose for goal, like Jaime.
I think, with everyone healthy, we should be able to boast a lineup like this:
Wicks/Cronin (preferably Cronin, but I think he wants to stay in Portland)
Namoff-Jakovic-James-New LB
Quaranta-Gomez-Simms-Wallace
Moreno-Pontius
I'm not sure where Castillo plays (I believe he's a left winger?), and he's also completely untested, so I left him out for now. Plus I doubt a player as talented as Szetela will be left in the doghouse under a new regime, so we should expect Danny to get much more playing time next season. Gomez and Jaime are aging, but they bring veteran qualities and are very useful in cameo appearances. Maybe we should start one, then sub the other one in and rotate throughout the season (for example, Jaime starts, Gomez comes in in the 65th or so, and Quaranta moves up top with Pontius. Or Gomez starts, Jaime comes in around the 60th, and Quaranta moves back to midfield).
I think we're all being a little too pessimistic about this Onalfo hiring. After all, he was pretty successful for two years at KC with a roster that I don't believe is as talented as us. He should be able to turn this team around. We'll certainly miss Benny Olsen, but maybe he'll return in a coaching capacity.
I'm excited for next year already! I hope we go into KC on the 27th and just rip apart Kurt's old team.Posted 28 Dec 2009 at 08:21 PM by kdiff77
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