Well, here it is. A new season. Where : Orlando City Stadium When : March 3rd, 7:30 PM DC will start with an unusually good opportunity to pick up points at what is one of the most improved teams in MLS this offseason. They will be missing Sacha Kljestan due to red card. Also Dom Dwyer, Josue Colman and Uri Rosell due to injuries. That's a total of 4 projected starters missing. Their defense will be anchored by Lamine Sane who is a very recent arrival to the league, so probably not fully integrated yet. DC's lineup will probably be : ----------------------------------------Ousted De Leon----------------Birnbaum----------Brillant-------------Fisher ---------------------------------------Moreno Arriola-------------------Segura------------Asad----------------Stieber --------------------------------------Mattocks Keep an eye on Mattocks who is carrying a minor calf injury. If that flares up, there is a chance we see Mullins get the start. Bench options will probably be : Clark, Opare, Odoi Atsem, Durkin, Harkes, Miranda, Mullins. Acosta is out for red carp suspension. Kemp and Canouse are out with injuries.
Flip Asad and Stieber. The key will be how well Moreno shields the backline and how effective Segura functions as the "8". In pre-season, Moreno has kept it simple, which is necessary when you have NDL on one side and a newcomer - Fisher - on the other. I think Canouse has a higher ceiling than Moreno but we won't see him for several weeks given his injury, lack of fitness and lack of minutes in pre-season. In the interim, simple and safe on the road is a good choice. Certainly Orlando will have issues without Dwyer or Klejstan. If Mattocks starts, he needs to bury the chances that will be provided him by Arriola and Asad.
Ah,, an actual game thread to spew my misinformed opinions ... oh how I've missed them If United doesn't start fast and strong out of the gate, it could be a veeeeeeeery long first half of the season. This is their best chance to surprise someone on the road and grab 3 points. I think scoring early is key - but I hope if they do they don't revert to that shell we often revert to, the shell that gives up at least 1 probably 2 goals trying to hold onto that 1-goal lead..... So, to sum up - strike early, strike often; keep striking! Go team! DCU - 3 Purple team - 1
Durkin can't go anywhere until the summer transfer window. I wouldn't put too much stock into the rumors right now.
Orlando just stole our prior strategy of getting MLS vets, except they are paying out the GAM, TAM, and cash ass, and 2 of them aren't available. I agree with fatbastard, 3-1 for DCU. Mattocks, Asad, OG. 2 assists for Arriola
It's also an age issue - he's not eligible for a transfer overseas until he turned 18, which didn't happen until last month.
Screw this purple bastards. There just has to be something purple that is better than those purple lions, but I just can’t think of anything right now
My wife and I will be traveling to the game. Ever since we moved away from DC 5 years ago, I've seen them live 4 times while my wife hasn't since. We're pretty stoked and I see DC getting out of there with a win.
Could he be brought over like Sargent, signing once he reaches his 18th birthday (is it in or after summer transfer window)?
Goff reporting the team commercial flight to Orlando has been canceled and the back-up plan of a charter flight was also canceled.
Figures. I don't live in DC but I knew days in advance that the winds would be insane today. Why not be proactive and leave a day before? Or have a fancy charter bus on hold?
From my office in Old Town, I see planes landing at National on a regular basis. Did DCU sign up with "Joe's Crop Dusting Service" for their charter?
Be prepared to pick up any hitchhikers with Orlando Fl signs on 95S, that was plan C. We used to joke you have to want to be a cop awful bad to ride a stock Harley. Now I think you really want to be a soccer player something awful to hook up with DC United. That FO staff really makes life tougher than it should be
From my perch on the quiet side, Acosta seems a bit of a hothead, so his red carp is no fluke. He is often out of tuna with his teammates, is full to the bream with resentment, and seems to commit egregious fouls just for the hake of it. He should take inspiration from the Salmon on the Mount.