But DC United is not in the business of waiting around to let coaches catch up to the rest of the league. That's why 95% of coaches take time as an assistant or youth team coach. It's a hard position to be in, but Ben must be rated against his fellow MLS coaches, regardless of experience or age. For the good of the team, we must turn our ship around and get back to our winning ways. Most coaches come into positions with years of experience, I am not ready to let Olsen off for the next two or three seasons until he matches the average experience level of other MLS coaches. He had his year of training, prior to that he had a year of apprenticeship training, and further back, he had a long stint on the sideline where he learned by watching. That's plenty. The man with a lion's heart is now thrown into the lion's den with the rest of MLS coaches - it's time to start showing your worth and fighting tooth and nail for every point. Olsen turned us around last season, but his lack of experience showed at the end, when the team completely smacked into a brick wall. He'll do fine this season and what I have seen of him thus far and knowing who he is as a player, he'll be with us for a very long time as head coach.
I think DM will be solved with one of Saragosa/Svard and Rozeboom. Between those two and Morsink (plus the option of MacDonald), I'm not that worried about the depth. We just have to sign the trialists, and we're set. As far as LB, I think the team was hopeful that Zayner would show signs of improvement from his injuries, but he's been cut from camp so that's a no-go. I suspect a few more trialists in Arizona, probably on the defensive side, just to get depth at CB and at the LB position. By my count, the team is at 23 signed players with 8 trialists (including Lambo and Svard) still around. I think c'de Baca, Richter, and Rozeboom look like good candidates for the Off-Budget roster, and Jerome a possibility based on whatever loan we can work out with his USL/NASL team.
Svard was cut. Saragosa didn't play in either of the scrimmages, which makes me wonder about his situation; if he doesn't work out, it'll be a shame, because I really rated him once upon a time. I don't know enough about Rozeboom to have an opinion of him.
I don't disagree; but you're answering a different question than I was. I was answering that went along the lines of "is it fair to Olsen now to judge him . . ." -- that is, how high can our expectations fairly be? You're instead thinking along the lines of how high our expectations *need* to be. And I agree with you: regardless of whether Ben's really ought to have it down by now or not, we need to win. I just think it's a different question. Understood. Well, I think half the team's decent players being out with injury had a lot to do with that brick wall.
Brettschneider waived. http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2012/02/blake-brettschneider-waived Can't say I agree with this. Could have been depth but that's the nature of the business.
Yeah I didn't really see this coming. I knew he wasn't gonna be a starter anytime soon but wow. I don't really see the logic unless they're planning to get another striker for cheap, cause the roster is still still short a forward or two.
Does this mean they have yet another person they're looking to sign? I can't see getting rid of someone who looked ok (and who has to cost nothing) if they don't have someone else they're looking for as depth. Santos, Wolff, the new guy and DeRo? That's a pretty old group of forwards if that's the plan. Who am I missing?
In Re: BB from Craig Stouffer "@CraigStouffer Saw Wolff consoling him in locker room earlier RT DCUnited: #DCU has waived forward Blake Brettschneider: bit.ly/wDnU2f"
he's cheap. he's american (no int spot), he'll be happy with backup minutes and there are plenty of roster spots open ... uh .... wtf!?!
Maybe the idea was to waive him now and give him a chance to catch on with somebody else. I'm a little surprised, though.
I thought Blake showed a decent amount of promise in what little I saw of him. Oh well. Can't wait for the season....getting pretty optimistic. We were doing really well last year until Pontius went down. I was a bit downhearted at a lack of signings, but the team really turned that around for me. Vamos! Opening day will be here before I know it.....I can taste the pupusas already!
Goff via twitter "Brettschneider didn't perform well at Fla camp. With Maicon Santos and Salihi signed, he became expendable Brettschneider showed much promise in 2011 but fell out of favor in 2nd half of season. Still surprising to see him go " *nuts to the preseason thread.
More than a little surprised by this move. Like others here, I didn't see the downside of keeping a cheap, young American forward for depth. Either he really screwed the pooch in Florida, or they've got someone else lined up. Hope you land somewhere soon, BB.
Bummer. Decent cheap depth and he seemed like a nice guy. I hope he goes off to Sweden or Norway, makes a ton of money, marries a nordic hottie, and lives out his days in bliss.
Blake Brettscheinder twitter post "Would like to thank everyone in DC for all their support this past year. Thoroughly enjoyed my time with the club and wish them the best#DCU" classly act.
He clearly wasnt good enough for the club, even in our rebuilding form. I feel sorry for him, hope he can go on and play somewhere, but its fairly obvious he wasnt good enough for DC.
Goff said Blake Brett didn't look good in camp. I imagine that Olsen didn't like that lack of focus, gave him two weeks to show he was still an option up top, and cut him when he realized that he wasn't any better than the trialists currently in camp. The door is now open for Jerome (out and out forward) and Richter (utility man) to stake a claim to roster spot.
I find it hard to understand why people are upset at BB getting waived. At best, he was the fourth or fifth option at forward behind Salihi, DeRo, Wolff, and Santos (and Pontius if he gets moved up top). If he came into camp out of shape or lacking focus, then I'm not going to worry about his departure, as it doesn't really affect the overall depth at that position as some other trialist will still take up that roster spot.
Yes, 3rd year - both barrels, and I hope I don't hear this whole "its tough I'm learning" shit like last year after each press conference. It got grating, especially during the dismal last quarter of the season.
While there is no doubt BB is a great guy, unfortunately this is a business. I bet this opens the door for Jerome to show his stuff. At least BB does have a college degree from a good school, as opposed to some poor kid from Africa who is just left to drift in France.