Pirani loan extended through the summer Sources: D.C. United will extend the loan of Brazilian AM Gabriel Pirani from Santos through next summerD.C. retains purchase option & Pirani still U-22 Initiative.Pirani, 21, represented Brazil at Pan American Games.Roster updates 🔗: https://t.co/MK1FcxfbG1 pic.twitter.com/OT6ur9PJLv— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) December 1, 2023
Smart move. Based on his play last season, I wouldn’t have exercised the purchase option. This will give the new coach and Mackey time to evaluate Pirani in a new system with, hopefully, more continuity and direction than has been shown by this franchise in a long while. Oh hell, who am I kidding? We all know this will turn into a dumpster fire by next August. It’s “Tradition” because “It Takes More.”
I wouldn't necessarily suggest that his insertion into the starting XI was the main reason that DC collapsed at the end of the season. Correlation doesn't always equal causation. But sometimes it does. One goal and zero assists in ten starts.
That's the problem with the evaluation of a young player like Pirani. His "offensive" numbers were more in line with a reserve centerback. How much of that was on him, Rooney's coaching or the "system" that Rooney employed is hard to crack. Giving him a low risk new look next year, hopefully, will give everyone a better idea of his ceiling and proper place on the pitch. Personally, I think Pirani is more of an 8 than anything else. Problem is that Klich plays that spot and it's probably Durkin's best position as well.
Pirani might be good or not. He seemed to dribble himself into dead ends but he also had few passing options with Santos taking 2 hours to run up the pitch in support. With quicker players making better runs, he hopefully finds some passes and makes them count.
In theory, Rodriguez and Jeahze will be the left side in 2024. The other questions are where do you fit TKDP and, maybe, Fletcher, into that system. Kasper left Mackay a metric shit-ton of mismatched parts.
I am increasingly of the mind (90% sure) that neither of those guys will be on the left side next year. New leadership seems even slightly competent is the reason.
I wonder what's up with O'Brien - he hasn't played since September. I know some fans didn't rate him, but I would spend, maybe even DP money, to get him back on the field with Klich.
I'm certainly one that doesn't rate O'Brien. He went back to Nottingham and was sent to the Championship Middlesburo immediately. He is injured so not playing however, he isn't what DC needs.
Who do you think is breaking all these players? The spirit of Dema lives in every stadium and when Nowak says "send him hospital", Dema's spirit lays in a meaty tackle...
Levien wants to work with the District on funding expanded capacity at our not so new stadium. LOL. Is anyone even picking up the phone in the mayors office when they see Jason’s # on the caller ID? Or is having Rory make the call for him! .@dcunited owner Jason Levien tells @WBJonline that he wants to increase Audi Field's capacity.Cost is unclear & there are limitations but #DCU wants to work with D.C. on funding.“We've engaged with architects and engineers to look at that growth.”(SUBSCRIPTION NEEDED) https://t.co/50CWilAd4V— José Mauricio Umaña (@Jose_M_Umana) December 4, 2023
Wait, wasn't the fable du jour that AF "had" to have its current configuration because of the Pepco easement and Fort McNair? You mean the FO lied? Shocked, just shocked and disappointed I tell you.
well, they are not going to expand the footprint of the stadium. I dont remember from where I got this understanding, but my understanding is that the stadium was designed and built with expansion of another 5,000 seats in the plan. They could also go up. Will be interesting to see where - they definitely could go up and could possibly add more rows at the top on the South side; less likely in the area between Heiny Bank/Sportsbook and the East side? Also probably redesign the Heiney Rooftop - that is really wasted space that could add another row of suites and many more inclined seats in rows than what the current flat floor accommodates. Confusing to me is Leviathan stating the desire for a 4th locker room. Early on a major criticism was that the cheapskate/dumbasses only built out 3 locker rooms, so no double-headers and no CONCACAF games. But early this past October I finally (I know, right!?!?!) got a tour of the backstage locker-room areas. Across and 10 yards or so down from the DCU locker-room entrance are the official's locker rooms (2 but I seem to recall a 3rd room also for officials). And on the same side of the hall were 2 small locker rooms for the ladies teams. So there are four locker rooms plus officials' locker rooms. So now I am unsure whom to believe - me or my lying eyes.
My guess is that they knock down the Heineken club building and put a combination of stands & boxes in its space, doing away with the standing room space above the suites which really only sells beer that would prolly be bought elsewhere anyway. They’d prolly turn the corner into the east stand too I’d imagine.