Yes it should be. Thanks for posting that. It's been posted on the Battery's forum (usldiscussions.com) and over on the DCU BS forum, just haven't gotten around to posting anything here on the A-League site. (DC also plays your Kickers a few days later.) I've always really enjoyed these preseason MLS/A-League friendlies. One, it's usually the first game we get to watch in the new season and I'm so desparate for action, I'd pay to watch 2 dogs push the ball around with their noses. And 2nd, players from both teams are trying to impress their coach and win a spot so there's no holding back. Our matches have never turned unprofessional but there's always bodies a-flying. I'm psyched. Here's some related links: D.C. United Announces Preseason Training Schedule D.C. Holding the Cards United Is Near Deal With Stewart D.C. United Acquires Earnie Stewart
And what a more excellent way to start of the season than by watching the Men match at 4:30 that day up in the Three Lions Pub? Hopefully they will open it so we can start the evening off right with a nice pint of Bodington's, have some grub, watch the men's match then watch the Battery take on DC at 7:30. Of course there wil be the post match Guiness in the pub to help welcome back the team. Mikey
Charleston should win this one! They have one of the best A-league squads while DC United are significantly weaker than few years ago.
DC has acquired Dema Kovalenko, Earnie Stewart, young Bulgarian defender Galin Ivanov, drafted Eskandarian and defender David Stokes and it's almost a sure thing that they will also acquire Hristo Stoitchkov and bring John Harkes back. Throw all those guys in with the players they already have and they should have the strongest MLS squad this year behind the LA Galaxy and NE Revolution. I'm not denying the Battery's talent they have but this will be a tough game for them against a team that should be a major contender for the MLS and US Open Cup's this year.
Yes, while I like AO's enthusiasm, the fact of the matter is DCU is building quite a roster. And there's really no comparison of today's MLS to that in the late '90's when DCU was dominating. They're had a downturn the last couple of years, but showed some heart near the end of the 2002 season, almost making the playoffs. And the Battery only has maybe 4 or 5 guys officially signed as of now, so we don't even have a squad. However, it will still be very entertaining, even though it's basically a training match.
I think some of it will depend on if "Da Bruce" calls up Convey and Stewart (and maybe a couple other from DC United) for the US Men's match that same afternoon. I hope we get to see Stewart play in Charleston. Can you imagine if they watched the US match at the Three Lions before hand? That would be like watching the Super Bowl with Joe Montana! Mikey