Just got back to Richmond after that debacle. I don’t think a coaching change necessarily does much for this team. No coach is going to make lemonade from the rotten lemons this roster has. That being said, it’s pretty clear that the players aren’t responding to what Lesesne wants out there. I’m not sure if it’s fatigue from overtraining or he’s losing the locker room, but there definitely seems to be some sort of disconnect. I thought both teams’ collective reaction during the Hopkins injury was telling. One team ran over and rallied around their head coach who was giving them instructions and the other looked like they were ready to go home. I can take a loss because of a lack of talent. This loss wasn’t from lack of talent. It was from lack of grit and guts. That’s absolutely inexcusable and 100% on Lesesne.
I feel bad for Hopkins. Kid just came back from serious ankle surgery and now gets a groin injury (which appears to have happened when he was fouled shortly before he left the game). Without Benteke, this team cannot score. I thought the Apple color commentator (who was very good) summed it up late game when describing DCU's "attack" -- "they're not on the same page going forward, some are reading a book, some are reading a magazine and some are reading the comics." He also noted that Stroud was making the exact runs that Lesesne had asked him to and was positioned well, except that no one else on the squad was reacting or noticing Stroud's movement. That comes down to one of two things (and both could be true) - 1) the players aren't "smart" enough to dissect play in real time or 2) the coach can't communicate to the squad what he wants them to do. A coaching change would do little to fix this, the change in ownership is the most important -- this club needs investment up and down the organization. Philly doesn't spend big bucks, but they spend it wisely -- instead we will get a washed Paul Pogba and a beaming village idiot Levien touting the new signing.
So I just got done watching Charlotte v Columbus. Watching that after last night is a weird experience…I had to keep reminding myself that yeah, it’s the same league. Neither club was Inter Miami or from NY or LA, so it wasn’t anything DC can’t aspire to. Charlotte has 3 players who each, by themselves, deliver more moments of quality in 90 than our whole team does aside from Benteke. Columbus has by far the best coach in the league, but he’s not some big sexy foreign hire like Tata, someone who is beyond what DC could hire. But for years now the team has been well drilled on how to play from players 1 through 18. If DC has one player injured (Benteke) the whole system falls apart. Such a contrast
Well if it's any consolation, (and it is very little consolation) -- just remember Joey Saputo hired Wilfried Nancy and then ran him off. DCU doesn't have the worst owner in MLS, but Jason, you are in the relegation zone.
At the risk of being pedantic, I’d argue that hiring a good coach and running him off is a step (or more) above never hiring a good coach at all.
At the risk of furthering the pedantry, I respectfully disagree. Saputo made a good choice and then affirmatively and wilfully ********ed it up. Levien's true "worseness" merely is latent because he's never hired a good coach and then run him off. Saputo has a track record while Levien merely has unattained "potential."
It's not the coach (SINGULAR !) that's responsible for the drop in talent of the team over the past 15 years. It's the OWNER.
https://www.si.com/soccer/mls-power-rankings-matchday-15 MLS Power Rankings after Matchday 15: Clubs 30-16 30. D.C. United (Previous: 29)
This remains my take. No one can win here with this roster. The current stretch of play is quite damming and proves my point on the uselessness of devoting limited resources to a player like Benteke, golden boot or not. He’s done here in a season or two and this current run of games is a start preview of what awaits us. We can’t get out of our own end. Our whole game plan is to fast break up the wings and cross to Benteke. That’s not a plan, that’s hope. We’ve spent 3 seasons developing a ?system? of route 1 football and the key piece is out and we’re not even competent on a USL level. Lessene’s biggest problem is that we don’t have the players to run his system, but I’m not sure what system we have the players for, after Benteke, Herrera and Schnegg. Nor do we have the quality of players to compete in MLS. I’d guess half these guys wouldn’t make any other MLS roster today. We are 5 years into MLSNext and we still don’t have a team. Levine & company are just playing house with a sports franchise.
They could have played another 90 minutes and United was never going to score. We've seen some hilariously inept offenses in the last 17 years and this team without Benteke might be the worst.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/05/27/jordan-farr-us-open-cup-dc-united/ The actual newspaper headline is awesome Two weeks ago would have been more timely
I just accidentally discovered there is a game tonight at home. It's not even the top game on the team website.
I really assumed pups at the pitch would be a low selling weekend game. I'm now realizing this is that match too. It looks like the dogs get prime seating under the canopy. Hopefully they will properly use the relief stations. I know some of the relief was left behind in 106 and 107 from Spirit games.
You mean they're not giving out free Doggie Depends? Is Marge Schott one of the owners?* *Yes, I know Marge Schott has been dead for 21 years.
so I just got tix for Suicidal Tendencies, I am gonna miss the match tonight. PM if you or anyone you know is interested in tix in 126.
DC United v New England Revolution Why: Because it's on the schedule When: 7:30 EDT Date: 5/28/25 Where: Audi Field Broadcast: Apple TV Plus, 1190 i Heart Sports DC
What I'm hoping for: Some sort of attacking ideas/identity. What are we even trying, tactically? What I'm expecting: If I was in Vegas today, I think I'd be betting the under pretty heavily.