since everyone seems to be so down and there is plenty of discussion of what is wrong--how about flipping it and saying what you feel is good this year. first off, i have some hope because i think the players are still with ray and trying to improve. i like it we sold more season tickets than ever. i like the fact convey seems to be stepping into a larger role. i actually like petke. i love the chance to see earnie play week in and week out, even if he doesn't meet my expectations in terms of scoring. i like watching ben continue to comeback i like the way our defense has consolidated nicely and filled in for reyes. i like the fact that marco seems to be realizing some of his weaknesses and making some changes to his game and role i like the fact that many of our young guys are getting age group call ups. i have had a chance to meet all the guys on the team and am glad that with one exception, they are all really good guys, i like to be a fan of guys like that. i think trask and ray have done a very good job of defending--tactically and responding to personnel loss. i like the fact barra membership is growing
Nellie I like that Nellie, who started to step up his game at the end of last year, has continued to improve. Hopefully he will decide to stick around. I like that I got a free Old Navy t-shirt at the open practice. I'm glad I got season tickets again despite DCU lackluster performance this year.
I like seeing real soccer in a real stadium. I like having an english-language alternative for radio listening. I like all the coverage on TV. I like the new, improved DC United website. I like double doubleheaders. dadman
I like Marco's fire and drive and his lack of stupid cards this year. The one he got on the sideline when Ben got wiped out does not qualify as stupid I like Mike! I like Ryan's game Ivanov looks as good as promised Bobby continues to step up I like Dema, he makes smart runs, is a team guy, and adds menace both ways. The broken leg was an unfortunate abberation. The guy is good. I like Tino on the wing I like Nick, except against Preki I like the new YFC program I like the fact that my three year old attended his first game and now watches all the games and chants DC United I like the fact that Begbie and couple of the other guys watched out for my daughter when she drummed along at halftime
Now that I cant beat, but I like the fact that we dont get hasseled by CSC so much this year and that LaNorte sold more season Tix than ever and more people are standing with us than ever. I like Bobby Convey I like Dema I like Mike I like Tino I like Earnie I like Marco I like Ryan I like Ben I like Eliseo I like Chino I like Nick I like Esky I like DC United I like Yellow Card Journalism I like 90 Soccer I like Four Four Two I like Fox Sports World I like ABC I like ESPN 2 I like El Tiempo Latino I like USsoccerUk I like Big Soccer I like soccer365 I like MLS!
Re: Nellie I like this post. I like Ray Hudson for being so weird. I like La Norte. I like tiny confetti. I like Ali. I like open practice.
I am very very happy that this is the 8th season of DC United. I am very happy about the fact that more season tickets have been sold this year. I am very very very very very HAPPY with the DC United car/battle flags!
These are a few of my favorite things... this year. I like: having half season tickets again; My best friend buying tickets with me; being a member of la Barra Brava; all my Barra Brava brothers and sisters I've met; Barra Brava tailgates; my Barra Brava jersey; Ray Hudson's quotes; Earnie Stewart in a United jersey; Mike Petke in a United jersey; Marco Etcheverry playing better than I want him to; Bobby Convey playing in the middle; Bobby Convey on the National Team; the Exchange Saloon/DC United relationship; Benny Olsen being able to play; Ryan Nelson's improvement; Eliseo Quintinilla's improvement; Dema Kovelanko's intensity; DCUnited.com; United's continued dominance over European teams; United's undefeated home record; and Bigsoccer.com
Or, to ZZ Top........ You got legs, we know how to break em, you got legs, we know you don't need em, We see bone, everything's alright
I like our team's defense. --As a pseudo historian (yeah in real life) I am often studying history in public memory. It kind of relates here. I am honestly amazed at how easily people have forgotten how AWFUL our team was defensively under Rongen. Not meaning simply stats, but just how soft this team was. Hudson has turned the defense around and really deserves full credit for it. Key to this is grooming of Nelsen (who is Eddie Pope?). For a guy that gets accused of hating the youthful players, Hudson has done alright by Nelsen. Rimando wasn't exactly a "veteran" keeper when he brought him here either. --anyway, thats what i like. We are an excellent defensive team and we are still missing one of our best defenders in Reyes.
I believe it was mentioned that Hudson wanted to trade Nelsen, but, after a less than stellar rookie season and the lowering of SI roster slots, there weren't too many takers for him. As for Rimando, he had done well under Hudson in Miami, so he knew what Rimando could do. He needed a keeper because Ammann wasn't going to be available and chose the one he knew. Besides, the other (starting) keeper available in the Dispersal draft was less experienced than Rimando. Adin Brown. To be fair, though, Brown had not begun to come into his own until right around the time Kante arrived in NE and was the final piece in their back line.
This might be true, but if I recall correctly Hudson also lashed into him rather publicly and Nellie responded. I wish I could say the same for some of our more overhyped youngsters.
I like the matches against Spurs and the possible match against Blackburn. I like the chicken strips and fries platter at RFK (it's so addictive, it should be illegal). I like that FSW shows United almost every week. I like Ray's quotes. I like bouncing stands.
What do you Like about this year? I like the fact that Blackburn Rovers are coming! And Brad Friedel.... beyond that, nothing at all! IntheNet