After dropping three straight matches at home to MLS opponents, and with our most consistent defender and our two most dynamic attackers out, most fans didn't really expect DC United to win this match. Especially not against the soon-to-be back-to-back Supporters' Shield winners. And it may not have been an attractive victory, but it was a victory none the less. Click to continue reading...

This was clearly a match between two teams going in different directions. Chivas was starting guys like Maicon Santos, Jesus Padilla, and Yamith Cuesta - all who joined the team in August and have already claimed starting jobs. They haven't been afraid to bench their veterans like Razov, Galindo, and Marsch and have instead sought out better players. Click to continue reading...

By definition, the Richie Award goes to the most underrated player on the United roster. The award's namesake Richie Williams was probably the hardest working player on our championship teams in the 90s, but flew mostly under the radar when compared to the better known players.
Last year's winner by a wide margin was Clyde Simms, earning over 50% of the vote. Click to continue reading...

Following their 1-0 win at San Juan Jabloteh on Sept 15th, the guys have been resting up, practicing, and hopefully getting some tactical and finishing work in before their next game on Thursday, against Marathon. I've been doing much of the same, save for the practicing or working on my finishing.

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So my DVR inexplicably taped nothing but a black screen, and calls to Comcast expectedly got me nowhere (their proposed solution: turn it off and turn it back on). So this reaction will be based solely on MLSnet highlights and comments in the Insider.
With our remaining schedule chock full of home matches, a tie on the road is certainly not the end of the world. Click to continue reading...

I had my doubts about this lineup going in because it just seemed way too defensive. I'm in favor of continuing with the 4-4-2 formation for the duration of this tournament, but my vision of a 4-4-2 involves attacking wingers, and maybe a creative attacking central midfielder. McTavish and Allen aren't really what you think of in terms of attacking wingers, and Andrew Jacobson isn't really the most creative CAM either. Click to continue reading...

Devon McTavish and Marc Burch discuss Sunday's game against Real Madrid in front of 72,000 people.

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Win or lose, some of our guys looked like superheroes out there. I was so impressed with the way that Fred, Rodney Wallace, and Bryan Namoff were able to run so hard for 120 minutes straight. True warriors. Way to wear the shirt, boys.
This was a fun match to watch, as I felt like both teams really wanted the win. Click to continue reading...

This match exhibited nothing but a lowly underperforming team working harder than a much more talented team. DC came out to a quick 2-0 lead, and apparently they thought they didn't need to do anything else for the next 70 minutes. That wasn't true.
There was also some definite bad luck for San Jose. Click to continue reading...

1) Game worn jersey cards do not, in fact, contain pieces of actually game worn jerseys. I always suspected this, but I suspended this doubt, for the reason of basking in the pleasant glow of finding insert cards. This brings me to number 2.
2) DC United players, and one can deduce the entirety of MLS, do not respect grown men who collect their cards.

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Well, the whole two half things has never been more apt. I don't know what Tommy said to the team in the locker room, but it worked something special.

The first half was honestly the worst 45 minutes of soccer I've ever seen. I'm counting Screaming Eagles pickup games in that assertion.

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DC United should be neither elated nor concerned after the team needed 75 minutes to beat a PDL squad consisting mostly of college players and a few amateurs. It wasn't pretty, but DC is one step closer to defending their US Open Cup title, which is more than you can say about the 4 MLS clubs who lost to USL clubs last night. Click to continue reading...

"What an advertisement this has been for Major League Soccer here tonight". I heard Glenn Davis speak that line twice during the broadcast, once in the 68th minute on ESPN2, and once before the game was being shown on television (thanks atdhe.net). At first I was thinking that that was a terribly hypocritical thing to say. Click to continue reading...

This was my first journey to RFK this season, and boy did I pick a good one. It sure did feel right for this to be a battle for first place, because United and the Fire did look like two of the best teams in MLS tonight. Great atmosphere in the stadium.
Just a shame for a really well-played competitive match between two good teams to be influenced so heavily by the officials. Click to continue reading...

Finally, a competition that Burch's long-ball-serving madness might benefit us in! Click to continue reading...

We've seen debates emerge a couple times over the past few weeks as to who should be our starting left back. The reality of the situation is that Tom Soehn is likely to continue rotating players at just about every position for the foreseeable future. Marc Burch and Avery John each started one match last week, and they're probably going to continue to split time as long as both are healthy. Click to continue reading...

When given time, say from a free kick or in the couple of months it took MLS defenses to learn to close him down, DC United's left back Marc Burch can certainly crank them... Given such evidence, the Edgell Supporters started the movement for a... Click to continue reading...

Confidence building in the locker room...?

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D.C. United 2 : 1 F.C. Dallas
Six Word Novel Recap

Ponce de Leon should check Bolivia.

Media, Traditional and OtherwiseThe Dallas Morning News, Frank Servalli: "Despite being outshot, outmuscled and outplayed, FC Dallas somehow managed to escape the first half Saturday night against D. Click to continue reading...

Tradition
Ah, the annual trip to the concrete jungle, the armpit of america, RFK North. With Red Bull Arena under construction and supposed to open for the 2010 season, this could be the last time United plays the metroscum/pink cows in the spectacularly horrid Giant Stadium.

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In a sparsely attended game (which may be the worst to take your Dad to as his first professional soccer experience), DCU beat out FCD 2-0, with goals by Fred and Brandon Barklage, who dazzled. Chances were easy to come by, as DC had Dallas goal under siege from the get go.

Fred missed a sitter early in the first half, and Quaranta was not playing his best, despite what Goff's ratings may tell you.

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Ok folks, the games finally start counting for something. We'll start to see less of players like Brandon Barklage, and more of the Jaime Moreno's of the world. And that makes me excited. This Sunday, United travels to the Home Depot Center to visit one of the sadder cases in MLS in the last [...] Click to continue reading...

Who knew Puerto Rico had coconuts?

The above photo is from yesterday's team walk and courtesy of Señor Boris Flores who is with the team on the "Enchanted Island." You can see additional photos from yesterday and a couple from training today on the Flickr account.

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Following yesterday's stadium press conference in Prince George's County, we caught up with Victor MacFarlane, Kevin Payne, Prince George's County leaders as well as a couple players to talk about what the day meant, as the club looks to build a stadium in Maryland.

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While the United blogosphere is, well . . . united, for lack of a better word, in its estimation that the FO overpaid to get Gomez back, I wonder what's happening on the other side of this bargain? With Colin Clark a lock at left wing, it looks to me like the Rapids are bringing in Guerrero as a left back--the spot where I thought he would have been tremendous for United. Click to continue reading...

While the United blogosphere is, well . . . united, for lack of a better word, in its estimation that the FO overpaid to get Gomez back, I wonder what's happening on the other side of this bargain? With Colin Clark a lock at left wing, it looks to me like the Rapids are bringing in Guerrero as a left back--the spot where I thought he would have been tremendous for United. Click to continue reading...

We spoke to Luciano Emilio, Devon McTavish and Marc Burch after today's training session to get their thoughts on the first week of pre-season and heading to Bradenton, FL tomorrow...

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What a week for Q&As here at Behind The Badge! Yesterday, we briefly caught up with Marc Burch to ask him about his new contract, the off-season and his memories from being drafted back in 2006.

BTB: How is your off-season going? "It's going well. I had minor knee surgery so I've been doing rehab. Click to continue reading...

On the heels of signing Santino Quaranta to a new deal, we're set to announce later today that Marc Burch has also re-signed with the team. The 24-year old defender enjoyed a solid campaign in his first full season with the Black-and-Red last year, seeing time in 44 games in all competitions (35 starts) and collecting two goals and four assists.

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Some news to read as you check out your Christmas card from FC Barcelona: And while we're on the topic of Christmas cards, this one featuring Santa's elves CR7, Fernando Torres, William Gallas and Frank Lampard is kind of surreal. (Off the Post) Predictions vs. Reality: Our Poland blogger, Tomasz, takes a [. Click to continue reading...

DC United's starting left back answered a few of my questions about his role with the team, his preferred positions, and what he has planned for the coming year. Jon- You've played for 3 MLS teams in 3 seasons, but it looks like you've found a home in DC. Any insight into your [...] Click to continue reading...

I am an interview machine over here. Come back tomorrow to see what Marc has to say about free kicks, his contract, and Santino's wrath. While you're here, read and comment on the previous interviews of Greg Janecki, Santino Quaranta, Ben Olsen, and Guy Roland Kpene Click to continue reading...

This week, I'll be interviewing Marc Burch and Greg Janecki. Anybody have something they want to ask either of these fine gentlemen? Leave it in the comments. Click to continue reading...

Hey readers, I've got some exciting stuff coming up this month, and I think you'll all be pleased. We already had a Ben Olsen interview posted, and it seemed that a lot of you were into that. So, since you liked it so much, we've got some more interviews coming. So far, we'll have interview with Marc [. Click to continue reading...

On Monday, we showed you the video that asked the players who the best prankster on the team was. Today, we bring you one of the best pranks of 2008 - in photo essay form. Though numerous players play pranks on their teammates throughout the course of a season, this year, a particular prank war developed between Marc Burch and Santino Quaranta.

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