By definition, the Donnety Award goes to the player who has been the biggest disappointment for DC United in 2009. The award's namesake Matias Donnet came to United in 2006 and was seen as a potential all star due to his pedigree after playing for Boca Juniors, as well as spending some time in Serie A. Click to continue reading...

This is our second of four posts in review of the moves DC United has made since the end of last season. Last week we looked at their acquisitions, today we'll look at the players who departed, and then later we'll look at their trades.
1. It's hard to imagine how different DC United's season would be had they retained Marcelo Gallardo in 2009. Click to continue reading...

The DC United goalkeeping situation is something which has been in flux for quite some time. Ever since the departure of 2006 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Troy Perkins, the club has been searching for an answer between the pipes. After the 2007 season, Perkins decided to test his mettle in European soccer, signing with Valerenga of Norway.

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Long weekend, eh? Well, let's get back into the swing of things with some thoughts generated by a handful of notes that tumbled out of the monitor and onto my desk.Thought #1: Yes, yes, Payne's comments on the possible effect of the stadium move on fans end with "But our fans are very, very loyal. . Click to continue reading...

Long weekend, eh? Well, let's get back into the swing of things with some thoughts generated by a handful of notes that tumbled out of the monitor and onto my desk.Thought #1: Yes, yes, Payne's comments on the possible effect of the stadium move on fans end with "But our fans are very, very loyal. . Click to continue reading...

And the hits just keep on comin'! Lots to talk about today after Goff provides us with the shocker that Wells' confidence may be so entirely shot that he's contemplating leaving the game altogether. Figures that he'd screw us one more time, doesn't it? I mean, we could have gotten a lower round draft pick (not that they're worth much anymore, but beggars can't be choosers) at the very least Click to continue reading...

And the hits just keep on comin'! Lots to talk about today after Goff provides us with the shocker that Wells' confidence may be so entirely shot that he's contemplating leaving the game altogether. Figures that he'd screw us one more time, doesn't it? I mean, we could have gotten a lower round draft pick (not that they're worth much anymore, but beggars can't be choosers) at the very least Click to continue reading...

Hmmm, things are still disturbingly quiet given that the draft has come and gone. About all we've clarified since last time is that the Walter Martinez acquisition is a work in progress and that we're working several angles on a Mystery Veteran Defender of Unknown Nationality (a Mivdun?). Also, there has been mention of interest in a young right-sided midfielder from a domestic Jamaican team. Click to continue reading...

Hmmm, things are still disturbingly quiet given that the draft has come and gone. About all we've clarified since last time is that the Walter Martinez acquisition is a work in progress and that we're working several angles on a Mystery Veteran Defender of Unknown Nationality (a Mivdun?). Also, there has been mention of interest in a young right-sided midfielder from a domestic Jamaican team. Click to continue reading...

Hmmm, things are still disturbingly quiet given that the draft has come and gone. About all we've clarified since last time is that the Walter Martinez acquisition is a work in progress and that we're working several angles on a Mystery Veteran Defender of Unknown Nationality (a Mivdun?). Also, there has been mention of interest in a young right-sided midfielder from a domestic Jamaican team. Click to continue reading...

Our season has come down to this: cheering for Chicago and New England. Makes you wonder what you're doing with your life, doesn't it? Now, as I've stated before in posts and in comments, I'm of two minds on what I'd prefer to occur this week. Do we, A) eek into the playoffs, lose [...] Click to continue reading...

Coming to you live from Dallas, er, Frisco... actually, I'm in D.C. and my esteemed colleague, Boris Flores, is at Pizza Hut Park today. Regardless, here's the starting lineup the coaches have decided on today.

Louis Crayton; Bryan Namoff, Gonzalo Peralta, Devon McTavish, Ivan Guerrero; Fred, Clyde Simms, Santino Quaranta, Boyzzz Khumalo; Jaime Moreno, Luciano Emilio.

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By definition, the Donnety award goes to the player who has been the biggest disappointment this year. Yes, harsh, I know. But this award's definition could probably be interpreted in a couple different ways. And because I love controversy, of course I will leave that interpretation up to you. Do you give the award to a guy who has played well at times, but hasn't lived up to the hype or to his high salary? Click to continue reading...

D.C. United 0 : 2 Saprissa
Six Word Novel Recap

Pity those sent out to fail.

Media, Traditional and OtherwiseThe Washington Times, John Haydon: "Undermanned because of injuries and playing with only 10 men for 50 minutes, D.C. United fell 2-0 to Costa Rican champion Deportivo Saprissa at RFK Stadium on Tuesday night. Click to continue reading...

I was wrong when I suggested earlier that DCU would probably be taking the CCL seriously, since they had rested Emilio and Fred for the Dallas match. Instead we sent out an even weaker team tonight, that included the reappearance of Zach Wells! Goff says it's because Crayton had a sore knee, I'm not so sure. Click to continue reading...

Following a horrendous display in the Preliminary Round, MLS clubs continue to be outclassed by their CONCACAF opponents in Champions League play, as D.C. United became the latest to suffer defeat, 2-0 at the hands of Deportivo Saprissa on Tuesday night.
Saprissa struck on each side of halftime, with Walter Centeno opening the scoring in the 32nd minute. Click to continue reading...

And here.. we... go..

Zach Wells; Bryan Namoff, Devon McTavish, Marc Burch, Gonzalo Martinez; Boyzzz Khumalo, Clyde Simms, Santino Quaranta, Craig Thompson; Luciano Emilio, Ryan Cordeiro

Bench: Louis Crayton, Rod Dyachenko, Francis Doe, Quavas Kirk, Jaime Moreno, Fred, Greg Janicki

And here's what the 4-4-2 will look like:

-----------Cordeiro------------Emilio------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------Quaranta----------------------- Thompson------------------------------Khumalo ----------------------Simms------------------------- Martinez-----------------------------------Namoff -------------Burch---------McTavish------------- -------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------Wells-------------------------- Click to continue reading...

And here.. we... go..

Zach Wells; Bryan Namoff, Devon McTavish, Marc Burch, Gonzalo Martinez; Boyzzz Khumalo, Clyde Simms, Santino Quaranta, Craig Thompson; Luciano Emilio, Ryan Cordeiro

Bench: Louis Crayton, Rod Dyachenko, Francis Doe, Quavas Kirk, Jaime Moreno, Fred, Greg Janicki

And here's what the 4-4-2 will look like:

-----------Cordeiro------------Emilio-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Quaranta-----------------------Thompson------------------------------Khumalo----------------------Simms-------------------------Martinez-----------------------------------Namoff-------------Burch---------McTavish--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Wells-------------------------- Click to continue reading...

This is a frustrating way to drop two points that were well within grasp. United had a 2-1 lead, and looked marginally the better side. Still, Dallas was finding moments of slicing through the defense, and so it was that Eric Avila slipped down the left side of the defense and send the ball outside of the diving Crayton to Rocha, and United found themselves settling for one point instead of taking all three.

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We're about an hour from kick-off and Tom Soehn has named his starters for this evening's match. Most notable are Boyzzz Khumalo getting the start up top with Jaime Moreno and Quavas Kirk getting his first League start at right mid. Here's the full squad:

Louis Crayton; Bryan Namoff, Devon McTavish, Marc Burch, Gonzalo Martinez; Quavas Kirk, Clyde Simms, Santino Quaranta, Ivan Guerrero; Boyzzz Khumalo, Jaime Moreno.

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DC United's goalkeeping situation was dire when Louis Crayton the Liberian National Team keeper was signed a month ago. The Red and Black had recorded one clean sheet the entire season and had uncharacteristically lost all three games of the Superliga tournament at home. Zach Wells whom Crayton supplanted as the top keeper with United [. Click to continue reading...

For the record, here are my player ratings from the two matches I missed while on vacation, based only on descriptions of the games given by Fullback, BDR, and Goff.
8/10/08: 4-1 loss at NYRB
Top shelf: Jaime Moreno
Call: Fred
Rail: Zach Wells, Pat Carroll, Marc Burch, Devon McTavish
8/12/08: 3-1 win in USOC Semi-finals vs NE:
Top shelf: Jaime Moreno, Luciano Emilio, Santino Quaranta
Call: Brian Namoff, Zach Wells, Ivan Guerrero
Rail: None
The other big thing that I missed while I was out was the formal acquisition of new starting goalkeeper Louis Crayton, and the other transactions surrounding that move. Click to continue reading...

Here's what MLSNET is showing as our current injuries: MF Ben Olsen OUT - ankle surgery DF Domenic Mediate OUT - concussion FW Francis Doe OUT - foot infection DF Gonzalo Peralta QUESTIONABLE - hamstring MF Marcelo Gallardo PROBABLE - hernia surgery Of course we need to add: GK Zach Wells OUT - sesamoiditis MF Fred OUT - hamstring Let's go down the list; Ben Olsen. Click to continue reading...

United fans who took in last night's game at Momo's Sports Bar on U Street received a surprise when Ben Olsen and housemate Zach Wells, along with Rod Dyachenko, showed up to watch the guys take on the Revolution. Thanks to Sarah Baker for snapping and sharing the shot above.

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Head Coach Tom Soehn continues to have to deal with player injuries and absences heading into tonight's match with the Revolution. Ivan Guerrero is with the Honduran National Team for their World Cup qualifier in Mexico this evening, while Gonzalo Martinez is serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation.

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The top six shuffled around but stayed unchanged. And the two local teams slipped to the bottom two spots.
Why? Because they aren't any good right now.
1. Columbus (10-6-4). Could the Crew be poised for a run at the top spot in the East?
2. Chicago (9-6-6). Positives: McBride and Blanco together on the field. Click to continue reading...

We're about two-thirds complete with the MLS season and we still haven't figured much out. One week, New England is the best team in the league, the next thing you know they are dropping their second straight game. San Jose meanwhile was given up for dead but now they are legitimately chasing a playoff spot. Click to continue reading...

Okay, if all I want for the remainder of this season are gritted out wins, then I'll take this one. To give Chicago the respect they deserve - the Fire had done quite a bit and could have legitimately walked out with a draw. That said, United was a post away from a multiple goal win. Ultimately, this kind of win is satisfying.

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I remember writing before the season started that we would probably have to win a lot of games 1-0 this year. Well it took five months and a goalkeeper change to finally do it.
I got back from a great week at Ocean City today and opted to purchase the discounted $9.95 MLSlive package, which will probably be used only to watch tonight's match and next Saturday's. Click to continue reading...

It's the 60th minute, the Fire are losing 0-1, and the main thing I'm noticing right now is the difference Louis Crayton has made in goal for DC United. Good lord, is he making Zach Wells look like a U19 backup right now.

Twice in the first 10 minutes or so, the Fire would complete a sweeping move with a raking cross, and Crayton would explode out of goal and snag the damned thing 15 yards out, snuffing out the whole move with one decisive intervention.

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We're about an hour from kickoff now, and Head Coach Tom Soehn has named his lineup. The big change is that newcomer Louis Crayton - who was officially signed yesterday - will get the start in goal ahead of Zach Wells.

Here's the full squad: Louis Crayton; Bryan Namoff, Devon McTavish, Marc Burch, Gonzalo Martinez; Fred, Clyde Simms, Santino Quaranta, Ivan Guerrero; Jaime Moreno, Luciano Emilio.

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With a trip to the U.S. Open Cup final on the line, here is the team Head Coach Tom Soehn has decided to go with this evening:

Zach Wells; Bryan Namoff, Devon McTavish, Gonzalo Peralta, Gonzalo Martinez; Fred, Clyde Simms, Santino Quaranta, Ivan Guerrero; Jaime Moreno, Luciano Emilio.

And this is how they'll lineup:

--------Moreno---------Emilio----------

----------------Quaranta-----------------

Guerrero---------------------------Fred

-----------------Simms-------------------

Martinez------------------------Namoff

----------McTavish--Peralta----------

------------------Wells-------------------

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

When Jaime Moreno scored what seemed like his 100th career goal against the Red Bulls on Sunday you got the distinct feeling that the season was ready to slip away for the New York squad.

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"Unleash the power within." That's the symposium being given in the conference center of the team hotel in New Jersey by master motivational speaker Anthony Robbins. Though I remember him better for his stellar role in Shallow Hal, let's hope the general theme of his speaking engagement makes its way into the team thought process for tonight's match.

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Far be it for me to neglect you, readers, on the day before the classic NY-DC matchup up at the stadium named after my NFL team. From what I can gather, DC is using this game as a chance to work back in some players coming off of injury. On turf, I'd have [...] Click to continue reading...