With the 2009 season in the rearview mirror, here are the answers to some of the biggest questions surrounding D.C. United as the club prepares for 2010.
WHAT DO D.C. UNITED NEED TO DO TO MAKE THE MLS CUP PLAYOFFS IN 2010?
That depends on one's perspective. To some, United's 2009 squad deserve credit for grooming a host of bright young players while juggling an incredibly hectic calendar in which they remained competitive in three distinct competitions, only to fall short at the final hurdle in league, cup and international play.Others see an awkwardly constructed team saddled with too many highly-compensated, underperforming players, short on speed and guile, prone to untimely lapses of concentration, and simply fortunate to eke out what success it did find amid myriad missed opportunities.Ultimately, the opinion that matters most is that of the new coach who will replace Tom Soehn. United's next boss will inherit a roster with plenty of talent. But the roles of veterans like Luciano Emilio, Fred, Ben Olsen and Jaime Moreno must be resolved and a clear tactical approach established in order for the club to forge ahead with coherence.
WHAT WAS THE TEAM'S BEST MOMENT IN '09?
There were no shortage of highs and lows for D.C. in 2009, but the delirious afternoon of April 26 surely ranks among the season's top highlights.It was United's final regular-season match at Giants Stadium, the host of many ill-tempered Atlantic Cup showdowns between D.C. and the Red Bulls/MetroStars over the past decade. In unseasonably hot weather, rookie Rodney Wallace put the visitors ahead early with his first-ever professional goal, only for New York to seize a 2-1 lead with a second-half comeback as both sides raced from end to end on the scorching FieldTurf.Yet United showed great resourcefulness with a late, late fightback that saw Luciano Emilio and Chris Pontius stun the Red Bulls with the tying and game-winning goals in stoppage time, making D.C.'s last trip to the Meadowlands a memorable one.
WHO SHOWED THE BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON?
United's youth movement made itself known all over the field in '09, but the area of greatest promise is surely the heart of defense. Dejan Jakovic and Julius James both arrived in D.C. facing steep learning curves and immediate pressure, but stepped up to the task and played well enough to earn call-ups to their respective national teams. The duo holds the potential to become a quality central partnership for the years ahead.
WHAT RESERVES ARE MOST READY TO CRACK THE STARTING LINEUP?
Late summer was a trying time for United fans as their team won just two league matches in the months of August and September -- and that frustration was further exacerbated by Soehn's reluctance to use new allocation signing Danny Szetela on a regular basis.The New Jersey native has starred for several U.S. youth national teams and held his own in the Italian second division, yet saw limited playing time for D.C., apparently due to insufficient performances in training. Szetela is likely to get a fresh look from United's new coach and his career aspirations hinge on making the most of it.Brandon Barklage was another D.C. rookie whose play turned heads in the first half of the year, but his steady progress was interrupted by a season-ending knee injury in a U.S. Open Cup match. A full recovery could propel him right back into the midfield mix in 2010.
WHAT AREA OF THE TEAM NEEDS THE MOST IMPROVEMENT?
United finished the '09 campaign with no less than four goalkeepers on their roster and will be eager to quit the revolving-door approach next year. But Josh Wicks faces months of recovery from knee and shoulder injuries, Steve Cronin's rights still belong to the Portland Timbers and youngsters Milos Kocic and Bill Hamid are longer-term projects. So the identity of next season's opening-day starter is anyone's guess.D.C.'s back line possesses ample ability but surrendered a litany of blown leads this season. As veteran midfielder Ben Olsen said, "in the defense, I thought we looked young and naive in a lot of ways at times."The club seems set to seek out a more experienced defender who can add leadership, savvy and depth. At the other end of the field, more pace and creativity is required in a strike force which squandered too many scoring chances in light of the experience and salary compensation of its key players.
