D.C. United Preseason report – Week 1 in review
Days til the team suits up at RFK? 31 until the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals vs. Alajuelense, and 34 until the Montreal Impact arrive for the 2015 MLS regular season opener. With the players getting a day off on Sunday, here are some takeaways from week one of D.C. United’s preseason, which will ramp up with two more games in week two.
1. The central midfield will be a battle
There’s an intense fight for midfield playing time within the Black-and-Red, and it ensures there’ll be no let up for opponents no matter who takes the field. Veteran Davy Arnaud and recent U.S. Men’s National Team call-up Perry Kitchen, who anchored the middle United last season, are both looking to continue their great run of form in 2015. The signs are immediate that Markus Halsti – who was team captain at Malmo – will make an impact somewhere, and Jared Jeffery, entering his second full season in D.C., has a solid depth of MLS experience. Add in determined Maryland rookie Dan Metzger, and there are options and firepower.
2. Goals could come in bunches
It only took 14 minutes on Friday night to see proof the pressure United will put on opposing goals in 2015. A perfect ball from Fabián Espíndola to the left foot of Taylor Kemp to the head off Chris Pontius, and it was 1-0. Throw in the emerging star Luis Silva, a healthy Chris Rolfe and Conor Doyle, the always explosive Nick DeLeon, newcomers Jairo Arrieta and Miguel Aguilar as well as a few goals from Kitchen and the central midfielders and RFK beers could be getting tossed skyward often.
3. A sour taste lingers from 2014
While 2014 was a solid year for the Black-and-Red, but the prevailing opinion around D.C. United is it wasn’t good enough. Players reiterated their disappointing finish at the club’s first media availability, and it’s been evident on the field as well. Head Coach Ben Olsen has preached intensity, and he’s gotten it. More than once have players had words with each other in practice and the final scores of games have been disputed. Water bottles have been tossed, and Olsen has had to stop training to calm the team down, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it’s part of what defines this group, and what makes them successful. They are a fiery bunch who want to win at all costs.
4. It’s still preseason
The 2015 preseason is a lot different than one year ago. Returning a majority of players from the 2014 campaign, the players have come in to camp with a good understanding of who they are and what their roles would be. Last season the team almost had to wear nametags. But while this group is leaps and bounds ahead in the chemistry department, players are still shaking of the rust, and there are still some new faces. In the middle of half time warm-ups of Friday night’s game against Orlando, Jairo Arrieta ran over to Collin Martin and asked, “Sorry, what’s your name again?”
5. Off the field is as important as on the field
With two-a-days, players spend a lot of time on the field together. But that time pales in comparison to the amount they spend together off it. Those hours are spent in the training room, team meals, watching TV with roommates, snack runs to the grocery store, movies and more. While fans see the team grow together on the field, they’re doing so in their down time as well. On Saturday morning, young guns Collin Martin and Jalen Robinson ate breakfast and watched the Premier League with veteran Davy Arnaud and newcomer Markus Halsti - four guys from different backgrounds, nationalities and playing styles who all have one thing in common – wearing the Black-and-Red.
