3 Out, 1 In

WEBER, VAN SICKLEN, KUYKENDALL RELEASED. MEDIATE NEAR CONTRACT

The Washington Post reports that DC United released Goalkeeper Andrew Weber, defensive midfielder Shawn Kuykendall, and attacking midfielder Nick Van Sicklen on Friday. According to John Haydon in the Washington Times, former Columbus Crew and Maryland Terrapin Dominic Mediate is near a contract with the team.

Let's start with the easy one first: Andrew Weber was never challenging for a starting position, and his only reserve minutes last year came as a forward for the team. It is not entirely surprising that he is leaving.

Nick Van Sicklen's departure is also not entirely unexpected. In The DCenters midfield preview, the prediction was that Rod Dyachenko would move ahead of Van Sicklen for a shot at the Center Midfield location. This move seems to confirm that whatever Dyachenko has down DC United in Florida, it was enough to make them think they had made the right choice.

The loss of Shawn Kuykendall does surprise me though. Shawn's work in the reserves had been decent, and I was hoping he might pull it out. Failing that, I thought he might have some trade value for DC United, even if it was for a very late draft pick. Ben Olsen and Brian Carroll had the top jobs locked up, and Clyde Simms has apparently played well enough to secure the back-up job. Jeff Carroll will apparently be the developmental hope for the team. Now, I can certainly imagine another team taking a look at Shawn, so I wish him well wherever he lands.

The signing of Dominic Mediate, who was a major drain on the DCenters fantasy team last year, is also a bit of a surprise. While Haydon writes that he imagines Mediate contenting for a wing position, part of me wonders if he also might not help challenge Brandon Prideaux for a RB slot.