First Impressions - DC United 2 : 4 Kansas City Wizards

There are games that you lose and you should shake it off and get on to the next match. There are other games you lose that call for serious introspection. This is one of those games. Kansas City was faster, smarter, and better than United for most of the match. Yes, United created their chances, but they were punished for every mistake they made. There was a time when you could make mistakes in an MLS game and not be savaged. That time ended after 2004.

Kansas City went at United, and even after we equalized I never got the sense that we were ready to push up to another gear and finish the game strong. The defense was bad on all three points. Erpen was turned around so often he should change his number to 33 1/3. Boswell was abused by Eddie Johnson in the air consistently. Namoff was playing most the game in the midfield, because what we really needed to play was a 2-6-2. The midfield was better, but not stellar. Technically, the team had more difficulty on their own turf than the Wizards did, making me wonder about their spikes.

Two games into the season and we're talking about soul searching? Yes, because a loss on the road to the Crew next week and suddenly United is looking like a ship that has sprung a leak. Doubt feeds on doubt, success breeds success. United is on the verge of being set adrift in a morass of uncertainty unless they put forth an effort that makes it clear that things can be righted. It's never to early to ask if you're fit to wear the shirt.

Full debriefing hopefully no later than Monday.