Rebuilt.

It was a decently warm game when D.C. United opened the home season in 2006 against the New York Red Bulls. Despite the previous years ignominious defeat to Chicago, the mood was somewhat optimistic. Several prognosticators picked United to finish first in the East for the upcoming year. With Christian Gomez serving a red card suspension, and Nick Rimando injured from preseason, the line-up was perhaps not the entire first string. Onto the field came Troy Perkins, Brandon Prideaux, Facundo Erpen, John Wilson, Joshua Gros, Brian Carroll, Ben Olsen, Clyde Simms, Freddy Adu, Lucio Filomeno and , Jaime Moreno. The team would fall behind early, but the insertion of Alecko Eskandarian in the second half rallied the team, which drew 2-2. That team would go on to the Supporter's Shield in 2006, with Troy Perkins displacing Rimando as United's #1 keeper, and Christian Gomez returning to an MVP Award.

It is now 2008, and from that original line-up, only Ben Olsen, Clyde Simms, and Jaime Moreno remain. Substitutes Eskandarian and Quaranta are gone. Gomez is now gone, despite his suspension. Rimando is gone. Of the 16 players mentioned, only three remain, and only Brian Namoff can really be said to have been part of that club as well and still be part of the team. That's three-quarters of lineup that has changed in two years.

Last year I wrote frequently that it was a rebuilding year, and while the results may not have reflected that idea (another successful Supporter's Shield Campaign), you can not deny that since 2006, this team has been rebuilt. Entirely. New head coach, new players, and now a new designated player. The implications of this should not be lost, and BDR has voiced a point that I agree with: "Nothing that happens this upcoming season can be blamed on a nowakian hangover."

He's right, and let's state it in another way -- 2008 is a statement year for Soehn, Kasper, and Payne. This is a team, more than any other since roughly early in this decade, where they have made a significant moved to put the team they want on the field. They have made choices, in what to acquire, and in what not to acquire. They have put their vision, the vision they believe in, on the field.

Let us take Kevin Payne at his word (pretty easy to do, since he's not really given us much of a reason to ever doubt him): The mission of D.C. United is to serve the community and win championships. United has let their most visible humanitarian go to Houston. United has let the 2006 MLS MVP leave for a designated player. We are being told, in other words, that this team is more likely than that team to fulfill those two goals. Oscar may have a point about marketing to Argentinian population, but that's not the mission of D.C. United as stated. The two foremost principles are silverware and community involvement. And this, we are told, is the best team to embody those principles.

While it is easy to focus on players in a game, this is a year that demands that we truly examine our coaching and front office. Players will win or lose games, but the front office and management will win or lose this season. They, more than any other parties, are responsible for the 2008 campaign. They had done right by us in the past, but the price of professional sports is inevitably "what have you done for me lately." The departure of Boswell, of Gomez, of Perkins... these all signify that while I give the roster moves of the past great credit, they do not matter for this season. This season is about the choices we have seen being made. If they do not work out, the chances of hot-headed, impulsive fans like me yelling for a change at the top of the power structure are much likelier then if United had stood-pat or had greater continuity.

Of course, the reverse applies as well. If United is successful this season, then the Front Office and Tom Soehn will have earned themselves a lot of slack for the next several seasons. They will have made the choices they needed to make. Risk, in the markets, defines uncertainty, and riskier investments have a greater chance of crashing and burning, but also a greater chance of truly spectacular yields. D.C. United is now the most exotic South American tech stock in MLS. And I am invested in it. Fully. Utterly.

An Expert View on The Revolution

In order to prepare us for the upcoming match with the New England Revolution, The DCenters thought that we should find someone who can explain the Revolution to us. Thanks to a grant from the RAND Coorporation's Temporal Mechanics and Necromancy division, we are able to welcome to the DCenters a man who knows more about the subject than possibly anyone else. Please welcome philosopher, historian, economist, social theorist, and revolutionary par excellence, Dr. Karl Marx. Dr. Marx, welcome to The DCenters

It is a pleasure to be here with so many citizens of world. Jenny, Friedrich and I were discussing MLS the other day, pleased that so many of your teams have red colored kits. Truly, you are with the people's struggles.

Well, it's good to have an expert on the Revolution with us. After all, you're at least somewhat responsible for the great October Revolution, the German, Hungarian, and Cuban Revolutions, the 1970 Chilean Popular Unity election, and their subsequent counter-revolutions, coups, or associated juntas.

That is all true. Alexi Lalas wishes he had such influence. Perhaps if he paid attention, he would not let that arch-capitalist Bradley fleece him in the 2005 SuperDraft.

Well then, perhaps you can give us an overview of where the playoffs stand now?

A spectre is haunting MLS -- the spectre of Twellmanism. All the powers of Don Garber have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this spectre: Eddie Pope and Calen Carr, Mastroeni and Guzan, French Internationals and German rejects.

That's heavy dude... But you still think the revolution will succeed against all of that?

The Revolution is historically inevitable. Led by men of the people, like Joey Franchino, they shall throw off their chains. Do they not see the signs saying "Free Shalrie?" Do they not know the passion that burns in the imprisoned heart of Clint Dempsey? And this revolution is well led, by a former Red, a man of steel, or at least, a man of Nicol. Yes, it may be bloody at first, thus the disputes and fights we have had. But soon, a worker's paradise will be established.

And yet if it is historically inevitable, how do you explain the failure of the 2005 Revolution?

Counter-revolutionary spies infiltrated at all times. The Superstitous looked to a savior in Landon Donovan, but now we now the full illusion of the Donovan cultists. The Revolution must be successful. In the past, Taylor Twellman did not produce goals, and not for nothing is it said by wise men "from each according to his abilities, to each according to their needs." Twellman must produce, but he also needs good service from Dempsey. Jay Heaps and Parkhurst must mark well, but also be protected by Joey Franchino. It is a sound philosophy and coaching strategy.

Well, that's very good, but don't you think--

What the hell is this!?

My goodness, it's George Washington. Mr. President, welcome to the DCenters.

I heard that there was someone calling himself a more successful revolutionary than me around here. I wanted to see that punk with my own eyes. Then I'm going to beat him like Shalrie Joseph at a nightclub.

What? This is juvenile. We don't need this puerile insults. Anyways, the Revolution will succeed. Your capitalists brewers and printers have created Taxachussetts.

That's true. But I live in Virginia, built a Consitiution in Philadelphia and got a city named after me here you little pissant. So don't go trying to pretend you'all that, because you ain't seen jack. DC is for real, yo. And Gomez is my personal M to the V to the P, and that's Mount Vernon Playa! I am here as the Mid-Atlantic Reporter of Pain.

This is ridiculous. I do not have to put up with such insults-- hey, let go of my beard!

I can not tell a lie: Matt Reis is a twat. Welcome to your own personal Yorktown, bitch. Time for a Size 13 boot up your hemmeroidal ass. And Howe!

Well, things seem to have gotten a bit out of hand. I'll um... ooh, that looked nasty, anyways, we'll see if we can find any more expert opinions before Sunday... Perferably less painful ones.

Ohhhhh... my proletariat is broken... images of past Eastern Conference finals passing across my eyes...

Don't fuck with DC, playahatas! This is my town! Vamos United, and G-Dub out!

Debriefing for Match 11.C: Real Madrid Friendly

DC UNITED 1 : 1 REAL MADRID CF

Media, Traditional and Otherwise

The Washington Post, Steven Goff: "It was the stuff of European excellence: superb one-touch passing in tight space and a dynamic strike from the top of the penalty area, a raucous celebration on the field and in the jam-packed stands."
The Guardian: ""The crowd cheered a little too much for the other team," joked Adu after the game. "I thought this was America.""
MLSnet, Charles Boehm: "Once the final whistle blew, both sides moved forward with objectives achieved and heads held high as Madrid benefited from lively preseason competition and United once again represented its nation and its league with pride."
RealMadrid.com: "A beautiful collective play allowed Eskandarian to put the ball in the back of Casillas' net in the 25-minute mark."
SoccerTimes: "D.C. United refused to back down and played Spanish power Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw before 66,830 at Qwest Field tonight."
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Matthew Gaschk: "Every chance Real Madrid had was countered with critical plays by United, capped by a brilliant save off the goal line by defender Facundo Erpen in the second half."
BlackDogRed: "That DCU showed strong on a neutral field, before a slightly pro-Madrid crowd (though the fans cheered all good soccer), makes the result all the more impressive."
DC Sun Devil: "After about the 55th minute, the pressure started to mount for United and Los Galacticos were starting to smell blood. From the 60th minute on, the United defense produced probably the greatest defensive effort I have seen a MLS club ever do."

The Good

1. "It's Real Madrid for Chrissakes": DC United went toe to toe with one of the best teams in the world and it ended in a draw. We all know the reasons why Real Madrid wasn't playing the best soccer that they are capable of so I won't go into that here, but anyone in United's organization should come out of this game with their head held high. This was the only time they can play Real Madrid and they did just that, going at them and not holding back. Kudos.
   
2. Adjustments to International Play: A lot of our players were a step behind against some of the best players in the world. Freddy getting stoned by Roberto Carlos. Namoff getting turned on the goal. Boswell getting beat by Horseface. But, United overcame it by playing one touch ball and having good team defense to score the goal and then hold on for the tie. Hopefully this will just make United that more cohesive and quick when they go back to MLS play next Wednesday.
3. Branding: Despite the fact that it is pre-season for the European clubs there is no doubt that United is making a name for itself with these matches. Not only is DC competitive but they are playing attractive soccer while doing it and that is what a lot of people are going to remember.

The Bad

1. All-Star Break?: What an all star break. We got to see an All-Star team with 8 United players beat Chelsea. Then United tie Real Madrid all the way across the continental United States. Plus an Open Cup game thrown in for good measure. Great for the fans, not so good for rest. I am really, really, hoping this doesn't come back to bite United in the ass the second half of the season.

Man of the Match

N/A - This is a friendly.

Final Thoughts

Great game to watch. Wish I could have been there in person. But glad to see they got the stadium sold out up in Seattle. That's a lot of people to watch a soccer match. But, I really wish U.S. fans would support U.S. teams more. I mean check out these reports by the Seattle Post-Intellignecer (Yes, the Intelligencer). We have great support here in DC, but it was sad to see so many Americans rooting against United for no real reason. But I guess that is what these friendlies are about, convincing Americans that the MLS is good enough to support.

Today is the Greatest

MLS SEZ TO DCU "OOPS, OUR BAD": Steve Goff reports that MLS has determined that Youri Djorkaeff's free kick goal should have been disallowed. Now, from what I know of the situation, this is 100% the fault of USSF and totally not the fault of referee Brian Hall. Hall received guidance, which he complied with, and allowed the goal. The problem was that the guidance was stupid. For a history of United and dodgy referee moments, check out the Screaming Eagles Podcast blog.

SPECIAL MERIT BADGE AWARD: To John at Pseudo Corner Kick, who kicks off Operation: Deflower with a bang. John, as soon as I develop a nice graphic, I'll be sure to award one to you. Well done. And if you have a story for Operation: Deflower you'd like to share, the DCenters will be glad to link to it. If you don't have a website, the DCenters will even post your story for you.

REFERENCE LIBRARY: There are a series of useful links that I use most days that aren't in the blogroll on the right. So I'm going to have to create a new section for them. Until then, let me give a shout out to Albion Road, which is an amazingly broad site on world club soccer. Whenever I run across strange names in the foreign press, it's where I turn first. Also dogeared at DCenters: the World Football Elo Ratings, the UFWC (a concept The DCenters has stolen for MLS and worked out four years of history for, and really need to get current at some point), and the Laws of the Game. We'll get the library up for your easy perusal soon.

IT'S APRIL 5 - THAT MEANS SOMETHING: Today is a special day at DCenters. More on that later. No, it's not as special as Court Day, which I hope to make a running feature. This day will be much more sporadic.