Match Briefing vs Toronto FC

Match #: 13.MLS.13 -- at Toronto FC

Six Word Novel Preview:
Hoping for win on bouncy turf.

Opponent:
Toronto FC

TV: 21 May 2008, Comcast Sports Net, Direct Kick, MLSLive.tv, 7:30pm

Previous Meeting:
DC United 4 - Toronoto FC 1.

The Stakes:
United needs points, end of story. With, what - a quarter of the season, done, this team has to start looking like it'll make it to the playoffs.

Previews from the DCUniverse and MLSverse:
Behind the Badge: "A healthier and more determined United side has made its way north of
the border and is preparing for tonight's match with Toronto FC. " Plus links to stories in the local papers.

WVHooligan - "Some rumors flying around right now say the DC front office is giving Soehn this week to turn things around or he will get canned like Steve Morrow did yesterday in Dallas."

Expectations:

Obviously, United needs to start winning, although I have no illusions that they'll be able to play well on TFC's Astroturf pitch. At this point, a tie on the road would be a moral victory for the team and something that they could build on. How the team plays, and how Tom Soehn manages the team, I think are more important than the actual result.

What to look for?

• Will we see Gallardo on the field? I have a suspicion that he might opt not to play the full 90 game, given the atrocious field. It could spare us watching his teammates not making the right runs and anticipating his passes.
  
• Will Emilio start? Can or should he start the game on the bench again? I think we played noticeably better with Doe up top last week and it'd be worth experimenting a little more with him up there.
  
• How will Wells organize his defense? Last game he was interviewed and mentioned that he needs to organize the defense better and improve communications. Its now or never, defensive miscues and bad positioning have been killing us.
  
• Can Moreno lead the team? Jaime needs to step up as captain and keep his squad motivated and focused, both if we give up the first goal or need to keep attacking if we score first.
  

Match Briefing for 13.A.01: At Harbor View

Match #: 13.A.01 -- CONCACAF CHAMPION CUP QUARTERFINALS

Six Word Novel Preview:
They built the team for this.

Opponent:
Harbor View FC
2006-2007 Premier League Champions (Jamaica)

TV: 12 March 2008, Fox Soccer Channel, 8PM

Radio: WFED 1050AM

Previous Meeting:
2005 CONCACAF Champions Cup, Quarter Finals, DC United 4 : 2 Harbour View (Aggregate)
[9 MAR 2005] D.C. United 2 (Eskandarian, Gros) : 1 Harbour View FC (Shelton)
[16 MAR 2005] Harbour View FC 1 (Stewart): 2 D.C. United (Walker, Moreno)


The Stakes:

Let me give some belated credit to Shatz, who did hypothesize early that many of the offseason moves were to make United more competitive in international play. So it is appropriate that United is instantly facing international competition in its first match. Last year's squad did what had to be done, and the stakes are the same for this year's team. United must win in its first round match-up, and failure would be even more disappointing than a failure would have been last year. This should be the start of a Champions' Cup run, not the mid-point.

For Harbour View FC, the season has seen a few troubling fixtures for them recently. They are 12 points back of Portmore after some disappointing results, and a win here could build on the recent success of their two last league games. To some degree, I think they feel that the 2005 contest was closer than the final scoreline would indicate, especially after drawing level in the second leg three years ago. They will be up for this game, both for revenge and for their season.

Previews from the DCUniverse:
QuarterVolley

Expectations:

United should look like the more likely of the two sides to go through after tonight's game. If it's a win, so much the better. A draw but good form to build on is also a potential likely, and acceptable outcome. A United loss, even away, would be troubling, and a multiple-goal loss would be distressing. Last year was about demonstrating that MLS teams have no excuse to go out this early, least of all United. Unless we all suffer collective amnesia and are running around in animal skins yelling "Miramani!" then we must keep that in mind judging this match. We hold this team to an elevated standard.

What to look for?

• The big question: How will Gallardo run the offense? We've heard that United is still a possession team, but if that possession results with silly plays up the middle, how much has changed? Will Gallardo use the wings better than Gomez, and with that implied width find ways to take on defenders and beat them? That's one thing to look at.
• Who starts on the wing? Some of Moose's few minutes last year came in Champions' Cup play, but with Olsen out, the indications from camp seem to be that Tino and Fred are your wingers. Watch for this.
  
• How well in the center of defense organized? With a completely revamped center back set and keeper, watch to see how good the communication among those three players (I'm assuming a 4-4-2, which may be faulty) is set up. This is probably not the easiest environment to get this right in, which means it is a good test. On set pieces from the corner and around the box, I am especially interested to see how this works.
• Who starts up top? Emilio is a given. Does Moreno start, or Niell? My guess is Jamie, but let's also check his minutes.
  

Match Briefing for 12.C.04: Los Angeles Galaxy, Superliga Semis

Match #: 12.C.04

Opponent:
Los Angeles Galaxy

Six Word Novel Preview: Inaugural tournament final appearance is possible.

TV: TeleFutura, TV Azteca, MLSLIVE.tv, 10PM

Radio: None

Previous Meeting: 1-0 DC Win. Weren't you there? Here is The DCenters Debrief.

The Stakes: United travels to the Home Depot center to fight for a spot in the Superliga finals. DC Had the weekend to rest, while LA sandwiched a loss to the Revolution since playing at RFK last Thursday. Beckham has announced he will definitely play, will we have Gomez starting

Previews from the DCUniverse: Soccer Insider, more as we see them...

Previews from the LALALand: I think they're too busy dissecting Beck's injury

Expectations: I fully expect DC to win this game. Watching LA against New England, the team had little spark and seemed very out of sorts. Landon made some dangerous runs, but couldn't do it all himself. Will Beckham + Donovan be enough to get an LA victory? I doubt it. Both Gomez and Moreno practiced with the team, but haven't seen a lot of minutes lately which means they'll be rusty, more so Gomito.

What to look for?

1. Beckham's Ankle - seriously, you won't be able to miss it. Not sure if Telefutura will turn into BSPNDeportes, but for you non-bilinguals at least you can tune out the announcers. Becks says he can play a half, and might start. He had some dangerous passes and setup some dangerous plays last Thursday, so he can be a factor.
   


2. Moreno's Passing - When he's involved in the attack and clicking with the other attackers, DC can string possession together and fabricate some lovely runs and passes. There was a hint of this in the second half of last weeks game, but if we want to score the first goals, he'll have to be involved.
   


3. Killer Instincts - Its such a cliche, but we'll have to finish the few chances we get. That means no more skying the ball over the cross bar in some bizarre homage to the memory of Earnie Stewart. The narrowed field that Yallop installed at the HDC will limit the space United's players have to work with, so they'll have to move the ball quicker, make faster decision, and make runs to anticipate a pass if they want to be effective.

Match Briefing for 12.18: Los Angeles Galaxy

Match #: 12.18

Opponent:
Los Angeles Galaxy

Six Word Novel Preview: 45,000 in RFK, I can't wait.

TV: ESPN2, 7PM

Radio: WMET 1160AM

Previous Meeting: 0-0 Tie. Here is The DCenters Debrief.

The Stakes: Recently, LA has come to RFK and made it Home Depot Center East. In fact, I think the last time that DC United won a game against the Gals here there was no Home Depot Center. This one will be in front of a capacity crowd. This one will be for pride.

Previews from the DCUniverse: Poplar Point Perspective
Previews from the LALALand: LA Galaxy Offside Blog

Expectations: I expect an ugly loss because that what they have given United the past couple of years. Though, I think there is a very good chance that United step up, say "no more" and win the game. The Galaxy are a horrible team that won't make the playoffs and are probably worse than last year's Galaxy that were also a horrible team that didn't make the playoffs. However, you can't discount Landon Donovan in an MLS game. It seems DC fans are second only to Mexicans in bringing out the best in him. After bringing a bunch of friends to last year's debacle and expecting a win, I am not going to be as optimistic this time around.

What to look for?

1. Beckham's Attire - I think it is basically assured that he won't be starting. But will he suit up and have a go for 15 or 10 minutes. Good money says no, but you never know. Frankly, I think he is a liability to the Galaxy at this point so I hope I see him on the field. That and the people that all bought tickets from me will be happier.


2. Donovan's Desire - He is the killer. But will he have a killer instinct this game? I don't know, but it is the question of the night.


3. No GoMo? - From the latest reports it looks like Gomez will stay out of this game and Moreno most likely won't start. I am hoping that Jamie gets in and scores a goal in front of 45,000 people, but if he is not healed enough I would rather have him healthy and scoring down the stretch. DC United needs to respond to this like it did against New England and run a tired LA into the ground.


4. Fred - Fred could line up in three different positions tonight. I am hoping to see him in Gomez's spot if Christian can't go. That would keep the backline the same and leave Gros to run the wing, while giving us a better option in the middle of the park than Dyachenko. But where he goes will dictate the rest of the formation.
   
5. United fans - Hopefully there will be lots of DC fans there and less Beckham fans. The United to Beckham fan ratio will be interesting to see. I don't really mind if they shriek for Becks, I mind that they cheer for DC. I will be bringing it loud in the 300 section tonight and am hoping some other Barra and Eagle transplants get the noise going. I have never seen a sold out soccer game at RFK, I am hoping for a loud raucous crowd.

Match Briefing for 12.C.01: Monarcas Morelia

Match #: 12.C.01

Opponent:
Monarcas Morelia

Six Word Novel Preview: First Superliga game, we need points.

TV: TeleFutra/TV Azteca, 8PM

Radio: WMET 1160AM

Previous Meeting: First meeting ever in a competitive match.

The Stakes: The stakes really depend on what the Superliga becomes in the future. Right now, the tournament is in its first year and a lot of people are writing it off. I think this is a mistake. This tournament could eventually supplant either the CCC or the Interliga, or both. SUM is obviously throwing a lot of money at this and wants it to succeed. There are many sub-plots to this tournament that might make it very interesting in the years to come, the most important being the US/Mexico rivalry. This rivalry has never really extended into club matches, but the Superliga could change that.

I know many fans won't care about the Superliga until it does become a big tournament (if it ever does) but remember that DC United has always been about winning things first. Payne is a big proponent of the Superliga and I think he really wants United to show well. They basically have to beat Morelia to do that as both America, and away to Houston are probably harder matches and only the top two in each group advance. To put it simply, this game will set the stage for the rest of DC's tournament.

Previews from the DCUniverse: DC United Offside Blog, An American's View, The Edgell Supporters
Previews from the Moreliaworld:
Previews Updated as we find Oscar to translate them

Expectations: Basically anything can happen. I am hoping that Morelia fans are saying "But it was our pre-season" this time tomorrow, but I don't know if that will be the case. Frankly, I just don't know enough about Morelia to answer this. If DC United was clicking and hard charging I would probably expect a win, but they aren't. Morelia on the other hand is in pre-season, how important do they see these games being? If Morelia takes the tournament seriously then a tie is probably the most likely outcome, though a DC loss is definitely a large possibility. If they decide to take the New England Rev route to international matches then I think United can get the three points. Somehow I think they will care a bit more than Steve Nicol, hopefully United will be up for the test.

What to look for?

1. Starting Line-up - Moreno, Kpene, and Namoff are all still sidelined with injuries. The line up Soehn trots out will tell us a lot about how United is going to play. Will Fred be out wide or used as a withdrawn forward? Will Olsen take the d-mid spot or go out wide? Who will the starting defenders be?



2. Morelia's Fitness - How does Morelia come out at the beginning of the game? Are they ready to play or do they let United get into a rhythm? Also, look to see if any of the Monarchs tire late. Hopefully there will be a bunch of them, but I am not counting on it.



3. DC Defense - I think all United fans need to watch out for defensive lapses. They have been a bit to frequent of late. If they occur early in the game you should probably hope United scores a bunch.



4. Gomez! - Christian has flourished against teams that don't man mark him with their d-mid. This takes two things, a decent d-mid and a scouting report. Let's hope Morelia is lacking at least one of those.



5. Mexican fans - Hopefully there will be lots of Morelia fans there. The real fan attraction is against America this weekend, but a good showing of Morelia fans on a weekday will be a nice bonus. I never like opposing fans in Estadio RFK but they are the reason SUM has put this tournament together. The idea is to show them MLS sides that compete (or destroy?) their Mexican clubs, and then maybe, just maybe they will come out an watch MLS games a bit more. This is what is needed, MLS shouldn't pander, it should showcase its quality.

Match Briefing For 12.15: FC Dallas

Match #: 12.15

Opponent:
FC Dallas
29 pts, 21GF, 21GA, +/- 0 GD
2nd place Western Conference, 2nd place MLS

Six Word Novel Preview: Distributed attack - Nine players with goals.

TV: Comcast Sports Net (7:30PM), MLSLive.TV

Radio: WMET 1160AM

Previous Meeting: First meeting this season.

The Stakes: United has three consecutive performances on the road that were not dominating by any stretch of the imagination. Dallas, with 17 games played, is suddenly in a situation where a team has caught them, creating a realistic view of the Western Conference race for the first time all year. This game is all about staying in the horse race for both teams.

Previews from the DCUniverse: QuarterVolley, The Edgell Supporters
Previews from FC Dallastan: Pending

Expectations: With Ruiz struggling, Cooper out, and the league starting to figure out Toja, Odura will have to shoulder much of the load for Dallas, and while I have respect for his ability, I'm not sure there's enough fire power to race with United. Which means that they'll be trying to keep the game as close as possible. If United can break through or score early on a set play, they should earn the win.

What to look for?

• The return of Jamie Moreno will be tested. He should play in this match, but we may also see some clue if Soehn is planning on running him out as the everyday starter, or if Addlery or Kpene have done enough to make Soehn comfortable with a rotation.
• Midfield Substitutions. I believe Goff reported the idea that Olsen may move back to center midfield, and Gros would move to left wing. Of course, that plan may be delayed with the stories that Namoff is not matchfit yet. I think Moose as an option for later in the game has to be considered, but I think Dyanchenko may not offer much for spelling Christian Gomez.
• The Vanney/Boswell experiment has now had a bit of time to congeal: This will be the start of the games where they're expected to be playing at full speed and in sympatico. If the center of the defense can hold, how good are McTavish and Gros (and perhaps Mediate) in getting outside and shutting down flank attacks, forcing poor crosses?
  

Match Briefing for 12.B.01: At Harrisburg City Islanders

Match #: 12.B.01

Opponent:
Harrisburg City Islanders
4th place ULS 2nd Division

Six Word Novel Preview: Islanders look to spoil like Richmond

TV: None

Radio: Kyle Sheldon said that the game would be available at dcunited.com, 7:30 PM

Previous Meeting: Have not met in a competitive match this season

The Stakes: Its the US Open Cup. Winner moves on. Loser goes home.

Previews from the DCUniverse: Soccer Insider
Previews from IslanderNation: I don't know if he will get a preview up but check out Upper 90 for you Islanders news.

Expectations: United should win. I don't know if they will, but they should. DC will mostly be playing reserves with a few starters sprinkled in, but has beaten Harrisburg in friendlies with those players. That said, this is not a friendly. The Islanders will be looking at this as the biggest game in their season. United will find it tough to match that intesity but hopefuly their talent can shine through.

What to look for?

• Who plays for United? This is a game to watch the reserves, who starts above who in a competitive match will give us a good idea what the depth chart looks like.
  
• Do the reserves play like the starters? Not with the same skill but with the same style. It is important because United will never push the whole reserve team up, instead individuals will have to mesh into the starting line-up. United has been very good at this in the past few years, hopefully it continues under Sohen. I don't see why it wouldn't considering that the fans have seen most of the reserves in MLS matches anyways, but it is still important to look for.


• Individual performances. Just as above, hopefully the entire team does well, but when you look at the reserves you should be looking for indivduals to step into MLS games. The US Open Cup is a legit tournament, as a team the players will be going for the win and have a little bit more pressure.


• US Open Cup information. This is a tournament that has been severely hamstringed by the USSF. Hopefully some day in the future it will be promoted as it should be. For now, United should try to get all the hardware it can. I agree that they should play thier reserves here, but I think I put a bit more importance on the Open Cup than most.

Match Briefing for 12.14: At Houston Dynamo

Match #: 12.14

Opponent:
Houston Dynamo
26pts, 20GF, 10GA, +10 GD
2nd place Western Conference
2nd place MLS

Six Word Novel Preview: Dynamo on roll and at home

TV: CSN, 8:30 PM

Radio: WMET 1160AM

Previous Meeting: Match 12.07 - DC United 2 : 1 Houston Dynamo (Debrief/ First Impressions)

The Stakes: Basically both teams are racing for the Supporters Shield at this point. The race is completely up in the air with about 6 different teams looking like they are in the mix. Houston will look to avenge their loss at RFK. DC will look demonstrate that they are the better team against a possible playoff opponent.

Previews from the DCUniverse: Poplar Point Perpective,Six Yards North,The Edgell Supporters
Previews from H-Town:
Previews Updated as we notice them

Expectations: Frankly, I expect a loss. The Dynamo are very good at home and have been on a tear lately. DC has not performed well on road games this season. If an invigorated United show up to play this could be a great match with a wide open game and anything happening. But, the team that played RSL and LA on the road could also show up for a Red Bullesque beating.

What to look for?

• Does United come to play? You will be able to tell this in the first 15 minutes and it is the biggest key to the game.
  
• A better organized defense. I am not sure if Boswell will be playing tonight, but I know Vanny has had more time with the team. Houston will destroy United if they let them have the chances they gave Kansas.
  
• How Addlery plays. He had a great game against Colorado and then a very poor game against Kansas City. Hopefully he gets his touch back and can contribute to the attack.
• Fred and Emilio. Can they continue their streaks against probably the best team in the league right now? Do they continue to integrate themselves into the golden hendecagon?
  
• Who gets the first goal? Both teams are undefeated when they score first.
  

Match Briefing for 12.12: Colorado Rapids

Match #: 12.12

Opponent:
Colorado Rapids
15pts, 13GF, 17GA, -4 GD
4th place Western Conference
8th place (tie-Crew) MLS

Six Word Novel Preview: International Absences, National TV, Local Pressure.

TV: ESPN, 7PM

Radio: WMET 1160AM

Previous Meeting: Match 12.01 - Rapids 2 : 1 DC United (Debrief / First Impressions)

The Stakes: United says they're embarrassed and ready to rebound from a shocking loss at Salt Lake. Then again, they said they're weren't taking Salt Lake lightly. While United will be missing three critical players to Copa America (Moreno - BOL; Boswell, Olsen - USA) the most critical absence may be Bryan Namoff missing the game to the hamstring injury. This makes this game the biggest test of United's depth this season.

For Colorado, a hot start has faded. Whispers about Fernando Clavijo's job security are probably premature, as I seriously doubt that Colorado likes the idea of firing a coach in the middle of their first year at a new stadium. Colorado also is facing absences, with Herculez Gomez and Kyle Beckerman both absent. However, the team wasn't exactly clicking with them in the line-up. Colorado will leave happy with a draw (taking 4 of 6 points from United). United should be looking to even the series.

Previews from the DCUniverse: QuarterVolley, Poplar Point Perpective, Six Yards NorthThe Edgell Supporters
Previews from the Rapidity:
Previews Updated as we notice them

Expectations: If you're a pessimist, you've convinced yourself that United is going to drop points here. I personally do take the team at their word, and expect full spoils. While I'm nervous about the absences, I think Colorado is hurt far more than United is. In response, Colorado will probably play hack and slash football against Emilio and Gomez, and I expect to see a lot of Route One football from Colorado's distribution. United can counter with Moose (and I hope they do). The Namoff absence worries me, as we're now in the "two-down" scenario that I thought would make issues apparent. However, Conor Casey has yet to impress me as a forward, making me wonder who Terry Cooke will find for his crosses.

What to look for?

• If Fred and Moose are consistently positive with the ball, then Colorado's will need to bunker. If they don't seem to find the ball, then it could be a long night.
• Moreno was usually the one to check back to the ball, but if Kpene is his replacement I can see Kpene staying higher near the box and Emilio dropping back to take the ball, lay it off, and make a run to the post.
  
• Colorado will want to slow this game down, and I'm not sure United will be able to break out of it.
  
• I hate the fact that this team is so dependent on the first goal. But, well, that's the facts of life.
  

Match Briefing for 12.08: At LA Galaxy

Match #: 12.07

Opponent:
Los Angeles Galaxy
5pts, 7GF, 8GA, -1 GD
5th place Western Conference
12th place MLS

Six Word Novel Preview: Missing: Albright, Martino, Kirk, Jazic, Carroll?

TV: FSC 10:30 PM

Radio: WMET 1160AM

Previous Meeting: First meeting of season

The Stakes: LA needs something to rally the faithful, and a win against DC would do it. DC needs a win to make any sort of the claim that they're other than mediocre right now. While it seems odd to talk about "trap games" when DC hasn't proved much yet (and make no mistake: Wins over Chivas, Toronto, and Houston do not constitute making a statement) this game could be one. The Red Bulls come to town in a week, marking a significant match-up, and LA looks week. Still, Frank Yallop is under fire for not putting out a team with passion and tactical execution, and given his injury situation I can see him trying to pull out everything against DC.

A loss for either team hurts, and a win means more to LA than DC right now. The stakes are higher than you might think.

Previews from the DCUniverse: Soccer Insider, QuarterVolley, Poplar Point Perspective, The Edgell Supporters
Previews from the Galaxy-area: Sideline Views, the Offside: LA Galaxy

The DCenter Team's Location: Oscar - On Travel. Kinney/D - Arlington: Babylon Futbol Cafe

Expectations: I fully expect that the Galaxy will look to find a way to win, and that will mean attempting the narrow the field as much as possible for United. If Gomez can continue to RUN the attack and not BE the attack, then United should look for picking up all three points. However, if this game bogs down in the midfield, then a draw would seem to be in the cards, which both teams would probably accept with less reluctance than they'd say. I also expect that allowing at least one goal in every game is annoying Soehn, so defensive play will no doubt be emphasized against Donovan, Quaranta, and anyone else LA throws up top. Personally, I want the win, but LA scoring against the run of play and making life difficult for United is not out of the question.

If United is to be a team to be taken seriously this year, they should win this game.

What to look for?

• I look for Fred to get into this game in a much more significant way than any other to date.
• Steve Goff has indicated that Brian Carroll may be out. I'd like to see Moose on the Wing, and Simms at Right Back is an interesting option that he's discussing. I also expect to see Ben Olsen take a yellow for a professional foul in order to stop Donovan from breaking through on the keeper. That's his job.
  
• Emilio Luciano to be involved in this game. If he's creating chances and space, then the right momentum can be created to push forward the next few weeks.
• United should be able to attack the flanks of the LA backline if LA isn't packing 10 men behind the ball. Of course, that could be an option for at least part of the game. Yallop should be able to experiment with changing gears, playing different games and different times in the match.
  

Match Briefing for 12.04: New England Revolution

Match #: 12.04

Opponent:
New England Revolution
7pts, 7GF, 3GA, +4 GD
4th place Eastern Conference
4th place MLS

Six Word Novel Preview: Pride. Passion. Tradition. Show us one.

TV: ESPN2 7:00PM

Radio: WMET 1160AM

Previous Meeting: First meeting of season

The Stakes: Let's spell out the nightmare. In four days, DC United could find itself 18% of the way through the season with 0 points. At that point, the panic button is not only hit, it will have been crushed with a mallet stolen from Donkey Kong while I run around setting things on fire. Of course, on the flip side, in four days we might find DC just a shade under .500.

For New England, this game is of little import. They've had some good wins, and a win or a loss does not do much to them at this stage of the game. Reincorporating Franchino and Parkhurst will be of interest to them, and they'll evaluate their play much more on those factors than anything else.

For ESPN... Eric, I heard you on Washington Post Live talk about the money ESPN has put into its presentation, but your last TNS outing was the worst this season. Let's keep the camera work decent, the commentary to the point, and show us the goddamn off-side line you've been promising. That being said, I think RFK will give you the best atmosphere you've had this season, and I hope the game is a decent show.

Previews from the DCUniverse: Ben Olsen's Beard (special Office preview), QuarterVolley, United Mania, Poplar Point Perspective
Previews from the Revolution: Blue Blooded Journo, The Offside: New England Revolution

The DCenter Team's Location: D- At Work (see you at Chivas on Sunday). Kinney - TBD
Oscar - RFK.

Expectations: Draw, if that. New England plays well against DC, and DC has to be a bit punch drunk. I can't possibly expect three points (although I can certainly cheer for it.) All the intangibles are in New England's favor.

What to look for? Mistakes, or the absence thereof. If DC United is beaten through great play by New England, that's one thing. But if DC hands opportunities to New England, that's an indication that this team is still unraveling. I'm very curious to see how the duties are handled by the holding midfielders, and how Gomez runs the attack. If we are always, 100% of the time, running straight at the New England defenders, we will not win this game.

Match Briefing for 12.03: At Columbus Crew

Match #: 12.03

Opponent:
Columbus Crew
3pts, 2GF, 2GA, 0GD
5th place Eastern Conference
9th place MLS

Six Word Novel Preview: Can DC United get a ****ing point?

TV: MLS DirectKick, 7:30PM (ET), CSN (Delayed), 8:30PM (ET)

Radio: WMET 1160AM

Previous Meeting: First meeting of season

The Stakes: DC United needs to prove the first two results were an aberration. Columbus needs to back up close games with more points. As of right now this is a battle of the bottom feeders, can one team show enough that they should be considered playoff contenders?

Previews from the DCUniverse: QuarterVolley, Ben Olsen's Beard, EDIT: Goff's Preview

The DCenter Team's Location: D - At the Kennedy Center. Kinney - Kitty O'Sheas.
Oscar - TBD.

Expectations: Tie. DC hasn't proven anything since dropping their first two matches of the regular season. Columbus has tied anyone and everyone, but is missing their main striker. I would love a win, but being rational, I am expecting a disappointing tie.

What to look for? I would like to see better midfield control and more organization in the back. United should be able to get a goal or two, even against a stingy Crew defense. The question will be how do they handle Columbus' speed up top?

Make sure to figure out United's formation when they start out. There have been some hints of a 4-4-2, so look at Josh Gros to see if he is playing further back than usual. Hopefully Fred will see some more time, I don't know how comfortable he is on the wing but hopefully DC didn't put him on the team to be a substitute. Rumors have McTavish starting in place of Erpen, lets see if the DCU brain trust are right to think they have enough defensive depth.

Match Briefing for 12.02: Kansas City Wizards

Match #: 12.02

Opponent:
Kansas City Wizards
0pts, 0GF, 0GA, 0GD
4th place Eastern Conference
10th place MLS

Six Word Novel Preview: If you have control, you win.

TV: Fox Soccer Channel, 7:30PM (ET)

Radio: WMET 1160AM

Previous Meeting: First meeting of season

The Stakes: Two rookie head coaches with different things on the line. Tom Soehn isn't facing a must-win, but a failure to take three points may start some whispering. United looked much too vulnerable in their opener on the road, no matter how many reasons there were for it. Curt Onalfo is still getting a handle on his squad and may be thinking of how he'll eventually fit a new acquisition into the lineup after this game.

Previews from the DCUniverse: QuarterVolley, An American's View..., Ben Olsen's Beard,

The DCenter Team's Location: D - At Game. Kinney - TBD. Oscar - TBD.

Expectations: United has been saying all the right things. I want three points, and a strong, dominating performance. Coasting with a win is not going to make things better.

What to look for? Signing Marnelli signals that Kansas City was well-aware of their biggest problem: A lack of playmaking. There's talent up top other than Eddie Johnson, and any MLS defense plays better than its parts when one part is Jimmy Conrad.

The big thing I want to see is crisp passing. Simple passes are fine, provided they aren't to the opposition. United has had time enough to figure out how their team members will move, now show me the possession . I also don't want to see everything running the same direction through the midfield. Luciano is not your only option up top.

Match Briefing for 12.01: At Colorado Rapids

Match #: 12.01

Opponent:
Colorado Rapids
0pts, 0GF, 0GA, 0GD
1st place (tie) Western Conference
1st place (tie) MLS

Six Word Novel Preview: The season starts. Bring it on.

TV: ABC, 3:30PM (ET)

Radio: WMET 1160AM

Previous Meeting: First meeting of season

The Stakes: Colorado wants to prove it can win without Joe Canon. That could be tough, but their defense does feature former United payers Mike Petke and Brandon Prideaux. Colorado would require both to have better than career average years to have a shot at the Western Conference. Still, the plan for Colorado will remain the same: Slip into the playoffs, knock off a higher seed, and see what happens. Winning in their new park against a good team would make for a great debut.

For United, the actual season starts. United stumbled against New York in the opener last year, but this team has undergone a few games to get into form. They've been training at altitude for most of the past two weeks, so Colorado's typical oxygen advantage may be somewhat diluted. Given Fernando Clavijo's style, I wouldn't be surprised to see a clogged midfield with physical, slogging marking that could neatly preview the how other teams gameplan DCU the rest of the season.

Previews from the DCUniverse: QuarterVolley

The DCenter Team's Location: D - Most likely at home. Kinney - TBD. Oscar - TBD.

Expectations: With the way United has played so far, three points on the road should be expected. A draw or loss is a disappointment. High expectations for the first game in a road environment where United is not known for getting points, but with almost everyone picking DCU to finish at the top of the East, high expectations are something they must be used to by now.

What to look for? Colorado's keeping situation is supposedly in flux, but regardless that will be a focus for the upcoming season. I expect that the Colorado defense will give up at least a few chances, and seeing how the keeper responds will be interesting.

For DC, look for signs of a hangover from Guadalajara. Can the Colorado midfield and defense neutralize Gomez, Moreno, and Emilio? Is the passing continuing to get sharper? Can someone please learn that clearing the ball to Row Z (as in Zed) is not a bad idea when compared to turning it over 35m from goal? Also, given that Gros is out with a concussion, the depth on the wing which was problematic even preseason now becomes a larger concern. Does Fred get his first start? Or DeRoux?

Finally, I fully expect Colorado to attack the 3-5-2 similarly to Chivas, with balls over the top into space. How well will Erpen and Namoff, and whomever is on the wing handle their defensive responsibilities to limit this attack?

Match Briefing for 12.A.04: At Guadalajara

Match #: 12.A.04

Opponent: Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Mexico)

Six Word Novel Preview: Score tied, count on Brazillian magic?

Aggregate Score: DC United 1 : 1 Club Deportivo Chivas

TV: Fox Soccer Channel, 9:30PM

Radio: Not known at this time.

Previous Meeting: United 1 (Emilio) : 1 (Bravo) CD Chivas

The Stakes: This is still simple, the aim is still to advance. It doesn't have to be pretty, just a win. Emilio's goal gave the team a lifeline, but they will be away from home and facing a tough team. The player's can't be timid or nervous, and will have to be more effective in disrupting Chivas' game from the beginning. Luckily, this is not as inexperienced a team as the one that was destroyed by Pumas in 2005. D expects that "we won't get nice, unbiased officiating in the away leg twice in this competition."

Chivas will want to prove that the 1-1 tie in RFK was a fluke, and will try to neutralize Christian Gomez to shut down United's attack. Don't be surprised if they try to goad our players into picking up needless cards. They're coming off of a 1-0 los to San Luis this Saturday. How tired will the Mexican team be after having played on Saturday? Will we see the usual starters? It is everyone's understanding that Mexican National Teamer Omar Bravo won't be available due to yellow card accumulation - how will that affect them?

Previews from the DCUniverse: Washington Post (added as we see them)

The DCenter Team's Location: The whole crew, D, Kinney, and Oscar will be at the SE Pub quiz. You should be there too.

Expectations: The outright fan in me wouldn't be surprised by a United win, this team could still advance. But they didn't help themselves by letting Chivas walk out of RFK with a tie. Even a one goal lead would be something. A tie during regulation wouldn't be anything to be ashamed of.

What to look for? Tighter defense - and hopefully no patented Erpen miscues out of the back. The team will have to work better to free Gomez, and provide quick outlets to capitalize if Chivas collapses 2, 3, or 4 players on him. Perkins will have to keep his back line focused and sharp for ninety minutes.

Match Briefing for 12.A.03: Chivas Guadalajara

Match #: 12.A.03

Opponent: Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Mexico)

Six Word Novel Preview: Home away from home? Not RFK.

CONCACAF Champions Record: First Match of Semifinals
CD Guadalajara - 1962 Champions (Corrected, see comments)
D.C. United - 1998 Champions

TV: Fox Soccer Channel, 8PM

Radio: ??

Previous Meeting: DC United 2 : 2 CD Guadalajara (August 24, 1997) [Note: Corrected, see comments]

The Stakes: You're going to hear a lot about how this will be a measuring stick about MLS. I don't buy these arguments. This game is simply a match beteween DC United and a Mexican team that's playing quite well in their league right now. For DCU, the questions about the defensive play will come to the forefront, and the ability to manage Chivas's wing play and counter attack will say a lot about how much progress has been made. DC United needs a lead coming out of this leg to maintain a decent hope of advancing, but hope is not dead with a draw.

For Chivas, the stakes are lower. They would like to come out of RFK close enough to take the win at home. Sunday they will be playing Club America at Estadio Azteca, and will no doubt want to take three points in that match. While they may not be looking past D.C. United, they may have to deal with a small case of fixture congestion that causes them not to play their best XI for the full 90 minutes.

Previews from the DCUniverse: DCUnited.COM, Ian Penderleith, Washington Post, Washington Times, The Offside: DC United, UnitedMania, DCist, Off-Wing Opinion (others added if/when we see them).

D's Location: Kinney has an extra ticket. Or rather, he had one. It's mine now. I just need to pay him. I'm not missing this game. No sir.

What to Look For: From Penderleith's article above: "The defense also practiced dealing with balls coming in from wide positions, as this is where D.C. feels Chivas can be at its most dangerous." That jives with what we saw from Chivas in their game on Sunday. And it will be a key. I'm not saying that I expect defenders to deny Chivas the ball on passes or early crosses in from the wing, but I damn sure expect them to deny Chivas space. If DC can be opportunistic in exploiting mistakes from Chivas, and limit the Chivas' supply from the wing, they can win this game. Key players to watch: Erpen, Namoff, Olsen. Also watch Perkins not on how well he goes from side to side, or how well he kicks the ball, but how quickly he can get up or down in his positioning.

Expectations: Every fan of Mexico on the East Coast will be at this game. That means you, yes YOU, must have a ticket and be in black. Walk up and buy one. I don't care if you own a DC United replica or not, get a black button-up wear the damn thing. Hell, it works for Jay-Z. If you're on the quiet side, you damn well clap along when a certain drummer shows up in your section. If you're on the other side, you sing, you clap, and you stand. If it rains, you do not head to the back. You get wet. Or bring something with a hood, provided it is black. Okay, PSA over.

The fact is, I expect a draw. While that won't bode well, it isn't the end of the world. United can score goals in other countries. Remember they put a number up in the Sudamericana away leg, even though they lost. Anything better than a draw, and DCU will have exceeded expectations. A loss is, however, a disappointment.

Match Briefing for 12.A.02: CD Olimpia

Match #: 12.A.02

Opponent: CD Olimpia (Honduras)

Six Word Novel Preview: Great start. Now finish them off.

Aggregate Score: DC United 4 : 1 CD Olimpia

TV: Fox Soccer Channel, 7PM

Radio: Not known at this time.

Previous Meeting: United 4 (Gomez, Emilio, Gomez, Erpen) : 1 (Carcamo) CD Olimpia

The Stakes: This is simple. This is not about sending a message, or proving your worth. Any result that allows DC United to advance, regardless of the score, is a good result. Bonus points for avoiding cards, since the next match will be against Chivas, and you can expect that we won't get nice, unbiased officiating in the away leg twice in this competition. Even if Olimpia gets a 2-0 or 3-1 result, I won't complain. The only important thing is advancing, staying healthy, and staying on the field.

For Olimpia, pride is on the line. Their manager's resignation was not accepted by management, so that message came through loud and clear. The team won their most recent Honduran league game against lower table Victoria 2-1, so it's tough to draw any conclusions from that.

Previews from the DCUniverse: Washington Post, Washington Times, UnitedMania, Express (others added as we see them)

D's Location: As of now, I do not have a ticket, for various reasons, most of them paycheck related. But I will be walking up to buy one before 7PM. And I will be there. With rain and cold weather gear. You should be there too.

Expectations: Does it seem like I was keeping expectations down in the paragraphs above? Well, I was. I was stunned by the 4-1 performance, but as I've written in the past, big results are usually not as indicative of play as close results. So I don't expect a huge result in this game. All I want is for the work in Honduras to pay off, as I never want Honduras to level to aggregate score. Even if that lead narrows, I'll be happy.

What to look for? Tighter defense, and focus on how the back line distributes the ball to start the counter. Who makes the pass out? How much runs through Gomez? Do we try anything direct over the top to Moreno or Emilio? These are interesting tactical questions that could play into later games. Does this team look smoother than they did the last time out when it comes to their passing, especially long balls? All things I will be watching for.

Match Briefing for 12.A.01: At CD Olimpia

Match #: 12.A.01

Opponent: CD Olimpia (Honduras)

Six Word Novel Preview: Are we ready? We must be.

CONCACAF Champions Record: First Match of Quarterfinals
CD Olimpia - 1973, 1988 Champions
D.C. United - 1998 Champions

TV: Fox Soccer Channel, 9PM (MLS Underground with live feed)

Radio: Feed from DCUnited.COM

Previous Meeting: N/A.

The Stakes: For D.C. United, fair or unfair, this game will be the first evaluation of the Tom Soehn era, and will also be used as a referendum on the off-season maneuvers by the DC Front Office. Normally I would caution against reading too much into a game for which DC has had little time to prepare, but this is the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and the prestige of the competition matters. The key test is whether the starting XI put on the field tonight look like a team that can be competitive for the upcoming year. Yes, D.C. United continues to pursue acquisitions, but right now this is the team we have. And for the first time we'll be seeing if this is a team we can believe in.

For CD Olimpia, you have to imagine that they'll be up for this match. It would be one thing if it was just the presence of an American team, but this is an American team that took away their scoring champion. I have to believe that the strikers for Olimpia will be wanting to prove to their fans that they don't need Emilio Luciano any more, and will play hard and fast. You can hear a small allusion to this from DC Assistant Coach Chad Ashton in the most recent SE Podcast if you listen to him describing the Olimpia attack.

Previews from the DCUniverse: Washington Post, Washington Times, Soccer Insider, The Offside: DC United, An American's View..., Quarter Volley, Port Halifax Idea Gateway (other added as we see them)

Expectations: This game is unlikely to be a walk in the park for United. Yes, I know Climbing the Ladder pointed out that no MLS team has ever lost to a Honduran team. Well, no team ever beat D.C. United in the playoffs until the Chicago Fire did it. And then no team other than the Chicago Fire did it until New England did it last year. Someone ends up as the first. It could be us.

A lead coming back to RFK is great, and a non-scoreless draw would also be acceptable. Even a 2-1 deficit isn't the end of the world. All of those would be acceptable results to me, though I would certainly prefer a nice 2-0 cushion coming home. To me, the important thing is to see how well the defense plays. Scoring frequently requires timing and familiarity, and I can see where it might take a month or so to really expect that to develop, but a solid defensive effort from the back line and defensive mids is a systematic thing that shouldn't rely as heavily on individual performances. If the defense is shaky, I wouldn't be surprised if DC's 3-5-2 looked more like a 7-2-1 for most of the game. But if it can work possession away from Olimpia and move the ball down the pitch, that will bode well even if the goals don't come. That's how I will be looking at this game.

Match 11.C Preview: Real Madrid CF

Match #: 11C

Opponent: Real Madrid, International Friendly

Records:
DC United, 13-2-6, 45 pts, 1st in East Conference , 1st in MLS
Real Madrid, Pre-Season, Last Season 20-8-10, 2nd in La Liga

TV: CSN, MLSlive.tv - 11PM

Previous Meeting: First Encounter

Suggested Pregame Music: Nirvana's "Come as You Are"

The Stakes: I am really looking forward to seeing United match up against the Galacticos. Real Madrid is bringing:

Goalkeepers – Iker Casillas, Diego Lopez, Adan

Defenders – Michel Salgado, Roberto Carlos, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Cannavaro, Ivan Helguera, Cininho, Raul Bravo, Jonathan Woodgate, Paco Pavon,

Midfielders - Emerson, Julio Baptista, Pablo Garcia, David Beckham, Javi Garcia, De la Red, JuanFran, Balboa

Forwards – Raul, Robinho, Cassano, Ruud Van Nistelrooy

This should be a great exhibition game. If you are going to have mid-season friendlies you might as well have them with the most successful club in the world. Kudos for both MLS and DC United to get this game no matter what, I know I would have liked to be there in person but this game is important to play to get the DC United brand out into the world.

Obviously the stakes aren't for very much as long as DC United doesn't embarrass itself. No staunch euro-snob is going to give credence to a good United showing but hopefully we'll get a few of the the smarter ones to start following United with some quality soccer. Not to mention this game is being played in Seattle, so there should be plenty of US Soccer supporters to impress. Plus there is the international press that DC United can garner with a good showing, I mean we have already beaten Celtic, were mentioned in just about every Chelsea v. MLS, and now this match. Hopefully our boys will be going for the trifecta (anyone place that bet before the Celtic game?).

Things I'd like to see: Adu embarrassing Beckham. A goal by Bozilla. A win. No injuries.

Previews from the DCUniverse: EDIT: DC Sundevil, Quarter Volley

Expected Yield: N/A. Anything can happen. However, I'm pulling for a DC win.

Kinney's Location: EDIT: Looks like I forgot that Project Runway is from 10 to 11, so I will be at home flipping over as soon as Hedi says "Auf Wiedersehen." And yes, I do have a girlfriend, why do you ask?

Last Words: "Say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos."