Ben Olsen’s DC United has been anything but tame. Olsen shook things up in the offseason, and he has done it again today. On my drive home, I saw that United had traded allocation money for Brandon McDonald, a physical centerback from the SJ Earthquakes. I think it is a good move, giving United some physical bite in the central defense while Jakovic is out, and possibly allow Kitchen to take over Clyde Simms defensive midfielder role.
But then came the real shocker: Dax McCarty traded for Dwayne DeRosario. My first reaction was that United got the short end of this deal, trading away long term stability for a run at the playoffs now. But really, the more I look at it, the more that Dax McCarty just wasn’t going to fit with the other personnel on this team. Dax needs to play as a more deep lying midfielder, with someone else having the attacking role. But, in DC, that role is taken by Clyde Simms, or Perry Kitchen, or Conor Shanosky. Playing Dax out of position for the next 10 years isn’t going to do him any good. He is a class person and I am glad that United was able to get him into a position where he can succeed, even if it has to be with the Red Bulls. It doesn’t hurt that United gets one of the best attacking players in the history of the league in return. Hopefully United can also get a long-term solution in the attacking midfield for after the two or so years that DeRo gives them soon.
So going forward, what lineup do I want to see, at least until Jakovic comes back?
Hamid
Zayner McDonald White Woolard
Kitchen
Najar DeRo Pontius
Davies Wolff
I would put that front five up against any other in the league right now. Vamos United, and bring on the Union!
Before Extra Time 