Preview Quick Hits: D.C. United
RFK Stadium (capacity: 45,596)
2008 Record: 11-15-4, 37 pts. 6th in Eastern Conference.
GF: 43 (6th in MLS)
GA: 34 (13th in MLS)
Finish: Did not reach MLS Cup Playoffs
Head coach: Tom Soehn (third year with club)
Key departures: Marcelo Gallardo, Ivan Guerrero, Zach Wells, Joe Vide, Jeff Carroll
Key additions: Christian Gomez, Ange N'Silu, Dejan Jakovic, Rodney Wallace, Chris Pontius, Anthony Peters
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
GOALKEEPER
Louis Crayton: The gregarious Liberian made an immediate splash when he arrived in D.C. last August, shoring up his team's confidence in their goalkeeper but also displaying a penchant for hair-raising jaunts outside the penalty box. The well-traveled veteran will need to be strong and steady in the nets this season given the young defense in front of him.
Get pumped for First Kick '09 >DEFENDERS
Bryan Namoff: A workmanlike right back who ranks as the Black-and-Red's most experienced defender in 2009, Namoff will need to step into a more forthright leadership role as his greener back line mates establish themselves.
Dejan Jakovic: The 23-year-old Canadian international boasts an impressive resume and ample technical ability, but he was one of United's final preseason acquisitions and faces a steep learning curve in his new league. Center back clearly ranks as the club's most problematic area in recent years so his performances will be closely scrutinized by fans and coaches alike.
Greg Janicki: The big Michigander offered a rare bright spot for United during last year's stretch run after arriving on loan from USL-2 side Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and seems to have edged out Devon McTavish in the preseason competition for a starting role. But can he perform at a high level for an entire campaign?
Marc Burch: The former striker's form stagnated a bit last season after his strong 2007 displays as the team's injury crises pushed him into a central role for long periods. But the club has shown faith with a new contract and a clear opportunity to make left back his own again. His left foot remains one of the most formidable in the league.
MIDFIELDERS
Santino Quaranta: Displaying newfound strength both on and off the field, the Baltimore native worked his way back into Black-and-Red hearts last season after overcoming drug addiction and the history of injury troubles that provoked it. Now he'll look to consolidate that resurrection with significant contributions on the wing and up front.
Clyde Simms: With a pivotal role at the heart of midfield and a lucrative new contract that made it easy for him to resist the lure of Europe, life is good for United's destroyer-in-chief. His 3,849 minutes played in all competitions set a club record last year, but the presence of youngster Andrew Jacobson and revived veteran Ben Olsen should help him keep complacency at bay in '09.
Christian Gomez: One of the most memorable players in United history is back in black after one ill-fated season in Colorado. It's a joyful reunion for both parties, but one question lingers: how much is left in the 34-year-old playmaker's tank? The answer could define D.C.'s season.
Fred: Though he's grown comfortable in the left flank role that once posed such a difficult adjustment upon his arrival in Washington, the former Australian league MVP could also deputize for Gomez in the middle. But wherever he appears, United will need him to spark the attack with his uniquely Brazilian flair.
FORWARDS
Jaime Moreno: It seems to have become an annual ritual: onlookers wonder if the present season will be Moreno's last -- and every year, the Bolivian winds up playing a pivotal role for United. Few players in MLS can match his guile or experience, as his place atop the all-time league scoring record makes clear. At 34 years of age, the importance of rationing his minutes is undeniable, but Moreno remains a crucial cog in Soehn's side.
Luciano Emilio: It's not often that a season featuring a team-high 18 goals in all competitions is seen as disappointing. But for Emilio, that was the reality last year in light of his 20-goal, league-MVP performance in 2007. As United's designated player, the veteran Brazilian is expected to score goals by the bagful but he'll need service from Gomez and other creative colleagues to do so.
OUTLOOK
United had big, bold plans for 2008, but very little went to plan over the course of a frustrating, exhausting season. The Black-and-Red are determined to make amends but have adopted a more low-key mentality this time around, blending proven commodities and youthful recruits with an emphasis on depth rather than star power.
GRADING THE SEASON
Even United's most grizzled veterans aren't quite sure how those tweaks will play out, or how high this team's ceiling reaches. But on East Capitol Street, championships are always part of the conversation and there will little tolerance for underachievement as the season unfolds. Investor-operators Victor MacFarlane, Will Chang and team president Kevin Payne have been vigorously pursuing a new stadium for the club in the Maryland suburbs and will be similarly proactive if results on the field do not improve this year.
NEWCOMER(S) WITH THE BIGGEST IMPACT
Gomez will be essential, but can't truly be called a newcomer. Talented rookies Rodney Wallace and Chris Pontius may be ready to contribute right away this season, but the heaviest burden falls on Jakovic. He's only 23 but has already faced off against some of the world's best at the club and international levels, and is expected to step right into a starting role at United's most troublesome spot.
-- Charles Boehm
