As D.C. United prepare to take on LigaMX’s Queretaro FC in CONCACAF Champion’s League action, the 2016 Major League Soccer season is also right around the corner. Should United advance to the CCL semifinals, they can certainly be proud to have performed at the highest levels of CONCACAF. Still, there will be clear questions for D.C. United heading into the 2016 MLS campaign.
Many Questions for D.C. United in 2016
Midfield
Have a slew of offseason roster moves and draft picks shored up a midfield that simply couldn’t hang with anyone in the latter half of the 2015 season? D.C. United tied for second-fewest shots in the league last season, and this was partially due to their lack of possession in centerfield. In ceding the midfield, United were unable to routinely build a competent attack. Patrick Nyarko and Lamar Neagle offer an interesting new layer while Marcelo Sarvas looks to be an experienced replacement for the injured Davy Arnaud.
United also managed to build the midfield in the SuperDraft with the addition of holding midfielder Paul Clowes in the SuperDraft. While he shouldn’t be expected to make the match day roster to start the season, D.C. United has a reputation for finding talent in the SuperDraft; players like Nick DeLeon, Perry Kitchen, and Steve Birnbaum were all able to contribute and become staples of the matchday lineup after their selection in the draft. Could players like Clowes and Julian Buescher make a difference in this season?
Defense
The center back partnership between Steven Birnbaum and Bobby Boswell has been of critical importance to D.C. United in the past two seasons at RFK. Lurking in the shadows and stepping in for Birnbaum when he was injured last season is Kofi Opare. Many in the D.C. United community have anticipated the Birnbaum-Opare tandem taking over as Boswell ages. When they have played together, they have proven that with some time together they could potentially be a brick wall in front of goal to aid Bill Hamid and Andrew Dykstra.
Steven Birnbaum has come off a very successful January Camp with the U.S. Men’s National Team, where he logged both his first international goal and assist in the first friendly of 2016 against Iceland. Opare has been the subject of chatter regarding his citizenship and potential eligibility for the United States, Canada, and Ghana national teams. Will this be the year the young pairing takes over?
Acosta-Espindola, Boca Juniors in America
After a notable spate with Orlando City SC over midfielder Antonio Nocerino, which culminated in Orlando obtaining the right to sign the midfielder from AC Milan for both General and Targeted Allocation Money totaling in the low-to-mid six-figure range. United chose to engage in negotiations with Orlando over those rights after signing Luciano Acosta, a 21-year-old number ten playmaker from Argentina’s Boca Juniors. In preseason, Ben Olsen had him playing under Fabian Espindola, another Boca Juniors product. Will this pairing prove to be a solution to United’s goal scoring woes?
D.C. United’s New Wallet?
In somewhat of a reversal from recent years, the purse strings seem to be loosening when it comes to player acquisitions. By no means is D.C. United on par with Orlando City, Toronto FC, or the LA Galaxy in their spending, but the change this offseason has been noticeable. After letting Perry Kitchen’s contract expire, United has openly pursued several players in the low-to-mid Designated Player salary level. Luciano Acosta’s loan contract is reportedly worth nearly $2 million, and United is said to be in the market for another player in the $457.5k-$1 million range sometime between now and the end of the summer transfer window. With the new stadium at Buzzard Point less than three years away, could this be a glimpse into a less tight-fisted club ownership in Washington, D.C.?
Main Photo: Alex Menendez, Getty Images
