D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid carefully watches a potential shot come into the box (Photo Credit: Jennifer Jordan-Harrell Photography)
In thirty days D.C. United will have their first regular season match of the 2016 campaign. That may sound odd to hear given that there is about a foot of snow on the ground at Robert F. Kennedy War Memorial Stadium in Washington D.C. But with United still alive in the CONCACAF Champions League it is certainly the case. Hopefully this also means the return of the orange ball.
(By the way, United supporters, can we come up with a mixed drink of hot chocolate and Jack Daniels? It may not be as good as the leftover Tuaca cans in the stadium but it sounds delicious).
The good news for United supporters is that the club was able to get out of D.C. before Snowzilla came in and are now in Florida training. The club has a couple of preseason matches against Elfsborg (January 29) and Jonkopings Sondra (February 2) which means that all of us can get some early unrealistic predictions in which is all the rage in the internet soccer community.
Now here is the bad news…
Bill Hamid is out 4 to 6 months with a knee injury
As first reported by my fellow D.C. United beat reporter Isadora (who you should be following by the way on Twitter) starting goalkeeper Bill Hamid sustained a knee injury while on duty with the United States Men’s National Team. This week United revealed how long he will be out: 4 to 6 months.
Now the good news is that United’s first match is not for another month and their regular season opener is not until March so we can at least shave a month off of that timeline. Still, that is a crippling blow to a team that has depended upon Hamid to bail them out multiple times over the past two seasons.
The former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year will likely be replaced by Andrew Dykstra, who started nine matches with the club last season and has served as a spot starter since joining the club in 2013. D.C. also has Travis Worra, a second year professional who spent most of last season with the Richmond Kickers in the United Soccer League, and have former Toronto F.C. goalkeeper Chris Konopka in on trial.
The big question is how this will impact United’s strategy early in the season. With Hamid in the back, United coach Ben Olsen can take chances on the attack by bringing center-backs Bobby Boswell and Steven Birnbaum into the attack on set pieces. The reason for that is because of Hamid’s natural abilities as a goalkeeper and that he has developed a good first step when taking on attackers. But Dykstra does not have the same physical gifts as Hamid so one could see Olsen playing a bit more conservative in their approach.
One has to feel for Hamid though. After another incredible campaign it appeared that he finally had a chance to break through the Tim Howard-Brad Guzan stranglehold for the top goalkeeping spot for the Men’s National Team. But with this injury it means that he not only misses World Cup Qualification matches but also likely the Copa Centenario in June.
United invites five trialists to preseason camp
Part of the mild interest that comes with preseason camp is watching to see what players each team brings in. It is usually a smorgasbord of journeymen, former internationals looking for one last chance of glory, or young players trying to break through. No matter what it always seem like one or two players on each team who fits this situation end up doing something big that season. D.C. United know this all too well although for all the wrong reasons with Kemar Lawrence, who was brought to camp last season, turned down by D.C., then signed by the New York Red Bulls and immediately becomes one of the best defenders in the league.
This year D.C. has brought in five new trialists for the early part of preseason camp. Goalkeeper Chris Konopka and Paolo Tornaghi, midfielders Kevan George, Ariel Gonzalez, and Paul Torres will be joining United in Bradenton, Florida vying spots in two of United’s most open areas on the roster.
At goalkeeper Konopka, who started 21 matches for Toronto FC last season, has the experience advantage over Tornaghi, who spent all of last season with the Vancouver Whitecaps lower division side last season. The question though will be if Konopka would accept being a backup or third string starter. He may also receive opportunities at a starting job elsewhere in MLS as the preseason goes on.
At midfield, it appears that United is looking for depth at the defensive midfield/center-midfield position. With Perry Kitchen likely gone and Davy Arnaud future after sustaining a concussion last year the club is still thin at that position.
Of the three names, Rodriguez and George are the two most intriguing. Rodriguez featured for Costa Rican side Alajuelense last season and was an alternate for the ‘Ticas at the 2014 World Cup. George, meanwhile, started two matches for Columbus Crew SC last season. Both players would fit United’s needs well. But the club has only a finite number of spots open so there may only be one spot open between the two.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Jordan-Harrell Photography
Nick De Leon considering playing for the Trinidad and Tobago national team
At least that is according to his dad. In a recent interview with the Trinidad and Tobago national football team website, De Leon’s father Leroy stated that his son is ready to play for the Soca Warriors pending him getting a passport.
This marks a bit of a change for De Leon who had previously declined call-ups with T and T at both the under-23 and senior national team levels. De Leon was born in the United States and has previously expressed his desire to represent the country of his birth. In an interview with the Washington Post’s Steven Goff in 2013 De Leon said, “I grew up here and it’s always been my dream to play here.”
However in the same article he also mentioned being called up to Trinidad and Tobago’s senior team saying, “It felt pretty good to get invited, to be honest. It’s a big honor. But I don’t think it’s the right time.”
If his father is correct, now appears to be the right time for De Leon. One cannot blame him. With the Soca Warriors in the middle of World Cup Qualification and a chance to make the final round (they are currently second place in Group C with a record of 1-1-0) De Leon would have the ability to play in some meaningful CONCACAF matches. D.C. will also be minimally affected with this move since Trinidad and Tobago did not make the final round of the Copa Centenario.
Fun fact about De Leon’s dad: he actually played at RFK Stadium in the 1970’s as a member of the Washington Diplomats.
