We are ten days away from the start of the 2016 regular season. Let that sink in for a minute. After a winter of frigid temperatures and a hot stove that turned out to be much warmer than what was originally expected here we stand just ten days away from the kick-off of the 2016 season. In just ten days times D.C. United supporters will get to use their scarves for more than just shields from the cold.
Now of course not every club in Major League Soccer is in the same position as United. With D.C. having to play two matches against Mexican side Querataro in the CONCACAF Champions League their preseason has been expedited a bit.
It is a fascinating question to ask about the value of these matches and if they change the approach of the team entering into their 2016 campaign. There has always been a division within American soccer and among the supporters as to the true value of the tournament. The mentality in previous years seemed to be by and large one of indifference. With the Montreal Impact making it to the finals last year and defeating several Mexican league opponents one has to wonder if that mentality has changed.
If D.C. chooses to treat this two-legged series against Queretaro then this week will be critical for United and Coach Ben Olsen. With goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra taking over for Bill Hamid and the additions of Patrick Nyarko and Marcelo Sarvas there are certainly many things that Olsen will need to look at this week when the club takes on the Tampa Bay Rowdies (tonight, 7pm, stream,) the Philadelphia Union (February 17, 4pm) and the Montreal Impact (February 20, 4pm).
The good news for United is that in addition to Nyarko and Sarvas they may have yet another midfielder to throw at the Queretaro in ten days…
United reportedly signs Luciano Acosta
United’s long journey to find another midfielder has reportedly come to an end. According to Washington Post writer Steve Goff and Argentine journalist Lucho Torrez Tarano D.C. United have come to terms with midfielder Luciano Acosta.
Acosta, 21, is a product of the Boca Juniors youth academy system in Argentina. He has made over 25 appearances for the senior side since making his debut in 2014. Nicknamed The Jewel, Acosta spent last season on loan with another Argentine football giant Estudiantes. He has seven goals across all competitions during his three years of professional football.
At 5’3″ Acosta will not exactly tower over defenders. But he does possess some speed and a bit of pace which given his size will make him difficult to defend on the ground. With Olsen looking to use Nick De Leon more as a center mid this season Acosta may supplement him on the outside as someone who can lead the counter-attack.
The question for Acosta will be if he can handle the physical pounding that MLS defenses can sometimes give out. The league has certainly evolved some in that it no longer resembles hockey from the 1970s. That being said, it is not uncommon to see multiple harsh challenges during the match. Boca Juniors are not exactly known for developing soft players so perhaps he will be fine. But it will be interesting to see how his style matches Olsen’s and that of MLS.
Dave Johnson reportedly coming back as D.C. United’s announcer
Dave Johnson’s return to D.C. United’s airwaves is in the net. After a bit of uncertainty it appears that the voice of D.C. United will be back again for 2016. Johnson, a local television legend who has covered pretty much every sport you can think of, has served as United’s play-by-play commentator since their first kick in 1996.
There was some fear that Johnson might not be back for 2016 after United switched broadcast partners, going from their longtime host Comcast-Mid Atlantic (formerly Home Team Sports) to WJLA-7 and New Channel 8. But a recent report by Goff indicates that Johnson will be returning.
Goff’s report also indicated that the position of color commentator is still open. For the past two seasons former United player Santino Quaranta served in that role although it is unknown at this time if Quaranta will return.
