Offseason list includes coach, scoring forward
The only certainty remaining after D.C. United lost its regular-season finale against Toronto FC was that massive change is required to turn around a club that has missed the postseason three years in a row.
“I’ve seen hopefully the bottom,” interim coach Ben Olsen said. “I’ve seen how bad it can be, as far as wins and losses and things not going your way, injuries, signings not working out, referees not always on my side and probably bad coaching. I’m sure we can throw that in there. It’s been a perfect storm this year.”
United (6-20-4) set team records for losses, scoreless matches (17), fewest points (22) and fewest goals (21), and the season wasn’t salvageable when Olsen stepped in for fired coach Curt Onalfo in August.
“Ben is not a candidate [for coach],” team president and CEO Kevin Payne reiterated last week. “Ben has dealt with the situation exactly as I thought Ben would deal with the situation, which is why we asked Ben to step in front of that particular bus. It was a pretty thankless situation, the way we laid it out to him, and he embraced it as he always does.”
Andy Najar was the lone bright spot, emerging as a front-runner for MLS rookie of the year, and the return of injured Chris Pontius, Marc Burch and Rodney Wallace should boost United’s young core, but Payne and general manager Dave Kasper know they need to stem the tide of repeated failed signings.
“Our focus is down the middle of the field,” Payne said. “We clearly need at least a goal-scoring forward but probably two forwards. We need better play in the central midfield position, more on the defensive side, and we need more consistent play and more leadership out of the center back position.”
No one better Jaime Moreno himself realized the symbolism of his own departure after 15 seasons and 133 goals.
“Hopefully we can get more Marco Etcheverrys and Jaime Morenos so we can have more success,” Moreno said. “It’s hard to compare players, but definitely we will need players like that, if not better, to win championships.”
