D.C. United players report for physicals Thursday and will meet with coach Ben Olsen on Friday before their first official practice of the year Monday. Here are the questions Olsen needs to answer before the season opener March 19:
1. How will United handle goalkeeper Bill Hamid? Heading into his second full pro season, the 20-year-old is the presumed starter in net, but he’s also on the mend after shoulder surgery in September. New goalkeeping coach Pat Onstad needs to work Hamid back to full sharpness and manage his battle with Steve Cronin.
2. Can Perry Kitchen take over right away in central defense? The 18-year-old rookie could be the partner D.C. United always has wanted for Dejan Jakovic. With Marc Burch and Jed Zayner coming off injuries and new faces in rookie Ethan White and Uruguayan Rodrigo Brasesco, it’s a clean slate for last year’s porous back line.
3. What will the midfield rotation look like? Dax McCarty and Clyde Simms are United’s best central pairing, and there’s depth to spare. If Andy Najar starts on the right wing, could Santino Quaranta see Branko Boskovic challenge his spot on the left?
4. Where will the goals come from? D.C. United still is searching for attackers to complement Josh Wolff and Joseph Ngwenya. Chris Pontius, coming off an injury-riddled sophomore campaign that ended with hamstring surgery, will be anxious to help. Boskovic is too pricey to come off the bench.
5. What is reasonable progress? If healthy, United seems certain to be more competitive than it was last year, but only time will tell whether Olsen can put together a group that has both chemistry and consistency. An elite goal-scorer remains the biggest need.
