Off The Schnide

Any doubt that's a goal with Perkins playing?

(Photo courtesy Washington Post's Toni Sandys)

A funny thing happened on the way to writing a blog this week: D.C. United actually won! I’ll be honest, I had a free ticket to the game and passed it up to watch at home. The decision was based largely on the fact that United had one legit goal in five games this season and the Wizards hadn’t scored in three straight, but the parking situation and the ability to drink more and not have to drive an hour home after also played into my decision.

It certainly wasn’t a vintage United performance. For them to earn points this year, though, that’s how they’ll have to get them as this side isn’t going to have the glitz and glamour of seeing a Christian Gomez run at defenses or a Marco Etcheverry hitting pin point passes to a youthful Jaime Moreno. This team doesn’t have a true #10, though Andy Najar could eventually be the next maestro for United’s midfield. But that’s some time off.

The big positive of course was the play of Bill Hamid in nets. Well, a positive to everyone except Troy Perkins who looked sullen on the bench Wednesday night. Maybe someone should’ve slipped a $5 margarita in his Gatorade bottle. Hamid still has work to do, obviously, but at a youthful 19 time is certainly on his side. The physical attributes are there as well with his 6’3”, 225 lb frame that still is agile enough to make reaction saves like we saw the other night.

As far as the offense, well the most important player for United on both goals was Kansas City’s Pablo Escobar. First, it’s such unfortunate name for a Colombian defender, though mildly better than Andres. However, it wasn’t like he was named Michael Bolton and all of a sudden that no talent ass clown came along -- this Escobar isn’t very good to begin with.

Escobar didn’t do well in allowing Danny Allsopp to run through him, and then take advantage of some lax defending by Jimmy Conrad before using Conrad’s leg to deflect in his shot on the first goal. The second was even worse as Escobar tapped a pass that Adam Cristman intercepted, allowing him to find Allsopp running free between Escobar and Conrad for a well-placed finish to double the lead. As my buddy Chris asked me via text “so he pulled a Mike Green?” Harsh, but accurate.

So now that United has those first points on the board -- hello tied for 7^th in the East!!! -- where do they go from here? Bushman told me yesterday he thinks at least a point at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday night is a must to have a chance at salvaging the season. I’m inclined to agree, but I just can’t be a half-cup-full kinda guy after that win considering the opponent. That Dallas just beat a scrappy Houston team doesn’t bode well for D.C. either.

Much like their stadium situation, I don’t see things getting better in the near future for United. With Hamid as their keeper, they shouldn’t gift goals to the opposition like they did with Perkins. However, the creative ability from the midfield just isn’t there. Clyde Simms does help tremendously in negating the other team’s possession, and the pairing of Cristman and Allsopp up front are hard working and might continue to grind and produce goals like they did against Kansas City. However, that’s not the D.C. United “tradition” and even if the season is turned around I can’t see the front office being particularly pleased in winning in that fashion.

Other stuff…

- Sad to see Chelsea win the title, though I’d have to say they are the best team thanks mainly to their depth. I can’t imagine Wayne Bridge will be buying any papers on Monday with John Terry lifting the trophy. Manchester United actually have the tougher test on Sunday morning against Stoke as Wigan have lost 13 of their 18 road games this year with a -29 goal differential. It is nice though that the game does mean something as Chelsea have to get the win, rather than the typical walk in the park it has been in years past.

- Gotta love the controversy coming out of Serie A again as Lazio rolled over to let Inter win, helping them maintain their league lead over Lazio’s hated rivals (as co-tenants at Stadio Olimpico) Roma. Not match fixing as much as just screwing over a rival. Of course, if I was in a similar situation and say UNC was playing at Comcast and a Terp team not caring about the result just let the Heels win so Duke wouldn’t win the title I’d be all for that.

- As I was writing this, Montreal became the 19^th team in MLS. No real shock there, but I still wonder how three Canadian teams will do given their limited player pool. It’s not like TFC has lit things up as the only MLS Canadian side. Granted, both Vancouver and Montreal will bring up some of their players currently with the team, but will any be competing for an MLS Cup in five years? I think not.

It also brings up the question of where the 20^th, and presumably final MLS team, will be. St. Louis was always an option, but with AC St. Louis I don’t know that they are the best now. A second New York team to me would be the most desirable for a second official derby in the league, but we need to see fans consistently going to Red Bull games for that to be a viable option. Other than that, the Florida locales make sense until you realize they still wouldn’t support a team, Phoenix is too hot, Vegas would be awesome but it’s out, and the Atlanta/Nashville ideas just don’t work. I’m sure The Don has an idea, but they need to get that 20^th team for 2012 as well to avoid more byes every week. Don’t mess with MFLS like that Garber!

- Pat Walsh