Tuesday, December 17, 2013

D.C. Becoming United Once Again


Via USSoccer.com



This past week has been a busy one for D.C. United as they have added four new players to their recently depleted roster. In an offseason that has already seen their beloved superstar Dwayne De Rosario leave the club, the front office of D.C. United has vowed to turn things around for one of the most decorated franchises in MLS history.

They have picked up a couple of proven defenders in Sean Franklin and Bobby Boswell by way of the Re-Entry Draft in hopes of improving a defense that conceded 59 goals in 34 games last season. Franklin, who was a mainstay in the Galaxy lineup since winning the MLS Rookie of the year award in 2008, plays right back and can even move up to play mid if need be. Boswell brings his experience in central defense to the club that drafted him out of college back in 2005. Bill Hamid was left hung out to dry too many times last season and I believe that the addition of these veteran defenders will help United return to form. 

D.C. United has also added a pair of attacking-minded players to their roster. They traded an international slot to the Montreal Impact in exchange for  attacking-mid Davy Arnaud and signed Conor Doyle to a permanent deal from Derby County for an undisclosed amount. As captain of the Impact, Arnaud was often blamed for Montreal's lack of success and the playmaker hopes for a fresh start in our nation's capital. Doyle, an Irish-American forward who has pledged allegiance to the USMNT, looks to earn a starting spot and continue his success for United.  

With the salary cap space that D.C. United has cleared this offseason, there should be plenty more moves to come as the Black and Red now turn their attention to landing Eddie Johnson.

- Jake Vasquez (@JakeVasquez49)  

3 comments:

  1. Actually, they may not have all that much cap space left. It depends on how much they're giving Arnaud, how much they're going to give to their selection in the next phase of the Re-Entry draft, whether they take a senior or an off-budget Gen Adidas player in the Superdraft and, above all, how much allocation money they have left. They could be dishing out over $300k to the RED and Superdraft picks. Depending on how much Arnaud is getting, they may have between $100k and $200k of cap space after the drafts -- and one to three budget roster slots left open. To get a DP or even a decent international, they would need to use allocation money. To make multiple moves? They would still need some of the money from the Najar and Rochat transfers. Thing is we don't know how much of that they have traded to get Silva and Johnson.

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  2. I see what you're saying Ed but lots of variables going on at DC right now

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    1. Lots of variables, and lots of unknowns. Right now, I estimate they have between $400k and $500k of cap room -- well, not RIGHT NOW, but that assumes they give EJ a DP deal before the season starts. Otherwise, you can add about $200k to that total. But, they've got the RED tomorrow and I figure they'll give out a deal close to $200k. If they take a senior first in the Superdraft, that's over $100k there. Also, they may have re-signed Thorrington -- probably for about $100k. So, it will go fast -- in fact, the regular cap space might be gone after the Superdraft. Other on budget signings would depend on roster trims or allocations. Of course, any homegrowns or young players on minimum salaries are not under the cap.

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