Happy Monday, everyone. I’m headed back to DC today after the first USMNT match in Dallas, so we start there:
Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun score the goals as the USMNT open up their Copa America with a 2-0 victory.
Washington Spirit snap Gotham FC’s unbeaten streak with 2-0 win (DP)
The Spirit continue to play well, taking out the reigning NWSL champions on the road!
DC United 1-4 Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Christian Benteke scored a penalty and then was lost to a red card, and Houston came back to destroy DC United 4-1. With Matai Akinmboni also receiving a red card, DC United could be extremely shorthanded next week.
Espanyol earn LaLiga promotion with playoff win over Oviedo (ESPN)
Espanyol is back in the top flight in Spain, beating Real Oviedo in the La Liga promotion playoff.
Second to one! Kei Kamara moves ahead of Landon Donovan on MLS all-time goals list (MLS)
Congrats to Kei Kamara, who scored over the weekend to move past Landon Donovan for 2nd all time in MLS goals.
Euro 2024: Albania’s Daku banned for nationalistic chants (ESPN)
Mirlind Daku was suspended for 2 matches for leading Albania fans in nationalist chants that were derogatory to North Macedonia and Serbia.
Endrick expected to be unveiled as Real Madrid player on July 26 (The Athletic)
Endrick was already a Real Madrid player, but he will be officially be unveiled after Brazil completes Copa America next month.
Enjoy the day, y’all!
DC just needs a break and I think we’d appreciate a break from them as well. This is just silly.
Darth Garber has awarded Referee Ford with the Order of the Pink Jersey.
So, just looking at the player personnel…
I’ve got the following who should be healthy and available for Saturday’s game.
Miller
Bartlett
Peltola
Santos
Stroud
Pirani
Dajome
Rodriguez
Murrell
Ku-DiPietro
Herrera
Bono
Crockford
Klich
That’s 14 players. Perhaps Garrison Tubbs will be recovered enough to play. Perhaps Kristian Fletcher will have recovered enough from his ankle injury to play. So that’s a max of 16 players, assuming no one else gets hurt in training this week. Three of those are goalkeepers.
If Tubbs can’t go, the only CB available is Bartlett. Peltola could also play center back, but then that would make Klich the CDM I guess?
The beginning of the season kind of tricked us into thinking that perhaps something was achievable from this season. But recent performances have pretty rudely reminded us that it’s a rebuilding year. I think they have to recall Hayden Sargis and Jeremy Garay from their loans. Even if they’re not in the long term plans, this thing is very nearly a farce, and could quickly become dangerous, potentially causing injuries to other players.
Tubbs looked pretty concussed coming of the field. Really dazed. I am afraid he won’t be ready, but I would be pleased to be wrong.
Yeah, he looked really bad, and I would absolutely prefer everyone be cautious with him rather than trying to rush him back for what looks like a pretty doomed game anyway.
I am convinced at this point that even if DC only had 7 healthy and active players, Garay would still not see the field. Though I do absolutely expect Sargis to be recalled. I did see something indicating that the Red Bulls were also going to be relatively short staffed, so maybe that might make things a bit better, though I still doubt it
Play half-field, 7 on 7 for both teams.
That’s not only 14 players. It’s 3 GKs. So only 11 field players. Effectively that means 1 reserve. Figure a backline of: Santos, Pelota, Bartlett, and Herrera (with no reserves–unless Dahome play’s outside defense). MF of Klich, Pirani, Stroud. Front line of TDKP, Murrell, Rodriguez. Sub of: Dahome. That’s ridiculous.
Though I’ve been a DC United fan (my #1 rooting interest) since 1996, perhaps more of the Commentariat would find some relief from this season if they turned more attention to our other USSoccer top level club – the Washington Spirit. They are 10-1-3 and only two points from leading the NWSL. They are marvelously exciting to watch with Trinity Rodman and Croix Bethune exceeding anybody that DCU can field, including Benteke (who BTW is one goal behind Ashley Hatch in all-time Buzzard Points). And Annie Elliott provides terrific coverage for the District Press.
Agreed with all of that.
Yeah, but they’re guuuuurrrrrllllsssss, Dave….
/s