Morrison moves to UAE, Audi Field hosting Club World Cup, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Hello and happy Tuesday! I’ll start by saying that hope everyone and their families are staying safe from the terrible hurricane-related weather we’re seeing in some parts of the country. I’ve been to Asheville several times, including, technically, on my honeymoon (it’s also the headquarters for the NWSLPA), and seeing the devastation that’s happening there and elsewhere in Appalachia is just so upsetting. I hope everyone affected gets the support they need to recover quickly, and if any of you know of good organizations to donate to, I would love to hear about it in the comments.
Now, let’s get to the kicks.
Morrison joins third-tier UAE club Precision (BBC)
Checking in on a former Black-and-Red player: Ravel Morrison is headed the UAE.
DC’s Audi Field among a dozen US stadiums hosting 2025 FIFA Club World Cup games (NBC4 Washington)
This is pretty cool, but I worry that scheduling (and grounds keeping) is going to be even tougher than it was this year.
Team of the Matchday: NYCFC stars shine, LAFC bounce back (MLS)
And where is our brace-scoring Golden Boot leader?
The BENCH?!?! No respect.
Let’s move on to some other achievements from our local teams. First up, Aubrey Kingsbury is up for Save of the Week for her dive to keep Angel City from scoring on a free kick on Friday:
Next, in case you missed it, Loudoun United equalized in the last minutes of their match on Saturday, thanks to an assist by goalkeeper Hugo Fauroux. I love it when GKs get to be involved in the attack!
Why Hatch’s story is one of NWSL success, not USWNT heartbreak (ESPN)
A nice profile of Ashley Hatch, who talked about the emotional impact of not getting selected for the 2023 World Cup squad. The article discusses both her success in the league and her work with the community in DC, which I think is a big part of what endears her to Spirit fans.
Christine Sinclair, world’s top international goalscorer, announces retirement (Fox Sports)
Some more news from late last week: the women’s soccer world has seen so many stars retire this year, and Christine Sinclair is the latest. She had already retired from international soccer, after scoring 190 goals over her career, and this will be her last season with the Portland Thorns.
Finally, we do have a couple of mid-week matches coming up, so here’s your schedule of events.
| Teams | When | Where | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC Power FC vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC | Wed., Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. | Washington, DC | Peacock |
| D.C. United vs. Nashville SC | Wed., Oct. 2 at 8:30 p.m. | Nashville, TN | Apple TV |
Have a good day, and take of yourselves, everyone!
Benteke brace eclipses Rooney as all-time Buzzard Points leader. The Top Six:
Buzzard Points (home goals): Benteke (21); Hatch & Rooney (20); Acosta & Ola Kamara (13); Rodman (12)
Talones (home assists): Gressel & Rooney (14); Acosta & Rodman (11); Benteke (8)
Benteke is now also tied with Roy Lassiter for fifth most MLS goals in DC United’s history. He’s only nine goals away from tying Christian Gomez for second place, and should pretty easily eclipse that with his new deal. After he first arrived, I thought he was going to be a bust, but he’s going to actually go down as one of the top players in club history.
Shows what I know.
Saluting Sinclair as she ends a career of remarkable longevity and impact, while howling with laughter that Ravel is going to a country where morality is legislated
I have one point I’d like to make very clear: Benteke for president. That is all.
As much as I would love for DC to make the playoffs, I do wonder when the last time was that a Golden Boot winner didn’t make the playoffs (if its ever even happened). Benteke is a few goals clear at the top of the rankings now, and while it could still be won by someone else, I feel decently that he’ll keep it. Now if only DC can actually get into the playoffs, as unlikely as that may be
Looked up Jeff Cunningham to see if he did, don’t think so
Off the top of my head I remember Mike Magee getting *really* close when he was with Chicago. He lost out on the Golden Boot to Camilo Sanvezzo but won MVP.
I’m not sure about the last time, but Dwayne De Rosario won the Golden Boot and MVP while with DC United in 2011, and that club didn’t make the playoffs.
More recently, Ola Kamara tied for the scoring lead in 2021 but lost out on the Golden Boot to Taty Castellanos because Castellanos had more assists. And that DC United team also didn’t make the playoffs.
Not to get too far ahead of ourselves (I realize we have a game tomorrow), but just taking a look at where the roster stands for 2025 right now (via Capology).
Under contract for 2025:
Christian Benteke
Matti Peltola
Gabriel Pirani
Ted Ku-DiPietro
Kristian Fletcher
Conner Antley
Lucas Bartlett
Jackson Hopkins
Matai Akinmboni
Jacob Murrell
Boris Enow
David Schnegg
Dominique Badji
Not under guaranteed contract for 2025:
Mateusz Klich
Martin Rodriguez
Cristian Dajome
Aaron Herrera
Russell Canouse
Pedro Santos
Tyler Miller
Christopher McVey
Jared Stroud
Alex Bono
Luis Zamudio
Garrison Tubbs
Nate Crockford
So half the squad is coming back, the other half is up in the air. Some of those who aren’t guaranteed do have options that can be picked up. Some have options that will declined. Some have contracts are expiring that could be re-signed or negotiated to new deals. Of that list, I think that that Herrera, Stroud, and Tubbs are locks to be back. I think Alex Bono very likely is back, and Zamudio and Canouse are strong maybes. That leaves seven candidates that seem like a decent bet to leave, although it will probably happen that one or two of them find their way back (I like McVey’s chances much more if Matai Akinmboni is sold to Bournemouth or wherever, for instance).
So, a decent amount of the roster will be moving on, but it probably shouldn’t be as big of a turnover as last season. That means the rebuilding is largely progressing. Mackay’s biggest decisions will be whether to exercise Klich’s option (I’m hoping that he offers him a two year TAM deal, and if Klich turns that down then just to move on), and whether to buy down Peltola’s Young DP standing. That would give them the option of getting two more DPs (a goalscoring left winger and a badass center back?). Or they could go with two DPs, add two more U-22s to go along with Ku-DiPietro and Pirani, and throw another $2 million in allocation money to beef up the rest of the roster and add better depth. Lots to consider going forward!
Nicely done gathering this info! I also agree with your guesses as to who stays and goes. I think Klich’s time has passed. Only going with two DPs while bolstering the rest of the roster would be an interesting choice to hopefully build a supporting cast around Benteke.
Yeah, the team is clearly built around Benteke right now, and there’s only a two year window with him. That would seem to suggest maximizing the number of senior DPs to try and win a trophy while he’s here. If one of those DPs is another genuine offensive threat and still in the prime of his career, then you can transition to building around him once Benteke has moved on, but it doesn’t necessarily make sense to go with more U-22s to try and have the core of the squad grow together into a vital team over the longer haul.
I agree with Mattglad that Klich should go. Not an impact DP, and more likely to get unnecessary yellow cards than provide intangible leadership benefits- he’s a shithouser more than an example.
After seeing what the team was able to do with a single effective and speedy right wing run from Ted against Columbus, I’m all the more convinced that that’s the kind of play we should look to make permanent in a great right footed right winger as DP. Ted made a great play, but he’s not a 90 minute player, and until he proves he can consistently do that across a season, he needs to be a sub. Benteke would absolutely flourish with someone who can do all the things you want out of that position, and you’re not going to get that on a typical MLS salary. There will be enough salary space to replace Birnbaum without making ineffective use of a DP spot for a CB (which has NEVER yielded superior results in MLS roster construction), and if we can get good attacking pieces, it will be easier to solidify the midfield.
In short, right winger DP, please!
I agree with impact winger, but I like what Jared Stroud did enough to focus more on the left wing than the right. Herrera and Stroud have made the right wing a force, and I’d be really excited to see what Schnegg and (DP TK) can do.
As for Birnbaum’s salary, I think most of that probably went to Enow, although we’ll see when the MLSPA releases their numbers. But Rodriguez, Dajome, Santos, and Miller clear up close to $3 million, so we could definitely get a good center back that wasn’t a DP. If we do go the 4 U-22s/$2 million extra route, we should be able to get some pretty impactful players across the board – as long as we avoid shelling out $1 million for Ravel (or, to be fair, Rodriguez and Dajome).
Lesesne has called out Martin Rodriguez as a truly impactful player. I suspect that he’ll be resigned.
I’m hoping so, because he’s taking the Klich role when Klich moves on.
I was kind of idly wondering if United should see what it takes to get Eryk Williamson out of Portland if they do decide to move on from Klich and Rodriguez.
Unfortunately, I think that’s gonna require a memory transplant for Williamson- once players are done with an organization, they tend to stay that way
Maybe. It’s a new administration and coaching staff around here though, and he’s a bit older and maybe he misses home. I haven’t been following super closely what’s going on in Portland, but it seems like he’s kind of on the outs there.
Doesn’t hurt to ask.
Sure, my pessimism surrounds a signing, but Mackay might as well kick the tires. He’s got a lot of tires to kick.
I wouldn’t mind it. But he’s on $1.1 million. The type of number I’d like to see him on would probably be insulting after that. And while Rodriguez is a decent player (and performed much better than I expected him to), could we get an even better performing player for that $1.1 million? These are the types of decisions that Ally Mackay gets to make, and hopefully get right.
“Can we get an even better performing player?”
That’s really the essential question, up and down the roster. If I had my druthers, they’d ditch much of that list, especially the players who aren’t guaranteed. The question though is who they can get instead?
I think that’s why they bought Pirani’s rights. They had a bird in hand, and no idea if they could find and sign a real predator. Pirani’s shown some flashes recently. but there are plenty of other players who could fill his salary slot and have much more positive impact.
How many talented players really want to come to play for DC United now? I’m skeptical.
Totally agree about maximizing the squad while Benteke is performing. I guess I’m saying that U-22 players come in all shapes and levels of experience. 2 quality U-22s and the extra $2 mill in the squad could build a better overall team then if DC gets 2 more DPs. Obviously this all depends on who exactly those DPs are. If they are 2 more Bentekes then DC is golden. 2 more Peltolas and DC is right where they are now.
Unfortunately, there’s no way you’re getting two Bentekes with u-22 spots. You don’t get Benteke’s savvy and leadership in that age group. Which is why I’m fully more interested getting seasoned DPs at the number 3 than a bunch of u-22 prospects. To my mind, those spots are for hungry prospects we want to play and then flip for maximum profit to somewhere in Europe.
Along those lines, we will hopefully see both Pirani and Ku playing at a higher level next season. They’re both kind of hinting at it here at the end of this one, and getting good production out of them will go a long way towards helping this club be less reliant overall on Benteke.
The guy I have high hopes for — and I know most of you don’t agree (I may even be alone here) — is Murrell. He can’t run like Ku, but his creativity and ability to anticipate is a joy to watch. unmatched on the roster, and he’s still a teenager. If he can sharpen his shooting technique, he’ll be a real force in MLS.
I was hoping for a little bit more from Murrell this year, but I agree that he can blossom. He’s still only 20, and has mostly been playing out of his normal position, since Benteke is sitting in the CF role.
Still, Murrell has had some pretty inspired touches, and had a few good chances at goal.
For 2025, United will have Benteke, Badji, Ku-DiPietro, Murrell, and possibly Fletcher at the striker position. I don’t think they’re going to put many resources into that position, at least before other positions are addressed first. Benteke should still be fine, although I don’t know if he’d bag 20 goals again, and Lesesne will be hoping for growth from Ku and Murrell.
The question is -though- are we reliant on Benteke because he’s most definitely the best we have. Say, the way, Cinci seems to be so reliant on Lucho? Or are we reliant on Benteke because our offense is designed to go through him. Would this team be completely lost without Benteke? I do not think that is the case. I really like and appreciate Benteke, I’m glad he is on our team. But I’ve seen DCU teams that were very reliant on a single player (the last years of Moreno) and I don’t think this DCU team is in that situation, at least not in terms of need, but yes, in terms of design. It would not be a bad idea for Lesesne to try to incorporate a plan B of attack for next season, one in which Benteke gets rested from time to time and the team is allowed to explore a form of attack the relies on quickness and soft/first touches which I think both Gabi and Teddy are capable of but Benteke lacks.
Certainty not. I will say that teams with good scouting (LAFC and ATL) have grabbed high quality U-22s. My main argument was that if DC goes all-in on 2 more DPs and misses they arguably get worse. Getting more prospects and using the remaining cash on veteran difference makers could be more sustainable. Again, I totally agree that 2 top-tier DPs probably get DC into the playoffs. I just have no idea who they would be.
Yup. Ally Mackay gets to earn his bones.
I’ve been beating this drum for some time but Hatch and Rodman in the Top Five for Buzzard Points emphasizes that the Commentariat ought to follow the Washington Spirit more. If Rodman can maintain her health, she’ll readily surpass Benteke.
And while we all hope against hope that DCU can finally return to the playoffs, the Spirit are 2nd in the NWSL and with 15 wins no less.
Too many of you are missing the best show in the DMV.
Agree, but I’ll just say, the NWSL dispersed coverage deal is a big factor. I would catch most games, if they were on a single service I could count on. It’s ridiculous at the moment, and realistically, most of us can’t make it to the stadium every home game
Also, as much as I agree that they should get more support, I think it’s important to recognize two things. One, this is fun club to watch, and have a much better basis for entertainment than DC United at this point, so enticing commenters in with that is more effective than reproach. Second, Washington Spirit are building a fanbase and support network well outside this blog, which is a migrated DC United fan experience that has gamely covered other teams. The team, fortunately, will do just fine even if United fans on here are less inclined to divide their attention.
And The District Press provides outstanding coverage of the Spirit by Annie and Andre. Arguably, it’s more complete than DP’s coverage of DC United.
It’s head scratching that JoeW and I seem to be the only regular commentators on Spirit coverage.
True I’m not a regular, but I sometimes get over there.
Me too
In the first game of WXV 1 play this past Sunday the US Women Eagles got smoked by England 61-21. Here are the highlights: https://www.world.rugby/video/962003/usa-v-england-highlights-wxv-1?video=962003
George Mason University Men’s soccer has cracked the Top 25 for the first time since Sept 2014 sitting at #20. They are 8-1-0 (2-0-0 A10). Their sole loss was on Sept 15 at Old Dominion University 1-0.
https://gomason.com/news/2024/10/1/mens-soccer-patriots-ranked-20th-nationally-in-united-coaches-soccer-poll.aspx
So how do we think we do tonight?
well crap 1-0 to Nashville in the 6′. McVey was behind the rest of the line.
Nashville with a high press and its giving DCU troubles.
He’s been slow to step all year. I don’t hate him as a depth piece, but I don’t think he’s a starter on a playoff team.
Miami dropped him and then promptly won a Supporters Shield.
Hang on, I’m being told something about correlation and causation…
Garber=causation
Badji gets a great chance at a header, but puts it wide.
Benteke with the assist to Bartlett off a corner! Its level 1-1 in the 24′.
Thanks for the comments, I totally blanked on this happening midweek. Watching now from the bullshit “foul” on Herrera
The card on Bartlett just now was even more bullshit. If anything that’s a yellow on Surridge for simulation.
I hope the league punishes this craven coward and the hapless referee
That’s not a yellow for Bartlett, either. This ref will be shamed to see the game back, if he’s even pro enough to do that
Fuck it’s 2-1 that shouldn’t have been a free kick.
I want a player as good as Mukhtar to pair with Benteke in the attack, and I want refs to get a grip in this league.
2-1 off a free kick that never should have happened.
Oh, and Lesesne has a card now. This ref is a piece of shit
Darth Garber doesn’t want DCU in the playoffs.
You do wonder how much he would trade us in for a new franchise. Probably in a heart beat.
This is a disgrace to refereeing.
I despise MLS refs. Last game I had kind words.,This game borders on incompetence at best, conspiracy at worst.
Darth Garber is pleased. The refs will be rewarded for their loyalty.
Viva Miami siempre
So now Nashville’s forward can just body check our cbs looking for retaliation with no consequences? Unreal
Santos actually really close to a goal off a direct fk, weird stuff happening
Ted with magic, Stroud can’t avoid a defender with what should have been an easy one
As much as the ref is unfair, no way Muyl should score two goals against your defense.
Rodriguez completely gave up on the play when they switched off. He should have followed Muyl. He did not
He seems to show up against DC.
This just in: Benteke a motherfucking legend
Fuck, almost got it in again! Ugh!
Benteke needed to score there, to state the obvious.
And Murrell needs to score that, as well
If he had scored that scissor Valley, it would be one of the greatest goals in team history. Maybe he shouldn’t have gone for such a splashy try
He snatched at it, is what I’m saying
Willis denies a brilliant overhead flick by McVey, denies a second shot off the corner. Damn
Pirani ties it with a screamer!!!
Pirani is here, people.
Absurd!!! Forever to be known as “The Pirani Game.”
Easily the best I’ve seen D.C. United look in the attack since that 7 to 1 thrashing of Toronto some years ago
Remember when Pirani couldn’t shoot his way out of a damp paper bag? Who’s this guy??
A guy who learned to shoot a bit. If he keeps up this trajectory, 2025 is looking a lot better.
BJ should be furious with himself and his squad. Totally let United own the last 17 minutes of the game
But I’m not fucking complaining
Holy shit what an epic come back win!
Yessir
You gotta love this team. Lesesne has instilled a never give up attitude more than for any DC United squad in my 29 years of watching them.
Those last 20 minutes have definitely changed the way I think about this team. But, the standings and schedule are suddenly in my view. With Montreal and Philadelphia playing tough road matches, there’s an excellent chance that DC United could be tied for eighth place after Saturday’s game (and holding the GD tiebreaker edge).
Won’t be easy getting 3 points in New England with some tired bodies, but the opportunity is there. Then a home win (or perhaps even a draw) against Charlotte on Decision Day would/could see DCU clinching a spot in play-in round…and maybe even playing at home.
New England might have some tired bodies after playing last night in Houston?
I had no idea DC was even playing tonight. As I was preparing to turn off my laptop for the night I saw a headline about Messi’s team and decided to see what other games were played tonight.
Seems like it may have been one of the best wins in the post-pandemic period and that it keeps our playoff hopes alive with 2 games remaining!
I’ll watch highlights tomorrow.