Assessing The 2012 D.C. United Trialists, Round 1
by Martin Shatzer on Jan 19, 2012 2:00 PM EST
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The 2012 D.C. United training camp kicked off yesterday with the team’s first practice session in windy and cold Arlington, VA. Besides newly signed forward Maicon Santos, there were several new faces on the field as Ben Olsen and Co. brought in a smattering of trialists for the first D.C. leg of camp. This list is expected to be whittled down prior to the team’s arrival in Florida next week, but for now, the trialists are:
Goalkeepers: Andrew Dykstra, Carl Goody, Will Swaim
Defenders: Jed Zayner
Midfielders: Seth C’deBaca, Mike da Fonte, Ryan Richter
Forwards: Yoni Berhanu, Levi Houapeu, Matt Oduran, Sainey Touray
It’s too early for us to make any judgments on these players as they just hooked up with the team yesterday. And if you claim to have seen more than three of these guys, and your name doesn’t end in Clark or Rockwell, you’re probably lying. But let’s take a first pass at doing a little bit of analysis about what is going on here.
A native of Woodbridge, VA, Andrew Dykstra was the starting goalkeeper for the Charleston Battery last season and finished 2011 with the lowest goals against average of any goalie in the USL-Pro Division. Prior to that, he served as Sean Johnson’s backup with the Chicago Fire, making 17 MLS appearances in two years. He’s certainly qualified to make an MLS roster, and would provide some solid competition with Joe Willis for the No. 2 goalkeeper spot. But would that be enough for him? Or would Dykstra prefer to be the unquestioned starter in a lower league over simply competing to be a backup who only makes a handful of appearances? If Dykstra doesn’t sign with United, 6’-4" Carl Goody out of William Carey University would be another big option to sit behind Willis on the depth chart after recording 11 shutouts and a 0.79 GAA in his senior season.
Mike da Fonte is probably the most intriguing name in camp. After a successful college career at Longwood University, da Fonte spent the last year chasing dreams in Portugal as a member of Rio Ave. I’d expect him to compete for a roster spot with Supplemental Draft pick Matt Kuhn to add depth behind Chris Pontius, Andy Najar, and Nick DeLeon on the wings. I’m also intrigued by Sainey Touray, a former member of the New York Red Bulls who scored eight goals in 20 matches with the Harrisburg City Islanders last year. The 21-year old Touray has seen time with the Gambian U-20 team and could join United’s long line of failed African-born attackers to come out of the Central PA powerhouse.
You might recognize the names Ryan Richter and Levi Houapeu. That’s because they each spent last season on the Philadelphia Union roster, but finished 2011 without a single appearance in a league match. I don’t take highly to signing other peoples’ castoffs, but these two will have a chance to make the team as long-shots, as will Goody, Swaim, C’deBaca, Bernahanu, and Oduran, all of whom played soccer locally at a lower level last season.
But of all the players listed as trialists, Jed Zayner might still be the one capable of making the biggest impact. Just over one year ago, he was named United’s Defender Of The Year, and now he’s fighting to make the team. If Zayner is injury-free and in-form, he’ll quickly be making our bench as the preferred backup to Robbie Russell at right back, and may even compete with Daniel Woolard to start on the left. Steve Goff revealed yesterday that Zayner has recovered from his hamstring issues of 2011, but has cartilage problems in his knee that could force him into retirement.
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Collecting some scattered thoughts
Andrew Dykstra: Juan Carlos Osorio somehow chose him out of a group including Jon Busch and Sean Johnson to start in 2010. Osorio keeps getting hired in Latin America, and not at small clubs. Weird.
Anyway, Dykstra was not ready to be a starting GK in MLS, and certainly not ready to start in that specific scenario (where Busch was cut within a week of the opener despite playing well the previous year). His problems were with decision-making and giving up the occasional awful goal (note that Johnson has these same problems, but is so athletic that it’s tolerable).
However, the time he spent with Charleston – one of the most professionally-run lower division clubs in the US – probably improved him quite a bit. I would hope that his decision-making has improved and that he has cut down on the garbage goals. I doubt he’ll ever move ahead of Willis on the depth chart, but I’d be fine with having him as our 3rd stringer.
Carl Goody: He’s English, and by my count we have 3 free international roster spots. That might become a problem for him.
Will Swaim: I’ll always support a former Terp, but realistically I don’t see him making the team. Swaim lost the starting job at Maryland in the NCAA tournament to freshman Keith Cardona, which means that just a few weeks ago he was not the best GK on a college team.
I don’t think he’s a bad keeper, but Swaim never really had that air of confidence around him at Maryland, and if memory serves he traded the starting job in multiple years.
Jed Zayner: It’s hard to imagine overcoming all the knee problems he’s had. It’s also hard to imagine United offering him anything beyond a senior minimum deal for the simple reason that he’s probably one tweaked knee from retirement. It’s a real shame, because Zayner would give us quality off the bench (possibly allowing us to loan Korb out, which is what he could use most).
Seth C’deBaca: I never saw him at Georgetown and know little about him, but the fact that he was kept around throughout the fall for training is a good sign.
Mike da Fonte: His resume means he might be a find, but he’s not the only college kid to go to Europe and get a deal that he probably wouldn’t have gotten in MLS. He’s intriguing, but we should all be realistic about his chances, which are maybe only a hair better than the other undrafted college kids we have in camp.
Ryan Richter: He followed the oft-traveled path of the college midfielder/forward who becomes a conversion project at one of the fullback spots (in this case, right back). I had actually anticipated seeing him in last year’s Open Cup game, but Philly sent their best line-up. We still won, even after starting Brasesco.
Richter is supposed to be reasonably quick. I figure he’s probably trying to become the new Barklage for us, which means he and Kuhn are looking at the same roster spot. I’m not sure if Philly retains his rights, which might be a problem.
Yoni Berhanu: Totally unfamiliar with him, but he’s a Marylander so I am obliged to hope things go well for him.
Levi Houapeu: Philly took a long time deciding whether to give him a contract last season, and I don’t recall that ever being clarified (what with the Union and their love of secrecy). I think it was at least partially due to the fact that he counts as an international (Houapeu is from the Ivory Coast).
What I do know about him is that he’s very fast and very small. His ideal position is probably on the left wing, and since Philly didn’t often play with a wide midfield, it’s not much of a surprise that he didn’t get a chance there. I could see him making the team based on athleticism alone, with the coaching staff hoping to develop his play off the ball and his technical ability. If I recall correctly, he’s actually a pretty good finisher but struggles with his touch and his passing.
Matt Oduaran: During his time at Maryland, Oduaran always reminded me of a college soccer version of Alejandro Moreno. Average size, plays tough, works hard, always makes himself available for his teammates, but he doesn’t score very many goals. It’s not because he’s a bad finisher; he just usually finds himself starting plays as a forward but then dropping off to allow someone else to charge ahead.
I’m not sure he’ll find a spot on the team with De Ro, Santos, Wolff, and Brettschneider already signed and with Goff saying we’re looking for a striker in Europe, but maybe they’re looking at him as a conversion project to another position. It’s a longshot, but I could see him learning the ropes in central midfield or defensive midfield.
Sainey Touray: Another intriguing player to bring in. The fact that NYRB cut him loose means almost nothing given their record of screwing up player evaluation. He’s got good size, and I recall reading praise of him doing some reading on early Open Cup games. To make the team as an international, he’d probably have to be better than Brettschneider, which probably won’t happen.
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Pretty sure Dykstra blanked us in 2010
Then again, who didn’t?
by Brendanukkah on Jan 19, 2012 6:48 PM EST up reply actions
Sigh
Writer on SBN's DC United blog Black and Red United | @ChestRockwell14 | KEEP UNITED IN DC
by ChestRockwell on Jan 19, 2012 9:11 PM EST up reply actions
Oduaran and C'deBaca
I’m not an expert on the rules, but since they both played for United’s U-23 team (and Oduaran on the U-18 team before that), I think either would be eligible for a homegrown contract.
Oduaran is in the same boat as Swaim. He wasn’t able to lock down a starting job at Maryland, so he probably won’t make an MLS team. C’deBaca did well enough for Jaime Moreno’s U-23’s though to earn a shot at winning a roster spot back in July, and also appeared in at least one Reserve match, so its a good sign that he’s been invited back. In fact, I think already like him better than Morsink.
Seth C’deBetterthanmorsink
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by Martin Shatzer on Jan 19, 2012 7:19 PM EST up reply actions
Not sure he was with a United academy team for long enough consecutively
At this point, though, if Oduaran merits an offer, we should at least ask MLS if he can get a homegrown deal. It might actually have more merit than Portland’s claim on Brent Richards, which is now the new minimum standard for these things.
On the other hand, we can’t just go handing out deals. Oduaran has to play well enough to merit a spot on the team before we get into him getting a homegrown deal or a standard contract.
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by ChestRockwell on Jan 19, 2012 9:17 PM EST up reply actions
U-23 is more "post-academy"
I think the homegrown rules center on time spent with an academy team prior to college, or else Chicago would have had half the draft signed as homegrown players due to the Fire PDL team literally every good midwestern college player played on during the offseason.
In addition to spending at least a year (I think) with an academy side prior to going into college, the team has to list the player on its Homegrown list, which has a limited number of slots, for the player eventually to be eligible for a HG contract. I’m guessing neither player is on United’s list.
As for Portland and Brent Richards, as I understand it, he played for a youth team that was affiliated with the Timbers USL team (when they didn’t have an MLS team, let alone an MLS academy), and he was sort of grandfathered onto their MLS homegrown list.
I don’t know that it would matter, though, if the players are young enough. They can still go onto an off-book roster spot with a discovery claim, which for accounting purposes is every bit as good as a homegrown slot (and carries a lower salary, to boot).
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In my book at least, Oduaran’s time with our u18s is more solid than playing for some affiliate club that was attached to some degree to the USL Timbers. He’s probably not on any DC list, though, especially given the number of academy products we have that are either impressing in the academy right now or are accomplishing more in their college careers than Oduaran did.
My point was that, as far as I can tell, Portland ran something up the flag pole to see if MLS would salute. I’m not of the opinion that the Richards signing was questionable so much as I think it just clarified that the rules were more flexible (and, as ever with MLS, shrouded in secrecy for no particular reason) than anyone thought.
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by ChestRockwell on Jan 20, 2012 2:01 PM EST up reply actions
Can you explain your slot count?
The team has 3 internationals currently. Are you saying the team does not/will not regain the international slots they traded before? I thought I recalled reading that the Cristman deal would mean the loss of the slot until 2013, but others have written that the # rests each year.
C'deBaca
I’ve seen Seth develop over the past four years at Georgetown. He’s a sound player that is very consistent. He’d be a good addition to the team. He’s a hustler and a hard worker.
Hope Solo should be a trailist.
Bear with me.
Is there a rule that says only men can play in MLS? I honestly don’t know.
If not, then DCU should give Hope Solo a chance. It would bring in a TON of publicity for United.
Granted, I doubt she would beat out Hamid since women’s soccer has a different pace to it, but she could test Willis for the back-up spot.
Just a thought.
often wondered
How would top flight women do in MLS? Would they be able to hold their own as field players? Agree it would be a huge publicity boost for Solo to come to DC— maybe even topping Ochocinco. She’d have to be better than Jose Carvallo.
Like with hockey
Goalie is where the opportunities would be. Even the most technically able women would face an uphill struggle in the outfield positions; the built-in disadvantage in pace, while small in the grand scheme, gets magnified tremendously at the top end of professional sports. But a tall, agile woman with sufficiently excellent reflexes and a strong competitive mindset ought to be able to start in goal at this level.
From her point of view, I’d rather see a team with a real opening offer her a trial; even if she’s better than Willis, she wouldn’t get serious playing time for us as long as Hamid continues on his “heir apparent to Tim Howard” path. She’d be gambling that Bill leaves for Europe in a year or two, or hoping to network her way into a better spot within the league after training with us for a season.
by Stunned Duck on Jan 20, 2012 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
It would not go well
Steve Goff once noted in a chat that the USWNT used to scrimmage men’s college teams back in the day, and the results would be serious routs (we’re talking regular 8+ goal drubbings). The men’s teams would give serious minutes to the guys at the very bottom of their roster, and things did not change.
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by ChestRockwell on Jan 20, 2012 1:54 PM EST up reply actions
MLS fans from back in the day will be unhappy to read this
MLS had gimmicky stuff like this back in the 90s, particularly after the US women won in 1999. It ended up being embarrassing for all involved. Keep in mind, MLS was essentially shameless at the time, and things like this (and Andrew Shue playing for the Galaxy, etc.) were still embarrassing. Imagine how embarrassing it would be today, when MLS is actually a serious league.
I have to disagree pretty strongly with Stunned Duck on keeper being a position where women could fit in. The athletic disadvantages would be more magnified there, not less. Leaping ability, overall strength, speed over quick bursts (e.g. charging out to close an angle, etc), are all things that would be exposed further in goal.
There is also a significant gap, in my opinion, between the quality of coaching even at the highest levels of women’s soccer and in the men’s game. For years, I was puzzled by the often deplorable quality of defending (mostly down to decision-making and keeping a composed shape) seen in the women’s game. It obviously isn’t an intelligence thing, and athleticism has nothing to do with your ability to do the right thing, so it has to be simply not getting the right advice in training over a very long period of time. That gap is closing – last year’s WWC was better by an order of magnitude in that regard – but it’s still there, especially once you step away from the very elite levels.
The point is that Solo would be at a coaching quality deficit over her career compared to even the modest backgrounds of the keepers we have on trial. This shows; as much as she’s revered for her shot-stopping, Solo is not actually the best decision-maker and has issues picking the correct starting point.
The idea that there’s no such thing as bad publicity is false. This would be bad publicity. MLS does not need to resort to this kind of thing, especially since Solo would have no chance whatsoever of making the team. With all due respect to her, she would have no chance at claiming crosses in traffic, be facing harder shots from different angles than she’s seen in competitive play, and that’s just scraping the surface.
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by ChestRockwell on Jan 20, 2012 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Have you seen her play?
She doesn’t have the size, power, the leap, etc., of professional male goalie. Not at any level. She’s great at the women’s game, where shots don’t typically come in with the same power and pace. NO way could she cover enough space to be effective in MLS.
roger that
Soccer has the same rules for the men’s and women’s game, but it is not the same game. I find great beauty in the women’s game. They really are stretched to the limits of their athleticism, mainly by the dimensions of the field. The men, on the other hand, are stretched by the pace, not the space. It’s a different game. So no, let’s not try to mix the games past the U6-8 level. It will do no one any good.
My semi-collected but still random thoughts
Dykstra — Not sure why you think he won’t pass Willis. Yeah, Dykstra was in over his head before. Happens if you’re thrown in the deep end before you have a chance to learn how to swim. I’m pretty sure Dykstra was more highly rated coming out of college. Plus, he has more experience now. In any case, I think it’s great he’s in camp. I hadn’t even considered Shatzy’s point about whether he’d take what DCU would offer him — but, if he is interested in a reserve role, it’s a great move to have him here.
Da Fonte — I’m pretty sure Shatzer misstated his background. He played a year at Bryant, then transferred to Longwood, where he played in 3 games. Not sure if he got hurt there, or at Bryant, but I think I read somewhere about an injury…and then the move to Europe..but he might have left Longwood after a month to go to Europe. I do like the signing only because what I’ve read from people who played with ihm. He’s got skillz.
Houapeu — Dude is fast. And, he had a bunch of goals in college. He got hurt last year, but Philly held on to him until after the Superdraft, when they added first-round striker Chandler Hoffman. I’m not a fan of picking up other team’s dregs, but look at Philly’s stable of forwards. Every one of them would be on DC’s roster — and most of them would probably start for DC, or they’d be the first or second one off the bench. Not making the cut there says nothing about his prospects to make DC’s roster. I see Chest looks at him as a winger, but he’s always been listed as a forward.
Touray is in a similar position. Like Houapeu, he can stretch the defense – something DC United could use.
Richter — As with Houapeu, Philly did release him. I imagine that cuts off their rights, no? He was a big goal-scorer in college, so ya never know.
Zayner — It really is a shame to read about how bad his knee is. Healthy, he might even be the starter at right back. Lacking cartilage does contribute to knee instability, but even just running around is punishing at that point. Having done both my knees, I don’t know whether to wish him success or to hope he can make it through training and sail off into retirement with some level of contentment.
The other guys might surprise me, but I don’t expect them to be invited down to Florida.
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