D.C. United Continues To Lack Accountability
by Martin Shatzer on Nov 1, 2025 9:21 PM EDT
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PrintIn a story last week about D.C. United's head coaching possibilities for 2011, Steven Goff reported some other news that's crucial to the future of this organization.
Meantime, despite the club missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year, General Manager Dave Kasper will remain in his post, Payne said.
Woah, woah. Wait a second here. Really?
After the worst season in D.C. United history, and one of the worst seasons in MLS history, THAT guy is coming back?
Also revealed by Goff:
Chad Ashton will return to his post as the club's technical director after helping Olsen with daily responsibilities.
Chad Ashton is a decent assistant coach. He's been a member of this organization for four years now, and I understand them wanting to keep him as a member of the family. But let's review the list of international player acquisitions Kasper and Ashton made prior to the 2010 season: Christian Castillo, Danny Allsopp, and Juan Manuel Pena. That's it!
Since then, the team has brought in two offensive threats in Pablo Hernandez and Branko Boskovic, who combined for 0 goals in 27 matches.
United already fired one head coach this season. And they've said that Ben Olsen won't be returning as head coach either. So where is the accountability in the front office?
Ah, accountability. Something that's been lacking in the D.C. United organization since November 7, 2008, when Will Chang and his co-owner at the time Victor MacFarlane published a letter to their fans.
Except for the U.S. Open Cup, we had a down year on the field and there are a variety of reasons why we did not succeed ... However, we don’t want you to assume that those reasons will be excuses for our lack of success. Another repeat of last year’s performance on the pitch is not an acceptable outcome. And we don’t expect it again ...Kevin Payne remains president and is directly responsible for the business operations of D.C. United and as stated above will report directly to us. Kevin will also assist in the oversight of the team operations, provide his advice and be part of the decision-making process on player selection and other aspects of that area of our business. However, the primary responsibility and accountability will be with General Manager Dave Kasper, who will also report directly to us.
Hey there's that word again. Accountability.
If United is going to hold their coaches and players accountable, when will it be time to hold the front office accountable? When will Payne, Kasper, and Ashton be asked to answer for their continuously poor player selections?
How many more losing seasons will it take before D.C. United makes some tough decisions at the top of the organization?
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Scapegoating
That sounds like some real scapegoating to me, I believe that unless you have a President who is willing to accept some level of responsibility for both the business end as well as the product on the pitch. We all know who calls all the shots in DC it is Kevin, and the reality is that since AEG sold the team it has been Kevin calling all the shots with nobody to hold him accountable (or so it seems). It was him who lead the world wide search that found a head coach that had been let go in KC, it was him who has signed players that have failed to live up to expectations. It is clear that I doubt that anything will change until the accountability runs all the way to the top and if Payne had any courage he would put his position on the line. You have to have an organization that all have a vision and agree to work together to ensure that the decisions are made on the basis of that vision.
For RSL it was clear that we are a small market, we have a small budget, but it was also clear that everyone from the owner to the coach, and every players on the roster understood that at RSL “the Team is the Star” and that the best interest of the team comes first. That has lead to a complete rebuild of the roster over the last 3 and a half year, it is also clear that it has created success and a place where players want to play. I would love to know how many DC United players are simply praying they are left unprotected in the expansion draft for their chance to get off the ship?
by denz on Nov 1, 2025 9:35 PM EDT reply actions
Accountability
When the owner says that the primary accountability lies with Dave Kasper, I don’t know how much clearer the issue can get.
I agree that the team has been scapegoating in terms of the coaches, to the point where decent coaches don’t want to work here. Kasper is a completely different ball of wax.
'Gentlemen' he said,
'I don't need your organization,
I've shined your shoes,
moved your mountains and marked your cards,
but Eden is burning.
Either get ready for elimination,
or else your heart must have the courage,
for the changing of the guards.'
by Sgc on Nov 2, 2025 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
but Kasper
isn’t the one making the decisions that is Payne, so while Chang may hold Kasper responsible for things the guy is doomed because he is stuck with bad decisions made above him. It is fairly clear that Chang is paying the bills but it is Payne running the organization, which is fine and probably the way it should be but granting your president a free pass on accountability simply means that bad decisions will continue and major change and progress is unlikely in the near future.
by denz on Nov 2, 2025 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Kevin Payne
I don’t recall Payne being the one going on scouting missions to South America, Africa, and Europe. Kasper and Ashton hold those responsibilities. Foreign talent evaluation is where this team has fallen behind the rest of the league. That’s not something Payne is directly involved in. It’s something he delegates.
Payne’s had some high level failures. The coaching choices and stadium progress are two of them. He needs help. But Kevin Payne has been a part of the D.C. United organization even before MLS First Kick 1996. He’s not going anywhere.
Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekend Writer for SBNation DC.
by Martin Shatzer on Nov 2, 2025 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Wait till Chang comes out of his World Series stupor and realizes how much of a mess his neglected step child of an MLS franchise has become under the regime of “Kevin Jong Il”. Heads will roll!
Hey, one can dream right?
by DonCaps819 on Nov 1, 2025 10:44 PM EDT reply actions
Heads will roll!
They’ll fire Talon! After that monumental departure they’ll give the job back to Ben because nobody else wants it.
by Croftonpost on Nov 2, 2025 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Ben
But they’ll only give it to Ben after a coaching search that goes to every continent and involves them getting shot down at least 3 times…
by Irrlicht on Nov 2, 2025 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Then.......
The Maryland Stadium Authority will release the results of the stadium study and DC United will become MD United who in turn will host the MLS draft.
by Croftonpost on Nov 2, 2025 4:31 PM EDT reply actions
Yuck
What a mess this organization has become. Oh how the mighty have fallen. Who in their right mind would want to coach for a front office this negligent?
by DCUFaninMissouri on Nov 2, 2025 6:23 PM EDT reply actions
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