United releases four players
After a horrendous 2010, everyone knew that DC United would be cutting some players loose. Even with MLS roster expansion giving us as many as 30 spots to fill, changes were always on the way.
Today, the axe fell for the first time. Center backs Juan Manuel Pena and Barry Rice, along with winger Carlos Varela and midfielder Brandon Barklage were all let go.
Pena, going on 38 years old, missed almost all of 2010 due to multiple muscle injuries and was almost certainly set to retire anyway. It's a shame he didn't come to RFK sooner; I think he would have been able to mimic Claudio Suarez at Chivas USA (solid player for a season, then more of a mentor to younger players) if he'd arrived earlier.
Varela, who was allegedly the target of interest from a couple of Swiss clubs, might have stuck around longer if not for the overload of young wide players we have at our disposal. With his favored position being filled by the club's best player and future (or, if Najar is moved forward, club captain Santino Quaranta), Varela simply wasn't going to find much playing time. He's a talented, intelligent player, but he's also 34, so I doubt many are surprised by this news.
Barklage may be something of a surprise to those who saw him shine in US Open Cup games and in limited duty for United in league play in the early parts of 2009 and 2010. Unfortunately, in both seasons Barklage suffered torn knee ligaments. My guess is that the Black-and-Red are letting him go only because of an interest in having less injury-prone players. Otherwise, this one baffles me a little. Barklage is a player that, with the return of the reserve league, could blossom.
Finally, the club let young center back Barry Rice go as well. This one catches me by surprise. Rice was more of a long-term project, sure, but the reserve league seems almost tailor-made for such players. I was expecting him to hang in on the roster based on raw talent going into 2011 unless we drafted numerous center backs. Hopefully he lands on his feet, because he does have some talent.
2 months ago
ChestRockwell
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Surprised Morsink is still on the roster instead of Barklage. Both had cheap wages.
by Zach J on Dec 2, 2025 5:35 PM EST reply actions
Not quite the same player though
Barklage was more of a box-to-box guy who could also play wide. With McCarty and King already in place (as well as a ton of wide players), I can see how he might not have been able to find much time.
Morsink appears to be well-liked by the team and decision makers. I get how he’d be easy to like within the organization, but his turnovers for me are a non-starter. Ideally, we can draft a defensive midfielder that is, at minimum, equal to Morsink on draft day and will develop to be his better quickly.
by ChestRockwell on Dec 2, 2025 5:46 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe the feeling is that they want/would like to get a defender in re-entry?
"If you don't shut the [hell] up, I'm going to kick you in the balls so hard your dentist is going to have to work around them at your next cleaning."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 2, 2025 6:23 PM EST up reply actions
I am expecting them to go that route
No idea who, though, until the list comes out. I thought it was supposed to be out at 5pm, but I haven’t seen it yet.
by ChestRockwell on Dec 2, 2025 6:48 PM EST up reply actions
UPDATE
Goff says Barklage and Rice will likely be invited to training camp, and that Varela’s deal may be renegotiated to a lower salary.
by ChestRockwell on Dec 2, 2025 8:02 PM EST reply actions
This makes much more sense now
Waiving Barklage and Rice gives them a chance to latch on elsewhere via one of MLS’s many drafts. They’re just delaying the decision on each.
I’m not surprised by Barklage. Our midfield is crowded enough as it is, and unless he plays well enough to beat out King, he was never really likely to see much field time.
Rice is the shocker to me. He’s the third young defender to depart the roster in the last week. With a larger roster, I could still see Rice making the team as our fourth CB.
Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekend Writer for SBNation DC.
by Martin Shatzer on Dec 2, 2025 8:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
30 man roster is the key
We should be able to carry 5 center backs with 30 total players. James and Jakovic are our only 2 natural CBs, and between McTavish, Burch, and Shanosky all being able to play there, I’ll say we have a flexible 3 at the moment. Barring a draft that produces 2 CBs that are better than Rice (which is unlikely; 1 I can see, but 2, with our other needs? It would be a pretty odd draft for that to be the outcome), I don’t see what the harm is in giving him real reserve games against decent opposition to find out definitively if he can hack it at the MLS level. In the physical side of defending, he’s clearly good enough. It’s mostly his ability with the ball, and some rough edges in terms of decision-making, that hold him back. I currently believe he can become a useful member of this team if given the chance to learn through games. If not, some NASL or USL club is going to be loving their new center back.
Barklage also has his chance. I’m not sure if he can match King (who has a higher soccer IQ and more technical ability), but Barklage’s versatility and ability to cover acres of space are not something you toss out with the garbage. Given Morsink’s quick and remarkable improvement after Olsen took over as head coach, I think there’s reason to believe that Benny can get the best out of any two-way or holding midfielder. It’s a crowded midfield, to be sure (at the moment, I see Olsen choosing both King and Morsink - with Simms shifting to a two-way role - ahead of Barklage), but I again come back to the 30 man roster. A guy like Barklage can make the bench and cover you centrally and on either flank in case of injury or if you get a lead you want to protect. With only 6 available field player subs, you need guys on the bench that can fill multiple roles. If his knees hold up, and he can recover his level of play after having both ACLs repaired (those are big ifs), I see the reserve league as a place he can blossom.
Despite downing 3 beers and 2 mixed drinks, this comment is typo-free! Don’t credit my tolerance, which is as low as it was by the end of high school. Instead, credit my skills as a typist.
by ChestRockwell on Dec 3, 2025 12:02 AM EST up reply actions
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