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United releases four players

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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.

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