We're spending the first month or so of the D.C. United offseason grading each player on the roster with an approval rating. A vote for APPROVE means you were satisfied with the player's performance and want to see him back in D.C. next season. A vote for DISAPPROVE means you want United to move on without him. There is no middle ground, so please leave salary and contract implications out of your decision.
Supporting Marc Burch used to be easy for me, even in the face of criticism from so many other D.C. United fans. He's a former Terp. He's got a lethal left foot. But most of all, he had improved every year since converting from a forward to a left back in 2007. Every year until last.
As the speed of our opponents has increased around him, Burch has lost his effectiveness. But his left foot hasn't. It netted Burch a goal off a free kick against the Houston Dynamo this season, as well as an assist in the opener against the Columbus Crew.
With Burch losing his starting job to the more defensive-minded Daniel Woolard early in the season and then sitting out several weeks with an injury, a roster spot in the future may not be as assured for Burch next year as its been in years past. Ben Olsen gave Burch a few runs in reserve at left midfield this season, a spot he may find more comfortable. But for Burch to continue with United (or just to continue in MLS), he'll have to learn to maintain his focus more in the back.