Your Freedom Kicks are a couple of hours late because last night I had a monster headache come out of nowhere, and the only solution was to go straight to bed instead of writing this piece. Now that all that’s out of the way, let’s get into what was a busy day of D.C. United news:
Report: D.C. United pursuing Estudiantes midfielder Lucas Rodriguez | Black and Red United
For those of you that log off right at the end of the work day, a look at what sounds like the next United’s next notable signing. The possible flexibility of Rodriguez playing forward is intriguing, but he doesn’t have a goalscoring track record, so I’d say demanding a true striker is still very much in-bounds.
D.C. United close to acquiring Argentine attacker Lucas Rodriguez | Washington Post
More related details in here: Rodriguez might be in town for a physical soon, Yamil Asad talks aren’t as bad as people have thought, and the solution at right back may just end up being Paul Arriola.
Analyzing What D.C. United Needs This Offseason By Position | Washington City Paper
Here’s a handy roster status report. Did you know that the draft is only 2.5 weeks away?
What D.C. United needs to do this offseason to contend for MLS Cup | The Athletic
I like framing things this way, because realistically that’s how United should be thinking. The Rooney window isn’t that big, after all. For what it’s worth, Ben Olsen seemed inclined to agree that progress after 2018 would be to push for hardware.
Congrats to Jalen Robinson for getting his degree:
Wayne Rooney joins BT Sport team for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first Man Utd game | Irish Mirror
Wayne Rooney is not just taking the holidays off, as he’ll be on TV to discuss whatever happens now that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has taken over at Manchester United.
Warshaw: My Top 5 list at every position in MLS in 2018 | MLSsoccer.com
I think these lists are mostly bonkers (example: BWP ahead of Rooney), but here you go. Bobby Warshaw mostly underrates the DCU guys on this list by a position or two, but then also says Joseph Mora is a top 5 left back.
Did I mention the draft is in just over 2 weeks? Get ready to start hearing these names:
Names I've heard linked to the GA class:
— Travis Clark (@travismclark) December 20, 2018
Siad Haji (VCU)
Frankie Amaya (UCLA)
John Nelson (UNC)
JJ Williams (Kentucky)
Dayne St. Clair (UMD)
Griff Dorsey (Indiana)
Giuseppe Barone (Michigan St)
Tommy McNamara selected by Houston Dynamo in Re-Entry Draft | Dynamo Theory
Tommy McNamara is trading NYCFC’s blues for Houston’s orange and white. Could be very interesting seeing him operate on a team with a bunch of speed.
LA Galaxy select veteran goalkeeper Matt Lampson | LAG Confidential
Matt Lampson was the only other player taken in the Re-Entry Draft, and it’s not much of a surprise that this is the case. It wasn’t a strong pool of talent this year, and teams seem to have found ways to get what they want without the RED anyway.
That’s it. Go do Friday stuff, it’s Friday.