D.C. United backup goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra's 2015 campaign started off ominously. After tearing his achilles during a June 2014 friendly that ended his season, his first start back was on a road leg of CONCACAF Champions League play in Costa Rica against Alajuelense, in place of regular keeper Bill Hamid. The result, a 5-2 defeat that led to the team's elimination from the tournament served to put him as the centerpiece of the team's disappointing performance.
But he managed to right the ship for himself. He took up brewmastering during his recovery last year and managed to fill in for Hamid during the summer. He didn't do badly, though he did let in last minute goals on the road against the Seattle Sounders and FC Dallas, and was in the net for D.C.'s abnormal spurt of offense in August wins against the Philadelphia Union and Real Salt Lake.
While it's difficult to compare Dykstra to Hamid (or anyone to Bill for that matter), Dykstra is more accurate with the ball compared to Hamid and has more long balls during the game. But Dykstra's paid to stop shots, and he did give up two or more goals in five of his last six 2015 starts, and left a game against the Vancouver Whitecaps after an hour to injury and had given up a goal then as well.
Dykstra will turn 30 just after New Year's Day and at a $60,000 guaranteed salary, is making minimum wage. He would seem to fit the prototypical backup keeper role, but when answering the poll question, ask yourself if this is the guy you want in the net should Hamid suddenly bolt for an inevitable more to Europe?