D.C. United begins Austin Phase of Camp, and a Note from Costa Rica

D.C. United moved training camp to the Austin, Texas, portion of their offseason, ahead of matches with the Austin Aztex and Columbus Crew/FC Dallas winner, or loser depending on how D.C. does. The adding and removing of trialists continued, with Andrew Driver no longer among the trialists.

Driver's release is mildly disappointing, and trades like the one D.C. did with Houston, sending Samuel Inkoom to the Houston Dynamo in a move that ultimately was a wash of salaries of players who will not play for the teams who acquired them would be a minor note in ongoing CBA negotiations. Though it should be stipulated that the acquisition of Michael Farfan made Driver expendable. Additionally (and as Steve Goff mentioned late last night) the Seattle Sounders had an interest in Farfan, but D.C.'s place over Seattle in the allocation order helped secure him. David Estrada, Rawshawn McKenzie and Travis Worra continued down to ATX, and joining them as trialists are Luke Mishu and Scott Goodwin.

Mishu, a right back, had earlier trialed with Real Salt Lake this winter, and the right back (and former Notre Dame captain) was thought to have potential third or fourth round draft pick potential, as Top Drawer Soccer seemed to intimate. Goodwin would almost certainly challenge Worra for the third goalkeeper position behind Bill Hamid and Andrew Dykstra, a.k.a., the guy who would play in Richmond a lot.

An update on Alajuelense, D.C. United's Champions League opponent whom they play two weeks from today. After beating Herediano Sunday, last night they played Cartagines, sixth in the twelve team Costa Rican League. After conceding the first goal, Alajuelense scored six(!) over a 30 minute span and cruised to a 6-2 win, remaining a point ahead of Saprissa (whom they play a week from Saturday) in the 2014/15 Verano.