This is the second entry in our series looking at potential starting lineups for D.C. United in 2016, based on precisely zero knowledge of how the intervening offseason will play out. In the first entry, Adam M. Taylor predicted two well known MLS veterans would find their way to RFK Stadium.
D.C. United is going to have a lot of changes over the next few months, but that doesn't mean we can't start wildly predicting things now. This is the formation that I landed on to see by late February and early March of 2016; I tried to put in only reasonable wishes and not things that are out of the realm of possibility.
GK: Bill Hamid. There is, of course, a significant possibility that someone makes a big offer for Bill Hamid over the winter window, but it won't be quite big enough. We've been lucky for the past few years, but I think we will get one more out of Bill before we have to let him fly away to bigger things.
RB: Sean Franklin. No reason for Franklin not to start, though hopefully the team will determine Jalen Robinson can be a replacement down the road; if not, they better find one to start grooming.
CB: Bobby Boswell. I think in late February, in the Champions League, Olsen will stick with Boswell's experience. However, could this be Kofi Opare by June? Definitely.
CB: Steve Birnbaum. The Birdbomb will recover from an up and down 2015 with a great 2016.
LB: Federico Dimarco. Since I have to pick an actual person, this is a fill-in for anyone that Inter Milan decides could use some time in MLS. He is a young fullback for Inter Milan who has not yet been loaned out for 2015-2016, but if he is just buried on the bench there he should come here instead.
RM: Deyver Vega. Listen, I know United's record with Central American wingers. You don't have to remind me. But it has to work one of these times, right? Stand-in for a young player with caps for their national team from Central America.
CDM: Markus Halsti. Seemingly brought in as an insurance policy in case Kitchen left, and I think Kitchen will be gone. I see him sitting firmly behind his midfield partner, who is...
CM: Michael Farfan. There will be a clear demarcation between Halsti's and Farfan's roles, which I think will suit both more than the Kitchen-Halsti partnership. However, if Ben Olsen and Dave Kasper can find an upgrade at the box-to-box midfielder position, I'm all for it.
LM: Nick DeLeon. Still has all the hustle, energy, and passing ability that the team needs.
F: Chris Rolfe. No Rolfe in midfield anymore, please.
F: Fabian Espindola. It is a funky partnership, but the best strike partnerships United has had recently have been non-traditional.
Your turn. Let us know what you think of Ben's lineup in the comments.