:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/23770699/20131001_jla_ub4_271.0.jpg)
When D.C. United acquired John Thorrington in the second phase of last year's Re-Entry Draft (mechanism thing), he looked like a veteran pick-up who could play anywhere in midfield. And that's exactly what he turned out to be. He added both bite and passing vision to a side that needed more of both from that #8 position, but what he really brought to the team was experience.
Well, experience and possibly a glass skeleton held together by sewing thread. Even though his specific long-standing injuries never made an appearance this year, other ones cropped up early and often. But he was healthy enough on October 1 to create the Cup-winning goal. (He would go down injured shortly after, of course.) In league play, he made only 14 appearances this year, scoring one goal. But even had he been healthy at the end of the year, he might not have seen much of the field, as many of us have speculated that Jared Jeffrey may have supplanted the South Africa-born former U.S. international.
All of that is by way of saying that today's vote in Cake or Death could be a tricky one. United don't have a ton of depth at central midfield, but if Thorrington does pack his bags, there still could be Lewis Neal to provide the veteran leadership at that position. Even if Thorrington sticks around, how often will he actually be available for selection? Lots of variables in play with JT.
But now it's decision time. Should United keep Thorrington around and give him the cake of a roster spot? Or should they send him on his way down the long winding road to death? Vote in the poll and use the comments let us know your thinking. We'll be back with Cake or Death for the last of the players next week.
