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| Friday, September 14, 2001 24:14 EST |
D.C. United: 2001 Outlook
[ESPN.com news services]
After missing the playoffs for the first time in club history in 2000, D.C. made more offseason changes than any club in MLS. United GM Kevin Payne traded away veterans Jeff Agoos, Carlos Llamosa, Richie Williams, Tom Presthus and Geoff Aunger while reloading with some of the best young talent in the league.
Teenage sensation Bobby Convey, left, will be looking to help United get back to the playoffs. |
United does return proven veterans in an effort to return to the postseason. U.S. National Team defender Eddie Pope is now the senior member of the back line, and he will be flanked by fellow UNC Tar Heel Carey Talley, former Canadian international Mark Watson and either second-year defender Eric Denton or offseason acquisition Brian Kamler. Veteran goalkeeper Mike Ammann, who enjoyed one of his best seasons in MLS with the MetrosStars in 2000, was brought in to upgrade the goalkeeping situation.
The midfield is in good hands, with maestro Marco Etcheverry back for a sixth season as United's on-field leader. The youth movement in midfield starts with New Zealander Ryan Nelsen, Mark Lisi, 16-year-old Santino Quaranta and promising Peruvian Jose Alegria. They wil join 17-year-old Bobby Convey, who lived up to the hype last season, with a strong performance to finish among the top three in the team's Honda MVP voting. This group of fresh faces will all be competing for playing time in a revamped midfield. Up front, Bolivian Jaime Moreno and Salvadoran Raul Diaz Arce will look to rebound from their injury-marred campaigns of a year ago and will face stiff competition from players of the level of 2000 Olympian Chris Albright and offseason acquisition Abdul Thompson Conteh.
Getting off to a good start will be paramount to success for United in 2001. D.C. lost nine of its first 12 games a year ago, putting an early damper on postseason hopes.
Key Additions:
G Mike Ammann, D Brian Kamler, M Ryan Nelsen, M
Santino Quaranta, F Abdul Thompson Conteh.
Key Departures:
D Jeff Agoos, D Carlos Llamosa, M Richie
Williams, G Tom Presthus, D Geoff Aunger, F A.J. Wood.
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2000 United Leaders
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Goals
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12, Jaime Moreno
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Assists
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8, Marco Etcheverry
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Points
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31, Jaime Moreno
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GAA
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1.60 Mark Simpson
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Keep an eye on:
F Jaime Moreno (12 goals, seven assists in 2000) will again be heavily counted upon for United's offense. GK Mike Ammann (1.61 goals-against average, 11 wins) comes over from the MetroStars to become D.C.'s number one 'keeper. F Chris Albright, who played long stretches at right midfield last season, is expected to permanently move to forward in 2001. With a year under his belt, M Bobby Convey will look to continue the steps toward the stardom that many observers are predicting for him.
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