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| Thursday, March 21, 2002 14:41 EST |
D.C. United: 2002 Outlook
[ESPN.com news services]
If United hopes to reverse the club's poor results of the last two seasons, the task will fall on many of the same players responsible for the club's unceremonious slide from the ranks of MLS Cup contenders.
Abdul Thompson Conteh hopes to build on his big 2001 campaign. |
Seemingly long on talent but short on inspiration each of the last two years, the Black and Red have turned to Englishman Ray Hudson, a former player, pool cleaner, and television analyst who coached the Miami Fusion's overnight ascension into the league's upper echelon last season.
Now in the nation's capital, Hudson finds himself surrounded with a squad loaded with both young and veteran talent, but missing the swagger that made the club three-time MLS champions.
A healthy and determined tandem of Bobby Convey and Marco Etcheverry in the midfield should be able to provide more than enough chances for a group of attackers that includes bullish veteran Jaime Moreno, 17-year old prodigy Santino Quaranta and opportunistic speedster Abdul Thompson Conteh.
A much-needed spark could also come with the return of midfielder Ben Olsen, whose unrelenting work on the flanks has been noticeably absent while he battled a series of ankle injuries stretching back to 2000.
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2000 United Leaders
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Goals
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14, Abdul Thompson Conteh
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Assists
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12, Marco Etcheverry
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Points
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29, Abdul Thompson Conteh
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GAA
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1.71 Mark Simpson
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The consistent presence and leadership of U.S. National Team defender Eddie Pope will also be a necessary component of United's defense, if Hudson hopes to quickly mesh defenders Brandon Prideaux, Ivan McKinley and goalkeeper Nick Rimando into a tight-knit group.
However, the steady work of defensive midfielders Richie Williams and Ryan Nelsen should help alleviate some pressure from the defense should Convey and Etcheverry fail to dictate the pace of the game.
Key Additions:
Lazo Alavanja, Nick Rimando, Richie Williams
Key Departures:
Chris Albright, Stephen Armstrong, Brian Kamler
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