By definition, the Grosy Award goes to the player with the most cajones. In general, the nominees for this award are players who aren't afraid to play through injury and leave it all on the field. The award's namesake Josh Gros was famous for his work rate, and his career with DC United has seemingly ended way too soon, thanks to the numerous concussions he'd received throughout his time here. Click to continue reading...

Coming to you live from Dallas, er, Frisco... actually, I'm in D.C. and my esteemed colleague, Boris Flores, is at Pizza Hut Park today. Regardless, here's the starting lineup the coaches have decided on today.

Louis Crayton; Bryan Namoff, Gonzalo Peralta, Devon McTavish, Ivan Guerrero; Fred, Clyde Simms, Santino Quaranta, Boyzzz Khumalo; Jaime Moreno, Luciano Emilio.

Click to continue reading...

After 60 minutes of this match, I was all ready to come on here and say I was wrong about wanting to punt the CCL. A goalless draw would have been a wonderful result. But as is typical with this club, we let up 2 soft goals off of shotty defending. And now we're staring up from the bottom of a fully stacked group. Click to continue reading...

The bad news is that Santino Quaranta will not be dressing tonight. The 23-year old suffered some pretty deep bruises on his ankle and shin Saturday night in LA and will be held out this evening. Bummer.

The good news is that the guys are all feeling pretty positive and will be coming out in a slightly more defensive-oriented posture tonight, running at type of 4-4-1-1.

Click to continue reading...

As frustrating as it was to watch this team on a roller coaster ride that had its share of ups and downs the past few months, I would trade the past three weeks for that roller coaster. I'm not going to argue that we deserved to win this match, because clearly we didn't, but it sure made it hard for us to have a chance when we suffered from the worst display of officiating that we've seen all year. Click to continue reading...

We're about an hour from kickoff and starting lineups have been named. Here's United's:

Louis Crayton; Bryan Namoff, Devon McTavish, Marc Burch, Gonzalo Martinez; Fred, Clyde Simms, Santino Quaranta, Ivan Guerrero; Boyzzz Khumalo, Luciano Emilio.

And here's the 4-42:

--------------Emilio------------Khumalo-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Quaranta----------------------Guerrero--------------------------------------Fred-----------------------Simms------------------------Martinez-----------------------------------Namoff-------------Burch---------McTavish-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Crayton----------------------- Click to continue reading...

The Galaxy enter today's home game (8:00 pm PDT - FSC) in the grip of a club-record 12 game winless streak, taking just six points from the 36 on offer. They sit at the bottom of the Western Conference on 26 points, four points out of the last Western playoff spot. It's been over 100 days since the team's last win and it is the first time since mid-July that both Landon Donovan and David Beckham will be playing together in front of the Home Depot Center crowd.

Click to continue reading...

I was wrong when I suggested earlier that DCU would probably be taking the CCL seriously, since they had rested Emilio and Fred for the Dallas match. Instead we sent out an even weaker team tonight, that included the reappearance of Zach Wells! Goff says it's because Crayton had a sore knee, I'm not so sure. Click to continue reading...

And here.. we... go..

Zach Wells; Bryan Namoff, Devon McTavish, Marc Burch, Gonzalo Martinez; Boyzzz Khumalo, Clyde Simms, Santino Quaranta, Craig Thompson; Luciano Emilio, Ryan Cordeiro

Bench: Louis Crayton, Rod Dyachenko, Francis Doe, Quavas Kirk, Jaime Moreno, Fred, Greg Janicki

And here's what the 4-4-2 will look like:

-----------Cordeiro------------Emilio------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------Quaranta----------------------- Thompson------------------------------Khumalo ----------------------Simms------------------------- Martinez-----------------------------------Namoff -------------Burch---------McTavish------------- -------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------Wells-------------------------- Click to continue reading...

And here.. we... go..

Zach Wells; Bryan Namoff, Devon McTavish, Marc Burch, Gonzalo Martinez; Boyzzz Khumalo, Clyde Simms, Santino Quaranta, Craig Thompson; Luciano Emilio, Ryan Cordeiro

Bench: Louis Crayton, Rod Dyachenko, Francis Doe, Quavas Kirk, Jaime Moreno, Fred, Greg Janicki

And here's what the 4-4-2 will look like:

-----------Cordeiro------------Emilio-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Quaranta-----------------------Thompson------------------------------Khumalo----------------------Simms-------------------------Martinez-----------------------------------Namoff-------------Burch---------McTavish--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Wells-------------------------- Click to continue reading...

We're about an hour from kick-off and Tom Soehn has named his starters for this evening's match. Most notable are Boyzzz Khumalo getting the start up top with Jaime Moreno and Quavas Kirk getting his first League start at right mid. Here's the full squad:

Louis Crayton; Bryan Namoff, Devon McTavish, Marc Burch, Gonzalo Martinez; Quavas Kirk, Clyde Simms, Santino Quaranta, Ivan Guerrero; Boyzzz Khumalo, Jaime Moreno.

Click to continue reading...

From United for D.C.'s Executive Director, Sara Peterson:

On Thursday, September 11, six members of D.C. United assisted 30 youth from United for D.C.'s United Soccer Club in the "Shop with a Player" experience at Dick's Sporting Goods. Marc Burch, Quavas Kirk, Bryan Namoff, Clyde Simms, Zack Wells and Mike Zaher accompanied a group of five kids on a $100 shopping spree throughout the sporting goods store in Bailey's Crossroads.

Click to continue reading...

D.C. United players love to read. The shots above are from a recent photo shoot conducted at RFK Stadium for United Reads, one of the signature programs of United for D.C. - the club's non-profit arm. The photos are going to be used for posters, flyers and the like to encourage reading at D.

Click to continue reading...

So Moreno is hanging out with Butch and Sundance, and Emilio's hurt, and I'm thinking, "Well, with Crayton in goal and the steadying presence of Bryan Namoff, Peralta and the new infusion of energy from Joe Vide, perhaps we can eek out a goal on a counter while keeping San Jose at nil." Except, of course, we have neither Namoff nor Vide nor Peralta, and Martinez was clearly watching his "Best of Facundo Erpen" highlight reel.

Click to continue reading...

While United supporters recovered Thursday from a night of celebrating their club's U.S. Open Cup victory, the team packed their bags and flew cross-country to begin preperations for tonight's League match against San Jose. It's tough sledding for the Black-and-Red this weekend. United faithful in the Nation's Capital are dealing with Hurricane Hanna.

Click to continue reading...

Here is your first moving picture taste of the post-game festivities following United's win over the Battery. Comments from Tom Soehn, Bryan Namoff, Clyde Simms, Louis Crayton and Santino Quaranta on the win and some unbelievable footage from the field celebration. We'll hit you with a full-on Access United tomorrow, but we didn't want you to wake up Thursday morning without something to enjoy.

Click to continue reading...

Tom Soehn has named his starting lineup for tonight's championship battle against the Battery. The same players who started Saturday's game against New York will take the field, with the only change being Santino Quaranta moving to the middle of thte park and Joe Vide pushing out wide (where they played the second half).

Click to continue reading...

By definition, the Richie Award goes to the hardest working, most underrated player on the United roster. The award's namesake Richie Williams is probably most famous for his diminutive stature, but he is second most famous for his work rate. The dude just went nonstop, constantly interrupting plays for the opposing team. Click to continue reading...

Recently, while Devon McTavish was being interviewed by a female reporter in the media room, Bryan Namoff and Santino Quaranta - who were waiting to be interviewed themselves - offered up some commentary on United's most eligible bachelor. Hilarity ensues.

"The after practice mohawk has got my mind blown!

Click to continue reading...

Who ever said that 0-0 matches aren't exciting? That had to be the most competitive match between these two clubs in a couple years. Usually we dominate these matches, and the last one against the Red Bulls should be thrown out, but I can't think of a time we've ever played them to a scoreless draw. Click to continue reading...

Kickoff is about an hour away. Tommy's main changes come in the back line tonight, as he shuffles a few guys around, while Santino Quaranta moves from the attacking midfield spot to the right flank. Here's what they'll look like at the first whistle:

Louis Crayton; Gonzalo Martinez, Bryan Namoff, Devon McTavish, Marc Burch; Santino Quaranta, Clyde Simms, Joe Vide, Ivan Guerrero; Jaime Moreno, Luciano Emilio

And here's what the 4-4-2 formation will look like:

------------Moreno-----------Emilio------------------------------------------------------------------------Guerrero--------------------------------Quaranta---------------Vide----------Simms----------------Burch-------------------------------------Martinez------------McTavish--------Burch-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Crayton------------------------ Click to continue reading...

Something to read while your bank changes your password... Rapids leave their mark on Bryan Namoff (Behind the Badge) C-Ron to Real move back on? (Marca) Old Firm debut for Edu? (Rangers Offside) Shteve von McKlaijren's Dutch accshent ish back (101 Great Goals) Philly's MLS stadium, take a look (Yanks Soccer) Welcome back to Europe Old Lady (mCalcio) Senderos joins the rossoneri [. Click to continue reading...

That's the side of Bryan Namoff following Saturday's 3-0 win over the Rapids. A rapids player's cleats apparently missed the ball (and the ground) and found Bryan's rib cage... either that or a dragon attacked him. Just another day at the office for ol' #26.

Click to continue reading...

The big news out of the locker room this evening is that Ben Olsen has been named to the 18-man roster for tonight's game. Benny has been training for the last week and a half and is attempting to salvage the season after numerous ankle surgeries over the last nine months. His lone appearance of the season came on June 29, when United beat LA 4-1 and Ben came on as a 75th minute substitute.

Click to continue reading...

Head Coach Tom Soehn continues to have to deal with player injuries and absences heading into tonight's match with the Revolution. Ivan Guerrero is with the Honduran National Team for their World Cup qualifier in Mexico this evening, while Gonzalo Martinez is serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation.

Click to continue reading...

Following Saturday night's 1-0 win over the Fire, the team gathered in the locker room around the lone TV to watch US swimmer Michael Phelps and his team compete in the final swim of the Olympic meet - the 400 medley relay. As you probably know, Phelps was going for his record eighth gold medal. What follows is a photo essay of the team's reaction during the last two legs of the swim.

Click to continue reading...

I remember writing before the season started that we would probably have to win a lot of games 1-0 this year. Well it took five months and a goalkeeper change to finally do it.

I got back from a great week at Ocean City today and opted to purchase the discounted $9.95 MLSlive package, which will probably be used only to watch tonight's match and next Saturday's. Click to continue reading...

We're about an hour from kickoff now, and Head Coach Tom Soehn has named his lineup. The big change is that newcomer Louis Crayton - who was officially signed yesterday - will get the start in goal ahead of Zach Wells.

Here's the full squad: Louis Crayton; Bryan Namoff, Devon McTavish, Marc Burch, Gonzalo Martinez; Fred, Clyde Simms, Santino Quaranta, Ivan Guerrero; Jaime Moreno, Luciano Emilio.

Click to continue reading...

The New England Revolution fell short in their quest to defend last year's U.S. Open Cup Championship Tuesday. Opting to rest the majority of their starters and not even bothering to bring a full bench, the Revolution fell, 3-1, to a D.C. United side that was playing their best lineup available.

The Revs fell behind just four minutes into the match after 2007 MLS Golden Boot winner Luciano Emilio headed a cross from Bryan Namoff past Revs goakeeper Doug Warren to open the scoring. Click to continue reading...

With a trip to the U.S. Open Cup final on the line, here is the team Head Coach Tom Soehn has decided to go with this evening:

Zach Wells; Bryan Namoff, Devon McTavish, Gonzalo Peralta, Gonzalo Martinez; Fred, Clyde Simms, Santino Quaranta, Ivan Guerrero; Jaime Moreno, Luciano Emilio.

And this is how they'll lineup:

--------Moreno---------Emilio----------

----------------Quaranta-----------------

Guerrero---------------------------Fred

-----------------Simms-------------------

Martinez------------------------Namoff

----------McTavish--Peralta----------

------------------Wells-------------------

Click to continue reading...

"Unleash the power within." That's the symposium being given in the conference center of the team hotel in New Jersey by master motivational speaker Anthony Robbins. Though I remember him better for his stellar role in Shallow Hal, let's hope the general theme of his speaking engagement makes its way into the team thought process for tonight's match.

Click to continue reading...

Let's hear it for parity. Despite a five-match league winless streak (seven straight overall), the Red Bulls are only a single point out of a playoff spot with twelve matches to play. Over the last few weeks, the club has brought in help, including Venezuelan international defender Gabriel Chicero, who played 45 minutes with New York in Wednesday's schooling by Barcelona. Click to continue reading...

Do you fully understand the importance of next week's semifinal game against the New England Revolution in the Open Cup? I'm not sure that you do. United is one win away from playing for its 12th championship. The only thing standing in the way of another title shot is the New England Revolution.

Click to continue reading...

How's that for a confidence booster? With only 7 of our normal starting 11 in the lineup, and only 6 guys starting who started against KC in the season opener, United somehow came together to produce a big win and their first shutout of the year. With a first look at the starting lineups and the revelation that Ryan Pore was starting at forward, I kind of had a feeling that this could finally be THE ONE, and the team did not disappoint. Click to continue reading...

You'll see a bit of a different look from United tonight, with two former San Jose Earthquakes players making their debut in D.C.'s black kits. Here's the lineup Coach Soehn has decided upon...

Zach Wells; Bryan Namoff, Pat Carroll, Devon McTavish, Marc Burch; Fred, Joe Vide, Clyde Simms, Ivan Guerrero; Luciano Emilio, Jaime Moreno.

Click to continue reading...