By definition, the Donnety award goes to the player who has been the biggest disappointment this year. Yes, harsh, I know. But this award's definition could probably be interpreted in a couple different ways. And because I love controversy, of course I will leave that interpretation up to you. Do you give the award to a guy who has played well at times, but hasn't lived up to the hype or to his high salary? Click to continue reading...

It seems like DC United is cutting their losses with some of their new players from this winter by giving them the boot. We all know little ol' Franco Niell was releases a couple weeks back, now it looks like they are cutting ties with backup goal Jose Carvallo. "We'll officially announce shortly that we've released [. Click to continue reading...

With the 2008 MLS season at its midway point it is a good time to consider the signings MLS teams made last pre-season and how they have done so far. Before we get to that this weekend, I wanted to point to one signing that may be the bust of the year, but a bust you haven't heard much about.

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The end of June only means one thing, the summer transfer window is near it's due date for reopening for all clubs. After today MLS contracts go guaranteed for the year, so don't be shocked to see a few more names be dropped along with DC's Franco Niell and KC's Eloy Colombano. MLS clubs are turning [. Click to continue reading...

Alas for Franco Niell--the dwarf (or gnome, hobbit, halfling . . . whatever floats your coracle) has boarded the slow boat home to Argentina. Hey, maybe we'll get one of those "ships passing in the night" deals, and he'll be able to find out whatever happened to our other backup forward, Francis Doe? Click to continue reading...

A few keys to the Galaxy-United game, plus a few quotes on sundry tangents:

- Health: Give the Galaxy the edge here. They have a short injury list, while Domenic Mediate is expected to join Ben Olsen in missing this one for United. Also, to the surprise of absolutely no one, United waived forward Franco Niell, who never answered the question of how someone so short can fall down so often. Click to continue reading...

We'll officially announce shortly that Franco Niell has been released. The 25-year old saw time in seven League games (three starts) and collected an assist in 279 total minutes on the pitch. In reserve division play, Niell notched four goals and an assist in five games (all starts).

With an open roster spot, what type of player would you like to see the club go after?

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With the July 1st salary guarantee date looming just a week away, that is the question that we ask about two players: Jose Carvallo and Franco Niell. Both were brought to this country in the offseason that saw the additions of five new South American players. Three of those players (Gallardo and los Gonzalos) have earned regular roles in the starting XI. Click to continue reading...

On the strength of a Franco Niell brace, D.C. United Reserves beat visiting Toronto FC Reserves 2-0 this morning at United's Training Field. Goals in the 77th and 87th minutes supported by a clean sheet courtesy of James Thorpe and Jose Carvallo. United Reserves are now 3-2-1 (10 points) on the season.

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Forbes has put out a list of the best paid benchwarmers in all the major sports. Included in the list are MLS players. The fact that Forbes is including MLS in it's list is definitely a good sign for the league. Jeff Cunningham, Ante Razov, William Conde, and Franco Niell are all on the list. Along with those 4, is Wizards midfielder, Sasha Victorine. Click to continue reading...

Just about an hour from kickoff here at RFK Stadium and lineups have been submitted for tonight's game. With Marcelo Gallardo and Bryan Namoff unavailable due to their red cards last weekend, here's the squad the coaches have settled on...

D.C. United starters: Zach Wells; Gonzalo Martinez, Gonzalo Peralta, Devon McTavish, Marc Burch; Santino Quaranta, Clyde Simms, Rod Dyachenko, Fred; Jaime Moreno, Luciano Emilio.

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Word in both the Examiner and WaPo suggest the Niell will be on his way out soon, at the latest by July 1st when player contracts are guaranteed. At $150k a year, he has not produced as expected, and may be having trouble adjusting to the league and new playing demands. Unless he goes on a scoring streak of titanic proportions, I think the club will find it hard to rationalize keeping him. Click to continue reading...

Wow. Woooow. I can't throw this game away like I did for Colorado, as there are no excuses this time. I took down some notes during the game, because I knew this post would be a doozy. So here we go. Click to continue reading...

Wow. Woooow. I can't throw this game away like I did for Colorado, as there are no excuses this time. I took down some notes during the game, because I knew this post would be a doozy. So here we go. - Emilio's 1st touch. As in, he doesn't have one. I [...] Click to continue reading...

Franco Niell is generously listed at 5-feet, 4-inches. The player he's skying over below - Columbus' Ezra Hendrickson - is listed at 6-3. I say again, Franco's got hops! Photo taken by Tony Quinn at last Friday's reserve game, a 2-1 win for the good guys.

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Hmmm. Interesting idea, Mr. Soehn. We'll have to wait until Tuesday to see if it pays off.

Apparently Soehn took Fred out of the starting lineup in favor of Dominic Mediate and perhaps withheld Santino Quaranta in favor of on-form Devon McTavish, the argument being that the full starting XI needs to be fresh for Tuesday's more important Champion's Cup match against Pachuca. Click to continue reading...

That's right ladies and gentlemen. The MLS season officially starts a little more than 24 hours from now, and boy am I pumped. In fact, I've been invited to a MLS party, where much beer will be consumed, lots of dead animals will also be consumed, and we will watch more than our [...] Click to continue reading...

That's right ladies and gentlemen. The MLS season officially starts a little more than 24 hours from now, and boy am I pumped. In fact, I've been invited to a MLS party, where much beer will be consumed, lots of dead animals will also be consumed, and we will watch more than our [...] Click to continue reading...

That's right ladies and gentlemen. The MLS season officially starts a little more than 24 hours from now, and boy am I pumped. In fact, I've been invited to a MLS party, where much beer will be consumed, lots of dead animals will also be consumed, and we ...

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Well, after avoiding doing this for 2 weeks, I think it's finally time that I have to do this. So, here you go peoples, the super brilliant season preview written by yours truly. Nuts and Bolts If you've watched any MLS since about 1996, you'd know that (aside from a few dark years) DC [...] Click to continue reading...

Well, after avoiding doing this for 2 weeks, I think it's finally time that I have to do this. So, here you go peoples, the super brilliant season preview written by yours truly.

Nuts and Bolts -- If you've watched any MLS since about 1996, you'd know that (aside from ...

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Well, that was a barn burner! It didn't start out that way with weak wing play in the first half, bad touches by key players, and indecision in the final third. But the second half was a different story. I will leave the recaps to the professionals, but I will give you my observations [...] Click to continue reading...

Well, that was a barn burner! It didn't start out that way with weak wing play in the first half, bad touches by key players, and indecision in the final third. But the second half was a different story.

I will leave the recaps to the professionals, but I ...

Click to continue reading...

Confirmed today that Jaime Moreno will be out for the home leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup meeting with Harbor View. This means that Niell will be starting with Emilio, with Kpene probably the first choice of the bench. Also in the world of the walking wounded, Ben Olsen thinks he could be [...] Click to continue reading...

Confirmed today that Jaime Moreno will be out for the home leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup meeting with Harbor View. This means that Niell will be starting with Emilio, with Kpene probably the first choice of the bench.

Also in the world of the walking wounded, Ben ...

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Walker, who's fast in Fifa 2008, was waived today, due most likely to the glut of attacking options. We've got Emilio, Moreno, Niell, Dyachenko, Kpene, Quaranta, and possibly Cesar (our new Brazilian discovery). So we're doing alright up top. It would be nice if Kpene could score though... Also in that same link, [. Click to continue reading...

Walker, who's fast in Fifa 2008, was waived today, due most likely to the glut of attacking options. We've got Emilio, Moreno, Niell, Dyachenko, Kpene, Quaranta, and possibly Cesar (our new Brazilian discovery). So we're doing alright up top. It would be nice if Kpene could score ...

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Woof. Not much to like about this game. A slow and cranky start to the season.

Recap, quick and dirty: McTavish scored just before the end of the first half, Lowell equalized just before the end of regulation. Neither goal was anything to brag about. DC enjoyed large periods of possession, which HVFC did their best to break up with hard tackles and double-teaming. Click to continue reading...

Pre-season is finally here! United opened their stay in Florida by beating up a bunch of teenagers. Of course, most of those teenagers were probably still of a height to be looking down on DC's vertically-challenged winter signing Franco Niell. Or rather, perhaps they spent some time gazing up at the tiny Argentine forward as he managed to direct the ball netwards with his noggin for two of Click to continue reading...

He's a great reader of the game, smart with his passes and can kill you on dead balls and he's now part of DC United. Marcelo Gallardo has joined the club as the league's newest Designated Player.

He might not have the hair, fashion or following of Beckham, but Gallardo will be called upon to perform the same basic role of central playmaker. Click to continue reading...

On November 1st, 2007, Untied, and its black and red clad supporters closed the book on what was another very successful season, in bitter fashion. United was once again ousted from the MLS Cup Playoffs, by a long time rival they still have yet to beat in post season play, the Chicago Fire. As the days wore on in the following weeks, the pain and disappointment of that bitter end to the 07 season began to subside, and our thoughts began to turn towards the 2008 season. Click to continue reading...

The South American Invasion is on in DC! The Goffinator has the scoop as usual (Part 1 | Part 2), so I won't bore you with the same details you'll find (or, more likely, have already found) on the Insider or the already updated Wikipedia pages of our new boys (Gallardo, Niell, Martínez, Peralta, Carvallo - all five already listed as United players, you'll note). Click to continue reading...

Tickle Plans within plans. The front-office's ducks are all beginning to align into something resembling a row as the first of United's long-rumored Sudamericano invasion begin to touch down. Niell and Martínez are confirmed and Carvallo is lurking about baggage-claim somewhere. Moreno is all but finalized to come back at a lower salary. Click to continue reading...

It has been a little over a month since Juan Sebastian Veron turned DC United down, but the team ended up with an Argentine anyway as they have signed 5' 4", 145 pound forward Franco Niell (and people thought Adu was small).

But don't let his size throw you, the talent he has with his feet should be enough to cause some serious pain for defenders. Click to continue reading...

Now, nothing is official yet. Nobody has held up a shirt in front of the cameras and microphones, but the signs are rosy for a trifecta of South American acquisitions for United, one of whom may even be sporting a green card, according to Goff. If true, the DC front office is putting those elves to work and delivering all of those gifts I was wishing for in my WIWFC (What I Want For Christmas) Click to continue reading...