Roster as it stands: GK: Barraza, Farr, Joon Hong Defense: Antley, Bartlett, Dodson, Herrera, MacNaughton, Rowes, Schnegg, Tubbs Midfield: Enow, Hopkins, Kijima, Ku-DiPietro, Leal, Peglow, Peltola, Pirani, Stroud Forwards: Badji, Benteke, Karamoko, Murrell DPs: Benteke, (Klich) U-22s: Joon Hong (allegedly), Ku-DiPietro, Pirani It's hard to figure out who the TAM players are without full salary info, but it's at least Enow, Herrera, Leal, Peltola, and Schnegg. I would imagine Rowes and Peglow might be given acquisition fees, but who knows what their salaries will be. Going all youth and a bit of elder statesman seasoning is an interesting way to do it. We should see some exciting soccer this season, but will it be winning soccer? Who knows. Leal being healthy, Pirani continuing to take a step, Peglow being a hidden gem, and a full season of Schnegg bombing down the left with Herrera on the right should help.
Language point: the Korean GK's last name is "Kim". "Joon Hong" (or whatever transliteration is used) is his first name.
I checked his Instagram when writing that up and it actually says Kim Joon Hong on there, in that order. Wish I could have seen what he's putting on the back of his jersey (is it Kim? Joon Hong? Something else?).
Korean placed the "last name" first. Like Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong Un. Some Asian languages do that as well, Vietnamese IIRC. Also, Hungarian uses "last names" first. Why? Who knows?
unrelated to the thread title (somone's gotta be the first to do that too) - I would like to Thank the Mod(s) for cleaning the long list of stickied threads and starting and/or moving the new ones in. It's a thankless job being a stupidface mod, I like to show my appreciation where I can.
That's fair, I will be sure to call him Kim (if just referring to him by last/family name) from now on.
Hopkins and draft pick Karamoko both out indefinitely after surgery from injuries sustained in preseason.
Hopkins was injured last season and the surgery was because recovery wasn't happening quickly enough. Karamoko got the DCU pre season sports hernia special - the "Santino".
To be fair, the DC United press release says the Hopkins surgery is a result of an injury during preseason.
Goff has a bit more context but it appears to be re-aggrevation: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/01/23/dc-united-injuries-jackson-hopkins-hakim-karamoko/ Also - not sure if Santino had the hernia and the ingrown hair or just the ingrown hair. Probably both. We were peak sports hernia in the last 20 years.
If the season started today, the team would need to dress all three goalies to get a full gameday squad of 20.
Cheap owners, cheap medicos. I'm looking at Tommy Scoops reporting Austin spending $22M on two players. DCU has one DP and, as noted above, will dress 3 GKs to make a 20 man game day roster. Levien has less shame than Trump if that is even possible. This is the Pittsburgh Pirates, NY Giants, Wizards of MLS.
…and yet, we have a pretty decent team that is substantially younger and more technical than last season.
I wouldn't characterize this as a "pretty decent team" at all. It is a young, unproven team that may, in time, be decent. Right now, only the defense looks "pretty decent". As for the others: GK: Kim (young prospect with potential); Barraza (career backup); Farr (USL journeyman) MF: Enow (young prospect); Peglow (young prospect); Kijima (young prospect); Peltola (young prospect); Stroud (MLS journeyman); Ku ( injured young prospect); Pirani (young prospect); Hopkins (injured young prospect) Forwards: Bentenke (DP level player); Badji (MLS journeyman); Murrell (young prospect); Karamoko (injured young prospect) For DCU to be "decent" at least a majority of these prospects must rise to MLS journeyman status with at least one rising a a level above that. Remember, it is highly unlikely there will be another DP added this season at any point as a result of the Klich giveway to Atlanta. And, if Benteke goes down, this team if FOK'd. Right now, I see DCU, Nashville and Philly as more likely fighting for the Spoon than a playoff position. I hope I'm wrong.
If Benteke wins the Golden Boot, United might sneak into the last playoff spot. If Benteke misses more than a couple of games, they're clawing for the Wooden Spoon.
I would agree with @griffin1108, this is a completely unproven team. I'd always looked at 2025 as a rebuilding year and the young talent supports that sense, but one aging DP with no obvious plan B should Benteke go down leaves me concerned with how well this team might or might not do, let alone where it goes with a lot of guys who weren't wanted by better teams than us. The window isn't closed, but the sense I get is that other than a couple of domestic deck chairs, we're done with dramatic improvements to the starting 11 and we also don't have a full game day roster. I really don't want to look at this team in May with 7-8 subs including 2 GKs on the bench. Right now we have a route 1 roster with now plan B. I am not sure that's how you build for 2026/27. Are we really going to start the season with Pirani or Peglow pulling the strings in midfield? Maybe he's the goods and will be an MLS revelation, but playing half the games for a relegation struggler in Poland does not portend a successful debut in MLS nor does his size, 5'8" 150. At least he's bigger than Pirani, but still.
I said the defense already was "pretty decent", my criticisms were regarding the rest of the roster. Reading is fundamental.
Yes - defense is going to buy us points this year - sorry - missed that part. I'm excited for young prospects in a high press set up. Based on the age difference from last season we will likely be more dynamic and technical in the midfield.
My bad, I missed Leal in my evaluation. I would list him in midfield (MLS journeyman made of glass). In other words a deckchair that looks reasonably comfortable, but the minute you sit in it - it breaks.
What is your definition of decent? It will be a massive effort to make the playoffs with this roster. Furthermore, our best players are not young. It’s an embarrassment seeing teams like San Jose, Dallas, and Austin spend money on proven players, when we comb the Polish top flight to find an unknown Brazilian on one it’s worst teams.