Caught in Possession

I was able to watch a big chunk of DC United's training session on Saturday morning, and by and large, the squad looked pretty lively. Obviously, DC benefits from hosting the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup tie with Harbour View at home... but beyond that, there's no denying the intangible boost this group is enjoying after a looooong stretch on the road. Familiar cars, houses, couches and beds, home-cooked meals...and like Tom Soehn sardonically told me over the phone a few weeks back, it's nice to re-introduce yourself to the family every once in a while.

A few players caught my attention during a small-sided drill that emphasized width and movement, with full-sized goals bracketing a very short field to encourage shooting from all over.

*Marc Burch: Assertive on the ball and with plenty of bite in his challenges, the Maryland alum's confidence seems to be growing steadily -- and why not? He's effectively an unchallenged starter at left back (Soehn could insert Devon McTavish in that spot but it would require a serious drop in Burch's form for him to even consider such a move) and he's got all the tools to become one of the best in MLS at that position. And left back just happens to be a problem spot for Bob Bradley's US National team as well...

*Jeremy Barlow: I was one of several observers who mistook the former Houston Dynamo man for Franco Niell -- he's small but quick, always moving, and possessed of the technique and mentality to run at people and make things happen with the ball at his feet. His local ties and developmental roster status make him a no-lose proposition for United.

*Justin Moose: With the arrival of Niell and Barlow, perhaps he can claim to be the progenitor of DC's recent short-guy stockpiling, though that would surely be a disservice to Richie Williams. This preseason, Moose had to work hard just to earn another season of poverty-level developmental wages and reserve team toil, and reportedly considered leaving the game entirely...but I think he may have a role to play for United this season. He's good in tight spaces and just doesn't ever seem to stop running.

And finally, at the tail end of his conversation with the media I got a glimpse of The Feisty Tom Soehn, who saw a need to put me in my place when I asked a followup question about Jaime Moreno's hamstring injury. (I had previously requested a brief interview with Brian Goodstein, DCU's athletic trainer, to talk more about Moreno's situation, but was denied a face-to-face with "Goody.")

I have no medical background to speak of, but thanks to soccer I do have plenty of scar tissue in both hamstrings and in my experience a 15th-minute hammy pull has a different significance than one occurring in, say, the 80th minute. But I guess I wasn't specific enough with Soehn because he seemed to take umbrage, perhaps thinking that I was insinuating something about Moreno's age or his preparation levels.

"He’s been working really hard and we’ve been making him work extra-hard to get everybody fit. Injuries happen, there’s no rhyme or reason, you know," said the second-year boss, then added, "Don’t start thinking beyond what you should be thinking – it’s an injury. Don’t try to make something out of nothing. I know where you’re going with it – don’t make something out of nothing. It’s an injury. Just like anybody else."

Hmmmm...is this how a head honcho gets tagged as a "player's coach"? Or have the murmurings about Moreno begun to truly annoy people in and around the club? Or maybe I was just barking up the wrong tree...?