æThe worst part of being versatileÆ
Second-year defender Carey TalleyÆs versatility has kept him busy all over the field for D.C. United; his strong performance in D.C.Æs playoff-opening 2-0 win over Miami came in relief of injured Carlos Llamosa.
SOCCER AMERICA: A fine start to the playoffs.
CAREY TALLEY: It was good to win after those two losses [in D.C.Æs final two regular-season games]. We wanted the momentum coming into the playoffs, and we didnÆt get it. I think we showed everyone that we came out to play against Miami.
SA: Just about everyone figures the MLS Cup final is D.C. against the Western survivor, and that D.C. probably will win it …
CT: Nobody believes that right now. We lost in the CONCACAF [Champions] Cup and we were holders, we didnÆt do well in the U.S. Open Cup. … I think it fuels us. We havenÆt won anything. And weÆre still upset about last year [losing to Chicago in the MLS final]. We donÆt have the cup right now, and everyone wants to get it back.
SA: How tough was it losing in Las Vegas, at the CONCACAF tournament?
CT: Everyone was disappointed. It was a just a couple mistakes against Necaxa, a few opportunities that we could have capitalized on. We felt we were the better team … but theyÆre a very good team and will probably represent the area very well.
SA: I understand you did well in Vegas ù off the field.
CT: It was my first time there, and IÆll tell you what: That place is amazing. You can walk outside at 4 in the morning and itÆs like it was 6 in the evening: People are everywhere. ItÆs very easy to get distracted in that city. I donÆt think our team did, by any means, but you could definitely see how you could be distracted.
I finished up maybe a thousand [dollars]. I donÆt usually gamble, I just got lucky.
SA: What did you play?
CT: I played blackjack, at a $5 table. I donÆt have the money to play at the [higher] ones.
If weÆd won [the tournament], it would have been worth many times a thousand. IÆd much rather win that championship than at the tables.
SA: Thomas Rongen has used you all over the field this season, mostly in a reserve or replacement role. DonÆt you wish you had a position to call your own?
CT: This year, with Diego [Sonora] coming into the backline, it kind of limited my playing time. HeÆs done a great job. … Thomas told me I was very versatile, and this is kind of the worst part of being [versatile]. I can play in the center of midfield, in the back, but I havenÆt really had a place I can key in on, where the position is mine and holding it, well, you guys have to come challenge me.
Usually, when someone goes down, thatÆs where I step in. IÆd like to have a position I could practice every day.
SA: You stepped in for Carlos Llamosa and teamed with your former UNC teammate Eddie Pope in central defense against Miami.
CT: Eddie and I seem to have something ù we know where each other is going to be, we communicate well, help each other a lot. … Miami had us back on our heels a few times, really gave us problems the first 20 minutes.
They had probably five or six chances the first 20 minutes from pressuring us and us giving up balls in the back. I think we were surprised, more than anything, the way they came out.
by Soccer America senior editor Scott French