Thomas Rongen tries to orchestrate a D.C. United rebound
One would expect that World Cup qualifying could only have an adverse effect on MLS clubs during the MLS season by pulling its players away for key matches. But in keeping with a trend of misfortune that ran through the 2000 season, D.C. United had its offseason plans sabotaged by a quirk in qualification.
Since Guatemala defeated Costa Rica on the last day of Group E play and forced a one-game playoff in January, the Costa Rican professional league condensed its season to make room for the match. As a result, UnitedÆs planned jaunt to Costa Rica in preparation for the CONCACAF Champions Cup was nixed.
ôThey moved a whole bunch of weekend games to Wednesdays û Wednesdays that we were supposed to use to play exhibitions against them,ö United coach Thomas Rongen said. ôThere just werenÆt any dates left in December for us to play.ö
So United will not get the benefit of playing against teams similar to Alajuela, its quarterfinal adversary in the eight-team tournament. The two finalists from the competition û to be held Jan. 16-21 in California û will advance to the increasingly prestigious World Club Championship in Spain. The Los Angeles Galaxy is the other representative from MLS.
LEFT IN THE COLD. Instead of sunny Costa Rica, United will train in chilly RFK Stadium for much of December and try to line up as many friendly games as possible. Scrimmages against the U.S. national team and its U-20 squad are planned and a weekend trip to Florida to play the Miami Fusion is a possibility.
In the meantime, Rongen faces the challenge of bringing together a team that is not only in the middle of its offseason, but also has been scattered across the globe since late September.
The team did get to play three games during a benefit tour of El Salvador in November, but roughly half of that roster comprised of young players on trial. United officials said they received top-class hospitality from just about everyone in El Salvador û except the referees.
A few hundred people cheered the team as it arrived at the airport, but two United players were sent off in one game and Rongen was ejected from another. A portion of the revenue raised by the games went to help fund the renovation of a San Miguel stadium.
ôI was able to look at some players and we helped a good cause,ö Rongen said. ôBut because we were shorthanded in two of the games, I wasnÆt able to see everybody in their natural position in our formation.ö
Rongen also must think ahead to the coming MLS campaign and look for ways to avoid a repeat of last yearÆs disaster û an 8-18-6 record and an 11th place finish in the league.
ôWe donÆt need to make major roster changes,ö Rongen said. ôOne mistake I made in New England was trying to overhaul too quickly. That doesnÆt really work in this league. We still have a very big core group of players who can get us back where we belong.ö
Two factors that will help United determine what changes to make are the salary cap and the potential sale of Ben Olsen. The salary cap issue should be resolved by late December, after which time player movement will likely increase league-wide. Several English clubs, including Nottingham Forest, where Olsen has been on loan, are interested in buying him, but Rongen said the question remains whether MLS and a prospective buyer can agree on a transfer fee.
by Soccer America associate editor Will Kuhns in Washington D.C.