A New Season, A New Hope

It is that time of year again...the beginning of the MLS season. United has had their share of turnover and one thing can be said with absolute sincerity, things will be different. After a nightmare-ish last season, roster fluctuation should have been expected, but the way the roster has been revamped is more than most could have hoped for. Players were not just added for their skill level, but for their competitive attitude. I think the focus of the front office was to build this team with fighters while be competitive enough to make it to the playoffs. In order to do that, three questions definitely needed to be answered: 1) Where are the goals coming from, 2) Who was the coach on the field and 3) Who was the vocal organizer from the back line. I believe the team has done its best to answer these questions with these players.

1) Charlie Davies

Will he score the goals? His acquisition is shrouded in uncertainty due to his severe accident. I think the key thing to remember is that he is still young and he has the competitive spirit to power an army. The fact he has made it back to his current level of form should be enough to give anyone hope for the playing level he will eventually reach. The acquisition of Davies and Ngwenya certainly give us more speed than your average Allsopp.

2) Dax McCarty
Will he be the coach on the field? He has captained the US National team recently and has a striking similarity in playing style to Mr. Olsen. Nothing is certain yet, but this seems to be the role he is meant to fill. He brings skill and tenacity to the midfield and has both the credentials and personality of the player that will grab the team by the collar when need be.

3) Perry Kitchen

Kitchen has the track record of being a vocal leader. Jakovic has shown defensive skill, but has been unable to fill this role. Has United found their ideal centerback pairing for years to come? Kitchen comes with glowing praise from all his previous coaches and has done nothing but impress since arriving. On top of all that, he just looks tough.

In summation, I think three big questions were answered for United in the off season. Most importantly, we got faster and YOUNGER! This is a team with great potential to grow. The players I just highlighted are all under 24. I think it is an exciting time to be a United fan. First up, Columbus!