Sports: Soccer

Do you also have questions about D.C. United? MLS? National team? Europe?

Washington Post soccer writer Steven Goff was online Wednesday, Jan. 25, at noon ET to talk soccer.

The transcript follows.

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Steven Goff: Greetings, everyone! It's been a few weeks since my last chat so let's get started...

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Hamilton, N.J.: I'm really frustrated that I can't watch the Africa's Cup of Nations on cable TV. Even Fox Soccer Channel is showing English Premier League and not the Africa's Cup - come on! Africa has some of the best soccer teams - and players - in the world. It's time to start paying attention to the continent.

Steven Goff: I too am curious to see some of these African Cup matches, especially the ones involving Ivory Coast and Ghana, but I'm guessing there are rights fees issues preventing Fox from showing the matches.

You might want to check www.soccertv.com for other options.

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Arlington, Va.: Did Ray Hudson make some sort of return appearance for the draft? He used to pick all of those wee little players and now with our first pick we have the new Richie Williams. DC didn't seem to do anything to address the glaring need for defensive help. Will any of these picks be able to help there? Will Nowak find a way for Boswell and Erpen to both play at the same time?

Steven Goff: As a matter of fact, Ray WAS at the draft, reporting for GolTV. I had not seen him since his departure from D.C. -- wonderful guy, always entertaining, should be on ESPN's soccer broadcasts.

United's first-round pick, Justin Moose, is very small. He's listed at 5-8, 145 --- ha!! not even close. Sounds like he could contribute right away, and the kid from UNLV might be a pleasant surprise. We'll see...Impossible to predict how college players will adapt to the pros.

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Baltimore, Md.: Hi, Steven. The U.S. looked rather weak versus Canada on Sunday night. Cause for alarm?

Steven Goff: I didn't see the game, so hard for me to critique the performance. If it had been played in May, just before the World Cup with a full complement of players, yes, cause for alarm. In January vs. Canada with second- and third-stringers? No worries.

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Pikesville, Md.: Steven, Any chance the U.S. will play one of their 3 immediate pre-World Cup matches in DC ?

Steven Goff: Not likely.

I'm guessing the final three tuneups will be played in Chicago, Columbus and either N.J. or Foxborough. Just a guess...

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Washington, D.C.: Any thoughts on the future of professional women's soccer in the U.S.? Abroad?

Steven Goff: Doesn't seem to be much interest in the business community and, to be honest, a new league would be a difficult sell. The WUSA had enough trouble attracting fans with big-name players (Foudy, Hamm, Chastain, etc); imagine their challenge with the largely unknown younger generation. Wambach, Boxx and Co. are superb players, but outside soccer circles, no one knows who they are.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Steve, Is Lucio Filomeno coming back to D.C. United? Any clue on where and when the training camp abroad will be held by the team?

Steven Goff: Still no final decision on Filomeno. Training camp will be held in DC, Bradenton, Charleston and probably Madrid (the back-up plan is Guadalajara).

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Bealeton, Va.: Mr. Goff:

Do you follow UVA soccer? If so, what do they need to do to return to being an elite NCAA soccer program?

Steven Goff: They certainly have recruited well over the years, but have repeatedly failed in the NCAA tournament. Not sure what the big issue is...

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Washington, D.C.: What's the real story behind the failure to sell DC United?

Steven Goff: From what I can tell, the investment group didn't have the money to support a pro sports franchise. I'm sure there's more to the story and it will come out over the next few months.

In the meantime, anyone out there wanna buy a team?

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Alexandria, Va.: Steve:

I know it's early, but if you were to pick a starting XI for the US to open the World Cup, who would it be?

Also, at this point, would you take either Marcus Hahnemann, who is playing great for Reading, or Tim Howard, who is riding the pine (still!) at Man U, as your primary backup keeper?

Steven Goff: At the moment, I would put Hahnemann ahead of Howard because he's an everyday player, but there's a chance both will be on the final roster.

As for a starting lineup...

Keller; Cherundolo, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Lewis; Beasley, Reyna, Mastroeni, Donovan; McBride and ??

Too early to say for sure. Injuries and fitness are going to play a HUGE role in Arena's decisions.

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Backline: What is DCU doing in the offseason about the back line? It seems unlikely that Boswell or Erpen will develop into the new Ryan Nelsen, who is a very special player. Is Novak considering using two center backs, or is that too much tampering with Olsen and Carroll in the midfield? Any changes at the outside back position?

Steven Goff: As far as I can tell, no plans to move to a four-man backline. Where that leaves Erpen/Boswell is hard to say. Perhaps Erpen will move to the outside, considering his athletic ability. Namoff should return, but Prideaux has been on the trading block. Wilson is an option and the team is hoping Stokes will return from injury.

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Washington, D.C.: There were some good strikers on the board last friday, yet we get another middie. I took united's patient approach toward picking up a forward as a positive sign that a personal favorite of mine, Alecko Eskandarian, may be progressing well with his rehab. Any word on Esky's health issues?

Steven Goff: Eskandarian has resumed workouts and, so far, isn't having any problems. Once preseason training begins, we'll get a better idea of his progress.

DC does have options up front: Moreno, Adu, Walker, Quaranta, Esky. What they lack is a definitive target forward.

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Springfield, Va.: Would you happen to know if "The Game of their Lives" will be available to rent or buy soon? Thanks.

Steven Goff: You really want to see that awful movie???

I imagine it will be on video soon.

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Washington, D.C.: I was amazed to read in the last year or so that Bryan Namoff made only about $30k. Is there a move to increase the minimum salary level for the MLS players?

Steven Goff: MLS's salaries are embarrassingly low. Consider: Namoff makes TWICE as much as some players.

With a stronger players union and a collective bargaining agreement, salaries will eventually increase. Maybe.

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Mt. Pleasant Washington, D.C.: Hey Steven, thanks for the chat.

What are the consequences of Global not purchasing United. I know the team said Global was still interested in the soccer development, but is this a set-back, or a step-forward?

Steven Goff: The league and the team say it's not a step back. I say it's a huge embarrassment. Remember back in July when they formally announced the deal and said how wonderful it was for the club, MLS and the city?? Ooops.

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Alexandria, Va.: How would you predict Peter Nowak's starting lineup on April 2nd?

Steven Goff: At the moment, same as last year. But I would imagine Eskandarian will return and the team will sign a South American who can contribute right away.

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BERWYN HEIGHTS, Md.: Steven-

First, my compliments on your reporting. For my money, you're as good as they come. My question is this: Is the club looking to improve at its current two weakest positions, right midfield and left back?

Justin Moose was the best available wide player, but we won't know how he pans out until the season starts. During their winter scouting trip to Argentina, did Nowak and Kaspar find anyone for that wide role (on either side really, since Gros can switch)? Even if the solution is pushing Quaranta back to midfield, he's a strong possibility to be gone during the World Cup.

On the left, there have been rumors that Brandon Prideaux could be traded. I think the team can't consider that sort of move until it brings in an improvement at his position. Cory Gibbs is available (though unlikely to come back to MLS), but other than that, there isn't much out there that's available.

Thanks

Steven Goff: Thanks for your kind words.

The club is looking to upgrade at those two positions, especially left back. As for right-side MF, Quaranta is an option (with Gros on the left). Moose is naturally a right flank player. Like I said before, the team is searching for help in South America.

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Re: Rockville, Md.: To quote you "the team [DC United] is hoping Stokes will return from injury." My question is, WHY??? Has anyone seen him play? HE STINKS!!!!

Steven Goff: Whoa, boy! Stokes has been terribly erratic during his career, but he could certainly provide some much-needed depth on the backline.

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Reston, Va.: Steven, Any idea if any of D.C.'s upcoming pre-season practices will be open to public viewing before they head out of town?

Steven Goff: Most of the early training sessions will be indoors, but if the weather cooperates, they could end up on the turf field outside RFK. Not sure of a timetable.

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Washington, D.C.: More noise came up last week in the British press re: capping Rossi as a US player. He's a definite talent (a talent who may never catch on with Italy, at that). I'm a little skeptical, seeing as the source of the rumor was the british press. Any truth to this story that Bruce and co. are getting all googly eyed at this kid again in hopes of getting him in time for the World Cup?

Steven Goff: The kid says he doesn't want to play for the USA. Even if he changes his mind, do you throw a stranger into the lineup? Is he really that good? Where does he play on the int'l level? Lots of questions.....

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Burke, Va.: Bocanegra in the starting lineup? Not after he was performance against West Ham. He was used by Benayoun who had Carlos going both ways before chipping him for a goal. For the most part Carlos looked out of place in his supposedly "better" center back spot. The rest of your lineup looks solid though ... Convey would have to be considered too

Steven Goff: Central back is an issue for the U.S. team. Onyewu seems almost certain to start, but who else do you put back there? Pope is past his prime, Gibbs has been injured (and now is without a club), Berhalter is solid but perhaps not a WC starter, Bocanegra up and down in England. Tricky situation for Arena.

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Washington, D.C.: I was surprised that you included McBride in the starting eleven. My sense is that he isn't very mobile and disappears for large stretches of the game. I realize he's had some success in England, but on balance he doesn't look that strong.

Is it just that the U.S. is very short-handed in the target forward position? Is Twellman a different kind of player who can't replace McBride?

Steven Goff: Arena LOVES McBride! And the guy has been very effective as a target player and scorer for the USA team. As long as he remains healthy, he will start.

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Bethesda, Md.: Over the MLS SuperDraft broadcast by Fox, the commissioner mentioned that there would be a "Midwest" expansion team. Have you heard anything on the details of who is the frontrunners and the details, like the opening season and whether the deal is linked to a stadium?

Steven Goff: Milwaukee, Cleveland and Tulsa have been mentioned.

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Rockville, Md.: Again, to quote you "Stokes has been terribly erratic during his career, but he could certainly provide some much-needed depth on the backline."

He isn't providing any help or depth when he's constantly getting beat by any and every opposing forward. As a United season ticket holder I (along with many others) have seen it all too often.

Steven Goff: I'm not advocating Stokes in the starting lineup. The team is desperate for backline depth. He provides it. MLS is a very simple, low-paying league. There aren't a lot of options out there.

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Washington, D.C.: Should we panic that the USMNT can't score goals?!?

Who is running out of chances to make WC? Twellman, Ching, Dempsey?

Will O'Brien and/or EJ be 100 percent for Germany?

Steven Goff: All of the above.

I would like to see more of Chris Rolfe.

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Baltimore, Md.: Why does MLS insist on playing its regular season this summer during the World Cup? If they were smart they would either start the season a month earlier, take a break during the World Cup, or play more games in a week. I really love the direction that MLS is heading in, but these type of descisions will only ruin the credibility of the league.

Steven Goff: I agree, they should take a break during, say, the first two weeks of the World Cup. MLS's big issue is stadium availability. If you shut down the league for a few weeks, you have to find other dates to play games. And with several clubs dealing with stadium issues in the fall, the options are limited.

The simple solution: shorten the regular season to 28 games per team.

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Landover Hills, Md.: How come there is so little coverage (in the WP and on TV) of the African Nations Cup? Especially since this is a World Cup year and the US have an African side (Ghana) opponent in the tournament?

This is extremely disappointing! This is an excting tournament, featuring all 5 qualifiers from Africa as well as perennial powerhouses like Nigeria and Cameroun that missed the WC.

Steven Goff: You can reach the sports editors at ...

sports@washpost.com

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Fairfax, Va.: Steven:

This is a local question about soccer. What do you think of a bill proposed by Fairfax County Del. Robert D. Hull (D) this week? A constituent of his doesn't like the noise coming from a park near his house, so he wrote a bill banning all use of parks on Sundays and before 8 AM and after 6 PM on weekdays unless unanimous written permission is received from all neighboring houses. When asked to respond to the furor he's ignited from sports fans of all ages, he said he doesn't support the bill he's advocating. He says he doing it because his constituent deserves to be heard. By the same reasoning, if I told him I'd like to lower the legal drinking age to 5, he'd have to advocate my bill in the state legislature. What is this guy thinking? We'd have to end most after-school athletic programs, including all youthy soccer leagues, ban all adult softball leagues and other draconian measures. Whatever he was thinking, I'm going to support anyone else running against him in the next election. I'm going to give financial support to a local candidate for the first time in my life and I'm going to volunteer for their campaign. Do you think he even cares what his other constituents think?

Steven Goff: Don't worry, it won't happen.

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Fredericksburg, Va.: Just a comment, Steve, and I'd like to get your thoughts. While I think the Justin Moose pick is a good one, I can't help but think Patrick Ianni might have been the better pick. He would have added some muscle to a team that at times was physically beaten up by other teams in the league last year.

Steven Goff: Who knows.

The MLS draft is a crap shoot.

This isn't like the NBA or NFL, where team officials can watch endless numbers of tape and live games on TV to scout players. MLS folks see a few college games, they talk to coaches, they attend a few tournaments and the scouting combine. That's about it.

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Arlington, Va.: First of all, I am neither a Republican nor conservative. However, I feel that anti-americanism has reached insane levels to the point where everything that is wrong with the world is blamed on the USA. That is why supporting the US Men's Soccer team should be our patriotic duty. Soccer is the world's soft underbelly. If we won the World Cup, it would devasting to the harsh, cruel Anti-American world. GO USA!!!

Steven Goff: Paging Bruce Arena...

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Falls Church, Va.: Steven - I am surprised there is not more interest in the local USL team, the NoVa Royals. I am just as guilty...I've never even been to a game myself and could not even name you on player on their roster past or present (except maybe whoever that guy was that once got a DCU callup when they were shorthanded)...but it seems that in an area that is this soccer-crazy (relatively speaking) you would think a lot more people would go check them out. Do you know anything about the franchise? Is it well-run? I know they just had an awful season (last place in Div 2), but that's all I know. I wonder if better marketing could make this team a real draw (at least by minor league soccer standards). Thanks.

Steven Goff: It's the equivalent of Class A baseball, I guess. Not many players emerge from that level.

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Washington, D.C.: Wow! Players playing for $15K is really low. I would think that the league is now financially healthy enough to push the salaries higher - am I mistaken?

Also, how do these guys make ends meet? Clinics? Seasonal work? However they do it, I would imagine the inability to concentrate on training year round has a negative effect on overall play.

Thanks.

Steven Goff: Some of the players have outside gigs.

For example, before his contract was upgraded, Troy Perkins was working at a sporting goods store and renting a room at the home of the Georgetown soccer coach.

It's not an easy existence for some of these guys.

MLS should be ashamed.

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Fairfax, Va.: Steven, thanks for all the outstanding coverage you pass our way. Do you think as the World Cup draws nearer the Post can do a story on soccer friendly bars in the area? They seem to be growing in numbers and the word needs to be put out there. Summers isn't the only choice anymore.

Steven Goff: Thanks for your kind words.

In the past, I believe, the Post's Weekend section has done a nice spread on soccer-friendly bars/restaurants in the area. You should probably contact them.

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Herndon, Va.: Regarding Washington, D.C.'s concern over Brian McBride ... I think someone should inform them that Brian is in the Top 10 in the Premiership scoring chart. If they tallied assists over there you'd probably notice that in addition to his 8 goals, he also has about 5 assists. Seeing as he's the most productive player the US has playing at the highest level, in arguably the strongest league in the world, should make him an automatic starter on the US team.

Steven Goff: Couldn't agree more.

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Washington, D.C.: Any posibility of trading Moreno, or any other player for that matter, for a big forward? And do you think Arsene Wenger is in trouble of being sacked?

Steven Goff: No and no.

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Firenze, Italy: Who are the front runners for the World Cup in June? What are Italy's chances?

Steven Goff: Brazil and then everyone else.

No one in Europe has emerged yet so, at the moment, I am going with Italy to provide the greatest threat to Brazil. However, England, Germany, Netherlands and Spain are threats. And don't forget Argentina.

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Georgetown, Washington, D.C.: I know I got this off the Internet boards, but there's been talk of DCU signing a Uruguayan back named (I think) Pellegrin. Supposedly played in Italy Serie B. I haven't seen you mention it. What do you know of it?

Stokes had started to play much better before he was injured. More assured in his marking, going forward. If healthy, he's potentially much better than Wilson. Wilson's dances too much in the box with the ball.

What do you think of Metros moves (or lack of considering all the rumors)?

Steven Goff: The player's agent sent United a letter expressing interest in MLS, but I don't believe it's gone beyond that.

MetroStars are rebuilding (again). Hard to comment until they're done making all their proposed moves. However, I do like Mo Johnston as coach.

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Dover, Del.: The DC front office proclaimed 3rd round pick Rod Dyachenko as the "sleeper" of the draft. What do you know about him and how DC may plan to use him as he played both forward and attacking midfielder in college? Could he be moved to the flanks where the depth is thin like DC did with Josh Gros a few years ago?

Steven Goff: Very intriguing pick by DCU. His agent, Patrick McCabe, talked him up a lot at the draft. I'm eager to see him play. Sounds as if he'll be an attacking midfielder.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Houston 1836, FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake: what's your opinion of the trend towards European naming conventions for clubs? Seems like DC United started it in the early years, and now MLS teams are following it as the league becomes more established. I like Houston 1836, FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake better than the Earthquakes, Clash and Burn, but it does seem that MLS is yearning for recognition from the Europeans (imitation is a form of flattery and flattery gets you notice, huh?!)

Steven Goff: From a soccer standpoint, it's great. From a marketing standpoint, it poses some challenges. I just think a lot of casual sports fans look at those names with bewildered looks on their faces.

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Rockville, Md.: Any chance New England would be willing to trade Taylor Twellmann to DCU for David Stokes?

Steven Goff: Um, yeah, okay.

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Haymarket, Va.: Hey Steve:

Just wanted to confirm I got the couch at your digs in Germany.

My questions: In your opinion, what was the major reason the DC United sale didn't go through? And will Kevin Payne be a part of the next effort?

Joe Doc

Steven Goff: Couch? What couch? I'll be lucky if I have a roof over my head. :-)

Payne is trying to create a new ownership group to buy the team's operating rights. If he's successful, he will part of the new group. As for now, as long as Anschutz is happy with him, he'll be part of the DC front office.

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Middletown, Del.: There have been a few reports of some college seniors, who were not invited to the MLS combine, being invited to trial this week with DC United to hopefully find another Bobby Boswell playing under the MLS scouting radar. Do you have any information on the players invited to this trial?

Steven Goff: Supplemental draft will take place Thursday. DC will probably claim a few local players.

Beyond that, they held a tryout this week and will invite other players to workouts in Washington and Bradenton.

No names yet. Sorry.

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Steven Goff: Sorry, folks, out of time. Thanks for all your questions. As always, feel free to reach me directly at goffs@washpost.com

Hope to chat again in a few weeks....

SG

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