Soccer

Washington Post soccer writer Steven Goff was online Wednesday, May 2, at 2 p.m. ET to chat about D.C. United, MLS, Europe and anything else soccer-related.

The transcript follows.

Goff covers the D.C. United beat for The Washington Post and writes the Soccer Insider blog for washingtonpost.com.

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Steven Goff: Greetings, folks. Just posted a D.C. United item on the Soccer Insider. Be sure to check it out. Perhaps some more info later, as well.

Let's get started...

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Reston, Va.: How many more losses before Soehn gets canned?

Steven Goff: Good question.

If they are 0-10, yes, I think his job would be in jeopardy.

They like Soehn as a coach and as a person, so I think he will be given every opportunity to turn things around.

Let's see what happens over the next four days -- two games that could really define the direction of this club.

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Winchester: Are you going to be on "Post Live" with Eric Wynalda today?

Steven Goff: Oh, Eric is on his own tonight -- if he hasn't been suspended again. ;-)

(Reminder: Washington Post Live every day, 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., on Comcast SportsNet and streamed live on washingtonpost.com sports.)

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Fairfax, Va.: Who is this Zinedine Zidane you speak of?

Steven Goff: Never heard of him, but Alexi Lalas says he's got mad skills.

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Goffenberg, USA: Hello there,

What's more likely, Rooney scores a brace, or Rooney gets a red card in the first half?

And what do you think DC United will do about Erpen??

Thanks so much

Steven Goff: Today? Rooney red card! No, I don't know. This is going to be a heckuva match.

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Vienna, Va.: Why is Moreno such a sacred cow? Yes, he's been a great player, but lately...not so much. He's not showing the "passion" Soehn wants to see and I don't see the problem with making him a super sub. Let's see Adderly, who's got something to prove, up front with Emilio. Thoughts?

Steven Goff: Good question. Perhaps we will see a change tomorrow. I wouldn't be surprised.

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Raleigh, N.C.: Which is DC's bigger problem, the overall lack of team speed, or indecisiveness inside 25 yards?

Steven Goff: Well, you named two of an endless number of issues with this team. Speed, lack of cohesion in the final third, defensive lapses, poor distribution from deep in midfield blah blah blah

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Aldie, Va.: Wynalda says Jaime's too old -- you agree?

Steven Goff: We've heard this before about Jaime. Every time, he has responded. I'm wondering whether he will be able to rally again.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Goffer,

Have you had the chance to talk to the new D.C. United owners? If not, will you ask for an interview opportunity? If so, can you estimate how soccer-savvy they are?

Steven Goff: Will Chang has been on several road trips. Great guy, very enthusiastic about his little soccer project (he's also a S.F. Giants investor). He seems to have followed the sport over the years and is learning about MLS. Unlike MacFarlane, Will is involved to some extent in team operations. MacFarlane is not nearly as visible while working behind the scenes to secure a new stadium with the city.

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Baltimore, Md.: Is it too much of a no-brainer to say that New York is the big story so far this year, or is the league just biding time before you-know-who starts playing in L.A.?

Steven Goff: Once Beckham arrives, it won't matter if New York is 19-0-1 (or 3-16-1). Run for the hills!

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Washington, D.C.: Goff,

Thanks for all your coverage of the MLS and the Insider. You are an answer to the soccer nations prayers.

My question is about former United players. How are Adu, Esky, Rimando, Prideaux doing so far in the season?

Steven Goff: Thanks for the kind words.

Prideaux seems happy in Colorado, closer to his hometown in Seattle and playing regularly, last time I checked. Esky likes being in Toronto but is obviously disappointed in the results so far. Adu trying to pick up his game with RSL, but so far not much to show for it. I'm hoping to talk to him soon. Rimando struggling at RSL, sat out the other night.

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Go, AL: Steve,

Thanks for these chats and the Soccer Insider. You do a great job.

You mentioned in the Soccer Insider yesterday that D.C. United has closed their practices to the media, perhaps in part because of the Soccer Insider and because you, as a reporter, report what you see and don't have "arrangements" with the club to not report certain items.

This raises the question of just what is the relationship between a local beat reporter and the team he/she is covering. Clearly you don't want to be just a mouthpiece for the team, but I suspect you don't want to go so far in the other direction that you become little more that a spy for the opposition and lose any relationships you may have with team players/executives that would provide you with necessary insight to your reporting. Could you expand on the relationship and how you balance these conflicting demands?

Steven Goff: Yeah, great question.

If I attend practice and notice something newsworthy, I am obligated to report it. The team understands that. And I understand if they feel too much information is being revealed and see a need to close down practice. I would never agree to not write about something I see -- I just don't believe in a visual off-the-record situation.

In general, I have an excellent working relationship with the front office, coaches and players. They seem to understand that, at times, I have to write things that they would prefer did not appear in print.

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no way: Goff throws in an unsolicited comment about the stadium, without any zzzzzzz's.

Is there a real sense that the new owners and the city will be able to get United a new home (soon)?

Steven Goff: z

z

z

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LeesburgSoccerFan: Are there any MLS teams that have really surprised you in these first couple of weeks? D.C.'s record wasn't expected, but what about the rest of the league?

Steven Goff: New York has been the biggest surprise. It is all coming together for Bruce Arena very quickly. And he's got a world-class forward (Angel) on the way. It's a very long season, though, so let's see if they are able to sustain it through the summer.

D.C. has been the biggest disappointment, without question. RSL is also struggling, but what else is new? No surprise with Toronto either -- a strange collection of talent.

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Alexandria, Va.: Are there plans in the works for the Washington Post to cover the Fifa U20 WC this summer or the Women's World Cup in the fall.

Are Canada and/or China on your travel itinerary?

Steven Goff: I am hoping to get up to Canada for one or two U.S. games at the U-20s, but it's not a high priority.

As for China, I have tentative approval to cover the WWC. Still working out the expenses and logistics. I imagine we would be one of the few U.S. media outlets to be on site. With the grand time difference, it will certainly be Internet-driven coverage.

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Boston: Have you seen a preview of the new soccer movie called "Gracie," produced by the Shue family loosely based on their family history (big soccer nuts in S. Orange, N.J. -- boys later played for Dartmouth and Harvard)?

What are your all-time favorite soccer related movies? "Victory"? "Bend it Like Beckham"? The ESPN documentary on the Cosmos? The Ronaldhino clip on Youtube? How come Rob Lowe never did a "Youngblood" type soccer flick?!

Steven Goff: Haven't heard about the Shue project. Thanks for the tip.

Not a lot of great soccer "movies" out there, but plenty of fabulous documentaries: The Other Final, the North Korean/1966 film, the Cosmos, etc. I'd like to see Power of the Game, which was just released at Tribeca. The Zidane flick is interesting, to say the least.

My memory is betraying me at the moment. sorry I can't think of more.

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Northern Virginia: I'm worried about Troy Perkins. After Columbus scored last weekend he had a look on his face that I get when I'm so frustrated I'm just ready to quit. He's really quite a good keeper and he seems to have totally lost his confidence since Chivas. Troy, if you're reading this, s$&- happens! We fans are over it, we forgive you, and we still love you, now can you do that crazy leaping into the air out of nowhere and grabbing crosses thing again? Please?

Steven Goff: Troy, are you out there?

Troy is a little down on himself, no doubt. Still a quality keeper. Let's see how he does against a pretty good NE team tomorrow.

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Rockville, Md.: What happens if next Monday morning the team is 0-5-0, 0-4-1, or 0-3-2?

Steven Goff: The DCU phone bill spikes significantly for calls to Europe and Latin America.

Seriously, if DCU were to drop both games this week or lose and tie, the front office would finally begin to lose its patience. At the moment, however, they feel they have the right parts to turn things around.

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Leesburg, Va.: We know some lineup changes are in store for tomorrow's game and that practice was closed yesterday to keep us (and the Revs) from knowing what these changes would be. What specifically do you expect as far as formation and personnel changes?

Steven Goff: McTavish is out with a hip injury, so they've got to bring in another defender. My hunch is that John Wilson will start. I am also expecting Moose or Simms to replace Carroll. The wild card is Moreno. Do they sit him down and use Fred as the withdrawn forward and use, say, Casal and Gros on the flanks? Can't wait to see the lineup sheet an hour before kickoff tomorrow.

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Arlington, Va.: How much cap space does D.C. United have?

Steven Goff: From what I understand, they do have cap space and allocation money available. They could, at some point this season, go out and make a significant signing.

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Piney Orchard: Steven

Not in a smart-alec way, but how is the Freddy Adu in Real Salt Lake thing working out? I'm not likely or are any of us likely to catch an RSL game unless it is against United and Freddy isn't going to be a player that you see in the box score because he is scoring goals every week, so what is the word on his play and the freedom and creativity that he wanted?

Steven Goff: I have not seen much either, but from what I've been told, he's about the same as last year.

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Washington, D.C.: Is it possible that Peter Novak meant a lot more to DC United's success than people realize? Maybe he tired the team out by the end of the season, but maybe he knew how to best motivate this team?

Steven Goff: Perhaps. But I don't know if the players suddenly lost their appetite to play because Nowak left and his top assistant took over. The team philosophy hasn't changed much and the players seem to like Soehn very much. Good point, though.

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Leesburg, Va.: Care to go on record with predictions for the Championship game in Greece?

Steven Goff: Milan overtakes Man U today and then defeats Liverpool in the final, 1-0.

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Warrenton, Va.: So the chances of the United States hosting a World Cup are pretty good now, with us in the wings for 2010 and 2014, and bidding for the 2018 tournament, right?

Steven Goff: No one knows what to make of Blatter's changes in direction about future World Cups.

My solution: Put every other WC in Europe and alternate the other continents accordingly. Of course, that can't happen right away because after South Africa, Brazil (or another country from the Americas) will likely get the 2014 Cup. At that point, you've got to go back to Europe for 2018, in my opinion.

The USA will host another WC someday. Could be as a last-minute replacement, though.

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Steven Goff: Guevara traded to Toronto for Nagamura and a draft pick? Anyone else hearing that? Just a rumor??

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Stafford, Va.: Both Christian Gomez and Dwayne DeRosario are in contract disputes with MLS over their salaries. Could that be the reason neither one of them has done much of anything in the first few games?

Steven Goff: I don't think there is a connection.

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Bethesda, Md.:

Is Athens really prepared to deal with a Liverpool/ManU Champions League final?

Steven Goff: Yikes. Lock up the ouzo.

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Maryland then - now, Ohio: I'm not going to gloat over the Crew-DC game, because the stats speak for themselves. (wait, okay - nyah nyah. boy that felt good.) But really - my question is about Barra Brava. First, although we really dislike your presence at our games, I gotta give props to anyone who travels to watch their team play, esp. in a league that needs all the support it can get. During the national anthem, they yell the, "O!" Why? I grew up in Maryland and I remember doing it at Orioles games - O for Orioles, complete with arm motions over the head. But I can't figure out the connection here. Of course in Columbus you always risk everyone else yelling back "H-I-O" (a Buckeyes thing). Can you clarify? Thanks, and thanks for the always informative, entertaining chat!

Steven Goff: Thanks for your comments, Ohio.

It's a Baltimore/Maryland thing. That's all I know.

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the cellar: Why does God hate us?

Steven Goff: God enjoys goals. No goals, no love.

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Steven Goff: That's all for now.

Thanks for the questions.

Keep reading the Soccer Insider!

Peace,

SG

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