For the first nine days of preseason training, United head coach Tom Soehn was forced to prepare D.C. United for an upcoming CONCACAF Champions' Cup clash with CD Olimpia without his full team. With five players participating in the U.S. men's national team camp, Soehn was forced to wait ... until Friday.
Bobby Boswell, Brian Carroll, Josh Gros and Bryan Namoff arrived at United's Bradenton, Fla., headquarters Thursday night to a warm welcome from their club teammates. Goalkeeper Troy Perkins, who was also involved in the U.S. camp, arrived in Florida on Monday. Carroll and Gros both played in Wednesday night's U.S. victory over Mexico, while Boswell and Namoff were on the bench throughout. The appearance was a first for Gros behind the U.S. badge. All five reported fit and anxious to get back to work with D.C. United.
With a full complement of talent, United are now set to prepare in earnest for the team's Feb. 21 opener. On the heels of two grueling practice sessions Thursday, the team will train twice again Friday. The club will scrimmage the Columbus Crew Sunday at 10 a.m. ET on the grounds of IMG Academy.
Nicknames
What's in a name? Plenty if you ask United's rookies. As the fresh faces acclimate to playing with Major League Soccer's most decorated club, they must also become accustomed to nicknames that evolve.
Though most now answer to names that are simply a derivative of their actual first or last names, a Chris Berman-inspired Soehn has created the most colorful nickname of the preseason: Jay "I'll use him when I" Needham.
Player notes
Though a handful of players are suffering from mild muscle strains and knocks typically associated with preseason training, all continue to train in some manner.
Rookie Shawn Crowe, however, will return to his Florida International University roots Friday in order to rehab more extensively. The goalkeeper will rejoin the team in D.C. to train with players not traveling to Honduras.
