Most MLS squads would consider a 15-7-10 season featuring high-profile international friendlies, the capture of the Supporters' Shield, a playoff run to the conference championship and multiple individual achievement awards a rousing success.
But things are different at 2400 East Capitol Street in Washington, where the halls of D.C. United's corporate offices at RFK Stadium are packed with trophies, game balls, photos and other memorabilia from the club's many triumphs of the past decade. Expectations ran sky-high this season -- especially after a blistering start that saw United roll up 44 points by mid-July on the strength of a 14-game unbeaten streak.
So it's difficult for the Black-and-Red to take too much satisfaction from a 2006 campaign that left a talented team one game short of their ultimate goal after a disheartening 1-0 Eastern Conference Championship loss to the New England Revolution.
"These guys are pretty gutted," said team president and CEO Kevin Payne, looking around the United locker room after the season-ending defeat at RFK. "They believe that they're the best team in the league. I believe that they're the best team in the league. I think we showed that all year long, and today we played a very, very good team in New England and we really dominated the game, but we came out on the wrong end of the score. And sometimes that happens."
But while United wilted in the season's second half, their overall excellence was undeniable -- and there's real resolve to fully realize their potential in 2007, beginning with CONCACAF Champions' Cup quarterfinal matches in February.
"There's a lot of pressure coming from upstairs, but it's more of what the fans want as well," said goalkeeper Troy Perkins. "Our fans demand so much out of us, and it's something they deserve, being as supportive as they are. But I think anywhere in the world you go, any club with a history is that way, so it's a good way for this club to be."
United produced some of the most attractive soccer in the league this season, as Christian Gomez and Jaime Moreno paced a dynamic attacking corps that powered D.C. to a league-leading 1.63 goals per game average.
Moreno notched his 100th career goal against Columbus on May 31, becoming only the second MLS player ever to reach that extraordinary milestone. Finishing the season with 105 tallies, the Bolivian legend is just three goals behind Real Salt Lake's Jason Kreis and could yet become the leading scorer in league history. But Gomez did his fellow South American one better, earning league MVP honors for a tremendous season featuring 14 goals and 11 assists.
At the other end, Bobby Boswell's continued maturation provided the crucial foundation for a three-man back line that made great strides from 2005 and was tops in MLS for most of the year.
The tall center back won MLS Defender of the Year honors in only his second season as a professional, while behind him Perkins also enjoyed a breakout year in goal and was named best in his position as well. Aged 23 and 25, respectively, Boswell and Perkins have their best years ahead of them and can expect to be scrutinized by the incoming U.S. national team coach. Having spent last January in the U.S. training camp, Boswell has already gotten a glimpse of the international level and is hopeful of a repeat invitation.
"I think it was a developmental year for me," he said. "Every year is going to be a year that hopefully I can get better -- that was my goal coming in, especially coming from the national team camp. I saw some things that I wanted to try to achieve, and just tried to go to work every day and get better. Fortunately the guys around me were the same way, and we had a pretty good run."
But that run petered out in August, as United slumped into the postseason with a 2-5-4 record after the All-Star break. The goals dried up and mental lapses increased in the defensive end as fatigue and complacency took its toll, robbing the league leaders of their aura of invincibility.
Some observers wondered if Nowak's disciplined, high-intensity approach had sapped his squad's energy over the long grind of the regular season -- though United is hardly the first team in MLS history to start brightly and fade down the stretch. But as D.C. looks towards an even busier 2007 schedule that will include participation in at least one international tournament, the health and freshness of key veterans Gomez, Moreno and Ben Olsen will be crucial in big games.
"If you ask any of them, they will tell you they don't know what kind of term is that, 'taking some time off,'" said Nowak of his senior leaders. "I know it's going to be difficult, having this international competition now, but we need to have some time off for these guys."
United will be exploring Brazil and Argentina for attacking players to help share the playmaking duties with Gomez and Moreno, a search which could be made easier by the league's new designated player rule. United also plan to take advantage of some allocation rights and will be looking for more contributions from its talented but unproven crop of reserves.
Off the field, there is even more to contend with in the coming months, as negotiations continue with a potential new ownership group that includes Discovery Communications founder John Hendricks and former Duke University basketball star Brian Davis. Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress recently passed a bill that finalizes a land swap between the federal government and the District of Columbia which paves the way for United's long-awaited soccer-specific stadium at Poplar Point on the Anacostia River.
But for the time being, players and coaches are looking towards the early inception of preseason training as CONCACAF Champions' Cup action kicks off another ambitious campaign for the capital club.
"We have to start and be ready from day one, because CONCACAF is already in the middle of February, so it's not going to be enough time to come back, relax, and wait until April 7," said Nowak. "We have to be ready from the get-go. I think the players need some rest right now. It was a long season, but it's going to be even longer next year so we have to be ready."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
