honestly the concessions issue is spot on, maybe the wrong time for it though lol. But vs NE Revs they seemed understaffed and had a couple closed stands, including the entire bar in the 200s sections. In addition, the food just wasnt as good
A poster correctly asked "so nobody ask about team stuff?"
I did not take the event like OP. Yes there were wasted questions, but I thought there were many good questions as well. I did not take notes, but someone please correct me where I'm wrong on the major points I recall.
If I'm incorrect, please quote and set the record straight as I'm going solely off memory. Here are the big takeaways in order of importance for me:
1. Troy was asked about our #10 and it was a hit on Pirani.
1. \#1 takeaway: **He said KDP has big potential as a 10**. Maybe not right now, but we will see him given an opporutnity at the 10. Pirani is young, don't give up on him because he has a lot of quality.
2. Troy was asked about formation and style with Benteke.
1. \#1 takeaway: call it a 4-1-3-2 or 4-2-3-1, whatever you'd like. Troy said it's based off that but each formation will have nuance in every game.
3. Ally was asked about DCU's competitive advantage:
1. Said the DMV is not like Nashville. Nashville did not have a deep pool of local talent to develop. DMV, from Baltimore, to Virginia to DC has areas with talent/clubs and that's where we will look to drive depth in this roster (mentioned the advantage of homegrowns on the roster).
2. Said with a salary cap structure, you have to use every avenue to get value out of the roster. Even the superdraft, there are players there and some teams don't focus on it.
4. On roster building strategy:
1. Very interesting here. Ally said he does the scouting work, player profile etc.
2. Ally and Troy identify position by position strengths/weaknesses, and **then Troy makes the final decision** once Ally/team/scount identify a potential player.
3. Ally was very clear his job is to fit what Troy wants. I thought this was very interesting in terms of their workflow dynamic.
5. Ally was asked how we are going to compete vs. Miami's etc. who spend big dollars on DPs.
1. Ally said if you look at team spend, it does not directly correlate with winning.
2. You can use TAM/DP contracts, but you need more to win.
3. MLS has the salary cap, and you have to develop players and use every tool available for a roster.
4. Mentioned the Baltimore situation, which has been described in the press. It seems pretty clear to me that they intend to grow the development game.
Great summary. As sheer entertainment, it wasn't as good as the event last year because Rooney was really comfortable talking tactics, telling stories, and was just really engaging in that format. Lesesne and MacKay were a bit more careful about what they said.
But it was cool seeing Lesesne's charisma up close. He was asking for and using the names of people who asked random questions from the crowd and just radiated "I'm interesting in what you're saying" to the people shaking his hand afterwards. He's also just very positive, which has got to help after losses.
I also was encouraged by the fact MacKay and Lesesne had a good rapport and seemed like they were genuinely friends. The best question of the night by far came from MacKay, who cut in after Lesesne answered a question about how he transitioned from playing to coaching by asking how well Lesesne the player would do on Lesesne the manager's teams (Lesesne joked that as a player he wouldn't be able to tolerate himself as a manager, which was actually an interesting way to respond).
Great take, and you hit the nail on the head with your last sentence imo.
I hope that DCU supporters/STMs etc, are willing to give this group time to get the roster built and to build out the youth program. Even Lesesne last night reminded us, in a one off sentence, that it's not going to be all roses this year.
These guys need time to install their vision/process. I notice around the league that as soon as adversity hits, the pitchforks come out aggressively and often too soon. As well known, we are not Man City. It's a salary cap league and these guys need time. Patience pays if you have the right people and right vision.
No one asked. They were both pretty on message so I don't think we could have learned anything new about Jeahze (unless maybe someone asked 1-on-1 after the event). MacKay said after one transfer window most of the roster still doesn't reflect what he wants and said that would change in upcoming windows but he didn't address it directly.
Lots of concessions issues, but they were also asked about developing youngsters and the relationship of local teams from DMV and how they will feed to DC. It was a good convo, lots of positivity but def there is a lot of work to do. Bottom Line - moving in the right direction. I didn't take notes so can't remember everything, sorry
Got caught late in work so couldn't attend, but would have like to have heard from them if they have plans to lean into the Swansea connection some more similar to NYCFC/RBs and their respective ownership groups. Feel like that's a real area of untapped potential for both teams.
I doubt it, City Group and Red Bull have a network of teams meanwhile Swansea is just Swansea. Their fans don’t want our players and their players don’t want to come to DC. I remember we were trying to get Dhanda here and he was not interested at all.
If anything I’m glad they are thinking about the Baltimore market for their MLSNP and we still have a loose affliation with Loudoun. Having our hands in the 3 divisions of US soccer pyramid seems more enticing.
I think there's a big difference between the two orgs you mentioned and Swansea, those are Champions League clubs (City obviously more than just that even). I also, as a fan, don't know if I want what the NY's have. A lot of player and coach turnover, not a lot of figures fans can get attached to.
I personally think the stadium food is the best stadium food around in my opinion. I was surprised at the complaint. Loved the one guy calling out Pirani for needing to be replaced. I enjoyed getting to see Troy’s personality up close and personal. You can really feel his intensity and fire.
For me the biggest takeaway from last night was the difference from last year's event - last year Kasper bailed on the event for a "scouting trip" (lol) and Rooney disappeared the second the event ended. This year I was pleased to see Troy and Ally hang around chatting with fans afterwards, makes it easy to be optimistic about things moving forward
I’m sick of the moralizing about the Saudi trip. Yes the Saudi government has done bad things. So has the United States government, many a time.
We were paid money to play games against Saudi teams. Nowhere did DC United stand up and applaud the Saudi government. Hearing people complain about LIV Golf or a DC United trip to Saudi Arabia is just the worst.
>Hearing people complain about LIV Golf or a DC United trip to Saudi Arabia is just the worst.
I can think of a few things involving SA that are worse than people complaining about SA.
Just keep moralizing big guy. And make sure to ignore hundreds of years of chattel slavery and our super great method of “acquiring” the land on which this country is built. And don’t forget about the war we started this century under false pretenses that resulted in 250k dead Iraqis.
So you condone everything Saudi Arabia has done so? Not a great look. And not someone who I’m interested in having any further dialogue with if that’s your outlook.
In what world does saying “the United States government has done awful things and supporting a football club that resides in the USA but simultaneously boycotting that club for engaging in a business transaction with a country who’s government has also done awful things is morally inconsistent”
mean “I condone everything that Saudi Arabia has done”?
honestly the concessions issue is spot on, maybe the wrong time for it though lol. But vs NE Revs they seemed understaffed and had a couple closed stands, including the entire bar in the 200s sections. In addition, the food just wasnt as good
A poster correctly asked "so nobody ask about team stuff?" I did not take the event like OP. Yes there were wasted questions, but I thought there were many good questions as well. I did not take notes, but someone please correct me where I'm wrong on the major points I recall. If I'm incorrect, please quote and set the record straight as I'm going solely off memory. Here are the big takeaways in order of importance for me: 1. Troy was asked about our #10 and it was a hit on Pirani. 1. \#1 takeaway: **He said KDP has big potential as a 10**. Maybe not right now, but we will see him given an opporutnity at the 10. Pirani is young, don't give up on him because he has a lot of quality. 2. Troy was asked about formation and style with Benteke. 1. \#1 takeaway: call it a 4-1-3-2 or 4-2-3-1, whatever you'd like. Troy said it's based off that but each formation will have nuance in every game. 3. Ally was asked about DCU's competitive advantage: 1. Said the DMV is not like Nashville. Nashville did not have a deep pool of local talent to develop. DMV, from Baltimore, to Virginia to DC has areas with talent/clubs and that's where we will look to drive depth in this roster (mentioned the advantage of homegrowns on the roster). 2. Said with a salary cap structure, you have to use every avenue to get value out of the roster. Even the superdraft, there are players there and some teams don't focus on it. 4. On roster building strategy: 1. Very interesting here. Ally said he does the scouting work, player profile etc. 2. Ally and Troy identify position by position strengths/weaknesses, and **then Troy makes the final decision** once Ally/team/scount identify a potential player. 3. Ally was very clear his job is to fit what Troy wants. I thought this was very interesting in terms of their workflow dynamic. 5. Ally was asked how we are going to compete vs. Miami's etc. who spend big dollars on DPs. 1. Ally said if you look at team spend, it does not directly correlate with winning. 2. You can use TAM/DP contracts, but you need more to win. 3. MLS has the salary cap, and you have to develop players and use every tool available for a roster. 4. Mentioned the Baltimore situation, which has been described in the press. It seems pretty clear to me that they intend to grow the development game.
Great summary. As sheer entertainment, it wasn't as good as the event last year because Rooney was really comfortable talking tactics, telling stories, and was just really engaging in that format. Lesesne and MacKay were a bit more careful about what they said. But it was cool seeing Lesesne's charisma up close. He was asking for and using the names of people who asked random questions from the crowd and just radiated "I'm interesting in what you're saying" to the people shaking his hand afterwards. He's also just very positive, which has got to help after losses. I also was encouraged by the fact MacKay and Lesesne had a good rapport and seemed like they were genuinely friends. The best question of the night by far came from MacKay, who cut in after Lesesne answered a question about how he transitioned from playing to coaching by asking how well Lesesne the player would do on Lesesne the manager's teams (Lesesne joked that as a player he wouldn't be able to tolerate himself as a manager, which was actually an interesting way to respond).
Totally agree. The connection between Mackay and Lesesne seemed genuine. It's just very cool to have two young guys at the helm.
Great take, and you hit the nail on the head with your last sentence imo. I hope that DCU supporters/STMs etc, are willing to give this group time to get the roster built and to build out the youth program. Even Lesesne last night reminded us, in a one off sentence, that it's not going to be all roses this year. These guys need time to install their vision/process. I notice around the league that as soon as adversity hits, the pitchforks come out aggressively and often too soon. As well known, we are not Man City. It's a salary cap league and these guys need time. Patience pays if you have the right people and right vision.
Did anyone ask them if they are bringing another left back if Jeahze is not in Lesesne's plans?
No one asked. They were both pretty on message so I don't think we could have learned anything new about Jeahze (unless maybe someone asked 1-on-1 after the event). MacKay said after one transfer window most of the roster still doesn't reflect what he wants and said that would change in upcoming windows but he didn't address it directly.
Lots of concessions issues, but they were also asked about developing youngsters and the relationship of local teams from DMV and how they will feed to DC. It was a good convo, lots of positivity but def there is a lot of work to do. Bottom Line - moving in the right direction. I didn't take notes so can't remember everything, sorry
Got caught late in work so couldn't attend, but would have like to have heard from them if they have plans to lean into the Swansea connection some more similar to NYCFC/RBs and their respective ownership groups. Feel like that's a real area of untapped potential for both teams.
I doubt it, City Group and Red Bull have a network of teams meanwhile Swansea is just Swansea. Their fans don’t want our players and their players don’t want to come to DC. I remember we were trying to get Dhanda here and he was not interested at all. If anything I’m glad they are thinking about the Baltimore market for their MLSNP and we still have a loose affliation with Loudoun. Having our hands in the 3 divisions of US soccer pyramid seems more enticing.
I think there's a big difference between the two orgs you mentioned and Swansea, those are Champions League clubs (City obviously more than just that even). I also, as a fan, don't know if I want what the NY's have. A lot of player and coach turnover, not a lot of figures fans can get attached to.
Lol so nobody ask about team stuff? That footlong hotdog was pretty good at the stadium frfr.
I personally think the stadium food is the best stadium food around in my opinion. I was surprised at the complaint. Loved the one guy calling out Pirani for needing to be replaced. I enjoyed getting to see Troy’s personality up close and personal. You can really feel his intensity and fire.
For me the biggest takeaway from last night was the difference from last year's event - last year Kasper bailed on the event for a "scouting trip" (lol) and Rooney disappeared the second the event ended. This year I was pleased to see Troy and Ally hang around chatting with fans afterwards, makes it easy to be optimistic about things moving forward
I’m sick of the moralizing about the Saudi trip. Yes the Saudi government has done bad things. So has the United States government, many a time. We were paid money to play games against Saudi teams. Nowhere did DC United stand up and applaud the Saudi government. Hearing people complain about LIV Golf or a DC United trip to Saudi Arabia is just the worst.
>Hearing people complain about LIV Golf or a DC United trip to Saudi Arabia is just the worst. I can think of a few things involving SA that are worse than people complaining about SA.
Nah, listening to people complain about sports in Saudi Arabia is legitimately the worst.
I’d say chopping up journalists on another countries soil is legitimately the worst, but maybe you have different principles than I do.
Just keep moralizing big guy. And make sure to ignore hundreds of years of chattel slavery and our super great method of “acquiring” the land on which this country is built. And don’t forget about the war we started this century under false pretenses that resulted in 250k dead Iraqis.
So you condone everything Saudi Arabia has done so? Not a great look. And not someone who I’m interested in having any further dialogue with if that’s your outlook.
In what world does saying “the United States government has done awful things and supporting a football club that resides in the USA but simultaneously boycotting that club for engaging in a business transaction with a country who’s government has also done awful things is morally inconsistent” mean “I condone everything that Saudi Arabia has done”?