Roster Reset | Forward Thinking

The last round of trialist-additions saw United bring in some competition on defensive end. This time around, we're padding the attack, though the nature of the additions says that we're pretty happy with what we've got up top as neither would seem to have a serious chance. Academy product Andy Najar probably shouldn't even be included with the trialists, as I don't think he's actually in consideration for making the leap quite yet, but might this be a test to see if we're ready to offer him a Hamid-style jump later in the year?

As for Honduran forward Arnolyn Guity? Your guess is as good as mine. Unless he has dual citizenship or a green card somehow, I don't see us filling one of our precious international spots with an 18-year old who would be fifth or sixth at best on the forward depth chart alone. Still, it's a different tack--young guys from CONCACAF, and it can't hurt to take a look at what he's bringing to the party. 

Update the list!

Senior Roster

1.  Josh Wicks, GK

2.  Troy Perkins, GK

3.  (I) Julius James, D

4.  Lawson Vaughn, D

5.  Marc Burch, D

6.  (I) Dejan Jakovic, D

7.  Bryan Namoff, D

8.  Devon McTavish, D/M

9.  (I) Floribert N'Galula, D/M

10.  Rodney Wallace, D/M

11.  (I) Cristian Castillo, M

12.  Danny Szetela, M

13.  Clyde Simms, M

14.  (I) Tiyiselani Shipalane, M/F

15.  Chris Pontius, M/F

16.  Santino Quaranta, M/F

17.  (I) Thabiso Khumalo, M/F

18.  Adam Cristman, F

19.  Jaime Moreno, F

20.  (I) Danny Allsopp, F

Developmental Roster

1.  (GA) Bill Hamid, GK

2.  (I) Milos Kocic, GK

3.  John DiRaimondo, M

4.  Brandon Barklage, M

5.  Jordan Graye, D

Trialists

1. Andrew Quinn, GK - danger signals for Kocic?

2. (I?) Lyle Adams, D - I'm assuming he'll want a senior spot, given last year. Also, he grew up in Florida, but does he have citizenship/green card?

3. (I) Quiarol Arzu, D - Honduran youth national teamer, center or right back

4. (I) Jermaine Taylor, D - Jamaican international center back

5. Daniel Wasson, M - washed out abroad, has MLS experience, eligible for Dev Dollars (25 or younger at start of season)

6. (I?) Two-Boys Gumede, M/F - what fills first, our Boyzzz quotient or our South African one?

7. Andy Najar (F) - DCU academy product, probably not really on trial
8. (I) Arnolyn Guity (F) - 18-year old mystery Honduran

GA = Generation Adidas

I = requires international roster spot, maximum of 8 internationals on final roster [UPDATE: Cristman trade leaves us with 7 spots]

We'll certainly know more about the direction United is headed when we get the pre-season matches rolling and we start to see how Onalfo plans to line up the weapons at his disposal. The Good? There certainly seems to be plenty of competition for roster spots in pretty much every position. The Bad? A lot of that competition will require an international spot on the roster, meaning that it's not really a straight fight as we can only accomodate seven such players. If we check off Jakovic, James, Allsopp, and Castillo as locks, that leaves three spots that potentially as many as nine guys are vying for.

And that potentially pesky ugly? Well, I won't start pointing fingers in earnest until we see the product on the field, but, outside of the Castillo addition (and that happened prior to Onalfo being on board, right?), our signings thus far speak to me more of muscular directness than technique and skill.

Are you ready for some Brit-ball?