Video: Charlie Davies participating in D.C. United intrasquad scrimmage in Fort Lauderdale

42 days until United's first 2011 league match!

Can't tell much (anything) from one minute of video -- but it's nice to see Charlie running in an United jersey.

One thing you can tell is he's more experienced than that rookie goalie -- he abused him, deflecting the clearance kick an it's in the net a few seconds later. Also, it takes a decent amount of acceleration to do pull that off.

I like the big Chinese dude.

Well, that certainly shouldn't have me as giddy as it did.

I couldn't tell much from that poor little video. Other than Cronin looked shaky.

He blew by Jakovic without too much trouble, and Boskovic did a pretty good job of trapping that ball and beating Jako for the goal as well.
If anything that video showed me that Cronin and Jako aren't looking so sharp.... ;)

If that's the product United is putting on the field in 42 days they're in big trouble.

@ OWNTF

He had a couple of nice plays out there didn't he?

Who had that left footer towards the end? Was that Boskovic?

He looked like he was running past defenders and passing well. Let's hope he can do that 80 minutes in before June.

Was that really Cronin? Rookie mistake -- I was hoping it was Harrison or Willis. He does make a nice save, though --- and I think Bosko benefited by by a deflection.

It looks like he's moving more gingerly than slowly. Too soon to make any legit judgments, but this dispels the "he can't run" fear.

Looks MLS Cup material to me

Looks MLS Cup material to me

it could be the red, but Bosko looked slimmer to me. like he might actually be in shape.

lolz rockotodd :)

@fischy, deflection or not it's in the net!

Haha, Ochocinco talking footy with Ivan Carter on WaPo live....
Says he's down to come to a DCU game anytime...
Russ Thaler said Chad is supposedly a Black and Red fan.

Not Chad, you mean "Esteban" Ochocinco.

It's a big step-up for real games, of course...as DCU discovered last year. Still, Yang could be a real find. I've been really hard on the front office, but they may have done some really good work uncovering this kid. You can't teach his height. I don't want to get ahead of things here -- he's still a teenager, and this is about a minute of highlights -- but, if he can keep it up, he could become an MLS version of Peter Crouch. The team hasn't had a target forward in forever. Yang is definitely one to keep an eye on this preseason.

Oops -- lost the first half of my post. Should read:

These are pretty limited highlights, but I'm most impressed with Yang Men. He looks pretty comfortable out there -- distributing the ball in the attack and getting on the end of a cross -- not to mention striking a goal from distance (even if it was an empty net).

It's a big step-up for real games, of course...as DCU discovered last year. Still, Yang could be a real find. I've been really hard on the front office, but they may have done some really good work uncovering this kid. You can't teach his height. I don't want to get ahead of things here -- he's still a teenager, and this is about a minute of highlights -- but, if he can keep it up, he could become an MLS version of Peter Crouch. The team hasn't had a target forward in forever. Yang is definitely one to keep an eye on this preseason.

i think what fischy is trying to say is "cap him!"

GK didn't look good at all.

Goff -can you let us know if any Academy players show up for preseason training? Maybe Julio Arjona (who is at WVU) or Michael Funes (CSMD)?

There was, after all, a ballyhooed rule change a few months back that would let Academy players keep their college eligibility and play with the pros (as long as they're not paid salary).

Speaking of Coll of So. Maryland (I've been wondering what happened to Funes, who Goff has reported did practice with United in the past) -- credit to him for sticking with it and going the juco route, if he couldn't get a 4-yr. school) -- I see they have a freshman from Cameroon, one Harold Tehameni. The interesting thing is he scored an impressive 23 goals. Sure, some of the opposition was pretty soft -- the team had 3 wins by 8 or more goals -- but, he might be worth taking a drive to La Plata next season to scout....

Oops -- misread the stats, Tehameni has only 15 goals. Still it's more than twice Funes' 6 goals.

I agree if anyone stood out in that very short video it was Men Yang.

I couldn't find a whole lot via google on him or his performance with Ferencvaros...anyone have more info in english?

Cristian Castillo looked much better in his youtube highlights. Just sayin'

Slightly off-topic -- but I love you guys, so I thought I'd post it here -- along with good news about Charlie Davies' return:

Actual Charles Renken news!!!

From Hoffenheim's website (via Gogle translation):

The U19 will start from ninth place in the year 2011 and it has to make do without Joseph-Claude Gyau, the during the winter break in the U23, "moved." New team for this is Gyaus American compatriot Charles Renken.

So, Gyau was moved up to the U23 squad -- possibly even soon to make his first team debut -- but Renken's finally healthy and fit enough to play with a reserve side (possibly for the first time since signing with Hoffenheim a year and a half ago).

Maybe a slot with the U20 team awaits...The other SI reported that Rongen would scout Renken before picking his team in the Spring.

Seems to me it was Davies' pressuring Cronin that led to a poor clear that led to a chip shot goal. Pressure the ball and good things happen. Not saying that makes him worthy of making the team, but it was a smart play. That's the half full glass.
The half empty one says what the hell was Cronin doing not clearng the ball sooner?

Seems to me it was Davies' pressuring Cronin that led to a poor clear that led to a chip shot goal. Pressure the ball and good things happen. Not saying that makes him worthy of making the team, but it was a smart play. That's the half full glass.
The half empty one says what the hell was Cronin doing not clearng the ball sooner?

Seems to me it was Davies' pressuring Cronin that led to a poor clear that led to a chip shot goal. Pressure the ball and good things happen. Not saying that makes him worthy of making the team, but it was a smart play. That's the half full glass.
The half empty one says what the hell was Cronin doing not clearng the ball sooner?

Posted by: dsheon1

* * * * * *

Agree. Good hustle by Davies and poor decision by Cronin created the scoring opportunity.

Don't forget to read the Post article by Amy Shipley, Goff (or some Washington Post blog elf) inserted the link at the top of this article after it was first posted.

I liked Charlie's acceleration, but you really can't tell his overall speed. He certainly did not look in full match shape; but that isn't that surprising.

As to targets & size, it is one thing to have height, it is another to be able to be productive in set plays. What I really want is somebody who is 6'1 and can jump like James...that would be a target.

"I feel pretty good with my speed and quickness," said Davies. "I might have a little more to progress, but as far as being out there and being like 'That guy's fast,' you'll still think I'm pretty fast."

Checked out the DCU Flickr slide show. It made me smile to see Onstad and Olsen together. Hooray for terrific players teaming up to coach together.

No Saturday thread yet?

In case you've missed it Arsenal went up to Newcastle and tore them apart scoring 2 goals in the first 3 minutes or so and 4 goals within about the first 30. Then Arsenal's Abou Diaby got sent off early in the 2nd half and the league started fraying...

Chiote (sp?) from Ivory Coast's WC team volleyed in a spectacular equalizer for Newcastle from outside the area after Arsenal only partially cleared an incoming corner kick.

Final 4-4 and Arsenal becomes the first team in the Premier League to fail to hang onto a 4-goal lead.

General insanity going on in the Premiership this morning. Thirty-eight goals in the seven games that have been completed.

JABULA...Oh, it's a Nike ball.

"I agree if anyone stood out in that very short video it was Men Yang."

If that was intentional, well done.

so wait!!! is dcu joining the NASL? or is the NASL a sponsor of the team??