Coming into this first MLS season we were all hoping for a situation more like Seattle's first season rather than Toronto's first. Things looked quite promising as the 'Caps recruited players a year in advance of their big league return. With a core of all-star players from last years team and some impressive youth they further bolstered their lineup with the addition of with international experience in the form of American centre back Jay DeMerit .
Hunger, passion, a desire to win at all costs, and play for your teammates is certainly not a characteristic that the Caps are short on. We saw it on Saturday when Designated Player Eric Hassli came running to the defence of fellow strike Atiba Harris when referee Yader Reyes failed to maintain control of the match. Philadelphia's defensive pairing of Danny Califf and Carlos Valdez repeatedly got away with malicious tackles that would be a red card offence in any other league in the world except for maybe Scotland. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Hassli is suspended and unavailable for Saturday's game. DeMerit, Harris, Chiumiento, Thorrington, Selinas, Nanchoff, and Nolly are all nursing injuries. Baby Jesus is off with the U-20 Canadian Nationals and Omar Salgado is off with the Americans. Phil Davies was recently abducted by aliens.
Nizar Khalfan scared the crap out of me last week, gone was the ever dangerous force that we'd seen all preseason and against Toronto, and back was the speedy winger with a lousy first touch from last season. Maybe his brain got on a plane and left for Tanzania even though he wasn't released to join his national squad. Blake Wagner will likely be bumped back up to the midfield with Rochat likely moving back to the left To be fair nobody looked good against Philly except for Joe Cannon.
There should be an air of fear swirling around the club right now. While we are strong and deep in the back four, that really seems like where it abruptly ends. With 2 games in 5 days and the serious lack of warm bodies on the sidelines my fear stretches well beyond Kansas City and to Wednesday when we face a suddenly improved New England team. We could easily find ourselves with a record of 1-3-0 by this same time next week.
I could just be fear mongering but I seriously doubt it. These next 4 games will be a strong test of this clubs character. If they can tie themselves to the mast and weather the storm that will be these next 2 games they will see a terrible team in Houston and will at least have have a few fresh sets of legs back for there April 20th match with Chivas after the U-20's ends.