Pitch Pass

D.C. United is back and so is Pitch Pass. Roche is joined by journalist Charles Boehm to discuss the offseason of change around the club.  But first, the bad as DCU's preseason trip to Saudi Arabia has caused unease amongst the fanbase (3:06). Then, Charlie gives some additional insight on new coach, Troy Lesesne and new CSO Ally MacKay (15:28) before breaking down the roster, possible formations, key questions about the season, and the integration of the exciting young talent on the team (29:33).You can follow Charlie on Twitter @cboehm.Click here to read his article on the DCU supporters group situation. 

It's not "official" but D.C. United's season has unofficially come to an end without tangible success. The Athletic's Pablo Maurer joins Roche to look back on another lost season for the club, what Wayne Rooney did (and didn't do) for the organization, and where the team goes from here. They also discuss the Kasper situation, the ownership thought process, the DCU reputation in the global market, the tradition of United half measures, and the success of former DCU staff/players.  Finally, the boys get surprisingly introspective on the changes in their personal lives in 2023. Read Pablo's work on The Athletic. 

D.C. United Defender Brendan Hines-Ike has returned to full fitness after suffering two freak, long term injuries over the last three years. He joins Roche on this episode of Pitch Pass to discuss how his "foot exploded in his boot" and how he got back. He then addresses the team's response to the supporters' dissatisfaction with the disappointing match against Philadelphia before setting the stage for the last matches of the MLS season and why "playoff pressure" is not the same as "relegation pressure." Brendan also discusses his Swedish, his "memorable" time playing at America's Family Resort, and the inevitable double hyphen last name. Follow Pitch Pass on X (Twitter)

As MLS season winds down, MLSNext season starts up so it's a good time to check in with the D.C. United Academy with TopDrawerSoccer.com 's Travis Clark. The club's investment in the Academy has been uneven over the years but that seems to be changing with DCU making a real commitment to the youth of the club and the DMV at large. Travis and Roche try to make sense of the US youth soccer scene (no easy task) and DCU's place in it. They also break down the current Academy set up, some players and age groups to monitor, and when/if the first team can expect reinforcements from the Academy. 

D.C. United has reached the home stretch of the MLS season and things are...meh.Pro Soccer Wire's Jason Anderson joins Roche to answer three questions about the club as it makes its push to make the playoffs.1. Are things better or worse now as opposed to the last 4 years?2. Can #DCU make the playoffs? 3. Has the manager found a new formation for the last six weeks of the season?Within these questions, Jason and Roche also hit on the "win now" mentality, Yamil Asad = Attacking Assistant, letting Teddy cook, and the harrowing drive home from Audi Field for Marylanders. Follow Jason's work on X and at prosoccerwire.com. 

One of the pleasant surprises to the start D.C. United's  season has been the play of Ted Ku-DiPietro. The DCU Homegrown joins Roche on this edition of Pitch Pass to discuss his season thus far, his "traditional American sports" path to the first team,  Wayne Rooney's advice to the young players on the team, his "young veteran" advice to the teenagers on the team, and the (welcome) changes to the D.C. United Academy over the last few years. Follow Teddy on Instagram here.

There's not just a different vibe for D.C. United on the field. Off the field, the club has raised their game in a number of areas, especially the digital team. Claudia Pagan has been the face of DCU Digital for the last 4 years and joins Roche to discuss the process of creating content. Apple TV has played a role in the increase in content creation and Claudia explains how the Apple/MLS partnership has raised the game for creating content across the league. But it goes deeper than Apple. Claudia then points out other factors that have led to more content from the club including the hard work of the staff, relationships with business partners, and investment from the club. Then, Claudia discusses the struggles of last season, the improvements to Audi Field, the excitement of MLS All Star, being a bilingual reporter, and gives us the story behind the now famous "unintelligible scouse" Wayne Rooney caption. Subscribe to Claudia's YouTube page for even more behind the scenes looks at D.C. United. 

D.C. United's season is underway and the results thus far have been...encouraging? Pro Soccer Wire's Jason Anderson joins Roche to discuss the Black And Red's first two matches and if there is any long term takeaways from them.  Among the talking points:-What youngster has the best long term outlook?-Rooney's tactics-The still wobbly defense-Chris Durkin's "undroppable" status-Durkin as the poster child of DCU's move to the "middle ground" of MLSPlus, Jason and Roche discuss the ownership groups "good" offseason and the United's digital team's excellent start to the Apple era. You can follow Jason for all things NWSL and American soccer on Twitter @JasonDCsoccer.

It's been an unsatisfying period for D.C. United for both the club and its supporters. But with rumors swirling of multiple additions incoming during the summer transfer window, there is a sense of excitement around the team. Roche spoke with DCU GM Lucy Rushton about potential reinforcements, the type of player the club is looking to add, and when we might see them on the pitch. Rushton also walks Roche through the recruitment process of Taxi Fountas and how the club identifies and tracks potential new signings. Finally, she gives insight on D.C. United's overall vision and how it is evolving post-Hernan Losada. 

It has been a tumultuous month for D.C. United following the dismissal of Hernan Losada amid a cloud of controversy and confusion from supporters.New DCU Head Coach Chad Ashton joins Roche to talk about the transition from Losada to him. What's changed, what's stayed the same, and what's ahead. Ashton discusses the "have fun" comments from the players and himself that spurred so much unrest amongst fans as well as the disappointing U.S. Open Cup result against bitter rivals, New York Red Bulls.  Finally, he gives injury updates on Bill Hamid and Andy Najar.

As D.C. United embarks on its second year under the stewardship of head coach Hernan Losada (assisted in the front office by Lucy Rushton and Dave Kasper), off the pitch, the club is going through a similar re-imaging under DCU's President of Business Operations, Danita Johnson. Danita joins Roche on this episode of Pitch Pass to discuss the health of the club behind the scenes. Topics include: the new partnership with XDC Networks and where the club will allocate the influx of cash that comes with it, the the move towards fully staffing all facets of club operations after running lean for so long, the initiatives to making Audi Field a smoother fan experience for supporters, and the role Audi Field and the United Performance Center play in modernizing the work place environment within the club. 

D.C. United has a new youth academy director and he joins Roche on this episode of Pitch Pass. Patrick Ouckama plays his hard close to the vest which makes for a fun  cat and mouse type conversation. After getting some background on Ouckama, Roche asks about the Pathway2Pro initiative, the recent success of the academy, uniform tactics throughout the club, the lack of lower level youth teams for DCU, ownership commitment to youth development, and more. 

D.C. United homegrown Griffin Yow joins Roche on this episode of Pitch Pass to discuss his "senior year" of high school, the expectations that come with being the first homegrown signing of his generation, his fit in Hernan Losada's plans, and the challenges of the first half of this DCU season. 

U.S. Soccer Hall Of Famer Bruce Murray joins the show to discuss The Accelerator School, how it differs from traditional schools, soccer clubs, and MLS academies, and his hope that it changes how Americans look at education and soccer (12:50). Then, Roche and Bruce go over the state of the American soccer system, , the rise in the stature of MLS and American players, and D.C. United's turnaround off the pitch. 

D.C. United started the Hernan Losada era in...style? Depends on your definition of the word. What isn't up for debate is that DCU got a result against NYCFC in their first MLS regular season of 2021. They did it with, more aggressive tactics and a renewed vigor. Writer Charles Boehm joins Roche to give some first impressions of the team under Losada including what looked good, what still needs work, and what is or isn't sustainable. Then, Roche and Charlie discuss the behind the scenes changes at D.C. United and if the hiring of Losada and new GM Lucy Rushton is a sign of change in the club's culture or another mirage. Click here for Charlie's piece on Lucy Rushton. 

Pitch Pass kicks off its 10th season with one of our favorite guests. The Athletic's Pablo Maurer recently wrote the definitive oral history on the insane 2012 MLS Eastern Conference Semi-Final between D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls. He joins Roche to discuss the oral history and share a few more stories from that tie that didn't make it into the article. Then, they discuss DCU prospects for the 2021 season...and whether the roof at Audi Field will ever be completed.Read Pablo's oral history here. 

#DOOP is all the rage and it's due in large part to the Philadelphia Union Academy. The Union academy is quickly becoming the youth development model in MLS and Charles Boehm has been covering it since its beginnings. Boehm joins Roche for the latest Pitch Pass to discuss the Union model, how it relates to European youth setups, how it's different from other MLS academies, and if it's sustainable. Then, Charlie and Roche wonder how far D.C. United is from Academy relevance again. To read more about the Union Academy, check out Charles Boehm's work on mlssoccer.com.

Roche checks in with The Athletic's Pablo Maurer for an update on the MLS Is Back Tournament. Has the tournament been good for the league? Is youth finally being served in the League? What teams' performance is indicative of its future? Plus, an update on D.C. United and more. Click here for more info on Jaime Moreno.

Former MLS GK Andrew Dykstra now makes his living coaching the next generation of soccer players. In this episode of Pitch Pass, Dykstra discusses the challenges of being a youth coach during a pandemic, which age groups suffer the most from a disruption in training, and which MLS team mines the Mid-Atlantic region for talent the best. Roche and Andrew also discuss the MLS Is Back Tournament, life in the USL, and more.

After scoring the game winning goal against Inter Miami, D.C. United veteran Frederic Brillant, like almost everyone else, has spent the past two months at home. During that time, he's spent time with family, stayed sharp with DCU's tactical Zoom sessions, mentored the younger United players, while being mentored by Nolan Sheldon on the nuances of coaching. The veteran has also had time to ponder his future in the sport as a player and coach. Also, Fred and Roche break down his ultimate French 5v5 team and look for possible weaknesses and alternatives.

The new season of Pitch Pass is here! First guest of the year is D.C. United captain, Steven Birnbaum. It's his second stint as captain of the Black and Red and he tells Roche what he's learned since his first tenure. Then, Roche and Steve discuss the life changing money to be made in MLS now, sitting next to "regular" people on flights, the DCU new boys, being a #GirlDad, and what it's like being Wayne Rooney's friend off the pitch.

The MLS Cup Playoffs are here! Pitch Pass will spend the next month breaking down the match ups and making BOLD predictions. Roche will be joined throughout the month by former MLS Defender Of The Year, Bobby Boswell, who will be sharing his expert analysis exclusively on Pitch Pass. Sounds legit, don't it? It definitely isn't but it'll be a lot of fun to hear. Pitch Pass is sponsored by Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

Don't tell Russell Canouse he's had an up and down year. No, seriously, don't. Roche tried and Canouse shut that right down. Hear why he thinks comments about his "form" were overblown, his numerous off the field interests, the long term plan for his life as a realtor, playing right back for D.C. United, the uniqueness of a lung injury, sports fandom in Central PA, and much, much more. Pitch Pass is sponsored by Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

Good friend of the podcast (and D.C. United legend), Bobby Boswell joins Roche to discuss the upcoming MLS CBA. Boswell has been in the room for the last two rounds of CBA negotiations and offers unique insight on what the players got last time and what they can achieve this time. He also advises you "stay woke" (his words) on what is and isn't important to the players(13:06). But first, he breaks down the recent appearance of the number 32 in a recent D.C. United match, how it got there (hint: Steve Birnbaum), and the magical powers of the iconic number. Pitch Pass is sponsored by Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

Roche brought ESPN's Sebastian Salazar on talk D.C. United tactics. He did not want to talk about D.C. United tactics. Instead, Roche and Sebi discussed fan alienation, an owner's obligation to club supporters, long term investment vs. short term capitalization, and the role of minority voices in the media. Pitch Pass is sponsored by Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

If you like a grown man whining about a sports team for 90 minutes, this episode of Pitch Pass is for you. Pablo Maurer joins Roche to discuss his latest articles on The Athletic including his column on the troubles with Audi Field. Then, the guys get into a hypothetical starting XI for D.C. United in 2020, Wayne Rooney's legacy, Lucho Acosta's legacy, who is to blame for DCU's meh season, and much, much more. It's an episode to air all the grievances with D.C. United. Pitch Pass is sponsored by Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Roche hates Felipe Martins! Whew! That felt good. Now, Roche and Felipe can move forward with an insightful conversation about Felipe's reputation amongst MLS (and especially DCU) fans, his incredible journey from Brazil to Europe to MLS, the difficulties he experienced in Vancouver, and the MLS urban legend featuring him and Frank Lampard. Pitch Pass is sponsored by Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen joins Roche to discuss the life of a soccer dad and how/if to coach your kid, keeping an eye on the Academy, and the number 14 in DC history. Then, Roche compares Branko Boskovic and Zoltan Stieber and asks Olsen if Stieber is a luxury the team can afford. Plus, talk of DCU formations, Rooney's minutes, and transfer talk. It's a jam packed episode of Pitch Pass brought to you in part by Tropical Smoothie Cafe. www.pitchpass.com

New Loudoun United head coach Ryan Martin joins Roche to discuss his new role in the D.C. United organization, what Loudoun United means to the Black And Red, and, integrating youth players into the professional ranks. Then, Martin breaks down the homegrown signing process, the Pathway 2 Pro initiative, and the perception vs. reality of DCU. Listen and subscribe so you never miss an episode.Pitch Pass is sponsored by Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

D.C. United homegrown signing, Griffin Yow, joins Roche for this episode of Pitch Pass. The 16 year old has already made his first team debut for DCU and is a fixture in the Loudoun United starting XI. Hear when Yow knew he could compete with professionals, what Academy players could be following in his footsteps, and his excellent advice for players dreaming of a career as a professional soccer player. Pitch Pass is sponsored by Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Listen + Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Donovan Pines has had a fantastic start to his rookie season with D.C. United. In this episode of Pitch Pass, he gives his thoughts on his play thus far, the injury that has put his season on hold and how much time he'll miss, and the difference between USL and MLS. Plus, he explains why he's a Liverpool fan, how close he was to starting his career overseas, and why his teammates call him Bambi. But first, Emily Olsen of ProSoccerUSA.com joins Roche to discuss DCU's current form, summer transfer targets, what formation is most successful for United, and Marquinhos Pedroso's crazy travel to get to D.C. Listen + Subscribe to Pitch Pass so you never miss an episode!

Chris McCann joined D.C. United this season after winning the MLS Cup with Atlanta United last season, which was preceded by a long career in England. Now, the Irishman talks with Roche about his time in England, the Netflix documentary Sunderland Til I Die, the process of getting a green card, and whether he can still deal with cold weather now that he's in America.

Orlando City hosts D.C. United and The Orlando Sentinel's Jordan Culver joins the show to discuss the Lions early season form, how they want to play, and the impact of Nani. Then, The Athletic's Pablo Maurer talks with Roche about Johan Cruyff, his worldwide and national legacy, why his "mixtapes" don't pop, and who would play Cruyff in the Netflix limited series about his time in DC.

Paul Arriola has been D.C. United's most in form player during the first two matches of the new MLS Season. He joins Roche to discuss his form, the cold, wet opener at Audi Field, USMNT Coach Gregg Berhalter's style, and more. Make sure you subscribe to Pitch Pass so you never miss an episode!

The new season of MLS is finally here! One of the marquee match ups during opening weekend is D.C. United hosting MLS Cup Champions, Atlanta United. Defender Steven Birnbaum joins Roche to discuss the #DCU preseason, the rash of weddings in the League this offseason, and Wayne Rooney's golf game. Then, The Athletic's Felipe Cardenas calls in to talk about Atlanta United's CONCACAF Champion's League experience, the pressure on Frank DeBoer to hit the ground running, and Miguel Almiron's outstanding EPL start.

D.C. United has a new Technical Director and he joins Roche on the latest episode of Pitch Pass. Dane Murphy has climbed the front office ladder at breakneck speed and discusses how he transitioned from player to exec so quickly. Then, he takes Roche behind the scenes at Loudoun United to talk roster building, establishing an organizational infrastructure, and how the Academy will play an important role with the new USL team.

The Athletic's Paul Tenorio joins Roche to discuss the Andrew Gutman loan saga and how MLS's "helicopter general managing" style escalated the situation. Will the owners address the League's meddling or will the players in the next CBA? Do either care enough to try and address it? Then, Paul and Roche discuss the future of solidarity payments in the U.S. as well as Russell Canouse's USMNT future. Later, D.C. United rookie Akeem Ward talks about DCU's preseason thus far, Donovan Pines, his role with the team, and more.

D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper joins Roche to discuss DCU's eventful offseason. D.C. United is in a different reality now and Kasper explains what that means for the club in its negotiations with clubs in South America and throughout the world, how Loudoun United fits into the club's infrastructure, what it means for the Academy, and Dane Murphy's role in all of it. Plus, some updates on the training center in Leesburg and some roster news. Listen and subscribe!

Pitch Pass is back for a new MLS season! The Athletic's Pablo Maurer joins Roche in studio to go over a quietly eventful D.C. United offseason that included a new brodcast deal, contract negotiations with two key attackers, a Wayne Rooney kerfuffle, and more. Plus, what DIDN'T happen this offseason at Audi Field.

D.C. United and Houston Dynamo legend Bobby Boswell joins Roche to discuss leg 2 of this round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Boswell gives his thoughts on why having the home match first is an advantage, the pressure Atlanta United players are constantly under, and how much stock to put in year end awards. He also discusses the upcoming CBA, what issues should and should not be important to the players, how involved foreign players are in the union, and why players like Brandon Vincent retire so early. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

The MLS Cup Playoffs are here! A preview of the Knockout Round match between D.C. United and Columbus Crew features Columbus Dispatch reporter, Andrew Erickson on #SavedTheCrew, the future of soccer in Columbus and Austin, winners and losers in the #SaveTheCrew drama, and if Crew SC has a chance against DCU. Then, Crew SC FW (and former D.C. United man) Patrick Mullins joins Roche to discuss how a player gains confidence (and form), Gregg Berhalter's coaching style, his time with DCU, and early morning wake up calls

D.C. United MF (and homegrown talent) Chris Durkin discusses his absence from the USMYNT U-20 squad, his growth during the season, his broken nose, his passing vision, and more. Then, ESPN's Sebastian "Hot Take Sebi" Salazar joins Roche to marvel at DCU's turnaround, their playoff chances, the future of Lucho Acosta, the rise of hot takes in sports, and more.

Two legends of D.C. United join Roche to share some memories and stories of RFK Stadium. Bobby Boswell and Chris Pontius give some career highlights on the field and tell Roche some of the strange things associated with working daily at RFK.

Roche is joined by ESPN's Sebastian Salazar to discuss D.C. United's new stadium, Audi Field, the debut of global superstar, Wayne Rooney, and the supporters' groups controversy and how divisive it has become for all the fans of the club.

MF Russell Canouse on his bond with Wayne Rooney, the injury that wiped out the first half of his season, his guitar playing ability, and his Spanish lessons.

This week, D.C. United announced their Pathway 2 Pro initiative. Journalist Charles Boehm joins Roche to discuss what P2P is, how it will work, and what it means for the D.C. United Academy and youth soccer in the DMV. Then, DCU Academy grad Jalen Robinson discusses his path from the Academy to the first team.

It's been a long road back for D.C. United's longest tenured player. But Nick DeLeon is back and ready to contribute to DCU's playoff push. Nick talks about his journey to get back on the pitch and the self pity that crept in. He also shares his excitement about playing at Audi Field, with Wayne Rooney, and the opportunity to jump into the attack from his RB position.

We coach Thomas Rongen about MLS Cup Playoffs, the 4-3-3 formation in MLS (great insight here), Freddy Adu's future and much more. Don't miss this one.

MLS Cup Preview Edition: We talk to Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri about his playoff beard, trash talking with Federico Higuain, craft beer drinker and MLS Cup. In the second segment, CSN-Washington anchor and reporter Sebastian Salazar joins us to breakdown MLS Cup. Don't miss this one!

Columbus Crew SC winger Ethan Finlay calls in to talk about his Eye Of The Tiger compression shorts, his acting and directing skills, NY Red Bulls and more.

"Defense wins championships," goes the old saying. So this week we spoke to a pair of key defensive players. In the first segment we tak to Montreal Impact Goalkeeper Evan Bush about his teams playoff run, Drogba, and his route to MLS. Then we discuss Fantasy Football, books, and more with Vancouver Whitecaps defender Tim Parker.