Pitch Pass

After a productive week D.C. United is trending up. But how much stock can we put in the last two matches after a month of disappointment that proceeded it? To give some perspective, Roche checks in with former MLS great and current Apple TV broadcaster, Dax McCarty.McCarty recently called DCU's match vs RBNY and saw firsthand what the Black and Red are doing right, what still needs to improve, and where the club should be looking to upgrade. Follow Dax on X and tune in to Apple TV's coverage of MLS all season long. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

It's been a solid (not spectacular) start to D.C. United's season and one of the standouts through the first two matches has been Matti Peltola. Roche sits down with the DCU midfielder about his strong start, what he attributes it to, Finnish weather, set piece defending, Kurokawa's fitness, and Silvan Hefti's blatant copping of Matti's style. Come for Matti's thoughts on the Black and Red's early season form, stay for Roche hopelessly trying to justify thinking Peltola was left footed. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

Was Roche thinking of not doing a D.C. United season preview? Yes.But, this is a D.C. United podcast, so here we are. Roche is joined by Jason Anderson of the newly created Green Line Soccer, to discuss what we should be looking for as the Black and Red begin their 2026 season. Can the guys sell you on why being boring is better than being awful? Listen and find out. Also, where is Aaron Herrera and Gabi Pirani, who is going to play in central midfield, and why is there not a third DP? Then, Roche joins David Gass on Soccerwise to discuss DCU's prospects for this year. Finally, Jason rejoins the show to discuss Green Line Soccer and his vision for how he will cover soccer in the DMV. Subscribe to Green Line Soccer here.Subscribe to Soccerwise here.Follow Jason on Bluesky.Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

Another day, another change in leadership at D.C. United. Ally Mackay is out as Chief Soccer Officer of DCU and with rumors swirling of a new CSO already in place, it's a good time to reset (again) where the club stands as another disappointing season draws to a close. Pablo Maurer joins the pod to discuss where it all went wrong between the club and Mackay, what we know about the rumored replacement for him, and how the first month of Weiler ball has looked. Then, Roche laments the lack of an MLSNext Pro team and what it means for the club and the DMV. Here is the full Fox5 interview with Kaplan and Levien. Here is the conversation they had with The District Press. Follow Pablo on Bluesky. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

With the summer transfer window in MLS opening, what options does D.C. United have with regards to their roster flexibility? Marc Machado knows MLS numbers as well as anyone and he joins Roche to discuss the pivots DCU has made in the last six months, where all the preseason GAM went, how much is left, and how their current resources can be deployed.Then, Marc and Gregory go over the latest MLSPA salary info. Marc's Substack is essential reading.MLSPA's latest salary information.MLS's updated club player models.Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

The Athletic's Pablo Maurer joins Roche to discuss the D.C. United ownership group, whether they are malicious or inept (and which is "better"), how the rest of the club has to manage with this type of owner, and the Audi Field experience.Then, the guys chop it up over career transitioning, covering soccer in the USA and the challenges that come with it. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

There's been a lot of conversation around a recent report stating that D.C. United's Academy is no longer free. MLSsoccer.com's Charles Boehm joins Roche to help clarify the situation as well as discuss DCU's transfer plans for the summer, the club's roster profile, and, why  Gavin Turner hasn't debuted with the first team yet.Read Charlie's excellent piece on the Philadelphia Union Academy here.Follow Charlie on Bluesky...and skeet him there. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

With D.C. United's season slowly going off the rails, this is a good time to see how their off the field year is going.Washington Post journo, Steven Goff, joins the show to discuss the "weird time" the club is going through, the likelihood of on field reinforcements before the end of the season (and when to expect them), and if the owners are aware of the restlessness of the fanbase. Then, Roche and Steven reminisce about the early days of D.C. United and the joy Steven still gets from telling the human stories at the club.Follow Steven on Bluesky and read his work on The Washington Post. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

After a solid (but not spectacular) start, D.C. United stumbled badly in their first big test of the season. What went wrong? Can it be corrected? Does this team have the talent to make the playoffs?To get some answers, DCU head coach Troy Lesesne joins Roche to discuss the state of the team, why "win now" has to be the mantra, why the club switched player models during the preseason, and how bought in ownership is. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

Eight years ago, David Schnegg was 19, a full time construction worker, and a part time soccer player in a semi-pro league. Today, he is the starting left back for D.C. United and someone who is being counted on to return the club to glory. He joins Roche to discuss his unusual path to professional soccer, how he fits into Troy Lesesne's system, why he's always wanted to play in the United States, what Liechtenstein is like, and how he still doesn't understand what a credit score is. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

Roche kicks off the show with a player by player recap of D.C. United's season opening draw against Toronto FC at Buzzard Point. He was in the house for the match and gives his thoughts on the new fan experiences at Audi Field. Then, Pro Soccer Wire's Jason Anderson joins the show to break down the new wrinkles in DCU's tactics. What worked, what didn't, what needs more time, and what's Troy Lesesne's intent behind his tactical decisions. Here's a link to Marc Machado's fantastic breakdown of DC's tactics.Follow Jason on Bluesky.Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

D.C. United's regular season kicks off Saturday against Toronto FC and, to set the stage, it's very special episode of Pitch Pass...a crossover event with the Soccerwise podcast!Roche and David Gass review the Black and Red's offseason, who came, who went, what to expect from the club this year, as well as some of the more interesting storylines heading into the season.Then, Matt Doyle checks in with his thoughts on the upcoming year for DCU and everyone gives their predictions for the season.Follow Soccerwise on X and Bluesky and subscribe to their fantastic podcast!Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

D.C. United is keeping things under wrap this preseason, including what Academy players have joined the first team in Florida. After some digging, we have a rough idea of what two youth players are there. Travis Clark of Top Drawer Soccer joins the show to discuss those players as well as a few Academy players who are not there and why?Travis also breaks down the pros and cons of college vs MLSNext Pro, the value of winning at the youth level, and the DCU Academy outlook for 2025. Follow Travis on Bluesky and X and Top Drawer Soccer on X. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

Keeping track of MLS' roster building mechanism is HARD! To help make sense of it all and to get a break down of D.C. United's salary cap situation, Roche brings Marc Machado on the first Pitch Pass of 2025.Marc has made MLS roster building his main focus and gives Roche an idea of DCU's current GAM numbers as well as what they can add over the next few months He also gives an overview of the latest rule changes announced by MLS on Tuesday. What is the state of DCU's finances?What kind of players can DCU add and when can/should they add players?What being "responsible" means to the club?How much does the club have to spend?These are just some of the questions Marc addresses on the show. Let's roll up our sleeves and get into the weeds! Follow Marc on Bluesky and X and read his work on Substack.Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

In a departure from years past, D.C. United announced their end of season roster decision in October rather than November/December. There were some surprises.Charles Boehm joins the show to discuss the surprises, the timing of the roster announcement, and what it says about Ally Mackay's vision.Plus,  Troy Lesesne's growth as a coach, possible free agent options, and more.Follow Charlie on X and Bluesky.Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

D.C. United's season has ended with a whimper. So why is there optimism about the club? And is it warranted?The Athletic's Pablo Maurer joins Roche to discuss the general state of the club at the end of another season without a playoff match and the beginning of one of the most important offseasons in club history. The boys chop it up over DCU's front office and ownership, Benteke's vibes, who stays and who goes this offseason, sports fandom, the club's on field needs, and so much more.And, as always, great Pablo stories delivered in a way only he can.It's the first of many DCU offseason musings. Make sure you subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. *WARNING: this episode contains some minorly explicit conversation*Follow Pablo on X and read his work on The Athletic Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

D.C. United recently announced that their Academy is adding a residency component to it's program. What does that entail? How does it impact the first team? Why is it important for the long term health of the club? To get answers, Roche welcomes DCU CSO Ally Mackay to the show to discuss the Academy, the Residency Program, and where he feels the first team is now, and moving forward.  (23:22): First team discussionFollow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

NEW CONCEPT!Roche curates D.C. United news from around the internet and delivers it to you in one place. This week's topics include:-DCU's playoff picture-Kristian Fletcher at Nottingham Forrest-A DCU Academy snapshotMatt Doyle's piece on DCU is here.Pablo Maurer's piece on Benteke is here.Follow Goff on XFollow DMV Soccer on XFollow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

Life is good if you are a D.C. United supporter. The team is coming off back to back road wins and finds itself in a playoff spot heading into the fall. But, bigger than that, the club welcomed Russell Canouse back after missing six months due to Ulcerative colitis. Russ joins the show to discuss his reintegration into the first team, the important role his wife and Troy Lesesne played in his recovery, and who he recruited to help him lock in his fantasy football draft pick. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

As the European transfer window closed, there was a number of D.C. United players rumored to be leaving the club. Charles Boehm of MLSsoccer.com joins the show to updates on those players, as well as Ted Ku-DiPietro's extension, if supporter's should be surprised at the international interest for DCU young players, and how much trust should a fan have in the Troy/Ally project. Follow Charles on X.  Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

With the summer additions of David Schnegg and Boris Enow, it feels like D.C. United head coach Troy Lesesne has enough of "his guys" to trot out a preferred formation. What is the formation? How does it work in attack? How problematic is it in transition defending? How married to this formation is he? Are their missing pieces that DC can add during the offseason to make this formation really click?These are the questions Roche has for Jason Anderson of Pro Soccer Wire to address on this episode of Pitch Pass. If you love talking tactics, this episode is your catnip. Follow Jason on Twitter and read is work on Pro Soccer Wire. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

Jacob Murrell has taken the traditional American route to becoming a professional...which means he's very unique in the current soccer landscape. The D.C. United rookie joins Roche to talk about his journey from high school to Georgetown to the SuperDraft to DCU professional and how his path help shape the player and person he is today. He also discusses how the club convinced him to give up college for the pros, he relationship with the other young players on the team, and why his name is so hard to pronounce correctly...even for his coach.Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

Has the D.C. United season been a positive or a negative?Has the team been a pleasant surprise or the same old same old?Have supporters been given a reason for hope or is this another false dawn?The answers depend on your level of fandom and your general way of looking at things. Charles Boehm makes his monthly visit to Pitch Pass to help Roche sort through his yin and yang thoughts on the team after two months of matches. Then, they speculate on the DCU summer transfer window and the expectations around it. (31:18)Finally, Charlie and Roche try (and fail) to unravel the twisted trail of the Academy to the First Team, including thoughts on Loudoun United and the future MLSNextPro team. (47:19)Click here to follow Charles on X (formerly Twitter). Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

It's the first ever solo show in Pitch Pass history!Roche has some thoughts on D.C. United after two matches (and four points) in the MLS season, the new players, the DPs, the kids and their minutes, Troy and Ally, and more!Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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)Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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.Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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.Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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.Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

#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.Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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.Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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.  Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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.Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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.Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky

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 Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky