Football Season Review

DC United would experience a horrendous 2017 Major League Soccer season, finishing rock bottom of the Eastern Conference table. Collecting a total of 32 points, United would win just 9 games all season, with their total of 20 losses the highest in the entire league. A failure to find the back of the net would be DC’s biggest downfall. Scoring just 31 times in 34 games, the black and red would have the joint worst scoring record in the whole league, with their forwards simply failing to perform. Patrick Mullins’ return of 5 goals in 20 appearances would prove to be disappointing, with second choice striker Deshorn Brown only netting twice. Ben Olsen’s defence would similarly fail to perform. Big names such as US international, Steve Birnbaum, would look shaky all season, with the side from the US capital conceding 60 goals. Luciano Acosta would once again prove to be the side’s most consistent performer scoring 5 and recording 5 assists. Despite this, however, he would fail to reach the heights that many expected from him this year, and will seek to prove himself once more next campaign. Bill Hamid picked up DC’s player of the season award after putting in a number of solid displays in goal. Recording 6 clean sheets and making 98 saves, Hamid’s stats rank him as the fourth best stopper in the entire league. With the 8 year DC veteran leaving for FC Midtjylland in the winter however, Hamid will certainly be difficult to replace. While United’s season was largely one filled with disappointment, their business in the summer transfer market can be regarded as a positive and has certainly put them in a good position heading into the 2018 campaign. Zoltan Stieber, Paul Arriola and Russell Canouse have all provided a much needed bite to the midfield, and will definitely prove to be key going forward.

Player of the Season: Bill Hamid