DC United’s starting left back answered a few of my questions about his role with the team, his preferred positions, and what he has planned for the coming year.

Jon- You’ve played for 3 MLS teams in 3 seasons, but it looks like you’ve found a home in DC. Any insight into your current contract situation?

Marc- Yes actually. I have just re-signed a new contract. It is really nice to have found a place where I can stay and really build my career and improve and grow as a soccer player.

Jon- I think I’ve read (could be wrong) that you came into the league as a Forward, and played there in college. Would you want to be more involved in the attack (a la Ashley Cole?) or are you more comfortable in the back?

Marc- I really enjoy playing left back, and I love attacking shooting/crossing/ switching the ball. In the system we play, we do have the chance to get in the attack, I would like to do it more for sure, anybody would. But I am comfortable in the back and if I need to defend, I will and if I need to attack I will. Anything that gets us back on the winning track.

Jon- Your free kicks, aside from the big goals in the US Open Cup, always appear to be just a bit over the bar, or somehow parried away. You figure that you have to get lucky one of these days, right? You seem to strike a dead ball better than anyone else on the roster, so whats the conversation like over the ball on set pieces? Is it a democracy out there, or is dictated by where the ball is?

Marc- Well thank you. I usually look to the older guys to see what they think is the best option for where the spot of the foul is, but I really do feel confident when I step up to the ball and I am hoping that next year maybe I can a couple go off the under side of the bar. But it really is something I will be working on a lot and I would love to have a few goals next year off free kicks.

Jon- What do you want to improve on the most coming into the new season? United had their share of problems last season, so how would you assess the defense?

Marc- Personally for me, I want to keep learning the position of left back and try to establish myself as the best left back in the league. I need to improve in my team shape and more on my one on one defending. I also want to make sure I get in the attack more and really have an impact in every game. As for the defense as a team, we did have some problems last year and you can not deny that, but defending is a team thing including the goalie the mid field and the forwards. We will get better next year as a team, and we will make sure that our first shut out isn’t half way through the season. Defensively we will be better next year.

Jon- Your alma mater (UMD) just won the College Cup, did you catch any games or talk to Coach Cirovski during the season?

Marc- I am very proud of those guys for getting another college cup win, I made it up to College Park for 4 or 5 games and they looked great. I would say not as good as my senior year, but they were a good team. Sash is a great coach and he is making Maryland the best soccer program in the country.

Jon- Who would you say you’ve had the most trouble defending?

Marc- There are a lot of good players in this league and every game is tough, but I would say that Juan Pablo Angel is the hardest to defend. He is a strong and very smart with his runs. But that was when I was playing center back and that is not my strongest position, I am much more comfortable defending as a left back.

Jon- You wrapped Tino’s car in Saran Wrap. Do you fear retribution? Are you looking over your shoulder?

Marc- Haha, no Tino does not intimidate me. He has gotten me back a little bit, but it is fun. It keeps you on your toes, so you never know what to expect. But I would have to say he fears me if he were to ever really get me back. Right now I think I have the crown and he is going to have to make some big moves to top it!

Jon- What do you think of your likeness and ratings on Fifa 2009?

Marc- I hate it. I am not even a fan of FIFA 09. I play pro evolution 2009 (winning eleven). Hopefully I can have a good season and they can stop acting like this was my first season of soccer ever. They try so hard to make the faces real, they forget about good soccer game play.

Tomorrow, I’ll have a post about some of the pranks between these two.

While you’re here, read and comment on the previous interviews of Greg Janecki, Santino Quaranta, Ben Olsen, and Guy Roland Kpene

Here’s another interview, this one with Greg Janecki, DC United’s new centerback. He filled in admirably at the end of bad season, providing stiff defense and even a goal. Here are his answers to a few questions I asked him.

Jon- For people who may be new to the team, or weren’t paying very close attention at the end of a long season, you are a new face. Tell us about your trip from USL-2 to starting in MLS? How were you contacted? What was the trial like?

Greg- Well I played for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds over the summer, but we didn’t make the playoffs. I went back home for a few weeks before I was contacted by Dave Kasper. Dave was looking for players to fill in for reserve games and he contacted my coach from Pitt., Gene Klein. It was definitely not expected. The trial started off rocky but eventually I started to get comfortable with my surroundings. I was given the opportunity to play in CONCACAF games since we were out of it early which helped me out a lot. I played pretty well in those games and was given a chance in the last three MLS games of the season. It all happened really fast, but I had a great time.

Jon- You did very well in your short time with DC last season. How do you see yourself in this league? Do you like to get forward? Or are you more of a defense-only centerback?

Greg- I’m more of a defensive center back. I won’t get forward a whole lot except for corners and free kicks. Hopefully I’ll put a few in next season with my head.

Jon- You scored a goal against Marathon. You also looked very cool and calm about it, presumably because you guys were still down 1. What did it feel like to get your first professional goal?

Greg- It was exciting to get my first goal, although I may not have shone it. Like you said we were down so it wasn’t the time for a celebration. Hopefully there will be many more like that next season in situations where I can celebrate.

Jon- Congrats on the contract. Where has management told you that they picture you coming into the new season? Has “starting” come up in the conversation?

Greg- I haven’t been told anything for sure. Nothing is ever set in stone. My goal is to come into camp in shape and ready to go so I can earn a starting spot. I have a lot of things I need to get better at and I’m excited to get back into the swing of things.

Jon- Do you have any plans to start a website, like some former DC United defenders? Your Google search is pretty sparse, so I’ll do my best on here to get you some hits!

Greg- To be honest with you I haven’t thought about a website at all. I didn’t know players did that. I’m more worried about making a name for myself on the field right now. Maybe after I do that I will think about a website. I will always appreciate getting good press. Anything you can do for me I’d appreciate.

That’s right. Our very own, Baby Drogs. In 2007, Guy Roland Kpene made 16 appearances for the Black and Red, scoring no goals, but making plenty of plays happen. In the beginning of 2008, Guy was let go and later signed with Houston.

I recently got a chance to ask him a few questions, and here are his answers. Enjoy!

Kpene: Thanks Jon for giving me a chance to express myself, as we say back home it is never too late.

The Offside: I think the question everyone wants answered the most has to be, what happened with DC? It looked like you had the third forward job sewn up coming into camp…the Washington media (Ok, Steve Goff IS the DC media) was attributing it to coming to camp out of shape…what’s your side of the story?

Kpene I did not come back to preseason in the best shape, but trust me there were a lot of big names behind me. I won’t mention names, but the real problem was that they had a new forward who was ahead of me for no apparent reason. I could not understand that, (he was) definitely not fit than me, not stronger, not faster, nothing but maybe (he) came from a bigger soccer country, he would make 4 times more money, have more playing time and the last thing was that I had to go back to developmental (salary). I owe a lot to DCU and I do respect the organization but I had my pride or maybe dignity, and I was not going to go through that. I’m lucky enough to be able to live decently without that small wage, but it was more about the decision they took. But after reflecting, I know I made a mistake, and DCU too, it’s one of those beautiful unions that end prematurely, still a DCU at heart. VAMOS UNTED

The Offside- What’s your current status with Houston?

Kpene: I am leaving. I did not fit into their style of play, and I remember both coaches complaining in training about how I played like a DCU player, short passes and technical. I’ve got some trials in Switzerland and Belgium coming up.

The Offside: You showed great pace, and some skillfull passing in your time with DC. The first game I attended (I think was against Houston), you were doing fantastic and I started to pay a little more attention to you after that. Your scoring record was phenomenal in college. Would you say you were just snake bitten at the MLS level, and would have eventually found the net if given some more minutes?

Kpene: I know I can definitely score goals in this league, but for some reason it did not happen with DCU. It still hurts me today because I think that is the only thing I did not do for the team, and I am a striker. I don’t know why it happened; maybe the playing time, maybe my role in the team. I don’t know.

The Offside: Is the number 99 choice an homage to Jaime? Or just thought it was a cool number to have?

Kpene: I always say it to everybody, Jaime is the best player I’ve ever played with. He is very professional and off the field, (he’s) a great character and i like his pranks. It is an homage to him.
I’ve got an anecdote… After a game against Colorado, Christian (Gomez) and Facundo (Erpen) asked me why I had #99 and they were laughing at me, because they knew why.

The Offside: I read that you’re a big Drogba fan…what do you think of his season so far, and do you think Chelsea will win any silverware this year?

Kpene- Didier is my favourite player, he’s got a lot of injuries this year, but he is back. He is gonna have a good season and I know that Chelsea will be champion this year.

The Offside: This is a question I’m going to ask everyone I interview from now on, as I play Fifa 09 a lot, and I think it’s fun to ask. Do you play as yourself a lot? Do you think they rated you fairly? Do you think that you look like you?

Kpene: Last year I used to do that a lot, I would say they rated me fairly last year, as a rookie it was fine. That is me in the game, long permed hair or yellow this year. I’m so happy about that.