Part 5: DCU- Past and Present Interviews: Marc Burch

By: jon | December 23rd, 2008

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.