Pat Onstad, DC United: A Match Made In Necessity
There's really no reason to sugarcoat it: That Pat Onstad could very well be the Firck Kick starter for DC United is hardly an ideal situation. As Black and Red United, SB Nation's DC United blog, points out, it's a relationship that is born out of nothing but utility.
(Steve) Cronin’s broken wrist put United between a rock and a hard place. With Hamid likely short of being 100% for opening day as it is, Cronin’s injury left the team with no viable options for our first few games (with all due respect to Chase Harrison and Joe Willis). Unlike last season, where San Jose managed to snag Jon Busch after Chicago made the ridiculous decision to waive him, there wasn’t a truly reliable goalkeeper floating around out there. Ben Olsen and co. were looking at either trying to sign a 2nd division keeper, finding a goalkeeper from abroad, or making a trade for an accomplished MLS backup. None of these were palatable options, especially since the team would later find itself with three keepers fighting for one job a few weeks into the season.
B&RU goes on to point out that this situation is so unprecedented that it’s still unclear that actual mechanics that are making it possible. Coaches don’t usually make a habit of coming out of retirement in this day and age.
That said, it’s a move that United was all but forced to make. With all the moves United made in the off-season, heading into First Kick with a totally unproven player leading your defense could not have been seen as a viable option. With Onstad already in camp, albeit a bit behind in terms of fitness, it’s clear he was the next, best option.
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