Are the Wizards Back to Where Everyone Thought They Would Be Anyway?

By: Michael | August 26th, 2007

The Wizards’ season came in with a bang… after an opening bye week, they pummeled DC United at RFK. Eddie Johnson hit his stride so hard that hardly anyone flinched at Scott Sealy’s injury woes. We won away against New England. We came back and won at home against RBNY, and then should have won again in NY, but exited with a point regardless. Things were looking great. So great, it made everyone forget what predictions were when we entered this season. So great, it has everyone mourning the season after the flat-footed away-home losses to New England.

Remember the season previews? Many thought the Wizards were up for another year of lackluster Eddie, an dull midfield, and an early offseason. Even optimistic fans like myself had the Wizards finishing well behind New England, RBNY, and DC for fourth or fifth in the East at best and hopes of a playoff birth. There were pipe dreams of an Argentine signing from our preseason tour, but Onalfo and co. were certainly not flaunting any prospects, and the name Carlos Marinelli meant nothing to Wizards fans

Fast forward to the Wizards’ 3-2 win Thursday against Chicago. The match kept KC in fourth place in the East, behind New England, New York, and DC. They are currently on their way to a playoff birth. Thursday’s three goalscorers were Sasha Victorine, Scott Sealy, and Jose Burciaga, the latter pair being last year’s scoring leaders in KC. Michael Harrington, our rookie penciled into a starting XI spot, and Jack Jewsbury, adapting to life on the backline for the very first time, both came on as substitutes. Eddie Johnson couldn’t quite put the finish on his glimpses of brilliance. The Wizards even made sure to give up a late goal and threaten to let Chicago spoil their victory.

To me, it looked as though now the season has finally “righted” itself, finally slipped into the mold the pundits had poured months ago for the boys in blue. Curt Onalfo et al. led the Wizards to the dizzying height of being the first ranked team in MLS twice, and though we’re back down to earth, the accomplishments of this season thus far should not be ignored.

So what does this mean for the future of the Wizards’ season? It means just as we thought it would, every point will count from here on out, and because of the non-conference nature of the final playoff spots, it’s not just the games against Eastern foes that will have an effect. If the season were to end as it is right now, we would be the fourth ranked Eastern team (in the seventh playoff spot), and we would play away at either New England or DC United, depending on if United can make up three points with its two games in hand. We’re five points up on Columbus before we drop into the eighth slot, which is ironically an easier game away to either Houston or FC Dallas or Chivas USA.

It’s back to business as usual, and we need to scrap out wins like there’s no tomorrow to stay on top of the heap.

Good thing we play Real Salt Lake next!