Are the Wizards Finally Fading? or: Congratulations, Eddie, but we didn’t need another reason to be at less than full strength.

By: Michael | May 26th, 2007

With only a point in two weeks and an intimidating away game against New England fast approaching, many a pundit is doubtlessly sitting back in their leather computer chairs and chuckling in satisfaction. The Wizards have been a sure prediction to flop for awhile now, and just as they threatened to ruin many a preseason preview, the foreseeable downturn has apparently begun. Or has it?

While those scratching the surface of MLS news will see a downward spiral, anyone following the Wizards’ season should instead count their 13 points as a signal that Kansas City could be very dangerous later on in the season. This is because of the Wizards’ first team XI:

————————Hartman————————
-Jewsbury—Garcia—-Conrad—Burciaga-
——————–Victorine/Zavagnin——————
-Arnaud————————————–Harrington-
———————Marinelli——————-
——-Sealy—————-Johnson——

How many minutes has this talented lineup been on the field for Curt Onalfo? Zero. None. In fact, we’re not even sure how Onalfo would play out the Victorine/Zavagnin/Arnaud trio if there weren’t any injuries, suspensions, etc. to fill. The reasons for absenses have been rather diverse:

- Sealy: Played against DC and then sprained his ankle in Salt Lake City. One appearance since.
- Marinelli: Hurried work visa passed before the game against DC but Marinelli needed to wait for his match fitness to improve before starting. In the early stages of BMO’s first ever match, Marinelli tweaked his hamstring. He has since appeared as a substitution but re-agrivated the injury in training.
- Garcia: Served a 1 game suspension against DC from a red card served in New York during 2006’s final match. May miss the game in New England due to an abdomen strain (sustained in a play where he passed a “hot potato” back to Hartman).
- Conrad: Broke his jaw and then injured his hamstring.
- Johnson: Will be missing games due to USMNT duty in the Gold Cup.

While Garcia may well play in New England, Conrad is out for a few weeks, Marinelli is week-to-week, and Sealy has been forced to completely rest his ankle; ideally he is expected back in early June. With the Gold Cup running through June 24th and the USMNT (and EJo) poised to make a good run, July 1st is the earliest date of a full first XI appearance for the season. That’s a full 12 games over three months without a full-strength squad. If the Wizards can manage to keep their head above water until then, the remaining 18 are going to make Kansas City a force in the MLS.

Until then, here are Onalfo’s options for replacement:

Sealy and Johnson: Yura Movisysian has not shown himself to be an apt replacement for either forward, and so Davy Arnaud, though more effective out of the midfield, has gotten the nod when the rest of the midfield can be filled.

Conrad and Garcia: Aaron Hohlbein has been solid as the third center-back, and is expected to get further playing time throughout the next month. If (heaven forbid) both Conrad and Garcia were to be out fo the same game (i.e. if Garcia isn’t able to play this weekened), it will be Aaron Hohlbein and Grant Wahl who cover our middle ground. Wahl isn’t a pushover, but Hohlbein/Wahl represent a statospheric gap in experience and poise from Conrad/Garcia.

Marinelli: Fortunately the one position we have depth in is the midfield. Harrington has been on the wing all season, and so the remaining three midfield positions can be played by Sasha Victorine, Kerry Zavagnin, and Davy Arnaud. When Arnaud gets moved forward to fill in for either Sealy or Johnson, Ryan Pore or Kurt Morsink can get the nod, but neither are proven MLS contributers, especially Morsink.

So come July, MLS, watch out: the Wizards will on the move.