We are starting to get an idea of what the 2010 Wizards squad is going to look like. While almost everything is still up in the air in terms of the final spots there has certainly been some change. With new players flooding into the squad over the last couple of months and a few (and sure more) leaving soon it is clear that the squad this year is going to be significantly different from last years.
Rather than simply posting every update I am going to return to, and update this page frequently over the next couple of months. This list does not include trialists, and drafted players that are not yet signed.
Players In
Jimmy Nielsen (Goalkeeper)
Not officially announced yet but its no secret either. Jimmy Nielsen, is a Danish Goalkeeper who spend his entire career playing in Sweden with two notable sojourns to England where he spent time without first team games at Millwall and Leicester City. Jimmy is a bit of a celeb in Denmark it seems and has earned himself the rather dark nickname Casino Jimmy after a gambling scandal and addiction. This is supposedly a one year deal. The signing was announced unofficially by Wizards CEO Robb Heineman on 11 February 2010.
Impact: Nielsen has some mighty big shoes to fill and will need to do so and then some to win over the fans. He will be compared to Kevin Hartman in every respect. If he can fill the void he will no doubt be embraced but that all remains to be seen.
Kei Kamara (Forward)
Kei Kamara inked a new contract for the Wizards in January finally ending speculation about where he would be playing his football in 2010. With trials in Europe it was expected that Kei, was ultimately going to leave. Kei is a fast, free running, physical, powerful forward who simply makes things happen. A talent, but ever so slightly temperamental and can disappear in a game from time to time. He was originally brought into the Wizards fold in September 2009 in a trade for Abe Thompson.
Impact: Huge. Kai should be a first team player, a potential fan favorite and a rival for Wolff in terms of the top scorer. If 1st round draft pick Teal Bunbury can break into the squad then we have some real pace and power up front.
Teal Bunbury (Forward)
Teal Bunbury is a dual Canadian and US Citizen and has represented Canada at U-17 and U-20 levels. When he was announced as the Wizards 2010 first round draft pick he created a little history. His father is former Wizard Alex Bunbury and this will be the first time a father and son have played for the same team. Teal by all accounts is a tall, speedy striker and seems to have settled nicely into pre-season training. With Kamara, Wolff, Arnaud, and Zoltan in the pecking order ahead of him Teal will do tremendously to make it into the starting eleven as a rookie.
Impact: If Teal Bunbury makes a substantial contribution to the starting eleven this season it is a bonus. Expectations for this season are high, perhaps too high as he has a large transition to make to Major League Soccer. Long term he looks to be a hell of a prospect. We’ll see what happens. Expect him to make appearances as a substitute initially.
Stéphane Auvray (Midfielder)
Guadeloupan ‘international’ Stéphane Auvray was announced to the American soccer community as a Wizards player. Technically he is a French national (Guadeloupe is considered part of France) and can also play for France if they call him up. Auvray is an aggressive and speedy midfielder who is strong in the tackle and quick to distribute the ball. If the video is typical of his play then we may have unearthed a player that the Wizards have desperately needed for the past couple of seasons. Stéphane has spent his entire playing career in France most recently for Nîmes Olympique.
Impact: Major, if he is everything he looks to be then he could become an important player. Judging by his failure to secure a spot on a Ligue 1 we might have to dial expectations back a bit but there is certainly room for optimism.
Pablo Escobar (Defender)
Pablo Escobar certainly has the most notorious name in Major League Soccer. Unfortunately that is about as much as we know about him at this time. Signed at the same time as Stéphane Auvray. Colombian. Central Defender. No word on his mustache.
Impact: Unknown. As pre-season continues we will find out more.
Eric Kronberg (Goalkeeper)
Kronberg is out of contract and has not played first team football for the Wizards since he made three US Open Cup appearances in 2008. He has re-signed with the Wizards and will now compete with Jimmy Nielsen for the starting goal keeper spot.
Impact: None, if he goes or stays its all the same.
Igor Kostrov (Midfielder)
The Wizards have offered a contract to Moldovan Igor Kostrov and expect him to sign. There is very little film on Kostrov allows us to really see what he can do so we’ll have to hang out for a few more weeks until we get a glimpse. Vermes describes Igor as being a very attack minded player who is great with both feet, good in one on one situations and can play on the flanks or through the middle.
Impact: Yet another midfielder added to the squad. At the very least Kostrov is yet more competition for spots in a midfield which has seen numerous additions this off season. Anything more than this remains to be seen.
Olukorede Aiyegbusi (Midfielder)
Yet another Englishman involved with the Wizards, if Ryan Smith signs and the mystery midfielder exists the Wizards could have a weirdly British feel.
Impact: Aside from confusing the midfield picture even more – who knows?
Players Out
Kevin Hartman (Goalkeeper)
If Kevin Hartman had not been between the sticks for the Wizards over the last three seasons we might well have become the laughing stock that Red Bull New York were. While occasionally a little eccentric he is a solid shot stopper and looking back over the last few years his work has often saved the Wizards from calamity. Kevin Hartman’s time with the Wizards has come to an end, Peter Vermes confirming as much in the Kansas City Star.
Impact: If Jimmy Nielsen, or any of the million other keepers in camp can fill the void then we lose little on the field.
Herculez Gomez (Forward)
Herculez was brought into the Wizards fold from the Colorado Rapids to give us a little more offensive punch. Unfortunately, and in complete disregard to where Gomez had played well in the past we popped him on the right wing instead of his preferred position as a center forward. The Rapids utilized him in the same position. It just wasn’t a great marriage. Herc is playing for Puebla FC in Mexico, is getting playtime and looks like he might score some goals. He is playing as a forward.
Impact: None. We will see what he does in Mexico.
Adam Cristman (Forward)
You would be forgiven if you have little idea who Forward Adam Cristman is. Brought into the Wizards fold in 2009 from New England and traded to DC United for a foreign player spot a year later pretty well tells the entire story. Cristman barely played a part during the last twelves months only starting three games and appearing in five total. He was plagues by injuries. He might be back at Community America Ballpark as soon as the first game of the season …
Impact: Impossible to say. We will find out as we monitor his career at DC United and certainly wish him well for the future.
Raushawn McKenzie (Defender)
I think it is fair to say that 23 year old defender Raushawn McKenzie didn’t quite make the impact at the Wizards that he could have. With less than a nine starts in two years and with a infusion of draftees and trailists into camp McKenzie’s neck was always going to be on the line. Raushawn was picked up by Real Salt Lake this week.
Impact: None. Raushawn didn’t factor in the starting eleven and was unlikely to do so in 2010.
Matt Marquess (Defender)
Matt retired on a date that was not disclosed, without any reason being made public. Matt made a fairly tiny six appearances for the Wizards over two seasons. He was the Wizards 3rd 2008 draft pick.
Impact: None.
Question Marks
Claudio Lopez (Midfield/Forward)
Argentine World Cup star (how long does this play?) Claudio Lopez has yet to renew his contract. Very little is know about what the status is between the Wizards and Lopez at this time. Given the players in camp, and the fact that Lopez in a no-show so far expectations of his return are shrinking. Former Arsenal man Ryan Smith is in camp and can play on either wing, and the Wizards have also supposedly signed another English Winger. Roger Espinoza had a very solid outing for Honduras recently and will also surely stake a claim. Lopez often seemed frustrated under Onalfo but as Vermes took over and a more fluid attacking strategy was brought to bare Lopez seems to regain a spark.
Impact: It would be nice to have him as an option at the very least, as a senior figure in a young squad he can be valuable on and off the field. In terms of a final starting eleven – it is hard to say until we have a more solid feeling for the squad. There is a lot of competition suddenly.
Other Mentions, Draftees, Trialists
Former Arsenal, Southampton, Leicester, Millwall and most recently Crystal Palace player Ryan Smith has been in camp. Not much news on how things are going but they appear to be okay and he got an assist in a recent friendly against San Jose. Very talented, never fulfilled his potential. Can he in Kansas City? If so we have a real gem. Peter Vermes talks about him briefly here. I think the signing of Kostrov may have decreased his chances of making the cut.
Draftee Mauro Fuzetti remains as the final draft pick in limbo. Ofori Sardokie got the axe as has Nick Cardenas. Olukorede Aiyegbusi has signed.
Robb Heineman has mentioned a “left sided attacking player” that we supposedly have signed. Unnamed players tend not to have Visas and as such this is not a done deal. We’ll leave this down here till we have something real to say.