With the summer transfer window in MLS opening, what options does D.C. United have with regards to their roster flexibility? Marc Machado knows MLS numbers as well as anyone and he joins Roche to discuss the pivots DCU has made in the last six months, where all the preseason GAM went, how much is left, and how their current resources can be deployed. Then, Marc and Gregory go over the latest MLSPA salary info. Marc's Substack is essential reading. MLSPA's latest salary information. MLS's updated...
Jul 18, 2025•53 min•Season 14Ep. 10
The Athletic's Pablo Maurer joins Roche to discuss the D.C. United ownership group, whether they are malicious or inept (and which is "better"), how the rest of the club has to manage with this type of owner, and the Audi Field experience. Then, the guys chop it up over career transitioning, covering soccer in the USA and the challenges that come with it. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky...
May 15, 2025•51 min•Season 14Ep. 9
There's been a lot of conversation around a recent report stating that D.C. United's Academy is no longer free. MLSsoccer.com's Charles Boehm joins Roche to help clarify the situation as well as discuss DCU's transfer plans for the summer, the club's roster profile, and, why Gavin Turner hasn't debuted with the first team yet. Read Charlie's excellent piece on the Philadelphia Union Academy here. Follow Charlie on Bluesky...and skeet him there. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky...
May 09, 2025•50 min•Season 14Ep. 8
With D.C. United's season slowly going off the rails, this is a good time to see how their off the field year is going. Washington Post journo, Steven Goff, joins the show to discuss the "weird time" the club is going through, the likelihood of on field reinforcements before the end of the season (and when to expect them), and if the owners are aware of the restlessness of the fanbase. Then, Roche and Steven reminisce about the early days of D.C. United and the joy Steven still gets from telling...
Apr 17, 2025•51 min
After a solid (but not spectacular) start, D.C. United stumbled badly in their first big test of the season. What went wrong? Can it be corrected? Does this team have the talent to make the playoffs? To get some answers, DCU head coach Troy Lesesne joins Roche to discuss the state of the team, why "win now" has to be the mantra, why the club switched player models during the preseason, and how bought in ownership is. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky...
Mar 26, 2025•37 min•Season 14Ep. 6
Eight years ago, David Schnegg was 19, a full time construction worker, and a part time soccer player in a semi-pro league. Today, he is the starting left back for D.C. United and someone who is being counted on to return the club to glory. He joins Roche to discuss his unusual path to professional soccer, how he fits into Troy Lesesne's system, why he's always wanted to play in the United States, what Liechtenstein is like, and how he still doesn't understand what a credit score is. Follow Pitc...
Mar 13, 2025•28 min•Season 14Ep. 5
Roche kicks off the show with a player by player recap of D.C. United's season opening draw against Toronto FC at Buzzard Point. He was in the house for the match and gives his thoughts on the new fan experiences at Audi Field. Then, Pro Soccer Wire 's Jason Anderson joins the show to break down the new wrinkles in DCU's tactics. What worked, what didn't, what needs more time, and what's Troy Lesesne's intent behind his tactical decisions. Here's a link to Marc Machado's fantastic breakdown of D...
Feb 25, 2025•55 min•Season 14Ep. 4
D.C. United's regular season kicks off Saturday against Toronto FC and, to set the stage, it's very special episode of Pitch Pass...a crossover event with the Soccerwise podcast! Roche and David Gass review the Black and Red's offseason, who came, who went, what to expect from the club this year, as well as some of the more interesting storylines heading into the season. Then, Matt Doyle checks in with his thoughts on the upcoming year for DCU and everyone gives their predictions for the season....
Feb 17, 2025•39 min•Season 14Ep. 3
D.C. United is keeping things under wrap this preseason, including what Academy players have joined the first team in Florida. After some digging, we have a rough idea of what two youth players are there. Travis Clark of Top Drawer Soccer joins the show to discuss those players as well as a few Academy players who are not there and why? Travis also breaks down the pros and cons of college vs MLSNext Pro, the value of winning at the youth level, and the DCU Academy outlook for 2025. Follow Travis...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 14Ep. 2
Keeping track of MLS' roster building mechanism is HARD! To help make sense of it all and to get a break down of D.C. United's salary cap situation, Roche brings Marc Machado on the first Pitch Pass of 2025. Marc has made MLS roster building his main focus and gives Roche an idea of DCU's current GAM numbers as well as what they can add over the next few months He also gives an overview of the latest rule changes announced by MLS on Tuesday. What is the state of DCU's finances? What kind of play...
Jan 14, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 14Ep. 1
In a departure from years past, D.C. United announced their end of season roster decision in October rather than November/December. There were some surprises. Charles Boehm joins the show to discuss the surprises, the timing of the roster announcement, and what it says about Ally Mackay's vision. Plus, Troy Lesesne's growth as a coach, possible free agent options, and more. Follow Charlie on X and Bluesky . Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky...
Oct 28, 2024•51 min•Season 13Ep. 11
D.C. United's season has ended with a whimper. So why is there optimism about the club? And is it warranted? The Athletic's Pablo Maurer joins Roche to discuss the general state of the club at the end of another season without a playoff match and the beginning of one of the most important offseasons in club history. The boys chop it up over DCU's front office and ownership, Benteke's vibes, who stays and who goes this offseason, sports fandom, the club's on field needs, and so much more. And, as...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 13Ep. 10
D.C. United recently announced that their Academy is adding a residency component to it's program. What does that entail? How does it impact the first team? Why is it important for the long term health of the club? To get answers, Roche welcomes DCU CSO Ally Mackay to the show to discuss the Academy, the Residency Program, and where he feels the first team is now, and moving forward. (23:22): First team discussion Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky...
Oct 16, 2024•33 min•Season 13Ep. 9
NEW CONCEPT! Roche curates D.C. United news from around the internet and delivers it to you in one place. This week's topics include: -DCU's playoff picture -Kristian Fletcher at Nottingham Forrest -A DCU Academy snapshot Matt Doyle's piece on DCU is here. Pablo Maurer's piece on Benteke is here. Follow Goff on X Follow DMV Soccer on X Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky...
Oct 08, 2024•27 min•Season 13Ep. 8
Life is good if you are a D.C. United supporter. The team is coming off back to back road wins and finds itself in a playoff spot heading into the fall. But, bigger than that, the club welcomed Russell Canouse back after missing six months due to Ulcerative colitis. Russ joins the show to discuss his reintegration into the first team, the important role his wife and Troy Lesesne played in his recovery, and who he recruited to help him lock in his fantasy football draft pick. Follow Pitch Pass on...
Sep 11, 2024•29 min•Season 13Ep. 7
As the European transfer window closed, there was a number of D.C. United players rumored to be leaving the club. Charles Boehm of MLSsoccer.com joins the show to updates on those players, as well as Ted Ku-DiPietro's extension, if supporter's should be surprised at the international interest for DCU young players, and how much trust should a fan have in the Troy/Ally project. Follow Charles on X. Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky...
Sep 04, 2024•55 min•Season 13Ep. 6
With the summer additions of David Schnegg and Boris Enow, it feels like D.C. United head coach Troy Lesesne has enough of "his guys" to trot out a preferred formation. What is the formation? How does it work in attack? How problematic is it in transition defending? How married to this formation is he? Are their missing pieces that DC can add during the offseason to make this formation really click? These are the questions Roche has for Jason Anderson of Pro Soccer Wire to address on this episod...
Aug 27, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 13Ep. 5
Jacob Murrell has taken the traditional American route to becoming a professional...which means he's very unique in the current soccer landscape. The D.C. United rookie joins Roche to talk about his journey from high school to Georgetown to the SuperDraft to DCU professional and how his path help shape the player and person he is today. He also discusses how the club convinced him to give up college for the pros, he relationship with the other young players on the team, and why his name is so ha...
May 15, 2024•37 min•Season 13Ep. 4
Has the D.C. United season been a positive or a negative? Has the team been a pleasant surprise or the same old same old? Have supporters been given a reason for hope or is this another false dawn? The answers depend on your level of fandom and your general way of looking at things. Charles Boehm makes his monthly visit to Pitch Pass to help Roche sort through his yin and yang thoughts on the team after two months of matches. Then, they speculate on the DCU summer transfer window and the expecta...
May 01, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 13Ep. 3
It's the first ever solo show in Pitch Pass history! Roche has some thoughts on D.C. United after two matches (and four points) in the MLS season, the new players, the DPs, the kids and their minutes, Troy and Ally, and more! Follow Pitch Pass on X and Bluesky
Mar 04, 2024•22 min•Season 13Ep. 2
D.C. United is back and so is Pitch Pass. Roche is joined by journalist Charles Boehm to discuss the offseason of change around the club. But first, the bad as DCU's preseason trip to Saudi Arabia has caused unease amongst the fanbase (3:06). Then, Charlie gives some additional insight on new coach, Troy Lesesne and new CSO Ally MacKay (15:28) before breaking down the roster, possible formations, key questions about the season, and the integration of the exciting young talent on the team (29:33)...
Feb 23, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 13Ep. 1
It's not "official" but D.C. United's season has unofficially come to an end without tangible success. The Athletic's Pablo Maurer joins Roche to look back on another lost season for the club, what Wayne Rooney did (and didn't do) for the organization, and where the team goes from here. They also discuss the Kasper situation, the ownership thought process, the DCU reputation in the global market, the tradition of United half measures, and the success of former DCU staff/players. Finally, the boy...
Oct 12, 2023•53 min•Season 12Ep. 7
D.C. United Defender Brendan Hines-Ike has returned to full fitness after suffering two freak, long term injuries over the last three years. He joins Roche on this episode of Pitch Pass to discuss how his "foot exploded in his boot" and how he got back. He then addresses the team's response to the supporters' dissatisfaction with the disappointing match against Philadelphia before setting the stage for the last matches of the MLS season and why "playoff pressure" is not the same as "relegation p...
Sep 15, 2023•42 min•Season 12Ep. 6
As MLS season winds down, MLSNext season starts up so it's a good time to check in with the D.C. United Academy with TopDrawerSoccer.com 's Travis Clark. The club's investment in the Academy has been uneven over the years but that seems to be changing with DCU making a real commitment to the youth of the club and the DMV at large. Travis and Roche try to make sense of the US youth soccer scene (no easy task) and DCU's place in it. They also break down the current Academy set up, some players and...
Sep 07, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 12Ep. 5
D.C. United has reached the home stretch of the MLS season and things are...meh. Pro Soccer Wire's Jason Anderson joins Roche to answer three questions about the club as it makes its push to make the playoffs. 1. Are things better or worse now as opposed to the last 4 years? 2. Can #DCU make the playoffs? 3. Has the manager found a new formation for the last six weeks of the season? Within these questions, Jason and Roche also hit on the "win now" mentality, Yamil Asad = Attacking Assistant, let...
Sep 01, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 12Ep. 4
One of the pleasant surprises to the start D.C. United's season has been the play of Ted Ku-DiPietro. The DCU Homegrown joins Roche on this edition of Pitch Pass to discuss his season thus far, his "traditional American sports" path to the first team, Wayne Rooney's advice to the young players on the team, his "young veteran" advice to the teenagers on the team, and the (welcome) changes to the D.C. United Academy over the last few years. Follow Teddy on Instagram here. Follow Pitch Pass on X an...
Mar 24, 2023•27 min•Season 12Ep. 3
There's not just a different vibe for D.C. United on the field. Off the field, the club has raised their game in a number of areas, especially the digital team. Claudia Pagan has been the face of DCU Digital for the last 4 years and joins Roche to discuss the process of creating content. Apple TV has played a role in the increase in content creation and Claudia explains how the Apple/MLS partnership has raised the game for creating content across the league. But it goes deeper than Apple. Claudi...
Mar 16, 2023•55 min•Season 12Ep. 2
D.C. United's season is underway and the results thus far have been...encouraging? Pro Soccer Wire 's Jason Anderson joins Roche to discuss the Black And Red's first two matches and if there is any long term takeaways from them. Among the talking points: -What youngster has the best long term outlook? -Rooney's tactics -The still wobbly defense -Chris Durkin's "undroppable" status -Durkin as the poster child of DCU's move to the "middle ground" of MLS Plus, Jason and Roche discuss the ownership ...
Mar 08, 2023•53 min•Season 12Ep. 1
It's been an unsatisfying period for D.C. United for both the club and its supporters. But with rumors swirling of multiple additions incoming during the summer transfer window, there is a sense of excitement around the team. Roche spoke with DCU GM Lucy Rushton about potential reinforcements, the type of player the club is looking to add, and when we might see them on the pitch. Rushton also walks Roche through the recruitment process of Taxi Fountas and how the club identifies and tracks poten...
Jun 21, 2022•34 min•Season 11Ep. 3
It has been a tumultuous month for D.C. United following the dismissal of Hernan Losada amid a cloud of controversy and confusion from supporters. New DCU Head Coach Chad Ashton joins Roche to talk about the transition from Losada to him. What's changed, what's stayed the same, and what's ahead. Ashton discusses the "have fun" comments from the players and himself that spurred so much unrest amongst fans as well as the disappointing U.S. Open Cup result against bitter rivals, New York Red Bulls....
May 11, 2022•32 min•Season 11Ep. 2
