After enduring a horrendous 2013 season filled with injuries and heartbreak, DC United re-loaded in 2014. The only positive from 2013 was winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Black-and-Red added key players such as Bobby Boswell, Sean Franklin, Eddie Johnson and Fabian Espindola to go with holdovers Bill Hamid, Perry Kitchen and Chris Pontius.
The result was a worst-to-first season for them as they finished first in the Eastern Conference. After the 2013 nightmare many were questioning if Ben Olsen was the right coach. Many wanted him fired and many thought he would be but management stuck by him and he repaid them with a glorious season.
The team has been relatively quiet this offseason, making just a few moves mostly for depth purposes. The most prominent moves were acquiring Finnish midfielder/defender Markus Halsti and Costa Rican attacker Jairo Arrieta. Arrieta was acquired from expansion side Orlando City in a trade after Orlando picked him in the expansion draft from Columbus. United also acquired Scottish midfielder Andrew Driver from Houston.
Despite finishing first last season, DC United enter this season probably rated behind MLS Cup finalist New England Revolution and big spenders Toronto FC. The team will definitely be a playoff contender but their depth will be tested with participation in the CONCACAF Champions League. Health will also be a concern as Pontius has struggled with injuries in past seasons.
Those will be their biggest concerns this season but with Sporting Kansas City and Houston Dynamo now in the Western Conference to make room for expansion clubs New York City FC and Orlando City SC, the Eastern Conference appears much weaker on paper than in past seasons. This should make the path to the playoffs much easier.