When you're battling for the top couple spots in your conference and a winless, pointless side comes knocking at your door, you hold them to the fire from the opening whistle. That's just what D.C. United did to Toronto FC, jumping out to a first minute lead and doubling the advantage before the break before finishing the game 3-1. No clean sheet, but an otherwise workmanlike performance to put the Capital Club second and overtake Sporting Kansas City in the standings for the first time this year.

What They're Saying About It

Bromley: It sounds like a cliché at this point, but its still true: this is a game that D.C. United would have underperformed in during the past two seasons. Through injuries prior to and during the game, they have been missing the wingers and forwards that brought them back after the slow start to the season. The back line has been missing the talisman that calmed them after that same slow start. Ben Olsen mentioned after the game that the team has been dealing with tired legs, but were able to gut through this performance. This is the type of game that teams who are challenging for the top of their conference win, and in a similar fashion.

Salazar: Woolard and his teammates didn't get the shutout, but they stifled Toronto at nearly every turn on Saturday. TFC managed just four shots on goal, and only one came in a first half completely dominated by Ben Olsen's side. Johnson himself was particularly quiet. Just one of the forward's six shots found its way on frame, and Hamid was there to stop the 61st minute effort.

Goff: Dwayne De Rosario's immense value lies in the ability to create and punctuate scoring opportunities. For eight matches this season, the 2011 points leader was largely a provider, but in the course of three weeks, the reigning MVP has rediscovered his destructive finishing form. With two first-half goals against his hometown club Saturday night, De Rosario upped his total to five in six matches as D.C. United defeated winless Toronto FC, 3-1.

Floyd: United coach Ben Olsen rolled the dice with his lineup, starting just six players at the same positions they played in a 2-0 win over Colorado on Wednesday. His tactics were even more unusual once the match got under way, as D.C. relied on a heavy interchange of positions, turning the squad's typical 4-4-2 formation into an alignment more akin to the 4-3-3 that Toronto plays.

Stouffer: With a decisive 3-1 victory in perfect late spring conditions before 14,287 at RFK Stadium, United (7-4-3) picked up its fifth win in seven games and its second two-game winning streak of the season - after it took nearly three years to record its first. It also extended its winning streak at home to four games and its unbeaten run overall to seven to keep pace with New York and overtook Sporting Kansas City to claim second place in the Eastern Conference.

Webb: For the third consecutive match, Ben Olsen was forced to burn a substitute due to another injury. Danny Cruz pulled his hamstring on a long sprint in the 21st minute and was replaced by Dejan Jakovic.

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On the latest episode of Filibuster - the Black & Red United Podcast, we look back at United's road trip (could have been worse) and ahead at the upcoming homestand (need to do better). But mostly we look at the injury situation facing Olsen's Army and what Benny & Co. can do to address the absence of Perry Kitchen.

We also get a call from Chris "UZ" White of our sister blog, the excellent Burgundy Wave (and the accompanying Rapids Thugcast), to preview Wednesday's United-Colorado tilt at RFK.

Hope you enjoy it. Every episode, going back to the first one with Tony Limarzi, is available for your podcasting perusal after the jump.

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I don't know if you heard about it before the game on Saturday, but that was the grand opening of the Houston Dynamo's brand-spanking-new 22,000-seat stadium. I, for one, live under a rock and so hadn't heard about it from any MLS outlet. Certainly not every single one of them. Twice. Or more.

Bitter? No, of course not. Why would I be bitter? It's not like those of us in D.C. have been pining for a new building for longer than Houston has had a team or that we've had the rug pulled out from under us time and again. It's certainly not like our current hope for a stadium is a mystery investor chipping in, possibly from Middle Earth, and the always-competent and efficient D.C. Council passing the appropriate road-clearing measures.

You know what? Let's just get to the game, which really wasn't much better than the stadium situation, what with the losing and the multiple players getting injured and all.

What They're Saying About It

Shatzer: To christen Houston's new stadium, Brad Davis managed to loop a left-footed shot out of Hamid's reach and into the net. The goalkeeper just barely got a touch on the ball, but not enough to change its course. The open look that Davis received shouldn't have happened though, and it wouldn't have happened with Kitchen still in the game. The defensive midfielder's replacement, Stephen King, was standing idly by, marking no one in particular, allowing De Rosario to attempt to do the dirty work for him. Give Davis space and he'll use it. He did.

Salazar: What the heat didn't affect is the steely determination quickly becoming a staple of Olsen's side. The atmosphere inside brand new BBVA Compass Stadium would have been enough to put most teams on their back foot, but it was far from D.C.'s biggest hurdle on a difficult day. Midfield stalwart Perry Kitchen went out with a first half knee injury and - with Marcelo Saragosa unavailable - there was no like-for-like substitution in the holding midfield spot. Stephen King filled in admirably, but there was no denying Kitchen's impact when, once he left the field, Houston took control of a match they'd only chased prior.

Goff: On an otherwise upbeat day, there was one notable flaw: the field width. Despite ample space for broader dimensions, the Dynamo (3-3-2) chose 70 yards - barely acceptable on the pro level. For tactical reasons, Houston maintained the size offered at the previous venue, Robertson Stadium. Both sides labored to create opportunities in the first half, but as the match unfolded, the Dynamo gained greater possession and thumped dangerous balls into the box. Bobby Boswell's one-timer missed the open near corner and Je-Vaughn Watson's 16-yarder streaked over the crossbar just before halftime.

Webb: United could muster very little offensively throughout the day with only a chance from Maicon Santos early in the second half and a 93rd-minute desperation header from Daniel Woolard on a free kick being the only dangerous chances all day for the Black-and-Red. United's misery in Houston is now at a depressing 0-6-1 all-time.

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What do we think was the strangest part of D.C. United's 2-0 win at Toronto FC Saturday night?

Was it Andy Najar's return to fullback? Daniel Woolard deputizing in central defense? Lewis Neal getting his first top-flight start? Hamdi Salihi banging a Goal of the Week nominee (and potential winner but for Fredy Montero's wonderstrike in the midweek)? A cobbled-together back line nevertheless keeping the clean sheet (even against the still-pointless Reds)? A supposedly desperate TFC side playing "park the bus" - at home? United still managing to find the net twice, overcoming a clear hand ball on the line?

Whatever it was, we're back in the W column, and the only team ahead of the Black-and-Red in the East just dropped their second straight. Not too shabby.

What They're Saying About It

Shatzer: Many questioned the lineup choices of Ben Olsen today, but all those choices paid off. Najar did well in defense while also getting far forward when the opportunity was available, and Woolard looked far more comfortable in the middle than Robbie Russell had in the previous match (although the opponent should be considered).

Salazar: It wasn't with the players you'd expect, and - at times - it wasn't very pretty. But in the aftermath of a 2-0 win over Toronto FC, D.C. United's makeshift back four could claim one of the club's best defensive performances of the young season. So how - less than 72 hours after allowing five goals in San Jose - did the Black-and-Red manage their first shutout since April 7 against Seattle? The rather surprising answer is that the clean sheet had as much to do with attack as it did defense.

Goff: Olsen praised Salihi's patience during the unproductive stretch and scarce playing time. "The guys from Europe understand it more than the Americans and guys like me," Olsen said. "They are used to having such competition in their sides in Europe, so [sitting out] happens more often. When you get your chance, you better make the most of it."

Hund: TFC just might erase any records for futility that Onalfo's United inked in the Big Book of MLS Failures. They're terrible, so a road victory and clean sheet against them should probably be taken with a generous dose of salt. That said, you have to win the games set before you, and United were playing with a new-look lineup after Olsen rode his winning team to exhaustion. A road win and a shut-out with a makeshift back line speaks to the quality of the squad, even with the current freakish rash of injuries knocking out spots 2-4 on the center back depth chart.

BDR: Yes, it was Toronto, but it was also United's sixth game in three weeks, their legs were shot, their central defenders all injured, their all-star rookie was hammied, and to trot out a hoary sports cliche, good teams win the games they should no matter what. An impressive and satisfying and encouraging win.

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You've read everything there is out there on United's seven-game unbeaten streak. Now listen to bloggers talk about it! This was a fun episode to record. Partly because we're hitting our stride, but mostly because D.C. United has won two in a row - somewhat infamously - for the first time since 2009. Here's what's on tap for this week's episode of Filibuster - the Black & Red United Podcast:

• Looking back at the wins over Houston and the Metroscum.
• Discussing what it is that makes Emiliano Dudar such a great centerback and how United can replace him during his upcoming time on the shelf.
• Reviewing the rest of the Eastern Conference so far.
• Previewing United's month of May, including three consecutive road games, followed by a three-game homestand.

Episode 5 is one tiny jump away - click on, noble listener.

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United took the advice of three guys from Brooklyn and kept it going (kept it going kept it going) full steam Saturday night, winning a second straight game for the first time since [insert historical reference here]. They outfought, outthought, and outplayed Houston en route to a 3-2 home victory. And sweet it was.

What They're Saying About It

Shatzer: For the first time all year, United was able to overcome a poor performance from its defense. Because let's be honest: that was our worst defensive performance since the LA Galaxy loss. It wasn't long ago that our back line was the main reason we were escaping from games against the Vancouver Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders with points.

Darr: In what turned out to be a crazy game, United overcame the elements, injuries and a resilient Dynamo squad en route to a 3-2 victory on Saturday night. A Maicon Santos brace was the difference in this game as he and Chris Pontius formed a formidable 1-2 up top for United.

Salazar: [Santos and Pontius], neither of which began the season as a starting forward, pointed to improved communication as the source for Saturday's success. With a week to prepare for the Dynamo's organized - but not overwhelmingly mobile - defense, an open dialogue between the strike pair became a daily occurrence at training. "It comes from practice," Santos noted. "We've been talking a lot. Every time the ball comes to me, I say stay close to me it is going to bounce to you. He's been listening to me and I listen to him, so we've been working really well together."

Goff: The mood wasn't all cheery, however. Emiliano Dudar, who has provided a commanding presence in central defense, departed late in the first half with a hamstring injury and seems likely to miss a few weeks. Center backs Dejan Jakovic (ankle) and Ethan White (knee) remain sidelined, forcing Olsen to make adjustments for Wednesday's match at San Jose (6-1-1), the Western Conference leader.

Stouffer: Is D.C. United a contender yet? United (4-2-3, 15 points) has the fourth-most points in Major League Soccer after beating last year's MLS Cup runner-up, the Houston Dynamo, pretty convincingly, even if the score was 3-2. They're unbeaten in seven straight matches. They're in second place in the Eastern Conference. They've got one of the hottest goal scorers in MLS in Maicon Santos and the frontrunner for rookie of the year in Nick DeLeon. Plus Dwayne De Rosario finally has a goal.

Hund: Santos' energy and movement were excellent, and he combined really well with the players running off him. But it's the goals that are key. How long has it been since United had a player scoring this many with his head? Here's hoping he stays hungry and motivated.

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I'm fairly well convinced that that is the most fun a person can have legally in the rain.

A hat trick from the Party Boy, more of Maicon F. Santos, Nick DeLeon continuing to steal headlines with his outrageous, fantastic hair. Oh yeah, and we threw the Metros down the well. So all is well in United-land.

What They're Saying About It

Shatzer: United out-worked the Red Bulls. They were clinical and decisive when going at goal, full of hustle and precision. On more than one occasion, a United player single-handedly created a goal while being defended by three New York players, once from Maicon Santos, and once from Pontius himself. Nick DeLeon added another goal off a deflection and the 4-1 rout was on.

Salazar: On a night where D.C. United's attack exploded in a 4-1 victory over the visiting New York Red Bulls, it was the Black-and-Red's defense that had the most thorough impact on Sunday night's Atlantic Cup clash at RFK. Operating against a Red Bull offense that had scored fifteen times in its previous four matches, D.C.'s back line was simply dominant. New York managed just four shots on goal, and three of those efforts came with United comfortably ahead in the second half.

Goff: In each of his three recent appearances, Pontius has served on the front line - a departure from his usual place on the left wing. "He still doesn't know how to play forward - that's the scary thing," Olsen said. "He's still new at the position, and some of the movements can get a lot better, but three goals isn't too bad."

Stouffer: But D.C. was dominant on the ball from the outset. Cornrow-haired Nick DeLeon was all over the left wing, Dwayne De Rosario and Perry Kitchen were everywhere in the midfield, and Emiliano Dudar was unmistakable in his return to the defense, which was competent throughout. That makes for a pretty effective strategy for keeping the ball away from Henry, who still eventually got his goal, and Cooper, who wasn't sharp. Daniel Woolard's containment of Dane Richards on the wing was also effective while long range efforts straight at Joe Willis aren't high percentage shots. There simply weren't a lot of nervy moments in the box at that end of the field.

Davis: Chris Pontius just keeps looking better and better, recovering ever more of the touch and confidence after returning from last year's tibia break. Sunday's hat trick for the United forward comes as a deserving reward.

Hund: Four goals is nice, but more impressive for me is the defensive performance. Henry and Cooper came into this game averaging more than a goal a game - each! They got very few good looks tonight, and most of those from distance. True, Henry managed to pad his goal tally, but he did so from a set piece when the match was all but won. The difference between having Russell on the back stick rather than Korb was telling when the crosses came flying in (28 according to mlssoccer.com's stats, vs. just 12 for United), but the effect of the return of Dudar can't be ignored either. Metrobull crosses and long balls turned into lost causes, his range of distribution was excellent, and he made a number of nice reads on the deck, stepping up to cut out potentially dangerous passes.

Webb: After the break, Red Bull made two substitutions straight away and started to apply desperate pressure on United. United's defense lead by the return of Argentine defender Emiliano Dudar was up to the challenge and thwarted all attempts to bring Red Bull back into the match. Goalkeeper Joe Willis made back-to-back saves on long range efforts from Henry and Kenny Cooper to keep the Black-and-Red in total control.

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Four games unbeaten: What better way to celebrate than with a fourth episode of Filibuster - the Black & Red United Podcast?

This week...

• We look back at the win in New England and United's recent run of good form.
• Inspired by commenters here at the site, we talk about using players in different roles and the roster implications of different moves.
• We talk to youth development reporter and all-around good guy Travis Clark of Top Drawer Soccer about the D.C. United Academy and the latest in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
• And we look ahead at United's quick turn around against Montreal and the Metros this week.

The latest episode is waiting for you after the jump.

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Six games in, and D.C. United has 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses - just not in that order. After opening the season with a last-second loss to the heretofore unblemished Sporks and contributing the Galaxy's first win of the season, United are unbeaten in their last four, taking wins off of FC Dallas and the Revolution while drawing with the FCs Sounders and Whitecaps.

Welcome to the Sixths, where we look over the season, one big bite at a time.

Results: L-L-T-W-T-W (2-2-2, 8 pts); 7 GF, 6 GA (+1 diff.)

Standings: United are squarely in the Eastern Conference playoff positions one sixth into the season, sitting on 8 points, good for third place in the East. The Black-and-Red are seven points behind unbeaten and untied KC, and just two points behind second place New York.

Season Leaders: Maicon Santos is leading the charge with 3 goals and an assist, while Nick DeLeon has worked his way into a vital role on the team, netting 2 goals and dishing 3 assists. Danny Cruz and Chris Pontius have a goal apiece, while Cruz has an assist to go along with it. Dwayne De Rosario hasn't found the back of the net just yet, but he does have two assists to his credit. DeRo also leads the team in minutes.

MVP of the Sixth: To my mind, there are three candidates for the award: Rookie sensation NDL and second-year 'keeper Joe Willis are two of them. Hell, Willis was even my player of the month for March. But they say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Emiliano Dudar's absence against the Revs on Saturday certainly made me miss him. He makes our defense sturdier and calmer, while also giving us better poise in possession. Watching the defense look confused and harried without him has convinced me that he's been our MVP through his three-and-a-half games in black-and-red.

After the jump, we'll look at the defining moment, most-used lineup, and see what we learned from the First Sixth.

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It wasn't always pretty - in fact, there were a couple vaguely shambolic moments from the defense - but a win is a win, and a road win is even better. Throw in the fact that it's against an Eastern Conference rival, and I'll drink to that. Never mind that D.C. United is now sitting third in the Eastern Conference.

What They're Saying About It

Shatzer: Ben Olsen's substitutes made a real mark on this game, with Josh Wolff creating chances from the moment he stepped on the field, to Chris Pontius giving us the win shortly thereafter with his patented cut-to-the-right-foot-from-the-left-wing-and-curl-the-ball-around-the-goalie-and-into-the-far-post move. Otherwise known as the Pontius Special. And while I was shaking my head muttering "too many games without Andy Najar" just before Pontius' goal, Olsen's decisions proved effective.

Salazar: "In practice we've been working on it the past week," Pontius said of his move to forward. "I'm comfortable up there, I like it up there. My first instinct is to always go forward and score goals and that is your job as a forward, so it suits me well."

Goff: The triumph was most gratifying for Pontius, a midfielder whose return from a broken leg late last season hadn't gone as well as hoped this spring. He labored as a starter in the first two matches, then relinquished his job to rookie Nick DeLeon. "It's been tough for me coming off the bench," said Pontius, who had appeared as a substitute in the previous three matches. "Ideally, I want to start, but you've got to realize where you're at sometimes with your body."

A surprisingly optimistic Hund: Do we declare the off-season defensive bolstering a success yet? LA abomination aside, United haven't given up more than a goal per game. But more impressive is that they are conceding far fewer good chances and seem generally less susceptible to the complete breakdowns and massive brain-fartery that have haunted them over the past handful of seasons. Defending set pieces, another long-term Achilles heel, also seems better. It's a long haul yet, but the start has been encouraging.

Webb: United now will have a better-than-ever opportunity to finally break their 86-game streak of not winning back-to-back league matches when they host the expansion Montreal Impact at RFK Stadium on Wednesday evening.

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We expected goals, but both sides failed to find the net. The RFK stadium south goal's crossbar won Man of the Match honors, stopping each team once as D.C. United drew the Seattle Sounders 0-0 at RFK Stadium.

The offense showed flashes, combining and interchanging well through 1- and 2-touch passing, and pressuring Michael Gspurning's goal for sustained periods. Unfortunately, the final ball was missing throughout the night, and United only managed to put four shots on frame.

The same story held true at the other end of the field, as United's defense stepped up to limit the Sounders to a measly two shots on goal - with Seattle's best chance coming through Marc Burch of all people at the death. Emiliano Dudar and Dejan Jakovic kept David Estrada and Fredy Montero quiet. Dudar, in particular won nearly every battle he was asked to fight with Montero.

In the midfield, both teams kept it narrow through the first half, a fact that, when combined with referee Edvin Jurisevic's aggressively inconsistent and jumpy whistle, led to a disjointed feel to the first 45'. Both sides did find some joy down the flanks, though, and thankfully came out in the second half looking to exploit space on the outside, creating a much more open and exciting second half.

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Thank, you @BlasianSays. His little tweetmeme has led to some pretty great Internet today. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to spend more time on the internet.

After ex-D.C. United and current Seattle Sounders fullback Marc Burch threw the glove down in the Seattle press during the lead-up to this weekend's Washington Derby (It's totally a thing!), one man took to the internet to fight back the best way he knew how. A hashtag. And thus was #BurchFacts born. It started innocuously enough:

His right foot is better than his left. #Burchfacts

— Rick (@BlasianSays) April 5, 2012

He cries at the end of Titanic. #Burchfacts

— Rick (@BlasianSays) April 5, 2012

You get better service at McDonald's.#Burchfacts

— Rick (@BlasianSays) April 5, 2012

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I have to say, it's a lot more fun to talk about a win than a loss.

And that's what we got to do this weekend, as we got together to record Episode 3 of Filibuster - the Black & Red United Podcast, which is now ready for download straight into your brains (or at least your computers and iPods, if you haven't gotten the podcast brain implant yet).

Join us as we break down D.C. United's win over FC Dallas and go deep into the different midfield shapes that Benny Olsen has used in his 4-4-2 this year. We'll also go on-location to the D.C. locker room after the game to hear from some players, and we'll look ahead to next weekend's game against Seattle and eventually playing a few teams from our own conference.

iTunes Link | RSS Feed | Our theme music is Pocket by Beau Finley, used with permission.

Hope you enjoy it!

If you do enjoy it - hell, even if you don't - do us a favor and head over to iTunes to give us a rating and review. Thanks, as always, for reading and listening.

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Well that was fun, wasn't it? After finding the net only once in three games - a meaningless goal after we were three down at L.A. - the D.C. United attack blew the roof off of RFK Stadium against FC Dallas on Friday night, running out 4-1 winners. There's plenty to be said about the win, so let's see what's out there.

What They're Saying

Shatzer: Mistakes happen. It's how you react that matters. And it's how you respond. In LA, the goal that resulted from Korb's poor pass was a dagger for D.C. United. Down 2-0, hopes of getting back in that match were erased. How did United respond tonight? They responded with attitude. With energy. With composure. They responded by finishing their chances. And the chances were plentiful, due in part to an FC Dallas defense and midfield that wasn't all there. But due in greater part to a United offense that was somehow for some reason by the grace of God and Ben Olsen alike... finally clicking.

Goff: DeLeon and Danny Cruz, United's second-choice flank players at the start of the season, were lively and influential. De Rosario, in the hub of the attack, had his finest outing of the spring with two assists. And Joe Willis, starting in place of the injured Bill Hamid, made two outstanding saves in the early stages.

Salazar: Work is the perfect way to describe what has come to be expected of United's wide midfielders. Against Vancouver, Cruz and DeLeon drastically changed D.C.'s defensive posture. Pressing high against the Whitecaps' back four, the duo made Vancouver's defense look uncomfortable throughout the match. The same happened on Friday night, but for a very different reason. With United dominating possession for the first time this season, service found its way wide as D.C.'s central players distributed with aplomb.

Hund: Hamid, Najar, and Pontius have a real job on their hands to fight their way back into the starting lineup. Willis, as he was last year, has been excellent in net. Dallas had four tremendous chances in the first half, put them all on frame, but only got one past him. He was alert to through balls and had excellent control of his box on crosses and long balls. Cruz and DeLeon, the supposed backup wingers, both had excellent games, each recording a goal, with DeLeon picking up an assist on Cruz' goal.

Webb: United now will face another tough Western Conference foe when they welcome the Seattle Sounders to RFK Stadium next Saturday evening at 7:30 pm. United will have an opportunity to win back-t0-back league matches for the first time since the middle of the 2009 season, a streak that has reached 84 matches.

My take on the win after the jump.

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It really is kind of amazing what a difference (1) having your best players on the field and (2) having them play better will make. Saturday night, the Black-and-Red went into a (not-so) raucous BC Place and held what on paper should be one of the league's better attacks. Granted, United didn't find the scoreboard for the second time in three outings, but things certainly looked better, especially in the second half.

What They're Saying About It

Bromley: "For the first time this year, United looked threatening on the attack and really took the game to the opponent. The fact that they did not play this game against a likely conference champion makes it more indicative of things to come."

Goff: "Despite being blanked for the second time, United (0-2-1) made strides in the attack in the second half and was organized and composed in the back."

Salazar: "As key as D.C.'s attitude shift may have been in earning the club's first point of 2012, Olsen also deserves some credit for personnel moves along the backline. The second-year coach inserted Emiliano Dudar next to McDonald at the heart of United's defense and the Argentine turned in an impressive effort. Vancouver pumped ball after ball towards Hassli only to see the 6-foot-4 Dudar deny him at all angles. With their target forward essentially locked down, the Whitecaps took their attack out wide."

Hund: "Not a bad outing. "Crawl before you run" and all that. I was pleasantly surprised at how much better United looked both with the ball and without it, where before they looked plodding and bereft of ideas. The lack of goals is worrying, but at least Salihi and De Rosario had the best of the chances, and those are the guys you want in those spots."

Webb: After the break however United were the better side and probably deserved the full three points if not for the heroics of Cannon. Head coach Ben Olsen shifted the lineup once again giving starting debuts to Danny Cruz, Nick DeLeon and Emiliano Dudar. All three played well, particularly the 6-foot 4-inch central defender Dudar, who won every aerial challenge and also showed a soft passing touch when he set up Dwayne De Rosario for a close chance late in the match that Cannon saved as well.

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To paraphrase Martin: Well that sucked.

At least the play on the field did. Luckily, your four humble writers were all gathered at AMT Studios with a microphone, a laptop and several beers (which, of course, ended up being more necessary than we initially realized) to record the second episode of Filibuster - the Black & Red United Podcast while watching the game. We got some positive feedback while we were recording, and we really hope you'll like it, even if it might be a little bit painful to relive some of the specific moments of the game.

Just so there's no confusion, this podcast doesn't contain play-by-play or after-the-fact analysis of the game - it was more us recording a podcast during the game and giving our real-time thoughts on the unfortunate proceedings at the HDC. That said, if you have the game on DVR or you have an MLS Live account, you might get a little extra enjoyment (read: self-inflicted emotional pain) if you cue up the game and watch it while you listen.

At any rate, and without too much further ado, here's our brand spanking new player - complete with both of our episodes to date, for those of you who missed Episode 1 two weeks ago or who feel like listening back over it. (By the by, our theme music is "Pocket" by Beau Finley, used with permission.)

And if you really love us and want us to pop up in your feed automatically, here's the shiny new RSS feed - our iTunes link is currently awaiting approval from our Apple overlords and should be sorted out by Episode 3. UPDATE: We're on iTunes! Link. Look at us, growing up so fast.

Let us hear it in the comments or on Twitter, @FilibusterDCU. Please to enjoy.

The second game of D.C. United's 2012 campaign is imminent, and so is the second ambitious installment of Filibuster, the Black & Red United Podcast. Only this time, you have the chance to listen live as we record during tonight's game against the L.A. Galaxy at the Home Depot Center.

Martin, Jason and Ben are currently en route to my humble abode, which Martin has taken to calling AMT Studios - I dig it - and we'll be going live in the minutes before kickoff. Find us on ustream here, or listen along in the player after the jump.

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It was disjointed. It was sloppy. It was kind of exactly the same. D.C. United were outplayed by defending Eastern Conference (regular season) Champions Sporting Kansas City, but the capital club still held onto the clean sheet for 92+ minutes before a late loss of focus on a set piece doomed the team to a loss in their first outing of 2012.

What They're Saying About It

Shatzer: Sporting Kansas City had far more chances and far more possession. The possession differential shouldn't be surprising. This was a team that was returning 10 starters from their last meeting against a team that was returning only six. Of course the SKC players are more familiar with each other. Of course they know where their teammates are going to go with the ball. But that doesn't quite explain why the Sporks were winning so many more of the 50-50 chances. Nor does it explain why so many passes from United players ended up on the feet of someone wearing blue.

Goff: The ideas were right, but the execution was off. Albanian striker Hamdi Salihi, a late signing, and MVP Dwayne De Rosario were non-threatening. A minor groin injury had hindered De Rosario's preseason preparations and Salihi didn't receive a consistent supply of service. Branko Boskovic, the playmaker returning from major knee surgery, displayed a rusty touch. Left wing Chris Pontius, back from a broken leg, showed promise but faded. Andy Najar was quick and tricky on the right flank but crossed poorly.

Salazar: On the rare occasions that United did find success in build-up, the side failed to threaten Kansas City's goal. In fact, Sporting goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen wasn't forced into a single save all night. A perfect example came in the 39th minute, when Chris Pontius combined brilliantly with Dwayne De Rosario atop Sporting's box. Pontius pushed his effort just wide, an opportunity the Californian was loathe not taking full advantage of.

Hund: What will rankle even more is that Ben Olsen has been harping incessantly on the need to improve on defensive set pieces. Where did they lose the game? Defensive set piece. It also looked to me that it was Woolard - who's an adequate enough player, but not an MLS starter - who lost his mark, presenting an open header from the corner.

Webb: United were on the defensive for most of the match as they look disjointed offensively, especially reigning league and newly minted Designated Player MVP Dwayne De Rosario. The Canadian just didn't have a very sharp night and his only contribution on the evening was the setting up of United's two most dangerous opportunities on either side of halftime by Chris Pontius and substitute Maicon Santos.

Hoffman: Leaving RFK, I had the inescapable feeling that I've seen this movie before. The last time I sat in Section 316, I was watching the team capitulate to Chicago Fire in stoppage time, and feeling the urge to drink. This time, I had to take a breath and realize that this was game 1 of a long season, and that this team has been retooled extensively with little time for coordination.

BDR: United is still the backpassingest team I've ever seen, still can't get the ball through center midfield to the wings or strikers, still plays dump and chase, still has its goalie punt 50-50 balls rather than play possession.

Jump with me, and we'll talk cohesion, game plans, and in-game adjustments.

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Look for my Reax post on last night's last-minute loss tomorrow morning. In the meantime...

Goff teased it in his game recap, and now we have the story from the Washington Post's Capital Business publication: "planning documents" obtained by the Post would consolidate five parcels of land at the base of Potomac Avenue SWo n Buzzard Point to build a soccer specific stadium for D.C. United. EDIT: Click through the link for a map of the site.

The five parcels are across Second Street SW from Fort McNair and the National Defense University, and they extend as far east as Half Street SW (which is a different Half Street than the one associated with Nats Park). R and T streets would mark the north and south boundaries of the consolidated site. Of the five parcels involved, Ackridge owns one, as does the District. Two parcels are owned by Pepco and currently house an electrical substation scheduled to be decommissioned in May of this year. Intriguingly, the remaining plot is owned by Washington Kastles (of World Team Tennis) owner Mark Ein, who has had his own stadium adventures in the city - if on a smaller scale. Of course, neither Ein nor Pepco is admitting to being in any discussions with the team or the city regarding the disposition of the land. Which tells us precisely nothing about anything.

Moreover, the Post story never makes it clear from where the "planning documents" were obtained. The piece does mention, however, that the documents were produced by HKS, the architecture firm who designed the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium, as well as Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis and, perhaps more relevantly, Santos Laguna's gorgeous newish ground, Estadio Corona.

It's tough to say whether these were designed on spec or whether talks are more advanced than we realized. My guess is probably somewhere in the middle, especially given the guarded optimism that seems to be emanating from team owner Will Chang and the front office recently. (Hey, guarded optimism is still better than guarded pessimism, which has characterized things since the PG County deal fell apart.)

In short: as always, Zzzzzzzzzz.

On Thursday night, my Macbook Pro crashed. I mean, it called hospice care and got itself mentally ready to spend the rest of its days in bed. That was exceedingly stressful for me, because we were planning to record the first episode of Filibuster - the Black And Red United Podcast on Saturday, and I didn't have time (or money) to buy a new one.

But that couldn't stop us. My fiancee stepped up and offered us her computer; we got everything set up. And now Filibuster is officially a thing!

In our inaugural episode, we talk about D.C. United's offseason and look at the tactics Ben Olsen's side will probably be employing in 2012. We talk to a voice that will be very familiar to United fans, the amazingly friendly and fun Tony Limarzi, who did not hesitate even a second when the host of a yet-to-exist podcast asked him to come on the show. Finally, we preview the season for each team in the Eastern Conference, one sentence at a time.

Check us out, by using the streaming tool below, or by downloading the episode here: Filibuster - Episode 1: Previewing the 2012 D.C. United and MLS Season (run-time: 1:18:24) EDIT: We're having some difficulty with the streaming tool, but I've been assured that it is forthcoming.

Our theme music is Pocket by Beau Finley, used with permission. If you enjoy the music, like the show, or love animals, be sure to check out the Humane Society benefit Beau is playing March 25 at Velvet Lounge on U Street. Check the poster after the jump for more info.

Let us hear it in the comments, and be sure to follow @FilibusterDCU on Twitter.

Hey, you guys, we're podcasters now!

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As D.C. United's preseason gets underway, we here at B&RU will look at a few of the team's pieces and how they can and should be used in 2012. Our first installment focused on Chris Pontius and whether he should be used in the midfield or on the forward line. Today, we ask a similar question about defending MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner Dwayne De Rosario.

Has anybody in the history of Major League Soccer ever had half a season like the second half of Dwayne De Rosario's 2011? After coming to United from New York on June 27 in what was unquestionably the Steal of the Year, DeRo scored 13 goals and dished out 7 assists in 18 games, both team highs. If you're following along at home, that was good for an unthinkably high 1.2 goals and assists per 90 minutes, and it adds up to DeRo's having a direct hand in 70% of the team's goals after he arrived from the Red Bulls. He effectively put United on his back and willed the team into the playoff race. Were it not for a couple of late season injuries to Chris Pontius and Dejan Jakovic, there's every likelihood that the Canadian international would have succeeded in leading the Black-and-Red into the postseason for the first time since 2007.

Ever since the day he arrived, though - and really, throughout most of his career - De Rosario has been followed by the question: what is his best position? Is he an attacking midfielder, or is he a forward? Either way, he'll generally look to occupy space between the opposition's midfield and defense, but his starting points, the nature and number of scoring opportunities, and his defensive responsibilities will vary based on which position he takes up.

We've asked the question before, in the context of United's 2011 roster, but let's ask it again: where should De Rosario line up? Arguments, a poll and your comments after the jump.

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As D.C. United's preseason gets underway, we here at B&RU will look at a few of the team's pieces and how they can and should be used in 2012. Today, we kick the series off with fourth-year forward/midfielder Chris Pontius.

Let's rewind our mental DVRs to September 10 of last year. D.C. United spent fourteen imperious minutes to rush out to a two-goal lead at the Home Depot Center, both scored by Charlie Davies and created by Chris Pontius. Just past the hour mark, United struck on the counter, again through Davies by way of Pontius. On two of his three assists - and arguably on all three - Pontius gave up pretty solid shooting opportunities to the benefit of his (now former) teammate. Of course, just a minute after United's third goal, Pontius went into an awkward and ill-advised challenge that would break his leg and end his season.

Pontius is scheduled to resume full training March 1, just days before United's season opener March 10. While he is unlikely to feature in that first game against Sporting Kansas City, Pontius will inevitably return to D.C.'s first XI. In the meantime, United's newly acquired depth on the wings will have a chance to make its mark, and the team remains thin at forward (even with a new signing and incoming trialist). This has led some to call - including in the comments of several posts here at B&RU - for Pontius to move from midfield to forward. So let's look at the arguments and decide what we think: Should Pontius line up out left or up top once he sees the field in 2012?

We'll have it out after the jump.

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I know what many of you are thinking after reading that headline: "Did I fall into a coma, and is it February already?" Luckily, the answer is no - MLS seems to have taken the many fan complaints about last year's late, late, horribly late schedule announcement to heart and will apparently release the full 2012 league slate before Christmas. This is good news.

This afternoon, I spoke with an account rep at D.C. United about season tickets for next year. Good phone conversation, as they usually are with United staffers. We talked about the new uniforms, the meet the team event for season ticket holders and other STH perks. We also discussed the 2012 schedule, which, as it turns out, the team expects to be finalized and released as early as next week. Knowing as we do how MLS handles self-imposed deadlines, though, I wouldn't be surprised if they held off by a few days to cross the t's and dot the i's. Regardless, we should be able to start making plans for road trips in plenty of time to have visions of road trips dancing in our heads next to the sugar plums on Christmas Eve.

This is a good, quick turnaround from just a few weeks ago, when the league announced the new, unbalanced schedule format - they must have had the tech guys working double shifts to get this out, and I'm definitely happy about it. The early schedule release will certainly help supporters groups and more casual fans plan to attend more road games, especially early in the season (here's hoping we get to go somewhere warm in early March!). Hell, the extra lead time could help with home attendance, too. It also shouldn't be that much of a surprise, as the league has already announced the home opener dates for all 19 teams, as well as the nationally broadcast match-ups for First Kick.

Most importantly of all: March 10, 2012 keeps getting closer, you guys.