D.C. United has had a long tradition of excellence at the playmaker position, but it enters the 2010 campaign without a true playmaker following Christian Gomez's departure.

Santino Quaranta is going to get a look at the central midfield position. New coach Curt Onalfo says Quaranta, up until now a winger, has the qualities to be a good attacking midfielder "because he has an ability to play balls over distance, he makes good runs out of midfield, he has a good shot from the midfield and he works hard."

Onalfo has known Quaranta, who is just now getting back into shape after suffering a foot injury last season, since his first stint as an assistant at D.C.