With just over a month left until the start of the 2019 MLS season, most of D.C. United’s starting lineup has been settled. The Black-and-Red still need to bring in a couple of more players to fill out the roster, but for the most part, those signings would fill reserve roles. The one spot that might still be up for grabs though, is the center back position alongside Steven Birnbaum.

Birnbaum is fully entrenched as a starter for Ben Olsen’s side, having taken over for an injured Jeff Parke in 2014, and never looking back. Birnbaum didn’t have a great year in 2017, but bounced back nicely in 2018, anchoring a defense that started the season poorly, but finished off the campaign playing well.

Frederic Brillant was Birnbaum’s most frequent partner in 2018, but Kofi Opare also contributed, until injuries cut his season short. Opare is no longer with the team, and for now, Brillant seems to be the most likely candidate to start with Birnbaum, having been given the nod for the team’s first preseason friendly, against the Bethlehem Steel. 

Here’s a breakdown of all the options for Birnbaum’s partner this year, and what their chances are heading into the 2019 season.

Frederic Brillant 

United brought in the French center back from New York City FC before the 2018 season, and he immediately beat out Opare in last year’s preseason camp. There was definitely a mixed bag of results with the partnership Brillant and Birnbaum. United were leaking goals throughout the first half of the season, with the caveat that most of those games were on the road. 

Still, there seemed to be at least one crucial defense mistake every game, and Brillant had his share of miscues. However, Olsen continued to stick with Brillant, as United finally began playing at home at Audi Field. 

Shortly after the debut of the stadium at Buzzard Point though, Olsen inserted Opare into the starting lineup, and results began to favor the Black-and-Red. For a 10 game streak, Opare, who was a regular starter in 2017, started with Birnbaum, and Brillant only got three appearances off the bench.

Brillant returned for New York Red Bulls game in September, after Opare got injured in the previous game. That Atlantic Cup game ended in a wild 3-3 tie, but after that, Brillant and company were lights out defensively. Over the course of the last six games of the season, United conceded just two goals, winning five of those games. 

Sticking with Brillant going into the season has it’s perks for Olsen. For one, there’s the continuity factor, which could see 9 of 11 starters from the end of 2018 start in the beginning of 2019. Brillant also has years of experience over his competition, though the downside is that he will turn 34 midway through the season. For now, It seems a safe bet that Brillant will get the nod to start the season, unless United brings in another starting quality center back before the end of the transfer window.

Jalen Robinson

Robinson, signed in January 2014 as a homegrown player for the Black-and-Red, is entering his 6th season for United. Formerly of Wake Forest University, Robinson can play either as a center back or right back, but has never seemed to gain much traction with Olsen. After not appearing in a league game in his first two years with the club, Robinson has made 16 appearances, with 14 starts, over the last three seasons.

In his first ever MLS start in June 2016, Robinson went head to head against Kei Kamara in an emergency start. Robinson excelled in a 2-0 win over the New England Revolution that day, but immediately found himself right back on the bench. That trend has continued since, with Robinson only ever getting called in for times when there aren’t any other options.

It doesn’t seem likely that Robinson will be preferred over other options in 2019 either. For one reason or another, Olsen just doesn’t appear to think that Robinson could be the long term solution at center back. 

Donovan Pines

Here’s the wild card in the equation right now. Pines, who just won the national championship with the University of Maryland, was signed as a homegrown player last month. The towering 6-foot-5 defender is thought highly of by Olsen, who mentioned the possibility of Pines working his way into the team during the course of the season. 

A lot of that depends on how quickly the 20-year-old can adapt to professional soccer. In the past, Olsen has brought along rookie defenders slowly. But if they’ve shown the ability, such as in the case of Birnbaum, or the recently retired Taylor Kemp, Olsen has no problem sticking with them. 

One thing to watch for with Pines, is where he starts the season. With Loudoun United FC beginning play on March 9th, it would not be surprising to see the center back with the USL side. Games, even at a lower level, would help Pines’ development. If Pines is with the D.C. instead though, that would be a good indication that Olsen and his staff think Pines could contribute to the squad at an accelerated pace.

Other potential signing

The last potential option is that United go out and get another starting quality center back to start with Birnbaum. There have been a couple of mentions during the offseason of this possibility, though there have not been many whispers about specific players. Ike Opara, if United even was considering the possibility, recently moved from Sporting Kansas City to Minnesota United. His price tag would have likely eliminated the Black-and-Red, had they shown interest.

They could still be shopping around the league for a solution, or even scouring the international market. One thing to note though, the team appears to have used up all available international spots at this time. Those can be added easily enough through trade, or by freeing up a spot with another player getting a green card, but it is something worth keeping track of for United.