The Hospital Ward

Here's what MLSNET is showing as our current injuries:

MF Ben Olsen
OUT - ankle surgery

DF Domenic Mediate
OUT - concussion

FW Francis Doe
OUT - foot infection

DF Gonzalo Peralta
QUESTIONABLE - hamstring

MF Marcelo Gallardo
PROBABLE - hernia surgery

Of course we need to add:

GK Zach Wells
OUT - sesamoiditis

MF Fred
OUT - hamstring

Let's go down the list;
Ben Olsen. I believe even the biggest optimist will be surprised to see him contributing on the field this season.

Domenic Mediate. He had a concussion, not the rest of this, we're all too familiar with how this may play out.

Frances Doe.Doe has been out with a serious toe infection, at the end of July this was described as 2-4 weeks out, so we should be getting close.

Gonzalo Peralta. After being pushed into service following his hernia surgery, Peralta "tweaked" his hamstring. According to a report in the DC Examiner United general manager Dave Kasper says he is 2-3 weeks away from returning. This would mean he will not be available for the Open Cup final.

Marcello Gallardo. Having trouble recovering from hernia surgery done the same time as Peralta's. Kasper says 2-3 more weeks before he returns. So he also won't be available for the USOC final.

Fred. Pulled hamstring. Out 3 -4 weeks. No USOC.

Zach Wells.Sesamoiditis Return unknown.

So let's play the blame game. Bad luck? International and League schedule? Training staff? Turf fields? Salary caps? The cost of a DP?
I'll take the easy way out and say a combination of all of the above.

I will emphatically say that you can't be looking at a schedule of a game every four days for two months, with the current salary cap, and expect to see quality soccer.