Lucho wins MVP, United looks to Baltimore, and more: Wednesday Freedom Kicks
In all my effort to host a makeshift Thanksgiving feast last week, I neglected the soccer world. We’re back this week with your regularly-scheduled Wednesday Freedom Kicks!
FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta named 2023 Landon Donovan MLS MVP (MLS): Already old news at this point, but it bears repeating, Lucho has really come a long way since slinking out of the league in a slump after the 2019 season.
GM Ally Mackay takes charge at D.C. United (Washington Post): Ally Mackay steps into a listless club with much to do, namely, hiring a head coach.
Will Oscar Pareja stay or go? Orlando City’s future uncertain (MLS): Speaking of potentially-available coaches…
D.C. United owner Levien ‘committed’ to MLS Next Pro affiliate in Baltimore (Pro Soccer Wire): After many years of deliberation, D.C. United is at long last moving to Baltimore for MLS… Next Pro. Yes, I still have PTSD thinking about United and Baltimore in the same sentence. Owner Levien appears intent on making MLS Next Pro happen in Baltimore. A reminder that D.C. United and CF Montreal are the only teams without an MLS Next Pro team.
Loudoun United has been shuffling some contracts around:
Ryan Martin is recognized as one of the top coaches for developing soccer talent in the Western Hemisphere:
Swansea City U21S 4 – 0 Ipswich Town U21S (Swansea City): Kristian Fletcher is after your hats, folks!
That’s all from me this morning. Let me know what’s kicking in the comments!
Good news about KFletch! Even better news about MLSPro and Baltimore. It’s downright stupid that DCU hasn’t set this up sooner (even if it wasn’t Baltimore). And count me in the “Pareja for DCU” camp. Benny sang his praises and his track record (for developing youth and competing in MLS) sings volumes.
Shh…that makes too much sense to be allowed in the DMV…
Kind of impressed/surprised about that Ryan Martin ranking. He’s certainly had a good reputation, and United has had some good success stories coming out of Loudoun, but not to the point that I would have assumed he was top 10 in the hemisphere.
The “rating” seems more like some percentage of minutes played by young players. Which to me is a lazy “stat” and doesn’t really speak to actually developing talent. All that said, Martin has done an admirable job at Loudoun, particularly last season, given the limited attention that township and DC give to them.
I watched all 19+ minutes of the Ally Mackay interview, read the ones with Pablo, Goff, and Charles Boehm, and kept waiting to hear something smart, or at least beyond kind of general talking points that are sort of baseline assumptions about the league. The one time I really heard him light up was when he was talking about his background as an agent, and how that would help him in negotiating contracts. And that clicked in my head that maybe that was what really sold Levien on his candidacy. He’s the youngest GM in the league, and wasn’t sharing anything particularly impressive at least publicly. But he can perhaps lowball players!
Now, according to Pablo, one of the reputations DC has is overpaying for players, so that’s something they need to address. And hopefully this is just me being really overly cynical. And hopefully Mackay is a lot sharper behind closed doors than in front of a camera.
Still giving the benefit of the doubt to this hire, and still prepared for a rebuilding of the squad, meaning next year will not likely be a trophy hunt. But hopefully we really do start to see that identity and steps towards becoming a trophy-winning club.
I agree not trophy hunting, but maybe hunting for a playoff spot?
A playoff spot shouldn’t be unreasonable. I think if we had had a third DP down the stretch, we would have been able to get in. If we had had Lewis O’Brien or Victor Palsson for a full year, I think we probably would have been able to get in. If we had had Gabriel Pirani for a full year, that might have helped. So, last year we build up from being dead last in 2022, and did a pretty good job. We’re not in dire shape. We’ve got Ravel Morrison off the books. We should have Martin Rodriguez and Mohanad Jeahze for a lot more of the year. Teddy KDP should keep progressing. Kristian Fletcher should be a contributor.
We need to nail our signings, but getting into the playoffs isn’t a big stretch for what we should expect. I’d also like to see us make some really concerted efforts towards winning the Open Cup and/or the Leagues Cup. Because going for Supporter’s Shield or MLS Cup doesn’t seem likely, and maybe even winning those other tournaments isn’t likely. But I want to see us making an honest showing at them.
I agree that getting into the playoffs isn’t a tall order. But it won’t happen if we assume that we’re just a piece or two away from doing it. They need to bring in a coach and start planning for the season before the winter transfer market gets rolling. As much as we can anticipate some guys stepping up, I think it’s safe to assume some others will dip in performance, so it’s not just about getting a 3rd DP (especially considering how unsettled out backline looks once again).
I’ve been advocating for awhile that the team should be looking to get a Young DP, which would allow us to also get three U-22 players too. Those four players may not all hit, or likely won’t be top notch in 2024. But it would establish a young core, along with Teddy KDP, Kristian Fletcher, and Matai Akinmboni.
Christian Benteke and Mateusz Klich have been good DPs, but are also nearing the end of their careers. We can see out the end of their tenure while this young core starts to grow into their prime, and then can build around them with two other DPs as Benteke and Klich move on in 2025 or beyond. It also sets up nicely with Mackay’s four year tenure as he can construct the organization in his image.
I think I’d rather have a proven right winger who combines dribbling ability, scoring potential, and a gifted right footed cross in his tool set. That was probably our biggest gap in the lineup last season. TKD I like as a cutting inside option, but if Benteke is our guy, get him a better service provider on the wing than we got. If we can have all this in a young DP, I’d be overjoyed, I just think it’s unlikely
A lot hinges on this guy being able to turn around the organization, both on his own steam and by persuading investment in areas of need (gotta think right now most of the function alarms are already blaring around the spacecraft). I will say, I’m not gonna judge him too severely until there’s an actual roster, at least, but then, I’m still not sold on re-upping Apple TV. So, think he should be given time, but no fault to him, I’m a hard sell to reconnect emotionally with this team.
Yeah. I think “identity” should and must include “connecting with the fans.”
I don’t even know if him making a personal connection with the fans is what I’m personally looking for, I just need competent management, and both careful thinking and also just a lot more care, in general. The real fans don’t need a media blitz or false promises, or at least I don’t. I want to care about this club, first the organization has to.
Hey, Sarah. Is there a vacancy in the DP staff re Tuesday Freedom Kicks? It’s been weeks since we’ve had a Freedom Kicks on Tuesdays.