Durkin traded to St. Louis, NWSL 2024 schedule news, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy Friday, and happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate! Let’s get kicking.
First, some D.C.U. trade news:
NWSL announces 2024 schedule footprint, competition calendar (NWSL)
It’ll still be awhile before we have a real schedule, but this is a good start. As previously reported, the Challenge Cup will be shortened to a one game competition between the 2023 Shield and Championship winners. I’m pretty intrigued by the planned international club competition during the Olympics, although with an already-expanded regular season it could mean a lot more wear-and-tear on the players.
Loudoun United signs midfielder Tommy McCabe (Loudoun United)
McCabe, recently of FC Tulsa, has signed a 2-year deal with Loudoun United. The team also re-signed goalie Hugo Fauroux yesterday.
Copa América draw: USMNT to face Uruguay, Panama, Bolivia (ESPN)
Despite a little bit of confusion during the actual ceremony, the Groups for Copa America are set. I’ll spare you having to click on a link if you just want to see the full draw:
Group A: Argentina, Peru, Chile, winners of Canada vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Group B: Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, Jamaica
Group C: United States, Uruguay, Panama, Bolivia
Group D: Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, winners of Costa Rica vs. Honduras
USWNT 2024 Olympic roster: Projecting the 18 players for Paris (Pro Soccer Wire)
Way too early for this, but it’s fun speculating anyway. The Pro Soccer Wire team are making some unlikely predictions here, in my opinion. I don’t really see Katie Lund, who’s yet to receive a call-up, replacing long-time GK Alyssa Naeher, but who knows?
Teen Gisele Thompson, sister of Alyssa Thompson, signs three-year deal with Angel City (LA Times)
Gisele is a very promising defender, but for me the big story is the salary: $525,000 over 3 years for a 17-year-old rookie. In a women’s professional league with a minimum salary of $37,856. Very curious to find out what this year’s salary cap is; it may have gone up substantially if teams are making deals like this.
Finally, a reminder that the MLS Cup Final is tomorrow at 4 p.m. As a native of Columbus, Ohio, I will of course be pulling for the Crew. Have a good weekend!
I’ll say this about the US Copa America draw: It’s doable, and therefore fills me with apprehension. Berhalter is nothing if not consistent underperforming in must win games, if the US doesn’t clean Panama out, we could be in for a rough ride.
Goff’s article this morning on the Durkin trade included some updates on the coaching search. 2 new names have surfaced as possibilities: Troy Lesesne (the interim coach for NYRB for most of this year) and BJ Callaghan (the guy that was in charge of the USMNT for like 3 games in between when the interim coach left and Berhalter came back). Callaghan is intriguing to me. He seemed to do well in his time in charge of the US, but we have such a small sample size its hard to tell. I also thought Lesesne did well with what he was given in New York, but not sure how hed do here. Of all the names that have been thrown out so far, I am a bit surprised that Adrian Heath appears to not be in consideration at all.
Agreed on Callaghan. I’m a little scared of what would happen to the USMNT without him, erm, advising* Gregg to play better lineups, but I’d get excited for the season finally if this happened. His tenure with as head coach of the team was short, but the performances popped
Yeah, I was mostly intrigued because it seemed like he was at least able to get out of the players what Berhalter seemingly cant (or doesnt want to?). Not sure how that will translate when the players at hand aren’t mostly champion’s league level players, but I think he’s been the first name I’ve seen linked to DC that has really grabbed my attention
Maybe we can get the Reynas?
I was initially worried that he didn’t have much club experience, but he actually spent a lot of time with Philadelphia under Curtin. Between them and his brief but excellent run with the US’ extremely young starting XI, he could be a decent pick. If we choose to better integrate our academy players that is.
Yeah, B.J. Callaghan was the name that excited me. It’s not just what he did with the national team, I also haven’t seen his name come up as a possibility for any of the other coaching vacancies. Porter, Fraser, Arena, and Savarese seem to be mentioned for all of them.
Lesesne seems ok to me as well, but mostly because he beat United three times last season.
Mackay certainly is moving, and I don’t hate his moves so far. We’ll see what happens with the coaching hire.
I was pretty surprised about the Durkin trade, but I’ll admit it seems like St. Louis overpayed a bit. Stroud was a solid contributor to St. Louis’ fantastic season, not to mention an extra CB AND some cash. Durkin was always reliable in that he did everything well, but wasn’t great at anything either. I will definitely miss him, but change is definitely needed. Durkin isn’t a starter on a playoff team, in my opinion.
Had a bit of a fun coincidence today. My fiance got a new coworker, and in her introduction she mentioned that she has 2 sons, one of which is in the DC United Academy, and the second of which is “following in his footsteps.” Not sure what the kids’ last name is at this point, or what level of the academy they’re in, but kind of a fun connection at least
Yay for Ohio people!
Annie, I too will be pulling for the Crew. That’s because I don’t want LAFC to add another trophy to their pile.
And frankly, I’m surprised we got so much for Durkin. I think he’s a useful player, a “swiss-army knife” of a player. But St. Louis appeared to really value him–they clearly see a role for him that they think fits their system. Good for Chris–I hope he flourishes there. I hope the two pieces we got are contributors in some form.
Rooting for Columbus as well. But it should be noted that if they win, they are then one MLS Cup away from equaling DC’s haul. And who would you bet on to win an MLS Cup next?
Congratulations to the Crew and to Julian Gressel. Hey, remember when we tried to sign Yaw Yeboah?
I do.Promising young player. Back then the team was very focused on building a partnership with the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana (Yeboah came out of that set-up), but that fell apart — apparently the Ghanians had an interest in ownership and control of the DCU affiliate, and that proved to be a deal-breaker.
Goff reporting that we’re looking to trade Ruan to Montreal for Aaron Herrera. If the name isn’t ringing an immediate bell for you, Herrera’s the right back who started for RSL for a few years before going to Montreal last season. He had a 10 assist season in 2021, but hasn’t replicated that form since. Guatemalan, now 26 years old.
It looks like a sensible move to me in talent terms. Ruan is certainly not a core asset, and Herrera could be an excellent buy-low opportunity after being misused in his current gig (Losada tried to use him at center back, which isn’t his best skill set). Herrera does cost more ($725k base salary vs. Ruan’s $400k), so presumably we’re not acquiring him to be a role player. Interesting to see whether any money moves one way or the other in this one.
(WordPress is back to not allowing me to log in properly. Just FYI to the mods.)
Mackay certainly hasn’t wasted any time – already a marked departure from years passed. I have no idea how much an improvement that swapping fullbacks will be. He’s certainly made the point that our defense wasn’t to his liking quite clear.
Yeah, he’s gone through just about everybody. They even picked up Ruan’s option and now might be moving him.
Aaron Herrera seems like a pretty decent pickup. He had an outstanding season a couple years ago, with 11 assists for RSL. His assist numbers any other year are a little more pedestrian, but he looks like somebody that can serve in a nice long ball from the flank. I was wondering if Mackay might go after Julian Gressel in free agency, but I think Herrera will be our guy serving opportunities up for Benteke.
Ruan sort of quietly had 6 assists himself last year. And he brought a lot of speed to a team that really hasn’t had much of it historically. He was usually good for one quality cross per game, and the rest would be pretty badly mishit.
Definitely would prefer to have Gressel back, but I remember when people were pushing for Herrera to get a look from the USMNT. There’s potential there.
Gressel is probably the better player, but he also isn’t quite as good at fitting into just any system. Herrera gives the new coach more flexibility, and also better defending.
Not to speak for him, but why would Julian Gressel want to return to a club that unceremoniously and publicly moved him across the continent without any warning or time to at least notify his wife or agent?
Then again, money talks….
I feel like one of the only fans who liked Ruan on the field. Maybe not as a defender (wingback) but as a traditional sideline midfielder or winger. I was always pleased with his runs, and when he had the ball in the attacking half, I always felt like United had a chance.
Of course with a new GM and coach, I’m not really going to judge any decision until we see what the roster looks like by March, but as far as the 2023 roster is concerned, I would consider Ruan one of my preferred players.
I’m not a Ruan hater (other than for breaking Joseph Mora’s jaw), but he’s not irreplaceable. And United has just announced the trade. We get Herrera for Ruan and $500k of GAM. Looking at last year’s payrolls, Herrera made about $350,000 more than Ruan. I’m not sure what their pay rates for 2024 are, but this does seem like a little bit of an overpay.
That said, I’m looking forward to seeing him whipping crosses in towards Benteke (and KDP and Fletcher and unnamed third DP). I think a healthy Jeahze on the left will also be pretty great. Hopefully it will pan out into what Gressel and Brad Smith were supposed to be.
Yeah, I’m not necessarily arguing to keep Ruan, merely arguing that his performance in 2023 was good enough that I preferred him on the field over others on the right flank. I get the general feeling that he wasn’t nearly appreciated enough throughout the year.
As far as I’m concerned going into 2024, the only players left on the roster that could cause me some sadness if they left to play elsewhere in MLS are the DPs, some homegrowns, the captain, and the real estate agent.
Ruan was extremely effective at one thing, and Rooney built around it. Think Herrera is likely a more flexible and well rounded option for a style of play McKay would prefer.
DC makes the Durkin-for-Stroud-and-Bartlett trade official. Sorry to see Durkin go, and I wish him well in St. Louis, where I think their style really suits him. Bartlett is starting to seem like the best part of the return here. I know that highlights are highlights, but I’m thinking he could at the very least be a Brendan Hines-Ike replacement, and possibly an improvement on that, with substantial cost savings.
Stroud is probably a bit more offensive minded than Durkin. He’ll probably line up on the right side, creating a replacement tandem of Stroud and Herrera for Durkin and Ruan/Najar. It could be a slight improvement.
I think looking at the two moves today together makes them make more sense too, financially at least. Getting Herrera, Bartlett and Stroud in exchange for Durkin, Ruan and 200k GAM seems fair, and I’d even think DC might have ended up with the better deal overall. Will depend on how the new players do though, obviously.
Yeah. These moves seem fine, but obviously a lot more to be made. Need to nail a coaching hire, need to nail a third DP, need to sign bunches more players.
Agreed. Still a lot to fill out and a lot of work to do overall. Something that occurred to me though — its really nice not having to deal with an expansion draft this year for what seems like the first time in like 15 years. I still remember picking up Tommy McNamara from the dispersal draft only to lose him to NYC like 1 or 2 days later lol
At least there is some reserved decisiveness to his, and there seems to be structure to the plan. This beats the heck out off the cut and paste we’ve seen since Wayne stopped playing.
I am just glad to see some early movement in the offseason rather than doing nothing and waiting until the last minute to make some kind of shambolic moves.
I used to take Creative Shambolic Dance classes with Dave Kasper, he was top of the class…..impressive…..
Don’t look now, but a Turkish league owner cold clocked (hard/damaging) a Turkish ref during a disputed call or game. (See WashPost).
Disgusting.
Matt Doyle has a rundown of his “free agent tiers.” He had a note in there that he still thinks Andy Najar ends up back with DC. I have to say, it seemed like both sides were making a pretty definitive close, and United just went out and spent big on getting a new right back in Aaron Herrera.
With his injuries and time limits Najar as a backup isn’t a bad idea if the finances work out for both sides.