MLS abandons U.S. Open Cup, Giraldez to leave Barcelona, and more: Monday Freedom Kicks
Happy Monday, everyone. Life’s gotten in the way for some of us, so I’m filling in on these Monday Freedom Kicks for the time being. Let’s catch you up on a busy weekend full of soccer news.
This is an absolutely awful decision by Major League Soccer, who will send their MLS Next Pro teams instead of their first teams to compete in the U.S. Open Cup next year.
“But Donald, D.C. United doesn’t have a MLS Next Pro team.” MLS has confirmed that the Black-and-Red will not participate in any way in the U.S. Open Cup, confirming our earliest exit ever from America’s longest running sports competition.
Giráldez to leave Barcelona, offered job ‘outside Europe’ (ESPN)
Following up on André’s reporting from Thursday, Jonatan Giráldez is officially leaving Barcelona at season’s end, and the rumors keep growing that he will be the next permanent head coach of the Washington Spirit.
Cheat sheet: What all 29 teams need in MLS SuperDraft 2024 (MLS)
The MLS SuperDraft is tomorrow, and D.C. United have the 7th overall pick. It will be Ally Mackay’s first time in charge, and it looks like centerback, fullback, and forward are the most glaring needs. D.C. United also have the 36th, 49th, and 65th picks. The last draft pick that really contributed to the Black-and-Red for several seasons was Chris Odoi-Atsem, who we drafted with the 12th pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft.
Champions League draw: Man City, Real Madrid get favourable ties (ESPN)
The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw was this morning and here are the pairings:
Porto vs. Arsenal
Napoli vs. Barcelona
PSG vs. Real Sociedad
Inter Milan vs. Atlético Madrid
PSV vs. Borussia Dortmund
Lazio vs. Bayern Munich
Copenhagen vs. Manchester City
RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid
USWNT rises to #2 in FIFA world rankings (SSFC)
The USWNT are back in the 2 spot, raising 1 spot in the world rankings to close out 2023. World champions Spain take the #1 spot.
Tom Lockyer: Luton Town fans show support after cardiac arrest (BBC)
It was another scary sight over the weekend as Tom Lockyer collapsed during Luton Town’s match at Bournemouth. This is his second collapse on the field in 6 months and we’re hoping they can find the root cause of it where he can make a full and complete recovery.
Free agency tiers: Who are the best players available for 2024? (MLS)
Who should D.C. United target in free agency? There are lot of intriguing names on this list.
FIFA Council confirms key details for FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ (FIFA)
The 32-team Club World Cup is official. The United States will host it in 2025. Also confirmed is a new Intercontinental Cup that will begin next December and will have a similar format to the current Club World Cup.
USMNT roster prediction: Who could make January 2024 camp? (MLS)
No DCU players make this predicted list.
Enjoy the afternoon!
I wish that United would declare themselves as a participant in the Open Cup in lieu of their nonexistant MLS Next Pro team. But, given that we’ve only beaten one MLS team in that competition since 2013, and have lost to multiple lower level clubs, a smooth sailing through would be no sure thing. It’s still a shame to not even have a chance at adding to our trophy haul.
Chris Odoi-Atsem has been our most notable draft pick in recent years, but we turned last year’s selection into Ruan, who gave us 24 games and 6 assists. If we get close to that from this year’s selection, we’ll have done well. We also have two second round picks, and did unearth Sofiane Djeffal in the second round a couple years ago. He played in 28 games for us. There’s always a chance to find something in the draft.
Djeffal was waived by Austin. USL quality at best. He got 28 games for a Wooden Spoon squad. Kasper didn’t rate the draft and it showed.
One of the free agents available is Omir Fernandez. You may remember him scoring the goal that knocked us out of the Open Cup. He’s a talented midfielder and the youngest ever free agent in MLS. Given Nashville/Mackay’s prediliction for picking up former Red Bulls (which has continued with both Dru Yearwood going to Nashville and Jared Stroud coming to DC), Fernandez might have seemed like a target for DC. It looks like the Rapids are going to get him, though.
There’s a certain line of thought that has Fernandez going to the Rapids to rejoin Armas, but I’d like to see him here. Since DCU have no MLS Nextpro club to develop it’s own players, we could focus on poaching former homegrowns from other clubs.
Especially since we’re jettisoning quite a few of our own homegrowns and there don’t seem to be all that many that are ready to be signed by the senior club in our academy.
Since MacKay is still stuck with some big pieces left over from the Rooney era, perhaps he’d be willing to invest in a player who’d be cool with just one more rodeo? Nico Lodeiro could be a great fit for one year (or at most 2 years) — perhaps a DP signing below the TAM amount, allowing Mackay to go out and sign 3 U22 Initiative players, rather than just the one he’d be allowed if DC signed a higher-priced 3rd DP.
Since he can’t fill the other 2 DP slots this year, maybe he wants to put his energy into lower-salary players. Build a foundation for a contender which could be topped off with new DPs in 2025, after Benteke and Klich and maybe Lodeiro are ready to retire or go home.
Interesting thing I’m noticing on the website — Klich is listed as a “Designated Player, International,” but Benteke is only listed as a “Designated Player.” This means some room for Internationals. 3 slots open currently, though Pirani (will team be able to add him on a transfer?), Jeahze and Rodriguez (injuries) aren’t sure things for next year. Maybe we could say the same about Dajome (hard to justify his wage, though his contract is guaranteed for another year).
There’s certainly roster room for 3 U22 internationals, and maybe another slot or two for veteran internationals (or a int’l Superdraft pick). If Klich might be in line for a green card (or whatever the new rule means about residency) before the season, then so much the better.
And then, additional flexibility for 2025 with Benteke, Klich, Santos, Dajome and maybe a 3rd DP from within MLS moving on.
I think that should guide MacKay’s choices in looking at Free Agents. Getting a young talent like Fernandez would be great, but he can also get someone who can be a difference maker this year but nearing the end of the string. Give the new coach some talent to be competitive with this year, but still looking at a 2-year (or maybe 3-year) full cleanse and rebuild.
Outside of maybe our homegrowns (TKDP, Fletcher and Akinmboni, and maybe Hopkins), perhaps Bono and Sargis (not impressed yet), perhaps Canouse and maybe Pirani and Jaehze, there’s no one who was with the team in 2023 that I think haa much chance to be with the club in 2025.
Hey, United has never let in a goal when Sargis has been on the field!
But yeah, Mackay is absolutely building his own squad. Basically everyone that could depart is gone, along with a couple others that would have been decent to have on this year’s team like Ruan and Durkin.
I’ve been arguing all offseason that United should be looking to maximize their young talent by getting a young DP and filling all three U-22 slots to go along with the homegrowns you mentioned (and hey, maybe even our draft pick!) in building a good, strong, developing base for several years.
Going your route would be similar because, as good as Benteke and Klich were, by the time the rest of the team catches up, they will probably have reached the end of their contracts. But that nice young base will be coming of age, and can then be supplemented by at least two new DPs.
Mackay’s acquisitions so far have all been on the back half of their 20s. Young enough to contribute still, but not likely to make a production leap. That’s fine, because we also don’t have a coach yet.
USOC, MLS made a poor choice on this one.
From what I’ve seen, USOC wasn’t exactly a participant in this decision. They seem to have been surprised by the announcement. If that’s spin or something, we may find out later on, but it seemed genuine.
I’m also interested to see what USSF says about this. I’m not optimistic it’ll be anything substantive, but they are ostensibly responsible for all soccer, not just MLS and the national team.
And I also wonder if Concacaf/FIFA weigh in. I’m trying to remember from the discussions in England when ManU was threatening to pull out of the FA Cup (citing similar ‘fixture congestion’ reasoning) back when they were winning everything in the 90s. I seem to remember it being the Club World Cup was what put them over the edge but I also remember UEFA and FIFA at least making negative sounds toward ManU about their threat. Obviously one team is different than a whole league, but the global soccer leadership might not like MLS’s decision here either.
MLS looks bad. Just my opinion.
Yes, I agree, sorry – I misread your comment and thought you meant that the USOC and MLS made the decision jointly. You are correct, MLS looks bad here.
AppleTV obviously would rather make up tournaments rather than air the oldest soccer tournament in the US. This definitely sucks.
Well played.
On a somewhat serous note, as an officer of the court and believer in the rule of law, this should subject DC United to some sort of penalty and possibly decertification of the club.
Darth Garber is watching….
NYRB are getting Emil Forsberg as a DP from RB Leipzig. 32, with a 3 year deal. Depending on your view of him, this represents either the huge advantages or disadvantages of being part of a global footballing network like Red Bull.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/report-new-york-red-bulls-eye-move-for-leipzig-midfielder-emil-forsberg
Yeah, I’m not sure there’s any correllation to players that we might get from Swansea (other than the rumors of Gylfi Sigurdsson coming here). It’s been very helpful for Kristian Fletcher to get some time with their U-21s, but that level seems pretty low. Good for Fletcher’s form and confidence, but we’ll see what happens with actual growth of his skills and his game.
We just need to be better at finding players from other clubs. That network doesn’t seem like something that’s there for us to rely on.
MLS out with the list of draft elgible players. With a quick perusal, I see a few with local ties.
I start with the one I know, and the player I am most excited about — the guy I REALLY want DC United to add, Jacob Murrell. A sophomore at Georgetown. I assume that’s a Generation Adidas deal?? Led the Hoyas in scoring both years. Was Gatorade National player of the Year at McDonough High School, and scored a GOLAZO in stoppage time in the playoffs for the Annapolis Blues this summer.
Here’s the rest (I’m sure I’ll miss quite a few, because there’s nothing that identiiess them as local — are at out of the area schools and didn’t play for an MLS Next Academy — and I’m not counting VCU, UVA or James Madison, etc)
Noah Adnan, a senior right-side defender (RCM) at Stanford, from Gaithersburg, played club with Bethesda SC.
Trevor Burns from Georgetown — doesn’t seem like a big prospect. tho he came thru NE Revs academy.
A forward at UMBC, from Baltimore region, Taylor Calheira.
Daniel Chica, who is a defender with Loudoun United.
There’s a Florida kid, Brendan Clark who is at UC Riverside, but listed as having played club soccer with DCU Academy.
There’s an Ontario kid, midfielder Stefan Copetti, who went to Maryland, where his dad was a soccer star.
There’s a sophomore midfielder at Duke, Wayne Frederick. Former D.C State Player of the Year, but listed on school’s website as from Cabin John. He played his club soccer with Bethesda SC. 3 Gs and 3 As this year. If he’s on the list as a sophomore, I’m guessing he’s in line for a Generation Adidas deal??
A goalie at American, Daniel Lorenzo, but not even their top goalie.
A goalie at UMD, Jamie Lowell, who played more than Lorenzo did at American, He’s from NH, played with Seacoast United, which I know well as my brother coached with them and 2 of his daughters played with them — but he also had time with Seattle Sounders Academy.
A Spanish player at George Mason, LB Luis Maestre.
A pretty good forward prospect at Penn State. Peter Mangione, who is from Hunt Valley and played with Baltimore Armour.
Georgetown’s captain, Defender Kenny Nielsen. Seems like he might have the credentials to get picked.
A Bayern Munich product, Alex Nitzl who plays LB for Maryland.
A Richmond native, Maddux Reese, who is a defender at Davidson, and as a youth captained Richmond United and DC United academy teams.
Georgetown’s top goalkeeper, Ryan Schewe, who seems a real prospect, came from the Atlanta United academy and has played internationally for Costa Rica.
Rockville native Marlon Tabara is forward for Georgetown. Has had more assists than goals each year. Another Bethesda SC alum.
Another Sophomore — goalie for Loyola Maryland, Dylan van der Walt, from TX. A transfer from Rutgers, where he didn’t even play as a freshman, he seems a longshot, but has impressive stats including 55 saves and 7 clean sheets.
As a UMBC alum, I would love to see a UMBC kid get a shot with DC, even if he ends up at Loudoun. I didn’t get to watch them play much this year (they dont really broadcast games and I live 5 hours away), but Calheira got the team MVP award, and I think he got an award from their division as well. Not expecting DC to go for him, but would be cool to see for me at least
Obviously he did really well at UMBC. It’s a big step up from America East, but we did draft someone from one of those schools 2 years ago — Alex Nagy from Vermont.
I wonder if the local focus by DCU will be jettisoned by MacKay. He’s more likely to be familiar with players from Southern schools. Maybe Kasper will make the case for some local players.
I was thinking that if we did draft someone local (or from Pittsburgh), that would show some Kasper influence. DC did just hire Clarens Cheridieu as their Director of Player Personnel, and he also has familiarity with the area.
And finally, drafting from the area isn’t a bad strategy. It gets pointed out all the time how talent-rich this area is, and that goes especially for the universities here, like Maryland and Georgetown.
And, of course, the likelihood that whoever gets drafted just ends up primarily at Loudoun is the most reasonable outcome anyway.
Fischy! Very comprehensive! Kudos!
Thanks for the multiple nods to the Hoyas!
DCU puts blurbs at the bottom of press releases with a line about having won 13 trophies. At one point years ago, it was also on the letterhead of hardcopy they sent out. One presumes these are considered major or serious trophies, not to be confused with a “Capital Cup” for winning your own summer invitational or some such thing.
Would it only be ten trophies now? I mean, it’s sorta hard to claim three Dewar/Hunt trophies as “major” if they are now beneath your participation and the tournament has not suddenly become demonstrably worse than in those years past (it hasn’t).
The going rates for international slots seems to be $175,000 or $162,500 apiece if you buy two. Columbus just got two from Seattle for $325,000, and earlier Nashville sold two to NYCFC for $325,000 and two to Charlotte for $300,000 this year and $25,000 next year, and one to St. Louis for $175,000.
We have a couple open slots, but chances are we need one of them for a DP, and if we do get multiple U-22s, probably a couple for them too (although we used one on Durkin previously). We also have the rest of the roster to fill out (although Nashville was always good at stocking up with MLS vets), and United has a habit of drafting international players.
Let’s assume for a second that Giraldez is indeed coming to the Spirit. Since he’s publicly said he’s not leaving Barca until May/June that means the Spirit would need to have an interim coach. Or someone on Giraldez’ staff who’d work on roster assembly and training camp and the start of the season.
I enjoy USL and Loudoun United games. Sad to see MLS turn their back on USL and go all in on less-enjoyable soccer (MLS Next). I guess the goal is to kill USL off and then have MLS Next be the replacement?
Wait why would Draft be in December not January as normal?
It was in December last year too. Maybe it helps with roster planning?