Sporting KC hire Gavin Wilkinson, MLS docuseries in the works, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy Friday, everyone! It’s been a busy week for me – and our local soccer teams. Unfortunately, I don’t think things are going to slow down today, with the NWSL College Draft tonight, so let’s get into it!
Report: Sporting KC Hire Questionable Sporting Director Gavin Wilkinson; was fired following Yates report (KC Soccer Journal)
Given Wilkinson’s role in excusing sexual harassment and protecting abuser(s) at Portland, I find this hire pretty disappointing. And his comments at the introductory press conference weren’t exactly reassuring.
MLS partners with ‘Drive to Survive’ filmmakers for eight-part documentary series (Pro Soccer Wire)
The series will cover the 2024 season and air on Apple TV+. With so many teams in the league, I’m curious to see who they’ll focus on. Can’t do a complete storyline for everyone in eight episodes!
Loudoun United FC sign defender Keegan Tingey through 2024 (Loudoun United FC)
Tingey spent 2023 with the San Jose Earthquakes. His deal at Loudoun also includes an option for 2025.
Loudoun also said goodbye to Assistant Coach, Mattar M’Boge yesterday.
Gambia players, staff say oxygen failed on plane to AFCON (ESPN)
Very scary story! These players should definitely be able to travel more safely. But also this is an incredible quote from head coach Tom Saintfiet: “I am ready to die for Gambia, but on the football pitch, not off it.”
That’s all I’ve got. Looking forward to another busy news day!
Yeah, the Gambia story is downright scary. Not so much because airline “issues” can happen. But because the rep for the African (and to be fair–some other countries) FA’s is they do logistics on a shoestring affected by a lot of corruption (for instance, booking travel with a business that gives you a kickback or is owned by a relative).
And yeah, the DP staff is hitting the busy season. Among the things I’m a wondering about (hint, hint–possible future stories): how fully recovered is Macario–ready to start getting minutes at Chelsea and the USWNT or still 6 months from a VERY long ACL recover (18 months–yikes!). Who will be on Lesasne’s staff as assistants. I’m positive he’ll add Zach Prince (who was with him at New Mexico and then RB). Inquiring minds want to know how Giraldez will set up his staff to manage the Spirit while he’s still at Barca. How much input did Giraldez have in tonight’s draft picks (not so much specific players but perhaps telling Krikorian “I’m looking for players who can play like this” or “I want more speed on the flanks”) or was his attitude “you assemble the team, I coach what you gave me.”?
We talked about the Spirit interim coach on Hey Spirits this week. They have an assistant coach spot open, so it’s possible Giraldez could hand-pick someone to get the season started. We were torn between whether that’s more likely than having Mike Bristol coach the first few months. Hoping to get more information from the team soon.
The draft strategy is a big mystery right now. My sense is that Krikorian is pretty much running the show. We might have to wait until there is a coach available to ask about it, since Krikorian rarely talks to the press.
Good ideas of topics for us to follow up on!
United’s social media sent out a post celebrating the anniversary of Mateusz Klich’s signing. There’s a part of me that’s hopeful that it’s code for another imminent DP signing, but the much larger part of me thinks that’s unlikely.
As much as I wished that Klich had been a TAM signing, and that we’d have been able to sign both him and another DP, he’s been a pretty solid DP signing. Especially considering DC’s pretty spotty record on these matters. He’s already got more goals and more assists than Edison Flores had in his whole tenure here. In fact, if Klich gets another nine assists this year, he’d be 12th all time on DC’s career assist list. If he goes off for 14 (and if he does that, we’re having a really good year!), he’ll enter the top 10.
Klich almost always looks a cut above the other midfielders around him (on both teams). In my view, he’s earned his price tag. I think he’d be starting in one way or another on even the top teams in the league. If we’re not making major signings during this window, I hope Lesesne can bring out his best in a similar vein to how Olsen got the best out of Herrera last season. He’s still got plenty in the tank to handle a more aggressive style.
It was a nice luxury having Klich and Lewis O’Brien in the midfield at the same time. Two guys that were really sure on the ball and that could move it around. I’ve been wondering if United might look for a partner like that for Klich, but with Pirani in the fold, it will probably be a different type of lineup.
I also wonder if Klich might stick around after his contract is up this year on a contract that’s under the DP threshold. Guess we’ll see.
I completely agree that almost every game last year, Klich was either the best midfielder or the second best on the field for both teams. I don’t think he’s the kind of A-mid we need for MLS. But as a box-to-box midfielder, this skills both way, his workrate, h.is leadership–just top-notch.
Atlanta have signed Derrick Williams through the re-entry draft. So, I guess in a roundabout way, DC essentially swapped Williams for Tubbs
Miami swapped Crockett for Tubbs…..
I’ve been thinking of Lucas Bartlett as our Brendan Hines-Ike replacement, and Garrison Tubbs as our Donovan Pines replacement. That’s left us needing a Derrick Williams replacement.
Since both Bartlett and Tubbs are likely behind the level of Hines-Ike and Pines (but could improve!), getting a really solid veteran center back in the mold of Williams is a pretty big need. But Lesesne has talked about both playing kids and taking a long view, so they may be giving a lot of playing time to Akinmboni, Tubbs, and possibly Bartlett and even Sargis to partner Birnbaum. So the veteran that they bring in might not necessarily be in line for a lot of playing time – if they decide to bring in a veteran at all.
Maybe this is one area where my expectations are unrealistic, but I would hope Tubbs eclipses Pines pretty quickly. I never thought of Pines as a playoff level defender, and I’d like his replacement to show better overall.
I guess Herrera as our Najar replacement?
As you note, the replacements are below the level of the guys they’re replacing (hopefully, Tubbs will get there but lacks the experience. I think the team needs to bring in a replacement at WIlliams level at least, but preferably also another defender or two who is more ready to play in MLS week in and week out. Given we haven’t heard anything about Jeahze, I’m concerned that Herrera is the only outside fullback available on the roster. If he’s not available, we might need a left-sided player and one more flexible — but I still think Birnbaum will need a more seasoned partner in the middle.
Yeah, Annie! Double duty (maybe triple duty today). You and Donald have become real DP wheelhorses
Looks like Murrell has officially joined the team! Sort of a vote of confidence in what the new regime has planned. The talk of him going back to school had me worried that young players didn’t want to sign with us.
That is neat! Will be interesting to see him in action
I consider myself to be fairly understanding of MLS’s various quirky rules and procedures, but NYCFC just traded an asset I have never even heard of. They sent the “College Protected Period Priority” of a player to the Sounders for a 3rd round pick
Eh, whatever, not to your question, but the process. MLS is becoming more and more just a club that always has a good table ready for Miami, NY, LA, or Seattle, and DC gets the bread and fish that didn’t sell on time.
The MLS draft pool was expanded this year to include college sophomores and juniors.
If a sophomore or junior is drafted, they have the choice to sign with the team or stay in school, as Murrell did when DCU selected him.
If they choose to stay in school, the team who drafted them owns their MLS rights until after his senior year’s draft has occurred (for Murrell, it was December 31, 2025 since he is currently a sophomore).
Ashley Sanchez got traded! Whaaaaa…..
For the fifth pick in the draft and some fun money??? I’m pretty much in disbelief