Sam Mewis retires, USMNT loses to Slovenia, and more: Monday Freedom Kicks
Happy Monday! Once again, I’m on the ultimate high because the Detroit Lions are still playing football. While I continue to celebrate, here’s the news from the weekend.
Sam Mewis announces retirement from professional soccer (SSFC)
Sad news as Sam Mewis, one of the most dominant midfielders in USWNT history, hangs up her cleats due to a knee injury that just won’t get well enough for her to play.
USMNT loses to Slovenia: Takeaways from the first friendly of 2024 (The Athletic)
The USMNT had a very young lineup, but they fell short to Slovenia in their January Camp match, 1-0.
Brazil, Canada, Japan to join USWNT at SheBelieves Cup (SSFC)
The USWNT will play SheBelieves Cup with the same opponents as last year: Brazil, Canada, and Japan. Atlanta will host the semifinal, and Columbus will host the final.
Inter Miami’s Facundo Farías suffers long-term knee injury (MLS)
Inter Miami has a huge blow as Facundo Farías is out for the season with a knee injury suffered while Inter Miami was in El Salvador.
Mohamed Salah leaving AFCON to rehab injury with Liverpool (ESPN)
Mohamed Salah is leaving Egypt and the Africa Cup of Nations to rehab his injuries.
FIFA chief calls for teams to ‘forfeit’ for racist fan abuse (ESPN)
Gianni Infantino is calling for racist fan abuse towards teams to prompt a forfeit. Great premise, but I want to see some teeth behind that threat.
Finally, Kristi Yamaguchi has aligned with Bay FC.
Happy Monday, let’s start the week off right!
Again, immensely sad news about Sam Mewis. Incredible talent, I honestly cannot think of a two way player more vital to the USWNT’s dominance- and we clearly missed her. I hope she finds a great path for the rest of her life, as she also seems to be a sweet and wonderful human.
I could not make it through the USMNT cupcake camp, this was real cupcake. I think Shaq Moore and maybe Duane Jones are decent options if they’re in form for 2026- when do we not need solid fullback choices?- but man, there was a lot of pointless to this game. I especially don’t get the hype around Diego Luna, dude just isn’t that good. So, kick the tires on some players, but this was a disappointing and rather useless endeavor
Supposedly it was more with an eye for getting some players ready for the Olympics this year.
If Diego Luna is a starter at that level for our Olympic squad, might as well say whatever to the whole endeavor.
The dude with the (for me) difficult last name to remember (…..vic) was pretty darn decent on the ball. I think this was a good developmental gig, not a real test of readiness for anything.
Interest pitch for someone for DCU to look at in central midfield: Marlon Gomes
He’s 20 and would probably be a U-22 Initiative signing. He plays for Vasco de Gama and is a Brazil youth international.
https://theathletic.com/5213267/2024/01/19/mls-sensible-transfers-lafc-atlanta-united-seattle-sounders/
This guy seems solid, and I wouldn’t say no to having him. But I can’t help but scratch my head as to why every soccer writer I’ve seen thinks DC needs to sign a U22/DP level CM. I feel like our central midfield is pretty well set, in terms of starters at least, with Klich, Pirani, and Canouse. Depth is 100% needed, as there’s not really much of anyone behind those three right now, but I feel like DP or U22 spots would be better filled elsewhere on the field.
Having two DP/expensive CM (Klich seems to be an effective 8 now) would be a waste of resources. Getting a young depth piece and maybe a solid journey man at either 6 or 8 would be fine though. I’m still more worried about our wide players being good enough.
I was going to add to my post that I thought a winger would make a lot of sense for a DP/U22 signing, but its hard to say with not knowing what sort of formation Lesesne plans on playing. Matt Doyle’s article today indicates that he’s thinking it might be a 3-4-1-2. If thats the case, then maybe a DP center back should be under consideration instead. Or even a second forward to play with Benteke (since our depth there is currently Benteke, KDP, and Murrell). But either way, “spending large amounts of money on a CM” doesnt seem like the best plan, regardless of formation
Yeah, one of our DPs is a CM, and our U-22 guy is our “chance creator” (even though he had 0 assists last year). The team has invested money in the center of the park. I think a winger or CB seems more likely for the next outlay of cash, whether that’s a DP or a U-22.
The team needs talent everywhere, so I’m not going to be too upset about wherever it comes, but that’s my opinion. And if they do go for a Young DP, they could also bring in two more U-22 guys, and that’s three more talented and/or high potential players throughout the roster! Building a team is that easy, right?
I think honestly they try to fill at least one more U-22 slot and save the DP spot for maybe the summer.
I’m starting to buy in to the notion of getting a DP in the summer. It will give Mackay and Lesesne some time to get acclimated to each other and take their time identifying what it is that they really need. Since I believe they’re taking a bit of a long view, potentially sacrificing some points this season by not having a full complement of DPs to start the season seems okay. But to be clear, that’s really the only reason I’m okay with it. This team needs every bit of quality it can get to even make the playoffs. But if they’re looking to grow their young core and then add in what they need, waiting until the summer is okay.
This is probably the plan. Side note, even with the change in front office, it seems like the team MO is to say absolutely nothing until moves are nearly done. Kind of maddening as a fan, but also nice that we’re not involved in the obnoxious smokescreens some other clubs seem to relish.
I keep seeing all these other teams being linked to some pretty intriguing players, and I’m jonesing hard for us to get in on that action.
I linked us to Own Goal, several times.
I love the glamour of blowing smokescreens…..
It only really makes sense if they plan to do a 4-3-3 or if they’re that worried about Klich losing a step/Canouse being injured. Given that they traded Durkin, I don’t think they’re too worried about Canouse. I also think that a lot of people still see Hopkins as best as a RM when last year he was much better as a CM.
My setup would personally still be a 4-2-3-1, in which case I think we’re only really missing a backup CDM (assuming one of Bartlett/Tubbs/Akimboni is ready to partner Birnbaum). Hopkins is the Klich sub (for when he gets too many yellows). KDP/Pirani/Dajome/Rodriguez/Stroud/Fletcher compete for the three spots under Benteke.
The rosters not in great shape, but it’s better than this time last year imo.
I really like that Matti Peltola guy for a U-22 move. He has Ligue 1 and Serie A interest and seems ready to jump from his domestic league. He’d be great for our CB corps. I could see Peltola-Birnbaum-Bartlett/Tubbs.
Camp Cupcake has evolved in to an interim transition and scouting camp for MLS and lower league players to get exposure to the USMNT and international soccer and maybe 1 or 2 of those guys emerges (besides the ones like Miles Robinson who already get USMNT minutes and camp invites).
Truly feel sad about Sam Mewis. At one point, she was regarded as the best female player in the world–what a force she was.
When does DCU leave for “The Kingdom”?
Am I the only one who kind of ignores the national team until it’s a major tournament or qualifying match? The Twitter-verse overreacts waaaaay too much to games like this. Can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen unironically calling for berhalter to be sacked after this match….
I have definitely tuned waaaaaaaaaay out to national team matches. Part of that is having little kids that now demand my undivided attention, but once you stop, it’s pretty easy to stay away from.
Berhalter is a myopic coach, but I do agree that this match shouldn’t even be considered last straw material. It is frustrating that the most important group of talent we’ve probably ever had is being shaped by someone who thinks possession is the most meaningful stat, and doesn’t know how to coach game breaking passes or movement to save his life. I really just hope he proves me wrong at this point, but the sole virtue of the ineffectual is consistency
I’m definitely there with you re: ignoring the overblown internet reactions. I did watch the game and didn’t think we were all that bad. The team got caught flatfooted on the only goal. We didn’t create enough good opportunities, which happens with a patchwork team like this. The camp is still useful as a way of evaluating overlooked/young players for opportunities later on. We know who the starters are more or less, it’s the 2nd string guys who shuffle around.
Totally agree that these camps have value in getting young/fringe talent incorporated into the national team fray. The value ends there and that’s really how the fans should view it as well.
Correct, the value ends there. Except for shirts sales to family and friends…..
Nashville promoted their Senior Director of Strategy & Analytics to take over Ally Mackay’s Assistant GM role. Mackay has talked about how he values analytics, and it seems that the Nashville organization continues to do so, too.
That’s the first paragraph of this article: https://theathletic.com/5219583/2024/01/22/mls-referees-strike-vote/
If the refs go on strike it’ll be interesting to see what happens to the season timeline.
We can go to mob rules refereeing! Every fan get a thumb up or thumb down kind of thing. Majority get’s the desired call.
That would almost be better than the replacement refs we had at the start of the 2014 season…
I think they did this with baseball once, but it was a club giving over managerial decisions to the fans. I want to say it was Ted Turner’s idea with the Braves?
Loudoun is aiming high.
https://x.com/reefa_k/status/1749528551714418707?s=20