Spirit could have interim coach, PRO refs near strike, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Here we are on another Tuesday. I am tired, and all the snow is melting, so let’s just get into it.
Adrián González goes to the United States (El 1900)
Our best offseason Washington Spirit rumors continue to come from Spanish media, with El 1900 reporting that Adrián González, currently the coach of 2nd-dvision Espanyol Femenino will be heading to Washington to take an assistant coaching position. Could he be Jonatan Giráldez’s choice to serve as interim head coach? Maybe.
In other Spirit news, two former players and free agents are confirmed to have left the team. Midfielder Bayley Feist signed with Kansas City Current, and defender/forward Camryn Biegalski rejoined Chicago Red Stars, who drafted her before her turn with the Spirit.
MLS referees authorize potential strike, file labor complaint as work stoppage looms (The Athletic)
PRO and the union, PSRA, still have significant disputes over pay, benefits, and have not closed the gap much in recent weeks, meaning MLS could be looking for alternate refs for the beginning of the season next month. NWSL and USL games should be unaffected, as the PRO2 referees who officiate their matches have already signed an agreement.
D.C. United announce 2024 preseason schedule (D.C. United)
D.C. United confirm their plans to travel to Saudi Arabia tomorrow to train and participate in a series of four matches from January 30 to February 9.
The Bay Area’s newest pro sports team finally has a jersey (San Francisco Examiner)
NWSL expansion team, Bay FC, has unveiled their inaugural jersey, the Legendary Jersey, and it’s… real boring. White and “fog grey,” and they appear to be pairing it with grey shorts.
Transfer season: 10 MLS clubs with the most work to complete (MLS)
Yes, D.C. United is on this list.
Will there be some more signing news today? We can only hope.
Welp, as far as DCU goes, I think we should just fully expect the yearly article from Goff soon that says DC are looking at a few DP signings. Then an article a few weeks later stating they are targeting the summer transfer window for this signing.
We’re almost definitely going to pick up a CM/DM. I’d love to pick up Acosta to push Canouse (or even show that he’s a better option for USMNT when not injured).
But if this is the team for the beginning of the season or even most of the year, I don’t think that’s the worst thing long term. We’re not realistically going to push to win MLS this year, but with players ending contracts MacKay would be given essentially a full exchange of the roster over the two years to implement what he wants this to look like. Also, having two TAM level signings back from year long injuries will be beneficial too.
I’ve just about finished the book “Fight Like Hell!” by Kim Kelly. With the refs threatening to strike, it’s a good look at the history of labor in this country.
Another day, another “DC needs to sign a DP central mid-fielder” take from a soccer writer. At least he acknowledged a DP winger could be useful, but why in the world do DC need a DP #6 when Canouse is right there? Depth I understand, there’s no one behind Russ right now. I get wanting to have competition, buy why would they want to spend DP-level money on a position that already has an established starter. I guess if Lesesne wants to run a formation with 2 CDMs, a CM, and a CAM all at the same time, getting a DP CDM could make sense, but that would just exacerbate the depth problem, not help it
That would probably be the most narrow formation in the league too. I’ve still got trauma from when we were playing Canouse, Durkin and Djeffal together and they couldn’t get the ball past the first bit of pressure against Nashville in 2022. At least the starting lineup has big upgrades over two of those guys now.
Any free agents we could take a crack at as backups?
I was looking through the Free Agent list since you brought it up, and while I don’t know the position of every single player listed on there, one actually does stand out to me: Junior Moreno. From his time here before, I think he could play both CDM and CM, so maybe he’d be willing to come back under a new coach. He could be a bit expensive for a dedicated backup and spot-starter though
I want him back so bad. He would be absolute dynamite paired with Klich.
But he is probably too expensive to justify having him, Klich, and Canouse on the roster.
Good news about the Spirit assistant. It’s going to be quite a learning curve for Gonzalez and if he’s getting here for the start of the season, that’s better for the Spirit (then arriving with Giraldez.
Maybe the Spirit are just keeping things close to the vest/bustier here. But it seems like a lot of players leaving and, other than the draft, not a lot of players coming in. My hope is that Giraldez is bringing a very big present with him when he arrives (if not sooner). Barca has a surfeit of talent.
I suspect when DCU heads to Saudi Arabia, there’ll be even less info then we’re seeing now.
I think the Spirit will accept a lackluster season (in terms of results) with the expectation that Giraldez Will turn us into a force next year. There’s no relegation, and maybe this time we turn the high draft pick into a veteran after sussing out the needs. There’s risk in a) driving away some fans if results are really bad and b) driving away players who want to win now.
Both United and Spirit fans are bracing for “let’s see what we currently have, and build next year” realities to look forward to. A lot of successful teams had to go through similar phases, but it’s not thrilling to endure when it’s happening.
I think the Bay shirt looks good, actually, especially if paired with gray shorts. It would at least be a good away look.
Now if they just channeled Journey’s “Lights” they may have been onto something spectacular….
A slew of announcements from DCU today:
DCU sent $50,000 GAM to NYCFC for GK Cody Mizell, who then retired from professional soccer and joined the first team staff as Goalkeeper Coach. Mizell previously played under Lesesne at New Mexico United and Charlotte Independence. He’s been with NYCFC since March 2021: https://www.dcunited.com/news/d-c-united-appoint-cody-mizell-as-head-of-goalkeeping
Alex Martinez has been appointed as an Assistant Coach. He’s been with Birmingham Legion down in USL Championship as an Assistant Coach and apparently worked closely with the Legion Academy. https://www.dcunited.com/news/d-c-united-appoint-alex-martinez-as-assistant-coach
Zach Prince has joined the staff as an Assistant Coach coming over from NYRB where he’d work with Lesesne. https://www.dcunited.com/news/d-c-united-appoint-zach-prince-as-assistant-coach