Argentina friendlies moved to U.S., D.C. United captains, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy MLS Opening Weekend Friday! I’m looking forward to some good soccer this weekend with both D.C. United and the USWNT playing.
Argentina’s canceled China friendlies rescheduled for U.S. (ESPN)
Since China booted out a pair of Argentina friendlies in a fit of Messi-related pique, the games have been moved to the U.S. Argentina will play Nigeria in Los Angeles and El Salvador in Philadelphia in March.
In advance of this weekend’s match, the Black-and-Red have announced their captain and vice captains for this season.
In some Loudoun United news, the team may be acquiring Ethiopian National Team player Surafel Dagnachew. They are also releasing their new jersey at a kit reveal party tonight, so keep an eye out.
USA vs. Argentina, 2024 W Gold Cup: What to watch for (Stars and Stripes FC)
USWNT’s Gold Cup campaign continues tonight at 10:15, in what could be their toughest match of the group stage.
Why your MLS team will (or won’t) win it all in 2024 (MLS)
TLDR: D.C. United have some good pieces but not enough big talent to bring it home.
Kansas City Current add two Under-18 players to preseason roster (KC Current)
I just think it’s bad form to add a player (Long) whose parents own the team and not mention that in the press release.
Messi effect: Apple boss urges MLS clubs to sign more stars (Yahoo Sports)
Why didn’t MLS think of that?
Finally, we have my first weekend schedule of 2024! (The need for a table when there’s only one game is questionable, but give me this one.)
| Teams | When | Where | Watch |
| D.C. United vs. New England Revolution | Sat., Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET | Audi Field | Apple TV |
While the first MLR match for OGDC isn’t until March 2nd when go down to NOLA to play NOLA Gold (almost always one of the first if not first match of the season for OGDC). They do have an open practice session at the Maryland Soccerplex tomorrow afternoon from 1 PM to 3 PM. Parking and admission is free. There will be food trucks, alcohol sales, and merchandise sales.
Apple takes a bite out of Garber. I suspect they are underwhelmed with their subscriptions at this point.
I’m sure the quote was cut off a bit. “Sign more players… you know, along the lines of Matti Peltola. Our numbers in Finland are off the charts!”
If DC’s social media accounts are any indication, all the MLS teams just need to sign Guatemalan players. Every single post that has Herrera in it gets like 20x the amount of interactions that any other post does. They’re all flooded with seemingly the entire population of Guatemala cheering on and gushing over Herrera. I had no idea this man was loved by the entire country this much
Yeah, I’ve noticed, and DC has definitely leaned into it. Everyone remembers United’s only other Guatemalan player, right?
Amazing that there was only one other…
I’m not certain if there were others that just never got any playing time.
Obviously, you can’t just manufacture MLS-level players, but the talk of working with Ethiopian soccer seems a long-missed opportunity. Same with El Salvador, Bolivia, etc. The team should prioritize having a national from those countries. I’m sure it would be reflected at the box office at some level. Maybe not fully offsetting a contract, but close? And, anyways, MLS is paying the contracts, except for DPs and U22.
To a degree. Maybe Rooney eclipsed it, but I think that DC’s most engaged social post is still about Syamsir Alam.
If you can get someone like Herrera, who’s an actual talent AND can drive engagement, go for it. I have been surprised that they haven’t tried harder to go after players in Argentina, which has a wealth of talent and also is in some pretty severe domestic turmoil. To a lesser extent, Venezuela, which we haven’t tapped beyond Junior Moreno.
I thought that Losada might bring in some Argentines, but that didn’t really happen. Then we had Rooney, who focused on Europe. Now we have Mackay (European) and Lesesne (USL). That’s fine, stick with what you know, but investing in some scouting in South or Central America would seem to serve a couple of functions, like you say.
I wasn’t thinking in terms of social media. I mean butts in the stands and jersey sales.
Good try Apple TV. Another way of stating this is that MLS teams should subsidize Apple TV by signing expensive players.
Apple just auto-renewed my Season Pass subscription. I was planning to re-up anyway, but I didn’t see any notifications that this was coming. I first even noticed it because I happened to be checking my bank account, and then an email popped up a little later with my receipt.
As I said, I’m happy to buy the product, but uh… give me a heads up.
The Athletic Soccer staff reviews all the new MLS kits this season: https://theathletic.com/5294164/2024/02/23/mls-kit-reviews-best-worst/
Pablo Mauer has this to say about DCU’s new “Icon” Kit:
What Pablo says about Inter Miami….
I always hate that aspect of buying a jersey — which is why my favorites to wear are the older pre-branding versions and this one I picked up in a golden few weeks between VW and Leidos sponsorships.
Curiously though — one of the best aspects about the NYRB aspect is the logo does double-duty. Yeah, it’s a billboard for the energy drink too, but it feels more that it’s the team identity. Which is why United Healthcare (unfortunately sponsoring NY Revs) or United Airlines would be such a sweet spot for DC United jersey.
Maybe United Brands (Fruit)? Dreadful history, which should really appeal to the ownership. Right in line with the others who have sponsored the team’s kit.
They did get The Fruitist (which I keep reading as “the fruitiest”) to be a sleeve sponsor.
Whatever happened tp Caesars Sports Book as a sleeve sponsor. For that matter, what happened to Caesar’s SportsBook as a team sponsor? Seems they’ve switched to another gambling provider.
“ I’m looking forward to some
goodsoccer this weekend with both D.C. United and the USWNT playing”Hey, the USWNT will probably be good!
Maybe I should have said “fun”
Goff has a short article on the new brain trust’s expectations heading into the year. On the one hand, “we’ll see what happens” isn’t exactly good news for fans yearning for a positive season. On the other hand, it’s refreshing that they know/acknowledge where the team stands. In seasons past, we’ve gone in with all sorts of “this group of guys can get it done” attitudes. It’s a recognition that this is a new project that isn’t done. McKay is also growing out the analytics team, which he’s going to evaluate over the next few windows. Hopefully that means he’s putting that into the team structure.
I agree. This season might be really rough, but the decision making seems to have improved. I’m personally really hoping that the problems with the squad are solved by some of our young players over the course of the season. Bill Hamid became the monster we all know by 2012 because of the chances he got in some wretched club efforts. It’s not the way every professional is made, but it’s likely the path that a number of players will be treading this season
Atlanta just released their team roster in a format that shows whether they’re senior roster, supplemental, their status (domestic or international – doesn’t differentiate between international with a green card and domestic), designation (DP, HG, U-22), and in an almost unheard of degree of transparency, what year their contract is guaranteed through.
https://www.atlutd.com/news/atlanta-united-announces-2024-roster-ahead-of-season-opener
This should really be the standard for every other team.
Team’s YouTube has a video of Claudia interviewing Matti Peltola then talking about match day 1. https://youtu.be/Aad5qk7IB00?si=S7L7NFZLWJrd9V-8
Goff with the first injury report.
Birnbaum, Canouse, Tubbs, Murrell, and Miller are all out for the game. That leaves 22 healthy players, and we can dress 20 for a game, right? I would guess that Nathan Crockford is one that sits. Jeremy Garay or Hayden Sargis would be next on the list, but both are at positions that are missing some players, so… Jackson Hopkins as the odd man out?
I would want Hopkins available, personally. Think there’s a player in there, Rooney just didn’t care
Could be Sargis then. If we’re playing a four man backline, then Bartlett and McVey are probably the starters. Akinmboni would be there, and Antley or Peltola could probably fill in in a pinch.
Sounds about right to me. Btw, it’s a damn shame Murrell and Tubbs can’t go, and hope they’re not out long- this could be a big opportunity for them.
Can’t imagine either of them would sniff the pitch for weeks, even making the gameday roster is probably not going to happen soon — but missing practices and maybe a chance to play at Loudoun would be a bummer.
With Birnbaum out, and diddly squat at CF depth behind Benteke, I’d bet that they would be in more consideration than you claim. I was especially expecting Murrell to sub on in the second half
Could Garay finally see the pitch?
Well, there are pre-game warm-ups (ducks to avoid Fishy’s thrown shoe)
Garay (doing the Life of Brian prisoner voice): Boy, wouldn’t I DREAM of being included in pre-game warmups!