Spirit sign a load of rookies, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi team is out of ACL, and where is the fantasy league?: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
I don’t usually find myself writing Freedom Kicks, but it’s probably about time for me to give an explanation: where is the District Press fantasy league? Here’s the explanation.
In mid-January, I got word that my mother was very sick, so I flew back to the US, where I would stay while she was in hospice. She passed in early February, and after a few more weeks, I came back to South Korea. The MLS season began the weekend that I returned — the first game started and finished while I was in transit. In part, I didn’t want to start the leagues once the season had already begun, but mainly I just didn’t have the mental wherewithal to write about soccer, and I didn’t know when I’d have it again.
To be frank, I don’t quite have it yet, but you’ll see me a little more regularly soon. I just thought it was the right time to tell my story.
Washington Spirit Officially Signs 2024 Rookie Class to Professional Contracts
Welcome to the family! Croix Bethune, Courtney Brown, Hal Hershfelt, Makenna Morris, and defender Kate Wiesner have all signed professional contracts to play for the Spirit. It’s a promising group of players, and you can even click through to see contract details!
Al Nassr, Ronaldo out of ACL after shootout loss to Al-Ain
After coming into the second leg with a 1-0 deficit to overcome, Al Nassr won 4-3 to extend the tie, but then three of their players missed penalties in the shootout. Where’s Nelson Muntz to hit them with a HA-ha?
Spirit invoke Stussy with new jacket
Let’s bring in an old friend to bring us the story:
Folks,,, pic.twitter.com/gr9JBfmONS
— Jason Anderson (@JasonDCsoccer) March 11, 2024
This is in the sweet spot of nostalgia and generational knowledge that I love. I can’t stop giggling.
That’s it from me today. I think I’ll see you all again quite soon.
Sorry for your loss, Blasian. Glad to hear from you, hope your memories of the departed can be a comfort in this time.
I’d like to second that. I’ve been there, and it will get better. Promise. Take care of yourself in that process.
Sorry to hear about your Mother. Completely understandable about how your focus is someplace else and not here.
As to the soccer-side of things, I found it intriguing that all of the Spirit rookies signed 3 year deals except for Makenna Morris (who was a first round pick) who signed for just 1 year. I wonder what’s up with that.
Sorry for your loss Blasian. I got 2 leagues spun up that started in week 2.
The League Code for The District Press Open League is: C2SPKY72
The League Code for The District Press Head to Head League is: HLLTDS9L
So sorry for your loss Rick. Best wishes to you and your family.
Keep immersing yourself in some soccer when you can to help things along.
garbaggio aka Joel from Itchy & Scratchy
OGDC’s Martin Vaca and Tommaso Boni make the MLR First XV for week 2: https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/first-xv-week-2-2024/
Goff is reporting that Garay is being sent out on loan. Not really a surprise given that he hasn’t even made the bench this year. Hopefully he can progress some there because he definitely has the ball skill to make it at this level.
I kind of get not putting him on the bench if they were planning on loaning him out. But it also seems weird to me to not fill out the bench, especially for the game at home, for any of our games so far. Lesesne has been doing a better job with rotation so far than Rooney/Losada but it’s a long season left.
Glad he’s getting playing time somewhere, but I’m still so confused as to how/why he’s still on the first team. He’s been on the first team for almost 3 years now…and hasn’t played a single minute. In the time since he’s been signed, DC has had 4 different coaches. Its so odd to me that none of them have seemingly considered playing him at all, but they also want to keep him around. I can get the argument of “he needs more time to develop,” which is fine, but that raises the question of why did they sign him to a homegrown contract when they did, and not wait until he was closer to being able to contribute? Its especially confusing when you consider that we moved on from Jacob Greene so quickly, who was almost exactly the same age, was actively contributing to the first team, and who was signed 6 months after Garay. Nothing at all against the kid, from what I understand he’s done decently with Loudoun in the past, I’m just so confused by it all
I share the confusion, basically didn’t want to comment, because unfortunately my feelings on retaining a player who you don’t see as an asset, or even a last resort, are quite negative.
I am genuinely curious if there has been any player in the history of the league who has been on a team the length of time that Garay has without ever playing. I’d love to think that he’ll go to USL, develop, and then come back as a steady contributor next year, or at least in the future. And that would be awesome to see. But at this point, it really seems like its more likely to be the case of “he was here for 5 years and never saw the field before they let his contract expire, so now he just plays in the USL anyway”
Definitely think that’s likely. It’s worth remembering the scenarios we’ve seen that he wasn’t thought of for, we’ve had absolute shit depth with injuries in his position a few times.
I just read something quickly, and fact check me, but all MLS games broadcasted are free this weekend.
Yes, all are available on Apple TV for free this weekend. No Season Pass required.
J. Sam Jones moves DCU up to 15th from 16th in his power rankings update: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/power-rankings-atlanta-united-minnesota-united-level-up-in-matchday-4
ESPN’s Joseph Lowery moves DCU up from 20th to 14th in his power rankings: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/39707467/mls-power-rankings-atlanta-united-la-galaxy-soar-up
[…] a one year break, I’m happy to be back doing something that I love: writing about soccer. Much has changed […]