New MLS roster rules, USWNT win SheBelieves, and more: Thursday Freedom Kicks
Thursday already! This week is really humming along. Or maybe it just feels closer to the weekend since I’m doing my Freedom Kicks on a Thursday. (Don’t worry, you’ll have Donald back tomorrow.)
MLS to relax roster rules in wake of Messi arrival – sources (ESPN)
The Board of Governors has approved rule changes to allow teams more flexibility in roster construction, including a greater combined number of DPs and U22 players. The MLSPA will still need to approve the rules before they can go into effect.
Alyssa Naeher triumphs over Canada once again at the 2024 SheBelieves Cup (All for XI)
A recap of the USWNT victory over Canada to win the SheBelieves Cup, in which Alyssa Naeher again showed that she’s an elite penalty goalkeeper.
USWNT player ratings: Smith, Naeher decisive in SheBelieves Cup triumph over Canada (Pro Soccer Wire)
Jason Anderson grades the USWNT players on Tuesday night’s game. You may or may not be surprised to see how many are rated “adequate.”
Columbus Crew make Champions Cup history vs. Tigres: “We believe in ourselves (MLS))
The historic aspect of this is a little attenuated in my opinion: “In the Concacaf Champions Cup, an MLS team had never advanced past a Liga MX opponent after hosting and not winning the first leg of their series,” but it’s still cool!
JJ Watt and wife Kealia set to play for Burnley Men’s and Women’s teams in 2024 TST to compete for $1m cash prize (Goal.com)
I’m honestly curious to see whether JJ Watt will be any good at soccer.
I’m glad the rule changes are happening for two reasons, though still angry at the situation that led to it. Firstly, Miami were just breaking the roster rules and getting away with it, while DC United and other clubs were still scraping by with three DPs and the old rule set. This changes that. I also think that more flexibility is a good thing for competitiveness, depending on what the final rule set ends up being. In the end, everyone should be able to benefit and exploit the same structures and mechanisms, so this is good. The fact that it’s so Miami can likely continue to recruit Messi’s superstar friends after being so shamelessly brazen, I don’t like. Still, I’m sorta salivating at what Mackay and Lesesne could do while Miami collects geriatrics.
Agree 100% on your salient points:
1) Miami cheated.
2) Based on early returns, I like our chances with Mackay and Lesesne making further positive strides with the new rules (that codified a cover-up by MLS for allowing Darth Garber’s underhanded yet comically transparent nod towards brazen attempts to make wads of short-term cash, and field a ridiculous team, on paper).
Hey, Darth Garber! How’d did your Pink Pet do last night? Scratch one 2024 trophy off your list!
We’ve been talking about how the team is up against the salary cap, and doesn’t really have room to make additions. I do kind of wonder how true that can be, given how many of our signings this offseason are on fairly small salaries. But, assuming that it’s true, we’re not going to be able to sign any U-22s, let alone a third full DP, unless we buy out a contract or two. Martin Rodriguez is on $1 million. Mohanad Jeahze is on $660,000 per year, and under contract through next year. So, that’s a LOT of cap room that’s being used on players that Lesesne doesn’t want. But it’s also a lot of cash outlay for Levien and Kaplan to buy out even one, let alone both, and then potentially spend some big money on a DP or some U-22s. These are sunk costs, though. Levien and Kaplan are going to pay them anyway, unless Mackay can find a way to get another team to take them.
There’s a lot of opportunity here. Will we have the resolve and the resources to seize that opportunity?
I get the sense the two will be brutal this offseason as contracts expire. I think we’ll be looking at a lot of cap space.
That said, we’re a bit handicapped this season, no doubt about it
Yeah, the timeline was always set up for this coming offseason. Rodriguez would be gone. Dajome and Santos – despite their contributions this year – would be gone. For their salaries, we could reasonably expect better output, but they aren’t black holes like Rodriguez and Jeahze. Tyler Miller (and Alex Bono) will be off the books. I think Russell Canouse might be done at the end of this year.
And Benteke and Klich will both be off the books. I was looking at them as the chance to bring in two new DPs, but… both are still playing really well. Klich is on a low enough salary that they could potentially try to offer him a TAM deal. Benteke is a unique enough talent that it might still be worth building your offense around him.
Anyway, the team shed a ton of the previous players this past offseason, and were set to shed pretty much the rest of them in this coming offseason. But being able to have two buyouts, and potentially reclassifying Peltola as a U-22, could accelerate that timeline… if Levien and Kaplan decide they want to.
It will be interesting to see how the roster rules will affect the equation surrounding Benteke and Klich’s retentions. I’d put it at a reasonable if slightly unlikely chance they do come back. Both have been willing warriors of the new system, I just don’t know if Lesesne views them as perfect fits- and I think this element determines their fate.
Ps- I think Birnbaum is gone, as well, especially if Akinmboni and Tubbs step up at some point
Birnbaum signed a new contract that keeps him here through the 2025 season. So he’d either have to be retired, sold, or bought out.
We probably keep Bono, given that he’s the starter this year and has played well. It wouldn’t make much sense to go down to Zamudio and two unknowns.
I think Bono has shown well. Obviously, he needs to continue to do that. OTOH, he’s also not one of the 3 best GKs in the league. I think our attitude will be–we’re fine if he returns. But if we can upgrade for a reasonable price, we will.
The history of this club and trying to “upgrade” on a serviceable/good goalie makes me wary of just letting both of our good options leave (I also think Miller is good and just got hung out to dry by Rooney/bad injury). Bono could fall apart later in the season and no one else ends up convincingly claiming the spot, but for now I’d hope we’re looking more at attacking options and maybe DM/CM.
All teams get a 2nd contract buyout per year. I’m hoping the team buys out Jeahze’s contract to free up the cap space.
My 2 cents: I think it’s past time to treat everyone equally and recognize what was going on while Miami was allowed to skirt the rules.
Also, I think Lesesne is very happy with Klich and Benteke. The two of them may conclude “had a fun time in the States, enjoyed it all, now time to go back to Europe or my original club and finish up my career.” Or they may want to stay. But at this point, neither of them (especially Klich) shows sign of slowing down.
I think it’s time to leave Alex Morgan off the roster for the Olympics. We clearly have more technical and dynamic forwards who can interchange and engage in exciting, fluid play that she’s not capable of, at least anymore. She’s not leading to nor scoring goals anymore, it’s time. Even with Purce out, and Williams a doubt, giving her a spot in the 18 women who would go is no longer warranted.
The roster size precludes her inclusion. You can’t afford to carry burdensome depth, despite its wisdom, dedication, and stellar leadership.
It’s time. Attention! Hand Salute!
Agreed. Here’s the challenge as I see it that the US faces for their #9 role. Internationally I’d really like a taller player who is stronger in the air and can sometimes be a target than Sophia Smith. But right now, that’s the position she’s best at for the NT. Put her on the wing, that’s where attacks go to die. She needs to be in the center of the pitch.
As for Jason’s ratings, I actually think they’re a tad bit high. My read on the match with Canada is winning a trophy is nice. But it’s in the US and it’s against Canada (who plays us tough but they ain’t Spain or England or Germany or France or the Netherlands). I think the US has a bit more swagger than a year ago. But the reality is this team still has a lot of issues. Right now, Rose Lavelle is a nonfactor. So we’re really counting on Shaw to be our #10. I don’t think we have a great option as a #9 at this point unless you go with Smith. I think Horan is a very good player who adds a lot but is’t a #9 and isn’t a good D-mid so the 433 formation is problematic for this team. When Girma is out, the CB options lack a lot of speed. Naeher is a goddess at PKs but I don’t think she’s our best GK in the run of play. So I think the USWNT has made a partial transition. But tactically we’re not there yet–still don’t solve problems well. Technically–I think we’ll get eaten alive by Spain. And in terms of personnel–there’s a lot of people (like Morgan, some of the backline) that are sort of legacy players.
and Horan thinks we are all stupid
Paywalled article on Backheeled about the new DC season, anybody have a summary?
We are better.
;^)
Here is one the reddit post about it so I don’t have to write anything about it:
https://www.reddit.com/r/DCUnited/comments/1c0lyk4/comment/kyxq8nv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
I like backheeled and my subscription to it as they do a great job running through all teams and I can catch up on everything in the league
So if you’re just looking for DCU news/notes it may not be worth it.
Also, I’ve never heard Joe Lowery say a positive thing about the team and is only just turning around to the idea that they aren’t the same team that existed when he started paying attention to soccer (circa 2012 I’m assuming). Joe does the work though and from a neutral standpoint it is above average coverage of everything. The other main writer’s Ben Wright and Arman Kafai are great on in depth analytical and observational MLS stuff and John Morrisey does an impressive one man coverage for all of USL.
Looks like DC is going to have another lawsuit on their hands:
https://bsky.app/profile/speech.bots.law/post/3kpuhwlsbad2j
Will be messy, but I would expect him to lose. If I recall correctly, the gesture was done in a club photo- had he done it in a private one, I imagine it would be more murky, but that photo reflects on the club. Maybe he claims innocence on the gesture, I personally wouldn’t buy it.
The way the post is written makes it sound like he is contesting the termination. He’s actually suing them for defamation for stating that they fired him for a racist gesture, which is… interesting. I took a look at the complaint, but I don’t know enough about defamation law to know if he’s got a good case.
Oh, wow, that is indeed a strange concept, legally
Taxi didn’t file. This is a nothingburger. I/we have no clue of his intent, only he does.