DC Power FC unveiled, USMNT June roster, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Happy Tuesday, everyone! We actually got some soccer news yesterday and are expecting more today, and I am excited to hear all of your thoughts! Let’s get into it.
Washington’s new women’s soccer team gets a name, logo, and coach (Washington Post)
The announcement’s been a long time coming, but we finally learned the new USL Super League team will be named DC Power Football Club. Steven Goff also confirms previous reporting that the team will be coached by Frédéric Brillant and will play at Audi Field.
The logo is decidedly-D.C. United-influenced, in my opinion. What do you all think of DC Power branding? Also, would you like to see more dedicated coverage of this team from us? Let us know in the comments!
USMNT 27-man June roster announced (Stars and Stripes FC)
As Donald Wine reminds us in this article, these players will be in the DMV training beginning May 28 and playing Colombia at FedEx Field on June 8.
Berhalter offers hints into USMNT overage players at Olympics (Pro Soccer Wire)
Related: some of Gregg Berhalter’s thoughts on which young players could be called up to the Olympics roster, despite not being on June’s senior National Team. Former Loudoun/D.C. United player Kevin Paredes gets a shout out!
MLS & USL Championship square up in the Cup: USOC2024 Round of 16 preview (U.S. Soccer)
Among the matches is Loudoun United’s against LAFC tonight at 10:30 p.m.
Meet the Loudoun United FC forward aiming to be on the runway for the Paris Olympics (USL Championship)
Forward Riley Bidois is hoping to be called up to New Zealand’s squad. His first goal for Loudoun was nominated for Goal of the Week this week:
NWSL week 10: xG race charts & pass networks (Beyond the Vaudevillian Cane)
If you’re not reading André’s weekly look at NWSL game graphics, you should be. It’s a great way to get a sense of how each game went and how teams are playing.
Today’s fun video is more sweet than funny. Washington Spirit bring us an inside look at GK Aubrey Kingsbury’s offseason internship at a local bakery. They also shared Kingsbury’s recipe for M&M peanut butter cookies, which I will be baking at the first opportunity!
Honestly? I think the branding is more befitting of, like, a DC United official sports energy drink. Whatever this club ends up being, think it deserves a much better name and it’s own actual brand identity.
I don’t mind the team taking design elements from United. This is maybe a bit heavy handed, but I like the logo. That being said, the name is terrible.
I’m not jealous of our design elements, I just feel a women’s team should have their own to show independence.
I’m weirdly indifferent about that, I guess. It’s kinda cool when teams have some sort of synergy (Pittsburgh teams having black and yellow color schemes), but I also agree that building an identity outside of DC’s shadow is valuable in its own right.
It’s one thing to be an equal affiliate, everything about this screams “knockoff.” Lame, forgettable name, lazy siphoning of existing design, same colors, no shits given, in this announcement. That’s the sense I’m getting, and I doubt I’m alone. It takes a lot of bravery and sacrifice to be a woman and a professional soccer player, this setup is not worthy of that truth.
Maybe I’m isolated in how strongly I feel about this, but nobody seems impressed, either.
I get you. Not particularly impressed, but I am not nauseated.
Wonder when they’ll move to Baltimore?
I feel very similarly. The way they’ve handled the roll-out and the less-than-impressive name and crest make me feel like this team is not getting the resources it should.
We need to get you a diplomatic posting.
;^)
I wasn’t so diplomatic on Hey Spirits, so maybe not…
Apparently, people aren’t happy that Pedro Santos got Messi’s match worn jersey from this past Saturday night.
https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/pedro-santos-torn-apart-embarrassing-lionel-messi-mls-fans-inter-miami-opposition-gushing-argentine-superstar/blt18d2b0ffec9e7e65
Miami fans are toxic and dull-minded, you say?
As if Santos is the only opposition player to have done a jersey swap. Let alone with an all-time great. Give me a break.
I finding this incredulous. Like any of these detractors wouldn’t want Messi to give them his jersey. Crap, I’d be thrilled to have one. I am happy for Santos. What a momento!
That’s where I’m at. This happens in every league around the world and it even happens in the NBA and NFL now. It happens between sports as well (e.g. DCU players going to a hockey game and exchanging jerseys with Caps players). It’s something that far precedes any of us and is a unique tradition of the sport that has been deemed so cool it is shared in other sports now. They can miss me with their clowning of this.
Messi probably asked for Santos’s jersey, since he was the one player that was unable to take advantage of Santos defensively this year.
Diet Coke just shot out of my nose…
Oh, Will and Commentariat, my Scottish color guard might (we are finalizing) be doing the anthem(s) for USA v Scotland rugby game, and we are also asked to do DCU v Celtic the following week. They are into a larger presentation (number of dudes) for rugby, and tailored down for Celtic, so I may be in my seat for the latter. Looking forward to rocking Buzzard Point.
We are also doing the DC Memorial Day Parade with our pipe band leading the first echelon down Constitution Avenue around 1:30-2:00 PM kickoff.
I love Pipes and Drums. My favorite version of Amazing Grace is that played on the pipes. Highland Cathedral is also another beautiful peace on the pipes. My aunt played it on the piano when I walked down the aisle with the pastor at my wedding to start the ceremony. Its still pretty on the piano, but its not the same as on the pipes.
I am not sure if they want us to have pipes and drums (I’d love it, and we have a strong association with a pipe band and highland dancers). That would most likely be at the rugby game, as they are looking for up to 12 performers (as I have heard in my loop). Celtic game, not a chance, as we are in the 3-5 range of performers (which is why I may volunteer to simply sit that one out in my seat).
Now, investing in at least one piper for Flower of Scotland would be smashing.
We will be with our pipe band as a color guard on Memorial Day. Lining up next to Gary Sinise, who will likely MC the concert later that night.
Sam Staab made Emma Hayes’ first official roster! Granted, it’s for friendlies, but big deal for her, no doubt.
Korbin Albert also made it, which, I guess is a decision
Edit: dang, Spirit midfielder Hal Hershfelt also made it! Impressive. Guess the forward ranks are way too stacked to get Bethune a go, but soon
Headline should read “Hayes to put Sam Staab’s 100+ game streak in jeopardy.”
That’s real Staab-head journalism. I’m here for it.
Bethune is invited as a practice player. That means she won’t miss a Spirit match but Hayes can see her mix it up with the rest of the squad. Effectively, she’s a candidate for the Olympic squad.
J. Sam Jones drops DCU 4 places to 16th place in his power rankings after the double game week: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/power-rankings-where-does-your-team-stand-after-rivalry-week
Meanwhile Joe Lowery for ESPNFC drops DCU 2 places to 12th in his power rankings:
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40185943/mls-power-rankings-does-derby-win-make-nycfc-contenders
We pretty much are where we are. We can beat the teams that end up lower than us in the standings. We haven’t been able to beat the teams that are higher than us. And we draw a bunch (sometimes coming from behind, but often times dropping points from winning positions). We’re a mid-table team.
And that’s fine! I was expecting us to be competing for a wooden spoon again, so this is a great development! The team is entertaining to watch, and has gone toe to toe with every single opponent, except for NYCFC and the Red Bulls. Those losses were bad, and losing to Orlando is a really bad outcome, but every other game has been pretty decent.
For a team that’s just half a season into a rebuild, for a team that’s only got 21 rostered players available, for a team that’s getting no contribution from some of its highest paid players (Rodriguez, Jeahze, Canouse, Birnbaum is only just back, Dajome mostly gives effort without a lot of product, and Pirani might not even give that much)… I’m enjoying this season. The team is bought in, and getting some fabulous performances from players I wasn’t expecting it from (Bartlett, McVey, Hopkins) and even better performances from some players that we were counting on (Benteke, Klich, Herrera). There’s a great foundation going down, and some pretty clear opportunities for improvement at the end of the year, if not sooner.
Couldn’t agree more. We gotta just keep the lights on from a fan enthusiasm standpoint, and not get too discouraged by something we could tell was going to be difficult. I personally hope Lesesne is also growing as a coach in the interim, but I doubt a 5-3-2 is really what he was gunning for, anyway. We’ll see growth next season, pretty confident about that. We’re just sorta surviving and trying to compete in this one.
Full agreement. This team is actually fun. The coaching impact is obvious. Miami was fortunate to bag the win. Telling.
Gotta say, I’m impressed with Mr. Swanson.
Pretty good talent assessment.
Goff is reporting that United has bought out Mohanad Jeahze’s contract. He was under contract through next season as well, so that’s a fairly large outlay by the front office (after bringing him in on a big contract. WHIFF.).
I thought he would help this year, but Lesesne just had no use for him. Hopefully he is now free to get a new start somewhere else and get his career back on track.
For United, moving Jeahze one way or another was necessary. They were hard up against the cap, and he had basically a maximum salary and took up an international slot. This frees up resources to bring some depth to the fullback position that Troy will actually use, or maybe some other spot in the lineup (or both!). It also leaves United with just 20 available players for the senior roster. If they name a complete team on gamedays, that means Nathan Crockford will be getting a lot of time on the bench.
Overall, a good move by the new braintrust, in that it gives them an opportunity to make another better move. There’s also a chance that United would be able to buy out another player once the proposed rule changes are approved this summer, but the next candidate for that is likely Martin Rodriguez, who is also very expensive, and has been getting just enough playing time that they probably wouldn’t. But who knows!
It is good news. I look forward to forgetting this debacle of a TAM signing, and hope the cap space is used well this summer
Only six left backs made more in salary than Jeahze, according to the Players Association dump.
Those guys were Jordi Alba, Kai Wagner, Sam Adekugbe, Raoul Petretta, Sam Vines, and DeJuan Jones. Jeahze ends his DC career with 367 total minutes played. (Two assists, though!)
I’m glad they bought him out. If Coach Lesense doesn’t rate Jeahze, better to free up the roster spot, cap room, TAM, and let the player move on with his pro career. He couldn’t have liked not getting to dress for games and getting rusty.
I’m sure he didn’t, although Lesesne did praise his ability to treat the situation like a professional and still contribute and train to the level he did.
Dom Perignon in the fridge. A reason to celebrate(?).
As you stated, clearly a necessary move. Worth the outlay.
It’s truly significant that DCU are moving on from Jeahze a week after losing Antley for the year, but the two are probably connected. It’s clear they’re going to need help at the position when league play resumes after the break. He’s also cheaper than Rodriguez so he costs the team less in buying out his deal.
A couple people, including Goff, are reporting that United are close to signing David Schnegg, an Austrian left back from Sturm Graz. Sturm Graz won the Austrian league and the Austrian Cup last year.
Schnegg is 25, Austrian, and has also played in Serie B in Italy. There was some reporting that United would be paying 2 million Euros to get him. We’ll see.
Honestly, he profiles a bit like Jeahze, but the Austrian League is probably a little bit better than the Swedish League, and Schnegg is 6’1, about half a foot taller than Jeahze. If it works out, this could be a really nice signing.
I posted this too, but you beat me to it! :^)
On paper, this seems like a good move, one consistent with many good MacKay selections.
Andre Blake had made some noise about wanting out of Philadelphia, but they just signed him to a contract extension. Bummer for DC.
He probably would have been expensive although he is very good.
Our two current starting keepers are both solid pros and close a lot less. That matters for a team that is trying to rebuild.
I’m not saying DC should have gone for him. I’m saying it’s a shame that Philadelphia will continue to have him.
EP= Effective Posturing
We just signed a left back from Sturm Graz in Austria. David Schnegg, 25 year old.
In Ally MacKay, we trust.
It’s weird to have a GM with common sense. Left back gets hurt? Have a left back you don’t like? Get a new one. Kasper would’ve never.
Kasper was all about saving money. If the team sucked it didn’t matter as long as too much money wasn’t spent.
But perplexingly he would o regularly overpay for mediocre talent. Just look at Jeahze and Rodriguez.