MLS roster construction declarations, D.C. United announce October friendly, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy Friday! I have been on a real movie-watching kick this week, but will I have time to go see Trap in between all the women’s soccer I have to watch this weekend? Unlikely.
MLS clubs declare roster construction models For 2024 season (MLS)
Most teams, including D.C. United, opted for the Designated Player Model, which allows three each of DPs and U-22s.
D.C. United announced they will be playing Ghanaian team Asanta Kotoko SC at home on October 14. RIP to Audi Field, as that makes it a three-day soccer weekend.
Kurosaki departs for USL side DC Power (Racing Louisville FC)
With their first game imminent, DC Power FC are still building their roster. This time, they’ve paid a transfer fee to acquire Japanese midfielder Yuuka Kurosaki from the NWSL’s Racing Louisville FC.
2024 MLS Academy Rankings (US Soccer Collective)
These rankings are largely based on vibes and who’s had some recent names in the news, but it sounds like D.C. has some work to do.
Top 5 summer signings: Giroud, Miranchuk & more (MLS)
Let’s keep it going with the best-of lists: now that the summer transfer window has ended, a look at the biggest signings.
Over on Reddit, a user made charts of each NWSL team’s cards by minute of the game. I don’t know what conclusions we can or should draw from this, but you all know I love a good graphic. Important to note, though, that Washington Spirit’s lone red was successfully appealed.
ESPN unveils women’s collegiate soccer schedule for 2024-25 season (ESPN)
If you’ve decided this is the year you want to get into women’s college soccer (perhaps Croix Bethune-inspired), you’re in luck. ESPN has decided to go in big on airing the games.
Now, just one WoSo rumor that I am aghast at. San Diego Wave fired Casey Stoney mid-season… for this?
Finally, your schedule of games for the weekend. DC Power FC will be playing their inaugural game on Saturday, in what will also be the first game of the USL Super League. That’s pretty cool!
| Teams | When | Where | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC Power FC vs. Carolina Ascent | Sat., Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. ET | Charlotte, NC | Peacock |
| Loudoun United FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies | Sat., Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET | St. Petersburg, FL | ESPN+ |
| Washington Spirit vs. Arsenal Women FC | Sun., Aug. 18 at 2 p.m. ET | Washington, DC | DAZN |
Have a good weekend!
So, we have the 3 U22 slots, which are being used on…Pirani, Pirani, and Pirani? Of course, we could have exchanged one of the DP slots for another U22 slot and an additional $1 Million to use on…Pirani and Peltola? Because the team is too constrained to find players out there. That extra million? Who needs it, really?
I’m not fully convinced at this point that Peltola could be converted to a U22 from a Young DP. The way the rules are worded, the U22 designations are generally used so that transfer fees don’t make the player a DP. In the case of Peltola, his transfer was free, and he’s just making a decent amount of money ($757k guaranteed). So with that, he might not actually qualify for a U22 spot and instead might have to be classified as a young DP. But I could be wrong in that. I feel like I have a decent understanding of the rules, but they’re convoluted at best, especially in cases like this
I definitely throw up my hands when it comes to the roster rules, but it does seem like, if they could make Peltola an u-22 DP, they would have by now.
I will say, with him making that ~$757k, they could, in theory, throw some GAM/TAM at him to make him a TAM player instead of a DP. But, with him being a Young DP, he only hits the cap at like $250k, so they are actually saving resources by doing it this way, weirdly enough. In effect, it takes away a DP spot, but gives the team ~500k more to work with in terms of Cap.
If they could just change his designation to be a U22 (no idea if its possible or not, as noted above), he would hit the cap at the same level he does now at roughly $250k, so that would have no impact on the cap itself. It would open a DP spot, sure, but if you bring in a DP, that’s an additional like $650k-ish cap hit that the team may or may not be able to deal with. So the current situation, as bizarre as it may seem, might actually be the most sensible given how tight against the cap they seem to be
^That is both a good explanation, and also the reason I try not to memorize this stuff.
Also, gesundheit.
7 Old Glory players have been called into the Rugby XVs MNT camp for the Pacific Nations Cup that starts at the end of the month.
Travelling Roster:
Jack Iscaro (Prop)
Cory Daniel (Flanker)
Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (No 8)
Ethan McVeigh (Scrumhalf)
Tommaso Boni (Center)
Non-Travelling Reserves
Collin Grosse
Connor Buckley
All 7 have seen at least 1 cap for the Eagles. Ethan McVeigh got his 1st cap at Buzzard Point last month in the loss to Scotland.
https://eagles.rugby/news/rising-talent-get-their-shot-as-usa-mens-eagles-player-pool-announced-for-pacific-nations-cup-2024815
The Pacific Nations Cup has just become vital to the US’s chances of qualifying for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, which is the last one before the US hosts the RWC in 2031. The 2027 Men’s RWC will be the first one to feature an expanded 24 team field. 12 Teams have already qualified by finishing top 3 in their pool at the Rugby World Cup in France last fall. In order to qualify the US must be one of the top 3 teams in the Pacific Nations Cup (minus Japan and Fiji who have already qualified). Its time for the Eagles to get it done.
https://eagles.rugby/news/pacific-nations-cup-confirmed-as-rugby-world-cup-qualification-process-for-mens-eagles-2024815
The US faces Japan and Canada in the group stage of the Pacific Nations Cup. They first face Canada at the StubHub Center in LA on August 31 at 9 PM EDT, where Canada will be on 5 days rest after playing Japan at BC Place in Vancouver on the 25th. They will then face Japan in at 6:05 AM EDT Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Saitama, Japan on Sept 6th.
Doyle gives DCU a B for the 2ndary transfer window: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/grading-every-mls-team-s-2024-secondary-transfer-window