USWNT draw, MLS Cup set, and more: Monday Freedom Kicks
December? It’s December! Just one more month left in the year, let’s make it count!
It was a tough match, but the USWNT get the scoreless draw at Wembley. They will now play the Netherlands tomorrow in The Hague.
MLS Cup 2024 is set! LA Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls (MLS)
It’s the MLS Cup DCU fans probably were dreading…could LA get their 6th title or will the Red Bulls finally get their first? If the Galaxy do it, they will do it without Riqui Puig, who tore his ACL on Saturday in the conference final.
Ali Krieger hard launches new relationship with NWSL defender (PSW)
I don’t normally get into the chisme on here, but it’s really nice to see Ali Krieger happy in a new relationship.
Fiorentina’s Edoardo Bove in coma after collapsing vs. Inter (ESPN)
A very scary moment this weekend when Edoardo Bove collapsed in a Serie A match. He was immediately taken to the hospital, where he remains in a medically induced coma.
Scandal-plagued Herdman resigns as Toronto FC head coach (PSW)
John Herdman has stepped down as Toronto FC coach, presumably related to the report from Canada Soccer over the drone scandal which has Herdman’s fingerprints all over it.
U.S. owner Textor helps Botafogo to historic South American title (ESPN)
John Textor has a controversial wake about him, but his Botafogo has won the Copa Libertadores for the first time. I believe he is the first American owner to win what many consider the second biggest club title in world soccer.
Stay warm!
LA Galaxy vs Redbulls… can we just pretend this final isn’t happening and eventually didn’t happen? Cuz, dear Buddha, talk about choosing between drowning and way too many wasp stings…
I’ll take the Galaxy’s sixth over the NY/NJ MetroStars (NY Redbull) getting their first.
Agree, pulling for the Galaxy although the Red Bulls are serious underdogs and it would be wild to see them pull this off
The way I see it, the Galaxy were one of the best three teams in the league and them winning would be a fair reflection of that. The Jersey team winning on the other hand . . . I guess it would be like another slap in the face of MLS, especially after how hard they worked to crown Miami this year, even before the season began. Awful final for DCU fans, but I rather watch LA win than Jersey. Does anyone else find Tolkin annoying as hell?
Yeah, Tolkin is most certainly annoying.
The Galaxy were a mess and the fans in a state of open rebellion. Then they overhauled the roster, hit on everybody in their roster rebuild, and turned into an entertaining offensive juggernaut that’s now likely the favorite to win MLS Cup.
It IS possible, DC. Now, do it.
Totally, completely in agreement with you on this. Ugh!
Drowning is probably a lot better way to go than too many wasp stings.
Steve Goff reported that Keylor Navas has signed with Luciano Emilio’s company, looking to make a move to MLS. Emilio has actually kept up good relations with United, and United happens to be looking for a goalkeeper.
I would take a Navas signing in a second. Yes, he’s 37, but Hugo Lloris showed that top tier goalkeepers coming over from top tier European leagues can still be quite good in MLS. Moreover, Lloris is only making $350,000. I kind of doubt that DC has the cache that LAFC does to land players with a discount like that, but I would be using that contract to be angling to get Navas here on something below a TAM contract. I would be much more excited to get Navas than Tim Melia or Jimmy Maurer.
Two year deal for Navas to ride out the Benteke window. Make it happen, Ally Mackay!
So, I’m not convinced about Navas. Incredible goalkeeper in the past, but his game was all about agility and reaction times that have got to be slipping. I would advise anyone interested to kick the tires hard first, which, Navas is an exceptionally proud person, and probably wouldn’t accept it, anyway.
I’m always wary of acquiring aging players whose previous strengths would be directly diminished by that inevitable process.
It’s valid, although a look at his most recent highlights seemed pretty highlight worthy. I’d still be excited to get him.
Good for him, it’s just, when a player gets old, they get old fast- see De Ro
In the getting WAYYYY ahead of ourselves department… Navas would be a huge get. I saw him with Forest, and he was still pretty spectacular. more than one would expect from an MLS level goalkeeper.
The only team which could expect a big return at the box office from Navas would be the Red Bulls, as NJ (and NY) metro seems to be the center of the small Costa Rican immigrant community here — but they have a pretty great goalie already. Perhaps NYCFC could entice him, but their keeper is pretty solid. Not a huge need. Miami has the 2nd largest grouping of Ticos, and maybe they would see him as a worthwhile upgrade in goal,3rd highest but they don’t have any problem filling seats. LA Galaxy could probably do with an upgrade in goal, and they have the 3rd highest number of Costa Ricans.
Interestingly, the Washington DC metro has the 4th highest number of CR migrants, but it’s a very small number. I wouldn’t expect Navas to help in that way, but if DCU start winning games because of him, that would definitely help fill seats.
Points in Navas’ favor: he’s a winner, something we’re very short of. He’s very likely still a good goalie in spite of being at the end of his career. Good leader.
Points against him: athleticism at his age. We play extremely open and need a starting keeper who can manage that space and the danger that comes with it. Not sure he was ever known for his distribution/ball skills. Probably would want a fair bit of money, which would take away from what was a more pressing area (CB) before we jettisoned every goalie on the team.
I would vote no, but hope that it works out if we do sign him.
I even think the leadership thing is a double edged sword. Put it this way, you bring him in, you gotta play him till the end of his contract. This is not a goalie that would accept the dynamic of goalkeeper competition, much less that he is losing it and has to prove himself.
I don’t see how that ends well, cuz I also get the impression that, if he wants to play at 37 and prove he’s still got it, he might not have the perspective to retire when he can’t perform. He’s a prover. At a certain age, I just don’t think you want those players on any kind of contract.
First, I haven’t seen enough of him recently to say how good of a fit he is (scheme, aging issues, and money).
Second, I think one good draw for him is that Washington DC would be a very attractive area for a Costa Rican player. Substantially Hispanic population here that is more Central American, big cultural element.
I’d take Keylor in a heartbeat. Of course, Real Madrid fan here so I was able to watch him become the best goalkeeper in the world at one point, and he still has those qualities. As others mentioned, the Central American population in DC could turn out for him, but the Real Madrid fans here would come out in droves. He’s a legend and people would come out to see him play.
Having said all that, you’d probably need someone ready behind him in case his 37 becomes an old 37.
This is where I wouldn’t mind bringing in Jimmy Maurer. He’s spent his career as a tweener starter/backup keeper. Navas/Maurer/Farr for two years works for me.
San Jose got Mark-Anthony Kaye, Dave Romney, and Ian Harkes from the Revs for a total of $500,000 and an international roster slot.
Bruce Arena is in charge at San Jose now, and those are all his guys from when he was with New England. I don’t particularly covet any of them, but that haul for that price seems like a nice way to beef up the depth of a roster.
I fully expect SJ to be a competent team next year. Not really contenders, but they’re not going to be basement dwellers.
Someone’s going to kick the tires on Ebobisse and get some goals in return. Hopefully not in the East (unless he somehow decided we were the right fit).
I certainly wouldn’t mind him back here, but since his last salary was $1 million and Christian Benteke is here and Dominique Badji is here, I suspect that those resources are going more towards the defense.
It is now official that Frederic Brillant has been let go from the Power. I wonder if there’s any chance of him rejoining United as an assistant coach. I kind of doubt it though, since he has no connection to Troy Lesesne.
Maybe at Loudoun United? Or at DCU 2 whenever that happens?
He might be done working with this organization, who knows. I think he can get a fair shot elsewhere in either MLS or the USL.
I thought the draw between the US Women and the Lionesses favored the US significantly. The US looked much better than England did IMHO.
And I’m glad to see Herdman gone. He cheated badly, I think it helped his teams, and he has continually denied it and left others to take the fall.
The USWNT seemed to be held back going forward only be lack of familiarity, and England couldn’t claim the same. Both defensive units were well connected and impressively resilient, but I agree, I’d rather be Hayes going forward than the England coach.
I will also say, I’m really looking forward to the Lily Yohannes cometh, cuz I think she’ll make our midfield a lot more dangerous. Lavelle’s game has all but waned at this level, and Horan is a strong talent, but limited. Lily could bust this whole thing wide open, and sooner rather than later.