Hamid heads to Miami FC, Bethune is EA FC Future Star, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Hello all! We are still missing some news that I have been waiting for: the USWNT roster for the upcoming She Believes tournament. The first game is in 9 days!! Luckily, we’ve been promised it will be out this morning, so you all may be hearing more from me then. Here’s what I’ve got for now:
Former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and U.S. National Team Keeper Lands in Miami (Miami FC)
It seems like Bill Hamid has had trouble finding a long-term home since leaving D.C. United. Let’s hope this is a good place for him.
D.C. United acquires $1.125 million from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for homegrown forward Ted Ku-DiPietro (D.C. United)
Well, we knew this was coming, but I’m still a little sad to see the kid go.
Croix Bethune recognized as EA FC Future Star, capping off legendary rookie season (Sports Illustrated)
Love to see Croix getting the recognition she deserves, and I hope her prediction that she and the other injured Spirit players will be back and healthy this year comes true.
Croix is also being recognized in TIMES SQUARE:
Marcelinho named as coach of two Brazilian clubs within 24 hours (ESPN)
Well, this is certainly unusual. It sounds like the two teams are in different Brazilian leagues and may not have overlapping games, but this still seems like a lot to take on.
Portland Pickles unveil Portland Bangers FC (Portland Bangers)
What is it about being a minor league team that lets them be so silly with their branding? And how can we get some top-league teams to channel it? (Hint, hint, Spirit)
And for one more bit of Tuesday fun, The Sounds of Training by the Washington Spirit:
I really want Croix to find her way out of, not just this injury, but the long term injury dynamic. Hoping for the best for her, and for her to be able to make NWSL her personal playground fiefdom for years to come.
DC has officially announced the signing of Brandon Servania. I’d imagine Rida Zouhir is coming right away.
It’s a two year deal with an option for 2027. I kinda wish they were taking it year by year, but if Goff’s hunch on the contract size is correct, it will be cheap depth (if he’s healthy).
Goff says that Servania is believed to be on the senior minimum “for the first year.” Last year he made $550,000, and one expects that he agreed to a two year deal if the second year is getting closer to the mark of where he used to be.
Hopefully he shows enough that that wouldn’t seem like an overpay.
Looks like Asad has signed with a Brazilian team. Im a bit surprised some of the guys DC let go this offseason haven’t seemingly singed anywhere yet, especially Bono and Canouse (though I can understand teams being iffy on him after last year)
For fuck sake. Canouse getting let go is still a massive harumph moment for me with this organization.
Absolutely. Like even if he’s a super sub, just keep the guy around. He was a good to great player, was around for years and universally loved by the fans. No real need to let him go like that
It really pissed me off. Maybe he is considering hanging up his cleats (I have no idea).
Bono signed with New England. Tyler Miller still hasn’t caught on with anyone yet, though, I don’t think.
Ah, I must have missed that. Will be interesting to see where Miller ends up, though
Tara Mckeown makes the She Believes thing!!!
Naomi Girma not called in, nor is Rose Lavelle nor any of the Triple Espresso. Honestly, this makes sense to me. Girma joined Chelsea two seconds ago. Triple Espresso, when healthy, are locked and loaded, overplaying them doesn’t make them any better- if anything, they need to focus on being ready for the coming NWSL season. Lavelle… I do think she’s done at this level. Whether Hayes agrees remains to be seen, but I’m relieved we’re going to see other players, like Lily or Macario, provide that creativity.
Girma has a calf injury and I believe Lavelle does as well. For the frontline, Rodman is still rehabbing, Swanson is out (not even training) for personal reasons, and Smith/Wilson got married and the official announcement is that she isn’t in shape for international competition.
Interesting that Hershfelt and Sanchez were not selected.
Very interesting and, to my mind, foolish not to include Hershfelt.
At this point, the player who was so recently known as Horan hasn’t added much to the formation. Hershfelt is maybe better suited, to say nothing of the players with less of a history than Lindsey.
https://www.givemesport.com/lucho-acosta-fc-dallas-fc-cincinnati-transfer-sources/
Tom Bogert reporting Lucho to FC Dallas is a done deal.
Along with Evander to Cincy and da Costa to Portland (from Lens)
Cincy paying $12 million for Evander!
Oh geez, I hadn’t seen the amount. Thats…a lot
They’re getting $5 million from Dallas for Lucho to help offset that, but yeah. That’s a lot!
Just sitting here thinking that DC’s record outlay for a player was $5 million to get… Edison Flores.
I’m surprised there’s that much discrepancy between the prices for Lucho and Evander. I’d imagine Evander to be a bit more expensive since hes 4 years younger…but not more than double
Now that MLS clubs can pay millions to buy better players already in the league, I think we can imagine that DC United are headed to a long stay in the cellar. Even odds they end up selling Benteke.
Preseason game against Nashville is currently happening. Nashville is up 1-0 after 5 minutes
Looks like Goff is at the game and has some more details than what the team is providing. Plan is to play 2 45 minute halves, as well as an extra 30 minutes to give all the players a chance to play a decent amount of time. Starting lineup for DC is also a bit strange:
Barraza; Herrera, MacNaughton, Rowles, Dodson; Servania, Kijima; Murrell, Badji, Leal; Benteke
Maybe Murrell is being considered as a sorta 10?
Yeah I’ve got no idea how that line under Benteke is working. I was kinda thinking Badji was playing the 10 in a sorta second-striker way, but I guess its equally as likely that he’s on the wing and Murrell is at the 10
According to Goff:
“Kijima has been fabulous: technical, silky, rangy, assertive. Nice offseason pickup for DC”
That’s one hell of a bode of confidence
And Kijima scores to level the match!
Halftime Subs:
Tubbs in for Rowles
Peltola for Servania
Academy Player for Herrera
Academy Player for Benteke
Trialist for Kijima (Zouhir Im guessing)
And a New Trialist for Murrell
New trialist arrived last week and has local ties. Let the guessing begin!
Aduuuuu…
I think Goff may have gotten this wrong. At least, he’s maybe contradicting what the team posted. Not “Trialist 3.” “Academy player 3.”
Apparently I got this wrong. There is a “trialiat 2” who came in for Murrell, but Servania was listed by name, so this is a new trialist.
Yeah, Servania’s signing was announced the other day, so he’s no longer a trialist. Full-fledged team member.
Nashville wins 4-1 at the end. They scored a second right before the end of the firs 90, and then added 2 more in the bonus 30 minutes
sounds like we still have defense issues…
It’s never worth taking much from a preseason game. But… it sure feels nicer if you win. And it seems like in all of the games we’ve been giving up the lead.
Sounds like some trialists aren’t getting signed, and that’s about it
Probably yes, but when teams are making a million changes and you started a weird mix of probable starters with reserves, things will get messy. If we were a defensive team I’d worry more. That all said, I’m still worried we don’t have the quality to score more than we let in.
I’ll talk about it more tomorrow, but Everton just hosted one of the most legendary Merseyside Derbies ever. Worth checking out the highlights.
I know that Beto’s goal celebration was a LeBron James thing, but I really like to think of it as a Benteke thing.
Also, I haven’t kept up with the Premier League for a few seasons. Fun to hear Jack Harrison’s name. I was in the room when he was drafted! (DC drafted Julian Buscher.)