Trin’s Back News, Muller to Vancouver, WC Draw Date Announced, and More: Wednesday Freedom Kicks
Friends, this is supposed to be a happy occasion! Let’s not bicker and argue over Who killed Goff…
(That’s a Lord of Swamp Castle from Monty Python joke for the uninitiated).
Seriously, I couldn’t find one iota of DC United news within the last 24 hours that wasn’t covered yesterday. This is a somber reminder of the shrinking coverage presaged by the loss of Goff and others. Especially disheartening, given the open transfer window. Anyway, thought I’d acknowledge it, and tell all to search the former Twitters, Blueskys, and others. I’m not on there, and don’t intend to be, but this might be what we’ve got for a bit.
On that depressing thought, on to the news!
Trinity Rodman is back in training, as we know, and this article by Jason features several illuminating quotes from the player about it. It doesn’t exactly mean that all will be well forever with this injury, but there is certainly hope that this chapter can close.
https://www.gothamfc.com/news/gotham-fc-opens-upper-deck-for-rivalry-showdown-vs-washington-spirit
A good sign for the rivalry and the league when high ticket demand makes upper deck tickets that wouldn’t normally be in the offing available. Should be quite a clash!
Well, not hardcore news, but a promising young left back with the possibility of playing for the USMNT would prefer hoping for Germany to call. Not particularly surprising, but would be nice to have real backup to Jedi at the position.
https://www.si.com/soccer/usmnt-international-agent-slams-juventus-stalled-transfer
Tim Weah’s agent is making noise about Juventus slowing a deal to Marseille, who are pretty cash strapped, but I just found out Weah Turned Down Nottingham Forest?? Why, my dude? Their counter attacking style suits you perfectly! Aw well.
In case there was any doubt whose shoes he’s trying to fill, Malik Tillman will wear the departing Wirtz’ shirt number. What a challenge!
The USWNT will play Portugal twice in October, and I’m here for it. Someone I root for has got to entertain.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/45854252/las-vegas-host-fifa-world-cup-draw-december-sources
FIFA will host the World Cup Draw December 5th in Las Vegas. FIFA may never want to leave the city, though I bet Vegas would prefer they did quickly.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/45855038/vancouver-whitecaps-close-thomas-muller-deal
This one makes me wonder how much research and self reflection potential DPs do before signing with the league. Thomas Muller is likely coming to Vancouver to play for the Whitecaps. Muller has been notorious in the past for being quite open in the press with his opinions, which are, shall we say, rarely complimentary. This person often criticized the standards at Bayern effing Munich. Best of luck, Vancouver.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/45857888/everton-transfer-news-david-moyes-preseason-tour
My beloved Everton have new owners, a competent coach, and a new vision, but the damage has apparently been done to their reputation by the former regime. Despite being able to sign players again, finally, it seems that players are disinterested in making the club their new home, and the coach is publicly worried.
https://www.si.com/soccer/womens-euro-2025-bigger-than-ever-bright-future-england
And, a reminder that the Women’s Euros was an unqualified success for the women’s game in the region, and this article details why.
That’s all I’ve got! One up me in the comments, and have a great sporting day!
My wife came across the Muller/Vancouver news yesterday, and asked me what Discovery Rights were and how they worked, since Vancouver is having to pay Cincy 400k GAM for him. Now, I consider myself pretty well versed on the random MLS rules, but man, trying to explain Discovery Rights when there’s no real equivalent anywhere else in American sports is sure something
It’s shotgun dibs on players everyone is aware if
Yeah, I figured that Vancouver had said discovery rights, guess not Cincy has it, but it would seem Mueller is keen on living in Vancouver. can’t say I blame him (not ditzing Cincy with that). He still has a year or two in the tank, and he is a competitor. Let’s see how that goes.
Definitely quiet on the DC United front…it’ll be interesting to see if the Ethiopian team can field a full squad, since there were visa issues earlier in the week.
Also…who’s excited for meet the team day on Friday! Get in line early for the golf simulator with as yet unnamed players! Personally, I’m excited for the …And More! that is promised. I’m sure it won’t be a let down at all.
Seriously, though, last years wasn’t exactly the most positive experience. I can’t imagine this one is going to be better. At least I’m guessing the lines will be shorter this time.
I chose to go to a conference. Most of team I would meet will likely be on their way in a year or two.
If I wasn’t bringing my son, I’d probably find alternative entertainment as well. The proverbial sock-drawer rearrangement type thing.
If there’s a golf simulator, I would bet that you will find Jacob Murrell nearby.
So, after the Athletic let go of Pablo Maurer, they have seemingly replaced him with…Charlie Davies. Talk about a downgrade.
OMG.
Well, there is a vacancy at WashPost for Pablo. We can only dream.
I was about to say Charlie Davies is the least insightful and most irritating voice in the the national soccer media landscape, but Alexi Lalas does exist, so I can’t say that. I literally turn away from any content that includes Davies. Christ.
I’m on the edge/just outside of market for DCU, so for years I had to watch the games through ESPN+. There was never really a rhyme or reason to what commentating crew you got to listen to on those broadcasts (though more times than not it wasn’t the DC feed). And my god, listening to Charlie call the Revs games against DC was just awful. I generally liked Charlie when he played here, but dear lord the way he talked about DC in those broadcasts you would think they kidnapped and killed his dog or something. I don’t know if the split from DC was really that bad, or if he just REALLY like the Revs, but it was rough. That alone just really turned me off from him. That showed that he’s just fully incapable of being objective, at least when it comes to DC
He’s especially bad covering United, but he’s just bad at this job in general. I believe they’ve found a place on Paramount now, but he used to be on a podcast that always was hosted by Jimmy Conrad, and often included figures like Heath Pearce and Tony Meola as a third. Conrad is a really interesting voice, but I found them impossible when Davies was on. There was a period where he was absent from them, and I enjoyed listening to Conrad and Pearce discuss national soccer news. It was the stuff you’d like to hear from former pros talking about the game.
Davies, it’s not just a personal thing about his hatred of DC, he’s really bad.
Well, when you are so dedicated to the USMNT that you break curfew before a WC qualifier and go cruising on the GW Parkway…..
I could expect a bit of “unfocused” announcing…
He paid for that mistake fully a long time ago, and I’m glad he’s recovered, and able to live a healthy life. He is, however, a lot more skilled at derailing thoughtful conversations about soccer than adding an ounce of value as a commentator.
I certainly am pleased for his survival and his recovery. My point is, that horrible incident was set up by unprofessional thinking. It carries over to the broadcast booth. In both cases, teammates are let down.
Muller seems to have thought at least a little bit about where to play since he’s turned down everywhere else. He’ll probably still be outspoken about stuff he doesn’t like, which will be amusing. Hopefully the saga also results in eliminating/altering the discovery system.
Mueller. MUEller. It’s what you do when you do when you don’t a keyboard option to have an umlaut (two dots) over a vowel to draw it out.
Muller is like Mull of Kyntire, Mulled wine, etc…
Mueller is like Bueller…..Bueller?……Bueller?……..Bueller……?
Just getting you all ready for Oktoberfest!
(Please know I am just joking about this) :^)
You definitely got my until the end lol…I admit to being too lazy to get the ü up from the options this morning!
Yeah, discovery rights is sorta a vestigial part of the one DP mindset, I feel. Time to move on.
Well the first round of the Leagues Cup didn’t go well for MLS last night as the Liga MX teams won most of the games. I didn’t watch…as I’m spending my evenings struggling to write a eulogy for my younger sister who was killed in a head on collision with a wrong way driver earlier this month…honestly doing that feels less depressing and sad than watching a DCU game…
I’m really sorry for your loss. This year is incredibly unrelenting, I’m sure you’ll find the words
Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear that news!
Gosh, Will. Rest assured we are all thinking about you. We also know you will pen something meaningful. So sorry.
That’s awful, I’m really sorry.
So sorry to learn of your tragic loss. I hope life can still bring you pleasures.
On the NASCAR side of the Athletic, they do a weekly article asking a driver the same set of 12 questions. This week’s was with a driver named Rajah Caruth, who grew up in DC. One of the questions asks what the first autograph you got as a kid. Apparently Rajah spent time with DC United Youth Summer Program as a kid, and his first autographs were from Bobby Boswell and Bill Hamid. Pretty neat to see that little bit of sporting crossover happen
Breaking Major League Rugby News: San Diego Legion and Rugby Football Club Los Angeles (RFCLA) (formerly Rugby ATL in Atlanta) are going to combine for the next season and become The California Legion. Apparently they will play their home matches across multiple venues in San Diego, LA, and Orange County.
https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/major-league-rugbys-san-diego-legion-and-rfcla-to-unite-under-the-california-legion-moniker/
The 2025 MLR Collegiate Draft registration for players closes today.
And the NOLA Gold have announced that they won’t participate next year.
I don’t get a good feeling about that California team surviving.
Does anyone know why the Gotham v Spirit game in October doesn’t have an announced venue yet?