Weiler to coach Saturday, Brady-Rooney feud continues, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy Friday! I am off for the day and may be in Ohio for a family wedding by the time you read this. I’ll be sad to miss tonight’s Washington Spirit match, of course, but I hope plenty of you will be at Buzzard Point cheering on my behalf.
D.C. United Head Coach René Weiler Receives Work Permit and is Eligible to Coach Saturday (D.C. United)
Although he did not do this week’s press conference, René Weiler trained the team yesterday and will be coaching his first D.C. United match this weekend. Will it inspire the team to a victory? TBD.
DC Power Football Club Re-signs Academy Midfielder Valentina Perrotta (DC Power FC)
At 14, Perrotta was the youngest player to start in a Gainbridge Super League match. She re-joins DC Power about a week before their season opener.
Donald also reports that they’ve named a new captain:
Tom Brady work ethic criticism was ‘unfair’ – Wayne Rooney (ESPN)
Today in our continuing coverage of the Rooney-Brady feud, Rooney accuses the NFL season of being three months long.
Washington Spirit Launch “Shop Our Spirit” Community Campaign (Washington Spirit)
Similar to D.C. United, the Spirit have announced a partnership with several local small businesses. These include a florist, a bookshop, an artist, and… a yacht charter company?
Grit, goals and glam: How beauty brands are making up for lost time and tapping into women’s sports (The Athletic $)
A look at the surprisingly new partnerships between women’s sports and beauty brands. Although I’ll note that most of the chatter I’ve seen about NWSL partner E.L.F. is criticism for their recent ad featuring comedian Matt Rife.
Whitecaps’ owners change course from ‘sale’ to looking for a ‘new partner’ (The Province)
I guess signing Thomas Müller will do that.
Esme Morgan exclusive: Lionesses star on her new life in the U.S. and ‘thirst’ for NWSL glory with Washington Spirit after winning Euro 2025 with England (Goal.com)
I’m glad to hear that Morgan is enjoying her time with the Spirit so much. She’s got such an upbeat, fun personality, and this article really shows it.
Martín Rodríguez leaves Ñublense and returns to Türkiye: this is how his story repeats itself. (Al Aire Libre)
After playing part of the season in his home league, D.C. United alumnus Martín Rodríguez is heading to Türkiye.
Sports Misery Index (ESPN)
Friday fun! If you haven’t had time yet, take a break and play around with ESPN’s sports misery index. Washington Spirit are, in my opinion, slightly overrated at 0 misery, but I guess you can’t really be a happy sports fan without the constant fear that your team is secretly bad and will flame out in the remaining matches. Just me?
Finally, here’s your list of games for the weekend. Have a good one!
| Teams | When | Where | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Spirit vs. Racing Louisville | Fri., Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. ET | Washington, DC | Prime |
| Loudoun United FC vs. Indy Eleven | Sat., Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. ET | Leesburg, VA | ESPN+ |
| D.C. United vs. CF Montreal | Sat., Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET | Montreal, QC | Apple TV |
Great read on Esme Morgan.
Absolutely. A lot of IVs are pure fluff. Or cliches. I think she provides some details about how NWSL has challenged her and grown her game–stuff she’s had to get better at. And I’d agree. I think last year, some of the stronger strikers (ie: Banda, Chawinga) could muscle her off the ball. She’s learned to be better in space.
Tom Brady vs. Wayne Rooney beef: two legends enter, no one cares who leaves
I’m going to be looking at two things from Weiler. Tactically, does the team approach the game differently? And are their players who he seems to evaluate differently (ie: Stroud sits but Murrell starts). I’m not advocating for that example, only that who he starts and plays may give some hints to how he evaluates the talent pool and fit differently from Lesigne and Flanagan.
Poor man, we’re already forgetting how to spell Lesesne. Soon this knowledge will be lost, like tears in rain…
He did, however, contribute to our stellar misery index!
Well, we’re not on the complete bottom of the misery index, so something to look forward to, or downward to, I guess
Actually, that just means we haven’t hit rock bottom yet–we could get worse.
Oh, that’s what I’m saying. I’m saying that we have more, and deeper misery to potentially look downward to
We have many factors that can lower our misery index like finishing with no wins, that should push it down. Also, Messi refusing to play at Audi Field (Sorry Mayor David, I cannot slander Buzzard Point), should depress morale a bit further. Also, they could have a compulsory attendance lottery for the AV Lounge in a bizarre attempt at marketing, crushing the souls of fans who simply come for the soccer experience.
I dunno. Nothing Messi does is a real needle mover for me related to this team. It’s more of shoulder shrug compared to stuff like one player sucker punching another off the field, one if the players getting accused of using slurs, or management souring the relationship with a player because they overplayed their hand in transfer negotiations.
At this point, the less I see of Messi, the better. I’d much prefer he didn’t play. And hey, without him on the field, that’s gotta at least double the chances of DC getting a result in the game right? We’re gonna see that win percentage go from 0.1% up to 0.2% surely.
Agreed. Though I think there is a great possibility of Suarez doing something controversial than DCU getting a positive result.
I know his dentist. He is ready.
Yes, at this time, post-Lesesne, we really are the worst team in the league. Even if Lio Messi is healthy, he probably will not play against DCU on August 23. Why? Because Inter Miami can be expected to be a comfortable winner regardless. Right? Anybody disagree?!
He will not even travel. Hey, if I am wrong, so what?
Well played Talonesque. I’ve already forgotten about the attack ships on fire during the Losada-era, whenever and where-ever that was.
I am, in fact, advocating for that.
My bartender think that Murrell should start.
Or, should I say, my bartender thinks that Murrell should start.
Klich is you bartender in the AV Lounge too?
FWIW, Eddie Cabrera, Jr., who is my bartender at http://www.tampicogrill.com in Laurel, MD, thinks that Jacob Murrell should be starting for DCU. More golazos are possible?!
Klich just joined their staff. We are paying his salary.
Just saw Trin in a brief, but effective ad for Dick’s Sporting Goods in the lead up to the Premier League opener.
Didn’t mention her name, much less her father. Just Trin being the person you want to be in the mirror when you’re wearing athletic wear. Nice.
Well, EPL opener didn’t disappoint. Check the highlights in about an hour
The Wallabies (Australia) had an epic comeback win over the Springboks (South Africa). They were down 22 after the first 19 minutes but won 38-22.
Never bad rugby, they are both titans.
Not surprised that there isn’t a game thread. Starting XI:
Barraza
Antley MacNaughton Rowles Schnegg
Peltola Hopkins
Herrera Pirani Servania
Benteke
Herrera pushed into the midfield…?
Bench: Badje, Bartlett, Dodson, Enow, Kim, Murrell, Stroud, Tubbs, Zouhir
Jackson Hopkins punches it in from the top of the box but outside. He picked up a 2nd ball off a header from a clearance. Its 1-0 to DCU.
Peltola picks up a yellow…my guess is for persistent infringement…because yes it was a foul but not much of one…
Barraza with a big save on an almost own goal from Benteke.
Servania picks up a yellow.
Herrera with a bad mistake and Montreal pounces on it and beats Barraza….
What was Herrera thinking??? Casual pass directly backwards down the middle? Good heavens!!
He is a Quebec operative
3 DCU players on yellows: Servania, Peltola, and Benteke
Enow for Hopkins….sigh
And a yellow i picked up right away by Enow.
Stroud puts a game winning chance wide.
We are so lucky to not be losing at the moment.