DCU to sign Clark, Spirit Kickoff W Champions Cup campaign, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Keeping things light…happy Spirit match day (more on that below)! I’m excited to try out some restaurants this week to celebrate DC Restaurant Week. Personally excited to try out some new cuisines. Anyways, onto the futbol!
Looks like DCU is finally making a move and signing Caden Clark from Montreal.
Alianza vs. Washington Spirit: How to watch W Champions Cup, live stream (Pro Soccer Wire)
The Spirit kickoff their inaugural W Concacaf Champions Cup by flying to El Salvador to play Alianza tonight at 8 PM. Personally, I hope the Spirit take this tournament seriously because the winners of this qualify for both the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup AND the 2028 FIFA Women’s Club World Cup.
Speaking of the Spirit, here’s the latest episode of “Hey Spirits” where they breakdown the game against Louisville including the importance of the “Free DC” chants that broke out during the game.
Racially abused player ‘cried on my chest’ – Rooney (BBC)
A few are speculating who the players involved in this incident Rooney is referring to. Possibly our old (and disgraced) player, Taxi?
RFK will not die without a fight!!!
Source: Lizbeth Ovalle in “advanced talks” to join NWSL (ESPN)
The reigning NWSL champs are looking to splash the cash and spend ~$2 million on the Mexican star.
Anyways, that’s all from me folks! Enjoy this unusually cool day in the nation’s capital!
Posted this on yesterday’s thread, but will post here too for clarity’s sake:
Tom Bogert has reported that the fee for Caden Clark is about $700k, so less than the Million that was originally thought. It will be a cash trade, and Clark will occupy a U22 slot for DC.
While I’m still skeptical he’ll produce, the fact it’s a cash trade coming out of the owner’s pockets makes it feel better. It doesn’t hamstring us as much in terms of league budget.
I’m more on the side that this will yield something good. His numbers in previous efforts have not been good enough, but 22 is either a bust out year or one that sets your level lower than expected. Clark wants something more than he’s shown, and that personal motivation can’t be underestimated.
This is Weiler’s first move, and it could be a good one. Clark has a few games this season to get acclimated, and then an early offseason to come.
In the meantime, I’m expecting better play than Stroud can provide. It’s a gamble, but it’s not the worst odds nor potential I’ve seen. This guy has been seen as a talent by a number of people who should know, and I like him, too. Let’s give it a chance
I’ll gladly take Clark over Stroud for the rest of the season. It’s really unfortunate how far he’s fallen this year. Whether he’s here or elsewhere next year I think he’ll bounce back a little. There’s got to be something going on behind the scenes.
Think it’s actually related to the overall quality of the squad. Stroud is more a squad level player who aspires to be a role player, and he was instead relied on as a starter and difference maker. Everyone found out he couldn’t be that, especially him. That’s gotta be a morale destroyer, to be Sisyphus to this season’s playoff hopes. The tactic manipulation didn’t help, either, but I think we need someone to make him less important for everyone’s sake, including him.
My take on Stroud and Clark. I see Clark as very, very good technically. But it has produced goals or goal contributions. Time will tell if the shot that is wide starts going in. Or he gets more composure in the box. In some ways, it was like the gamble with Pirani (good technical skills, now can he show vision and/or finishing?).
As for Stroud, my take on him has always been that he’s fast and plays the entire game in 4th gear. On a side playing a high press with lots of running, he’s a good player who won’t finish well and his touch will be “meh.” As we’ve moved away from the high press, the assets to his game are less evident and the weaknesses of his play are more obvious.
It also makes me think that there’s a reason we didn’t use GAM. Maybe because there’s a trade with GAM involved coming up? Who knows. But it would be odd if they do this cash trade and then proceed to not do anything with the GAM they have for this year
Doesn’t GAM expire anyway? Maybe Montreal knew they didn’t have anything to use it for this late
You know, I was thinking about our GAM expiring, wasn’t thinking about Montreal not having time to use it before it expires. Fair point.
I believe that GAM now rolls over. But again, this year has been the year that MLS rules have just completely left me in the dust.
GAM rols over, but maybe Montreal didn’t want GAM?
This proves to be a huge win for Montreal, as they paid 50K (GAM?) for Clark.
Ridiculous if this is the only move in the transfer window, even if there’s nothing anyone can do to rescue this season.
I know it won’t get as much attention as a regular league game, but tonight is historic for both the Spirit and DC soccer overall. It’s the first time the Spirit have been on this stage, and DCU hasn’t been there in a decade. Might not be the most memorable game on the field but I’m very excited
It has the potential to be a very fun tournament, so while I’m concerned about fatigue and the impact on the regular season, I will be tuning in and hoping for lots of goals tonight!
Does anybody have insight into whether Lionel Messi might play this Saturday? I’m guessing no, but it’s only a guess.
Hopefully not!
But in seriousness, he played for Miami this past weekend, so he seems fit enough to play. Will likely depend on how their Leagues Cup game goes and if he needs rest afterwards/if his load is being managed or not at this point
So how bad do we lose to Miami on Saturday?
Bad. Or, badly.