More D.C. United Moves, NWSL Interest In Macario, A La Liga First, FIFA End of Year Rankings, and More: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Welcome to Tuesday everyone. I’ve got the spot start today. After a long lull, the D.C. United news continues to come in at a good clip. We’ve got teams potential looking to use the Rodman Rule to bring USWNT talent back to the US. On top of that it was a busy weekend for American men in Europe. So lets get to the headlines.
Reported last week, D.C. United completed the deal with RBNY that sees Sean Nealis arrive at Buzzard Point in exchange for $350,000 in Garber bucks.
Reports indicate the Black and Red are looking reinforcements as they look to avoid capturing the Wooden Spoon again in 2026.
According to our very own statistics guru, Blasian, last year Johnson conceded 41 goals on 51.9 PSxG (or 10.9 goals less than he should have.) That was most in MLS. When viewed per 90, his .35 was second best to Matt Turner among keepers with five or more 90s.
MLS offseason needs: What every team is seeking for 2026 (The Athletic $)
The Athletic identified a bevy of needs for DCU, including at keeper, center back, defensive midfielder, central midfielder, and in the attack. United has taken steps to address some of these needs through the acquisitions of Baribo and Nealis and through the draft.
Crossover Soccer Star Sofia Cantore (Fra Noi)
A Italian-American publication out of the Chicago area doing a profile and interview with the Spirit’s Sofia Cantore wasn’t on my bingo card for today. In the interview, Cantore highlights some of the differences between the play in Italy and the US, as well as cultural differences. I wasn’t aware of the family ties she had to the DMV. Overall, a nice piece.
USWNT, Chelsea forward Macario draws NWSL interest – sources (ESPN)
This very much looks like wishful thinking on the part of some NWSL teams at this point or a negotiating ploy to create leverage on behalf of Macario’s team. The ability to bring Macario to any NWSL club is contingent on the implementation of High Impact Player rule (aka Rodman Rule), but that proposal seems dead in the water.
Matarazzo becomes first American to coach in La Liga (Pro Soccer Wire)
The Garden State native will take over for Real Sociedad. His contract will run through the end of the 2026-2027, which while not perfectly lining up would put him in a position to take over the USMNT should the head coach position open up after this World Cup cycle.
It was a busy weekend for American’s in Europe, as 21 players saw the field. Highlights from the weekend included McKennie assisting on Loïs Openda’s first Seria A goal and Sergiño Dest assisting on Ricardo Pepi’s goal in PSV Eindhoven’s win over Utrecht.
Latest Men’s World Ranking (FIFA)
The US finishes 15th for the year. Their opponents for the upcoming World Cup, Australia and Paraguay, finish 26th and 30th respectively. Among the UEFA playoff participants, Türkiye finished 25th, Slovakia was 45th, Romania was 47th, and Kosovo finished 80th,
Liverpool Confirm Alexander Isak Surgery, Reveal Worrying Injury Timeline (SI)
An already frustrating campaign for the defending Premier League champions has reached a new level of dreadful. Isak had surgery on his ankle and a broken tibia. His recovery timeline is unclear at this point.
I’ll end with this.
Would you like to pay $750 for some grass? Inter Miami has got you (Pro Soccer Wire)
Prices range from $50 to $750 for grass that Messi may or may not have stepped on. If that interests you, I have an empty Red Bull can that may or may not have belonged to Alecko Eskandarian that can be yours for a reasonable price.
What did I miss?
…….
That Redbull can, though… what, uh, how much??
Just a reminder that Sean Johnson is a former teammate of Cody Mizell, DC’s goalkeeper coach. The same was true of Luis Barraza.
This would be an upgrade at goalie position. Hope it works out.
Genuinely am not a fan of Sean Johnson.
On aggregate, will make plenty of stops, but he has an alarming tendency to fumble the big ones.
He’s about to retire with some wince worthy weaknesses to his game.
Well, it’s definite. The team is putting out announcements “Welcome Sean Johnson.” So he’s our new starting GK for better or for worse.
The NWSL’s new “High Impact Player rule is out! And it’s some of the dumbest shit I’ve ever seen
https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/nwsl-introduces-high-impact-player-rule
I lost several brain cells just glancing at their list of lists for what makes someone “high impact”…
We asked these European journalists who don’t watch our league who the best players are!
Without reading the insipid details, I’m guessing Berman is saying “We totally want to pay Rodman this much! Hope the PA doesn’t oppose us!” in the way a cowardly club goer would yell at his friends to “not hold me back” while performatively struggling to fight a much tougher club goer.
So I think the league actually has a good argument that the Collective Bargaining Agreement gives them discretion to do this (with “consultation” of the PA, as opposed to negotiation). The PA has implied that they’re planning to fight it, though.
Yeah, I’m not saying Berman did something intentionally out of bounds from a legal perspective, but that she’s hoping she can make the PR villain be the PA for losing Rodman, or at least divert some of the smoke.
Although, it could be that Berman has just enough league interest to try to keep the marketing icon the owners are more than happy to see go
Good assessment! It reads like they looked at the players in NWSL and said who do we want to pay more to keep in the league. Then they wrote the list of awards as the HIP requirements, hoping get it past the players association.
Rumor of another DP signing in the works.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-transfers-dc-united-miami-swing-big-red-bull-rebuild
“Cognizant of the need to provide Baribo with quality service, they plan to sign another DP this winter, too – one who could cost even more than he did.”
If this becomes a reality, fuck it, Apple TV might be back on the menu for me
Yeah, Baribo is a fine signing. But my hope is that he’s not the “centerpiece.” They should be going bigger on both remaining DP slots.
DC is seemingly making another player announcement tomorrow. They included gloves in the post, so I’d imagine that means a goalie… probably Sean Johnson
Per Goff, Johnson deal is done. He signs with DC through June 2027, after the end of the mini season
Great interview with Cantore. As for Macario, I think the interest is genuine. I think you’ve got a bunch of owners in NWSL who are content to try to make money off of expansion fees and aren’t thinking big. But there are a few (not just Kang) who want to compete and be one of the top 5 clubs in the world. Maybe not have Chelsea or Barca’s overall salary and roster, but otherwise but a club that can play with anyone (not just NWSL). And for Macario to be in the NWSL helps her for the WC and Olympics–no cross-Atlantic flights for camps, tougher regular competition. I can easily see Macario dropping a hint to her agent to say “let’s see if anyone in NWSL is interested.” If nothing else, it’s shrewd negotiating tactics.
TBH, Sam Kerr’s return for Chelsea also makes Cat a little more pliable