Leicy Stays, Spirit Moms, USMNT to Cincinnati, DeMelo Lawsuit, Saudi League Punishes Jota Chants, and more: Wednesday Freedom Kicks
Welcome to Wednesday everyone. I don’t have much by way of a soccer intro for everyone today. Up here in the Northland, it feels like we have finally reached true fall, which is probably my favorite time of year weather-wise. Things have started to cool off and the mosquitoes have returned to whatever hell they were forged in. Of course now that I write this, it will probably race back into the 90’s next week. Anyway, on to the news.
WASHINGTON SPIRIT AND MIDFIELDER LEICY SANTOS AGREE TO NEW CONTRACT (Washington Spirit)
Let’s start with some good news. Leicy has agreed to extend her time in DC. Her new deal will extend until the end of the 2027 season. Great news for Leicy, the Spirit, and Spirit fans.
Now I have more good news for everyone and som,e bad news. Good news: Annie, André, and Ella are back with a new episode and they are discussing the Spirit’s newest signing Clara Luvanga. Bad news: They also have to talk about that Boston game. However, as always the good outweighs the bad, so give it a listen.
The Spirit’s New Moms Navigate the Season with Babies in Tow (Washington Sun)
For all the criticism that I direct NWSL for some of its ridiculous policies (Hi Shoe Sponsor Deal. Hello there salary cap/HIP rule), I have to give the league credit for its enlightened maternity policies, particularly the one that allows payers to designate a caregiver who can travel with the team at no added cost. In addition, to NWSL’s sensible policies, it really seems as if the Spirit as a team get it based upon the facilities they provide and that there is a lot of mutual support among the players. This seems on brand for the Spirit based on observations from afar.
DeMelo collapsed a year ago during Racing’s match in Seattle. DeMelo revealed on Monday that she went into cardiac arrest that night as the result of “an undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia”. She is suing Racing Louisville’s chief medical doctor, Dr. Jennifer Daily, who is not an employee of the team, but serves in the capacity via a deal with University of Louisville Health, as well as UoL Health. The lawsuit alleges that UoL Health was negligent in diagnosing and treat her arrhythmia. The one positive piece of news is DeMelo is close to returning to the field.
NWSL player availability cannot be down to guesswork and ‘transparency is key’ (The Athletic)
I’m not necessarily sure I agree with the basic premise of this article. There is a strong part of me that feels that as long as a team isn’t being shady and using the lack of information to cover up some malfeasance, then there is a limit to what they need to share. I’m ok with a team saying a player is just in or out and providing more detail if and when it results in a roster transaction. I’m not sure were are entitled to more information on a soccer players status than were for say… the health of our elected officials.
USMNT chooses Cincinnati for Concacaf Nations League home leg (SSFC)
The USMNT doesn’t know who they will play when they rejoin Concacaf Nations League play in November, but they know they will host that team in the Queen City (Ohio version).
USMNT projected September-October roster: Pochettino takes on new era (USA Today)
Plenty of familiar names but several new an interesting ones as well in this projection.
Saudi Pro League club fined, fans given stadium ban for Diogo Jota chants (ESPN)
Vulgar. Classless. Tasteless. Never appropriate. So many adjectives for how wrong chants like these are. Good to see a penalty with some teeth dispensed by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
Top of the table, empty in the stands: inside the revolt against Lazio’s owner (The Guardian)
I feel like I’ve said it before. European fans are so much more effective at protesting their teams or policies they don’t agree with than fans here in the US. Things would be better is fans here had even half the resolution of Lazio fans.
What did I miss?
Glad to have Santos back for a longer stay–she’s a baller.
On the player availability question, I think there’s a massive story in the women’s soccer world that is relevant, and that’s Cat Macario.
San Diego bought her from Chelsea, and I think Chelsea pulled off a heist. Not because Cat isn’t an immensely talented player- would walk into the CF role for the US if healthy, and Triple Espresso+ Alyssa needed shuffling- but it appears that her ability to ever be fully fit again is in serious question.
And there’s no way Chelsea didn’t know that. They even let it be known what other players were valued and where in the attack, weaving narrative that included everything but whether she was able to contribute on the field.
Obviously different leagues, but lack of transparency on a player’s health can have seismic consequences. Reminder the Cat is a massive investment for San Diego, and it may have been a total loss financially if Cat cannot sort through her many chronic leg problems. The player herself remains committed to returning, has posted about a fresh start next season after surgery. But anyone who knew what Sam Mewis went through knows where this could go.
“We don’t have good enough players.”
Just checking to see what Saturday’s lineup looked like in terms of players brought in by Sogut and Weiler.
Starters:
Johnson – Brought in by Sogut and Weiler
Nono – Brought in by Sogut and Weiler
Bartlett – Predates, but made captain by Weiler
Hefti – Brought in by Sogut and Weiler
Kurokawa – Brought in by Sogut and Weiler
Baribo – Brought in by Sogut and Weiler
Munteanu – Brought in by Sogut and Weiler
Rowles – Predates
Dozzell – Brought in by Sogut and Weiler
Ordaz – Brought in by Sogut and Weiler
Servania – Predates
Bench:
Bono – Brought in by Sogut and Weiler
Peltola – Predates
Stroud – Predates
Nealis – Brought in by Sogut and Weiler
Hopkins – Predates
Markovic – Brought in by Sogut and Weiler
Kijima – Predates
So, of the 18 players on the matchday roster, 11 of them were brought in by Sogut and Weiler, and 8 of those started. Joao Peglow was suspended and unavailable, but Weiler also didn’t select any of the homegrowns, and all of them except Turner were brought in by Sogut and Weiler.
So, Weiler might not be wrong about the team not having enough talent, particularly coming in off the bench. But in the year that he and Sogut have been here, they’ve largely remade the roster with their own chosen players. That includes two DPs (one of whom is the club record signing), a #1 draft pick, a U22 player, a player they gave a U22 contract to, and several TAM signings.
Sure, they still need more talent, but that excuse can’t hold too much more water. Most of these guys are Weiler’s guys. They tried and failed to land some more U22 players. Sure, it’s a tough job to convince talented guys to come here, but that’s your job, Sogut and Weiler.
Gotta be honest, I’m coming to the opposite conclusion from everything you just laid out in terms of what Sogut and Weiler have done.
Caden Clark was a bad signing, but it appears it’s because he’s a bad professional who is on track to disappear from the game despite his gifts. And that was a move made late last season when Stroud was still necessary in the lineup, despite being almost as woeful as he is this year.
The others are solid. Nealis was always an experienced backup pickup. We’re set to dump a boatload of players who don’t clear the current MLS bar, and build on a number who do.
We lack players because we were dross under Lesesne last year.
I don’t understand the negativity here.
The negativity comes from two things.
The first is that Weiler needs a new line. “The players weren’t good enough and we don’t have any quality to come off the bench.” That’s true to a point, but that’s largely been the state of play all year. How are you mitigating it? There have been new signings. As I pointed out, most of the gameday roster is full of Weiler’s guys. And we’re performing about as well as can be objectively expected. We’ve improved over last year, and are hovering near the playoff line.
But this was kind of the easy stretch of the season. We have fixture congestion, tougher opponents, and tired players. It’s a lot easier to see a future where we get more losses and some draws and miss the playoffs than one where we hit a good run of form, win some critical games, and sneak into the playoffs.
Is that all due to player quality? Or would things have been a bit better if Weiler had shown some more faith in the younger players and incorporated them in over the course of the season? I can’t fault him for there being no MLS Next Pro team, and I guess I can’t fault him for criticizing his boss for not investing in one. But what he can do is coach. Try to develop the players that he does have, because he couldn’t get the rest of the players he might have wanted. He can try playing players in the roles where they actually thrive. Rowles is out, and you have Nealis or Markovic or the ability to recall Garrison Tubbs? Why not play Andre Dozzell at CB who has never played there before?
Which leads to the next point of negativity.
Personnel issues have been apparent since the start of the season and not addressed. We need someone to play on the right wing! Let’s use RBs there instead like Herrera and Nono! We need chance creation! Let’s…uh, I guess no we don’t! We need a backup left back! No, we think that Keisuke Kurokawa is superhuman and can play every single minute!
Some of these choices have worked out okay, but they’re all kind of longshot risks that are ready to implode at a glance.
So yeah, I think Weiler overall is a good coach. But he bears culpability for the results as much as the players do, especially when so many of them are his players. And yes, I think the club is improving over last season. But it hasn’t been by a lot. Is it a good base if you add one more DP and some other decent players to replace some of the holdovers that are still here? Maybe! But I think our issues stem a lot more than just “our players have been bad and our players continue to be bad” that we hear from Rene.
That’s not my read at all.
The bar has been raised substantially for dominant MLS sides, and we might have the two of the most solid fullbacks in the league, and Nono could probably also be one if he was there and properly adjusted.
All I see in these frustrations is that your desire to win and make playoffs is back, and all context has been removed in that pursuit.
As far as I can see, the only thing he’s culpable for is us having expectations for this team at all.
DC United hasn’t had pull in the market as a destination for a looonnng time. When did that get changed? Certainly hasn’t.
And if you’re annoyed by Nono at RM and his ball retention, creativity, and crossing, I’m not sure what you expected. Ismaila Sarr ain’t coming.
And, for what it’s worth, I like him a lot while also thinking that’s the best DP spot use next season
And looking ahead to next year, here are the players whose contracts are up after this year (recognizing that Sogut has been good at moving on players even before their contracts are up, so others on the current roster could be gone by 2027 too).
Kye Rowles (option for 2027)
Conner Antley
Alex Bono
Sean Nealis
Brandon Servania (option for 2027)
Jared Stroud (option for 2027)
Jordan Farr (option for 2027)
Hosei Kijima (option for 2027)
Garrison Tubbs (option for 2027)
So that’s 9 players, which is a fair number. Up until recently, three of them were out on loan, and it feels pretty safe to suggest that they (Antley, Farr, Tubbs) are gone.
Alex Bono is the backup keeper. He’s either coming back or we’re getting somebody at about the same level, and hoping that Grant Leveille develops.
Kye Rowles could go, but the team has looked better when he’s in. It’s a chance to be proactive and try to bring in an even better CB, so this is going to be a pretty crucial piece for Sogut and Weiler.
Sean Nealis… seemingly signed an extension but no one can really find any record about it? If he didn’t, he probably shouldn’t come back. His salary is too high for what he’s providing. If he is back, he shouldn’t be thought of as the starter if Rowles goes.
Brandon Servania would seem to be another opportunity to upgrade. Perhaps he will be, but he also seems to have the edge in Weiler’s trust to play next to Dozzell instead of Matti Peltola. Peltola seemed to be one of our top two players before the World Cup break, and still has played well to my eyes in diminshed playing time since then. He’s under contract through 2027 with an option for 2028. He’s seeming now like a candidate to be moved, but does that also mean that Servania will stick around? Central midfield is a critical area for the club, particularly if they ever want to do anything about that chance creation problem.
Jared Stroud seems likely to be gone.
Hosei Kijima also seems likely to be gone. I know that you hold him in some pretty high esteem. I wouldn’t mind if he’s back, as he works hard and seems like a fine teammate, but his biggest value seems to be as someone who might help Kurokawa and Nono feel more integrated.
So, there are some natural opportunities to get better in the next window, particularly at CB and CM. We also need wing depth and left back depth, and maybe another striker option besides Ordaz and Segal on the bench.
The acquisitions we’ve made to this point haven’t really suggested an underlying vision for how the roster should be constructed or how the players will mesh together. But maybe that all falls into place with the next window.
I think its also important to remember that Farr, Kijima, and Tubbs are all supplemental roster players. Assuming they all leave, it does open up positions to be filled, but they likely won’t be filled by top-end guys, and are more likely to be lateral replacements in terms of level (since the salary is really limited for those positions). And as you noted if Bono leaves, he will just get replaced by another similar level GK (in theory). So that cuts down the number of “useful” positions opening up.
I really think they pick up Rowles’ option here, as well as Servania. At this point, I expect Servania to be here and starting as long as Weiler is here, and I am more worried about Peltola getting moved (even though I think Weiler would be an absolute idiot to get rid of what has consistently been one of our best 2 players). I think Servania is good to have here, and he’s on a good contract. But man, he should not be starting over Peltola regularly
This is all pretty incomprehensible to me,
You mean good fullbacks (two of which, Kurokawa and Nono, would be excellent WBs) don’t provide a vision? Or Baribo, steady eddy target man who doesn’t really do cold spells? Or Ordaz, who can clearly float multiple places? Dozzell isn’t useful?
I’m not even convinced this stodgy, Atleti in the CL knockouts grinding formation is what Weiler prefers ultimately.
What are we even talking about
I understand what you’re saying, but I think there is an assumption underpinning part of your argument that may not be true. That is the assumption that with Sogut and Weiler DC is a place that players want to go. Given this team’s performance and reputation, I’m not sure that is true. For me, I’m willing to give them to the end of next year. They have to show players, agents, and us as fans that they are serious about this. Use the time smartly to demonstrate they’re for real.
I know that is a lot of time to give them. I think next year will be a crap shoot given the shortened schedule. I’m willing to give them until the calendar shift to lock it in.
If you had told me this year, this team would be competing for a playoff spot and generally playing more enjoyable soccer, I would have been overjoyed.
I understand that players might not want to come here. It’s not an easy job to convince players to come, but that IS the job of Sogut (and also Levien, when it comes to opening the pocket book). Other teams have plenty of less-than-ideal situations, and they can convince talented players and DPs to sign there (except maybe Montreal).
And if they just simply can’t sign good players at all, then they have to develop their own or coach up the ones that they’ve got. This is largely Levien’s fault for not having an MLS Next Pro team, and this is what makes me madder than every criticism I can lay at the feet of Sogut and Weiler, combined.
I completely agree with you on ownership. They’ve done the club and Sogut and Weiler no favors.
Overall, I don’t think our opinions are all that dissimilar. I think it might be different timelines.
Also, I agree Weiler needs a new line.
Coach like Weiler, talk like Troy. That’s sort of my dream.
Diego Luna is done for the season. He’s got a torn meniscus.
The Athletic covered it first: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7599620/2026/09/16/diego-luna-rsl-meniscus-injury/
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49950214/usa-diego-luna-real-salt-lake-injury-mls