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It’s Hump Day…
We’re coming to you a day early, Happy Thanksgiving! Here’s what we got this week:
The crazy 2023 MLS Coaching Carousel
Reactions the USMNT vs Trinidad & Tobago
And a look at the Youth Soccer Landscape
MLS Coaching Carousel
A whopping 12 coaching changes have occurred during the 2023 MLS season. It’s the 4th highest number of changes in a single year in MLS history and there could be more to come. Here are the changes including interim managers:
NY RedBull: Gerhard Struber ➡ Troy Lesesne ➡ TBD
CF Montreal: Hernan Losada ➡ TBD
Charlotte FC: Christian Lattanzio ➡ TBD
DC United: Wayne Rooney ➡ TBD
Minnesota United FC: Adrian Heath ➡ Sean McAuly ➡ TBD
New England Revolution: Bruce Arena ➡ Clint Peay ➡ TBD
Colorado Rapids: Robin Fraser ➡ Chris Little ➡ Chris Armas
Portland Timbers: Giovanni Savarese ➡ Miles Joseph ➡ Phil Neville
Inter Miami CF: Phill Neville ➡ Javier Morales ➡ Tata Martino
Toronto FC: Bob Bradley ➡ Terry Dunfield ➡ John Herdman
Chicago Fire FC: Ezra Hendrickson ➡ Frank Klopas
Meanwhile Sporting KC has had Peter Vermes, the longest tenured coach in the MLS, at the helm since 2009, virtually an eternity in professional sports. When we compare this to Europe’s top five leagues, the MLS is more patient with their skippers.
It’s unlikely we’ll continue to see this high of turnover year after year but for a league that is growing fast and the stakes are getting higher, MLS coaches will be put on the hot seat sooner.
USMNT Recap
First Leg: US 3-0 T&T
The first half crawled by with very little chances from the US. The US really didn’t start creating good chances until Trinidad went down to 10 men. This first game was eye opening. Yes, we won but it didn’t feel good. We scored 3 late goals when Trinidad was playing with 10 men. It likely would have been a much closer game if they had 11 men on the field.
Biggest Takeaway: Without Pulisic, our attack is lacking creativity.
Second Leg: US 1-2 T&T
Gregg made one tactical change from the first game by putting two up top, with Pepi and Balogun. Unfortunately we weren’t able to see the real affect because Sergino Dest decided to throw a fit and get a red card.
If you’re not aware, Sergino Dest had one of the dumbest two minutes you’ll ever see in professional soccer. Getting a stupid yellow card and then blowing kisses at the ref while you’re teammates are pulling you away. I mean… C’mon man. Many folks are calling for a suspension from USMNT. I think that’s doubtful we’ll know the outcome shortly.
Biggest Takeaway: Whenever we have a CONCACAF road game we always make it difficult on ourselves. We’re lucky to make it through this round.
Sergiño Dest is sent off after receiving two back-to-back yellows 🔴
Watch live on TNT & Max 📺
— B/R Football (@brfootball)
12:47 AM • Nov 21, 2023
Youth Soccer Snapshot
If the MLS and American soccer landscape is going to continue to grow, youth soccer development has to lead the charge. Thankfully, that’s happening. Youth soccer participation is up 4% since 2019. While that’s not a massive gain, when you compare it to baseball and football which are down 20% and 13% respectively, it’s great news. And we’re not the only ones to notice.
Eintracht Frankfurt CEO, Axel Hellmann, was recently interviewed by The Athletic about the growth of American soccer and the talent pool here. Eintracht recently signed Philadelphia Union promising teenager, Paxton Aaronson, brother of Brendan. Here’s what Hellman said about the US market:
“What we see and what we notice is the brilliant sports education in the U.S. It makes the talent pool bigger and bigger. What we’ve seen are that the talents are getting higher for international standards. The talent pool is getting bigger and more U.S. players will come to Europe on a higher level. That’s why we believe that the league in the U.S. will have a great chance to grow.
We believe (the U.S.) is our top market, No. 1. Even for scouting, not just for sports marketing and communications, but we expect the market to explode in terms of talent.
It’s an audacious claim for the CEO of a major European club to say the US is their number one market for scouting new talent. But it tells you all you need to know about the future of US soccer. It’s bright.
Tweet of the Week
😂 😂 😂
Here’s a tournament some of the older American soccer fans out there might remember: the 2023 MLS Cup playoffs
— Ben Cork (@corkinho)
2:33 AM • Nov 21, 2023