Match Preview: Loons vs Chicago
Apr 22, 2022
For Sota Soccer, I wrote a preview of MNUFC’s game with Chicago. This includes:
- More complaints about geography and MLS conferences
- A good week for the Loons across three competitions and two teams
- A mini-essay about Adrien Hunou
- A look at why Chicago is actually decent this year
A collection of MNUFC vs Colorado content
Apr 18, 2022
I’ve been manning the controls at Sota Soccer for awhile. Here’s some links to everything I wrote before and after MNUFC’s weekend win against Colorado:
- With so much negativity around the squad after two consecutive losses, I went contrarian, and wrote about the positives this year.
- I previewed the match and somehow it ran to 1,200 words.
- After the Loons won 3-1, I examined several reasons why they suddenly looked good, and scored three goals.
Sota Soccer: I don't have to worry about attendance any more
Apr 7, 2022
Once upon a time, MLS attendance numbers were among the most important numbers to know about the league, up there with who was scoring goals. That’s not true anymore, even at a fairly new team like MNUFC. Over at Sota Soccer, I wrote about how it feels good to finally relax.
Links to things I have written for Sota Soccer
Apr 5, 2022
Even if you ignore player development, MNUFC2 is a harbinger of good things for MNUFC
Apr 5, 2022
I went to both the MNUFC and MNUFC2 games this weekend, and I’ve been thinking more about the MNUFC2 game than the first-team game. Part of this is because there’s only so much I can say about the Seattle Sounders, things like “how is it even possible this lineup is salary-cap compliant” and “imho they should just kick the Sounders out of the league and make it better for everyone else.” But also, I’m just fascinated by the brand-new second team, and how it’s a group of players that are trying to win games together, even though individually they might not have the same goals.
MNUFC2's inaugural home game is the start of something in Minnesota
Apr 3, 2022
Barely 14 hours after leaving Allianz Field, I was back on Sunday afternoon, to see the dawn of the MNUFC2 era, and the first MLS NEXT PRO game for the Doubloons. Of course, I wanted to see any number of Loons players, but mostly I was there for one thing: to find out what these games were going to feel like.
MNUFC comes up short - again - against the Seattle measuring stick
Apr 2, 2022
Nine losses in eleven games.
Updating the alternate CONCACAF qualifying standings
Mar 28, 2022
A few months ago, I wrote about the received wisdom that “a point on the road is a good result” in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. With qualifying all but done and dusted, I thought I’d update those standings and see whether the received wisdom is true.
Quick thoughts from Minnesota's 1-0 win against RBNY
Mar 13, 2022
It’s hard for MNUFC fans not to feel a little bit giddy after the Loons stole three points from New York on Sunday.
Adrien Hunou's uphill battle
Mar 11, 2022
I’ve been observing Adrian Heath’s press conferences for a while now. I get the strong sense that the MNUFC manager always knows what he’s after, in communicating through these situations. He comes across as frustrated sometimes, or pleased, but not always when you’d expect him to be. He also never, ever lambastes players in the media, and will tell you straight out that he won’t criticize players in that way.