For the Loons, everything starts with Rey - but will he arrive?
Feb 1, 2023
It wouldn’t take too much to prove that Emanuel Reynoso is Minnesota United’s best player, which makes him maybe the team’s most important player. Which is why there’s been one question that’s animated the whole preseason for MNUFC, which continues to dominate the headlines: where’s Rey?
The MNUFC Offseason (So Far)
Jan 3, 2023
It’s kind of hard to believe, but Minnesota United’s preseason training begins in just three days. The Loons will be at the National Sports Center in Blaine on Friday, assuming that they all can fight through the snowdrifts to get there. They’re doing a week in Minnesota, two in Florida, another week here, and then heading to California for what’s been dubbed the Coachella Valley Invitational, where they’re currently scheduled to play three games:
A brief history of MNUFC's MLS SuperDrafts
Dec 21, 2022
The 2023 MLS SuperDraft is tonight, and if you want to know why it’s in 2022, the answer is: shut your face! MLS doesn’t want to hear it! (The real reason is that they already had the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, last January, and they can’t very well have two, so this year’s is the “2023 MLS SuperDraft” even if it’s being held in December 2022.)
Takeaways from the 2023 MNUFC schedule announcement
Dec 20, 2022
MLS announced its 2023 schedule today. The season begins February 25 and ends October 20, with a break between July 15 and August 20 for the mid-season Leagues Cup with Liga MX (schedule yet to be announced). Here’s some takeaways, from a Minnesota United perspective:
The USMNT - and the rest of CONCACAF - is headed to Copa América 2024
Dec 7, 2022
According to a report from FOX Sports México, CONCACAF - especially the United States, México, and Canada - is headed back to the Copa América. The tournament, which would be hosted in the USA just like 2016, is scheduled just 18 months from now, in the summer of 2024. It’s a great thing for the North American teams in CONCACAF, but it also makes a lot of sense for the South American powers in CONMEBOL - both in two years time, and in the future.
World Cup 2022, Day -2: My So-Called World Cup Life
Nov 17, 2022
I suppose it’s not surprising, but more and more I realize that my sports memories are old-guy memories.
MNUFC Offseason: Roster Update for 2023
Nov 14, 2022
MNUFC made its offseason roster decisions on Monday. Here’s a look at the updated roster as the Loons head into the 2023 offseason.
Bale, Zlatan, and the growth of MLS
Nov 8, 2022
I keep thinking about Gareth Bale’s match-tying goal in Saturday’s MLS Cup, and how it shows how far MLS has come in just a few years.
My favorite things I wrote at Sota Soccer in 2022
Oct 27, 2022
I had an enjoyable time writing about Minnesota United in 2022. I started the year writing overly-detailed posts about the Minnesota United preseason, but before the season began, I was invited to write for Sota Soccer, which was just then launching. I did some game coverage and a lot of match previews, but mostly I just wrote columns. Here are the five things I had the most fun writing all year:
MNUFC Offseason: Here's who has contracts for 2023
Oct 18, 2022
Minnesota United’s 2022 season came to a crashing end last night, with the Loons losing a penalty shootout to FC Dallas in the first round of the playoffs. Next season is a long time away, but still, it’s time to think about the offseason - and it starts with knowing who’ll be back next year.