2026 Non-Massive MLS teams (because Eboe said it should be clarified) (Come Bite The Apple!)

Gazdag out, playmaker who can also score is needed. We don’t have a superstar and we need one

 

I would liken it more to the NFL. You need top guys at the premium positions of QB, OT, and edge rusher, which would be equivalent to hitting on DPs in MLS. However you also need thoughtful and coherent roster construction with quality depth. You have to use all the available talent acquisition tools including some creative accounting to make the math work. Like in MLS, an elite NFL GM like Howie Roseman in Philadelphia can consistently make average coaches look good, but an elite coach cannot overcome a bad front office, as was the case with Mike Vrabel in Tennessee.

The broader point that 96er made is something I've been preaching for over two years, and it also mirrors the NFL. When the Crew went all-in three summers ago and parlayed it into an MLS Cup, it set off an arms race. In that environment, being consistently great means being aggressive in every transfer window. Any time you fail to upgrade your talent, you fall behind. It eventually creates a massive gap between the contenders and the rest of the pack, which is what we're seeing right now. Miami and FCC have had slow starts but I fully expect them to both start moving up the standings and separating themselves again. When the calendar flips, this will only get more pronounced. You will have a class of teams that are consistently lousy and a much smaller class of elites who are regularly competing for trophies. The middle class will be much closer to the bottom than the top.

In that respect, bringing back Bezbatchenko is the most valuable acquisition the Crew have made since Cucho. He gives Columbus the potential to reside in that class of elites because he's that good as a GM.

 

Mascherano out of miami

 

Wooooow. According to Michele Giannone, it was Masch's decision.

EDIT:

And he took his staff with him? I wonder if Europe came calling.

Here's the presser from Miami: https://www.intermiamicf.com/news/head-coach-javier-mascherano-departs-inter-miami-cf

 

My guess would be that he jumped before he was pushed ; ) . I’m a little skeptical that he’d be head hunted by a European team, but you never know.

 

Miami is gonna sign Pep lol

 

If they don't go player-coach, I'm gonna riot.

 

Nah, Messia has to keep the facade up that he's this easy going guy that has no real power, when really he does and he (and especially his dad/agent) isn't afraid to wield it.

 

Hopefully, he (or any close friends or family members) weren't placing any prop bets...

 

Gossip is that Inter Miami has stopped referring to Hoyos as interim coach in all communications. Speculation is that he’ll be the permanent hire. Not sure if this is valid information, but he has coached Messi in the past which seems to be a prerequisite.

 

I'm shocked

 

Got an email from FC Cincinnati this afternoon (I've bought quite a few tickets from them, so I'm on their mailing list), they are now selling FCC2 jerseys!

Looks like it's not on the normal MLS website, and is "pick-up only".
https://fccgo.com/collections/fcc2?utm_source=26ema_push&utm_medium=ema&utm_campaign=fcc-2-kits

I wonder if Crew 2 shirts will be available at some point too.

 

Tom Bogert is reporting that discontent after losing in CCC and a 2-2 draw with NYRB led to a locker room argument, featuring Mascherano. Who the other people involved were is unclear, but if I had to guess...

 

Thanks, but I prefer dull, boring, flat performances by untalented teams full of disinterested players coached by clueless Swedes..

Go Crew!

 

It must be noted that the turnaround between the divisions is quite remarkable.

For several.years the East has been a monster while the West, aside from LAFC, has pretty much sucked.

But now, suddenly, the East is a pile of rubbish.

 

My unpolished take is that almost every good team in the east had fairly big change ups in personnel, particularly in midfield. Those that kept their cores together have done the best this season. No team out west really got rid of key players, other than SD with Chucky and SJ with Chicho.

Cincinnati kept their core together but remain bad because they've overperformed their xG and other stats since 2024, and now their luck is running out.

 

boo

 

Was watching the MLS Conference in Contado's while waiting for the game last night. There were some really good games out there.

 

Listening to Soccerwise. James Rodriguez has played 30 minutes in 8 MLS games apparently lol. Glad we dodged that alleged bullet.