PBP: Aiming for “mid” - the 2026 consolidated match thread - all competitions

Oh, I know it's me - I still find irritating that the league put all their eggs in one very unstable basket

 

Looks like Herrera in at RW and Hopkins at the 9.

Disappointed to see Servania, Pirani and Peglow start again. I thought we might shake things up after the disaster last week.

 

Game on.

 

Post!

 

Great camera work.

 

We hate the woodwork...

 

It's a little open. Herrera wide

 

Finally some decent possession but it ends with a tame shot from Pirani.

 

1-0 NE nice finish from the top of the box.

 

It's halftime. United is losing.

 

Just feels like a not very good team unfortunately. Didn’t play terrible but little offense again and other teams have the quality to punish.

 

Probably won't watch the second half. Herrera helps somewhat but with Baribo out it doesn't matter.

 

How long is Weiler going to push this Pirani thing? Is he going to wait until he’s goalless for a third of the season to make a change? He’s had some success coming off the bench, try that again. Sheesh.

 

I saw better players last night in Loudoun. Pirani is his usual useless self. Hopkins looks like a USL player. The Loudoun striker looks similar but he buried his two chances and didn't get the ball stuck in his feet. This team really is inert without Baribo.

 

I am listening to charlie davies on the revs local radio commentary. It feels like he is right, dc will fold if ne get an another unanswered goal

 

The second half has begun.

 

I'm not convinced they understand the object of the game.

 

0 points.

DC Power actually won 2-0 over Tampa Bay Sun
DC Defenders won their home opener 44-7.
USWNT beat Japan 2-1
USW U20s beat Brazil 2-0

 

3.2 xg, zero actual g.
So, yeah…

Suck.

 

I clearly don't understand xG, because...3.2? Really? How?

 

When I saw the first XI my reaction was, we don’t have anywhere near the amount of quality in the midfield and up top for MLS in 2026. Peltola continues to impress me, but he ain’t exactly a passing wizard out there, unlocking defenses with precision passing nobody else sees.

 

Watched until the bitter, boring end. Pirani, why? Has Kasper shared some of his picture collection with Pirani to "guarantee" his starting role. I have no idea if Louis will amount to anything, but he is bigger, moves forward and makes positive passes. Pirani just, as Lori Lindsay noted, "just drifts around." Interesting to see that Gavin Turner was first off the bench ahead of Clarke and Kijima. Didn't realize how tiny Turner is, looks Moses Nyeman sized. This team is a mess, the backline is OK, Peltola is a good #6, but the rest is a dog's breakfast.

 

Pirani has regressed to uselessness. It’s the price the soccer gods demanded for Peltola’s improvement.

 

The thing is Peltola is playing more like an 8 with Servania staying home as a 6.

Servania is such a limited player and he was awful/invisible against Dallas.

We have to change things up, I really want us to try a Pelota/Hopkins CM pairing. With Hopkins having more freedom to get forward. It would be nice if there were actually players in front of Hopkins when he makes the occasional surging forward run with the ball.

I'm hoping we see Servania and Pirani start on the bench next match.