Pretty weird this thread comes to a close this week. Does this team feel improved? Did the club make the right choices in the additions and, just as importantly, the subtractions? the most recent write up (infamous for referring to signed players as trialist, it appears) suggests a 343. That might just be somewhat lazy writing. But I do wonder how long this shift in shape takes and if it’s actually materially different than last years tactics
Listening to Jason over the break, he made it sound like they want to defend and attack in the same shape. I still think that means asking a ton from the wingbacks, it's good they have incredible depth, but it's not very proven on the right and it's something new for almost anyone playing there. I'm curious to see what happens with the central midfielders, who takes ownership of the starting spots. Last year, I thought Caliskan could see what needed to be done, but wasn't able to physically do it/keep up. I'm not sure how you get past that. Supposedly Spierings is more of a 6 than RSL has had in some time. I don't know how you can play a 3-4-3 and ask Luna to play in a free, centralized role. So I don't know if that means Guilavogui plays up along Olatunji or share the attacking midfield responsibilities with Luna. Not that it really matters, but I think this ends up looking more like a 3-4-1-2 when we look at heat maps after games. Really curious to see who the backup to Luna is, especially as he's not ready for 90 minutes. Also curious if Pablo is as steadfast in sticking to his tactics/formations as he has been for the vast majority of the last few seasons. The first 15 week be quite the challenge. That said, Vancouver has a CCC road match on Wednesday.
I think the 3-4-1-2 is the right read, but it is a big ??? when Luna is not on the pitch. At least in the preseason game I watched, the team fell off drastically when Luna was subbed out. I’d say maybe Pablo Ruiz, but it looks like he might be nursing an injury too.
Trey was on the radio with Spence and they are calling it a 3-5-2. Few notes: Yedlin is the RCB for now, but if Arias ends up there, Yedlin goes to RWB. Seems to be a set in stone starter. Sanabria will start at LWB if he's available. Katranis should get a fair amount of mintues. Spierings is more a 6 than we've seen in some time. Not sure who will start next to him (when he's healthy/ready, not game 1), but maybe Eneli, when he's healthy. Gozo will probably be the starter at RWB, but where does he go if Yedlin is RWB? You're not sitting your shiny new DP, right? Don't think this is game 1 lineup, but would be if everyone was healthy: Cabral Yedlin Glad Engel Gozo Spierings Luna Eneli Sanabria Guilavogui Olatunji
The median prediction for final standing is 10.5, which I’ll round down to 10 (just because). 10th place is surprisingly high imo given so many unknowns about this team.
The average (if I did the math right), was 10.93 with more people picking 13th than 9th. I'd say there's not a lot of confidence in this team from MLS media.
I agree about their confidence. I felt the 13th picks were outliers so I went with median. Regardless it works out to a group expectation of 10th or 11th. Not great.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/expe...stern-conference-western-conference-standings SJ, STL, Crapids and SuKC. I personally think 6th-12th is going to be very close. I don't think any of those teams (as presently constructed) are for sure better than RSL.
Can’t argue with any of that. Borderline playoff team coming down to the last couple of games in the season it is!
I’m also very curious how certain players fit into this if everyone is healthy. From all accounts it seemed Marczuk had a good preseason. I wouldn’t count him out at RWB. you also don’t have caliskan in your lineup so it’s not realistic
Although we should probably be kicking off the 2026 Season Thread with this... New Random Fan Pod has dropped!
Did you listen to Pablo on the radio? Really think they'll start Moisa and Caliskan? Edit: I should have kept listening. That's the plan. I think I need to change my score prediction.
Thanks. Would be curious to know peoples thoughts on our predictions and if anyone agrees or think we are miles away from reality.
Thoughts so far: Offseason Grade: B+ for ambition; they are spending some money. I never thought they'd get rid of Cruz and Goncalves in this window, those are A moves; the players they brought in (overall and it's early) and got rid of (mainly Ojeda) bring this down to like a B- overall for me; I hope to be proven wrong on the talent/fit of the guys they brought in. I think they get a few more points than last year. 6th-12th I think is wide open this year. I don't think there will be more draws than last year, I think they are going to play a more open style that leads to more goals (scored and given up). I don't think Glad gets to 5 goals, but I'm very curious who takes the set pieces, hopefully Sanabria when he's playing. I think the team gets more set piece goals because they definitely brought in more size and theoretically better service. I kind of think RSL will be more organized with the 3 CBs and 2 DMs than last year and therefore give up a few less quality chances. I expect a similar year for Cabral. Big caveat to me is what happens during the break and secondary window. Even though I think they get less than 22.5 points from the first 15 games, it could all go out the window if they sell Luna and/or Gozo. I don't think replacements will adjust quickly enough (mainly for Luna) for RSL to maintain the playoff chase. It's really hard to predict the season when it hinges on a high profile young player that definitely has the ambition to play in a higher level league.
Great points. I think having 19 games after the WC and the window opening before the WC final on July 19 means that if they play their cards right they could have a new DP in time to actually have an impact. It all depends on how the season goes but I could see a scenario where Gozo heads off to greener pastures but the offers for Luna aren't enough to make a move worthwhile. Unless it just comes down to Diego really wanting to make a move. I am more than willing to upgrade my offseason grade. RSL has not had the best success dabbling in the transfer bargain bin but Morgan could change that this season. I think that there is a good chance that the roster is better than last year but the braintrust is not. That is probably my biggest concern.
As @goobx1 has pointed out several times, the opening run of games for rsl are not kind to a team that’s still finding its footing. I also wouldn’t rate the subtraction of rwan so highly. Diogo needed to go. That’s great. But as underwhelming as rwan was at times, I didn’t think it was part ways early level. Guilavogui has massive expectation to fill because of that. Not because Cruz was producing - but because acted fast to pull in him relatively speaking I think the loss of ojeda is detrimental beyond what folks realize. He was consistently the guy in the middle that held it together. Spierings has legitimately big shoes to fill there purely on the +\- I’d put the offseason at a C. Not amazing. Not awful. A lot of unknowns
And Spierings has not played with the team at all yet, and is still waiting for VISA issues to be resolved. We might see Eneli play before him!
Don't remember where I heard it, but apparently a big reason Cruz left was because Botafogo wasn't paying their bills, especially the one for Cruz. So they the the loan and he goes back to the team where he broke out. I'm not sure how much credit RSL should get, but still he's not here wasting a DP and International slot. The Ojeda situation I why I lowered my grade. The ambition from spending, the Sanabria and Arias deals and continuing to sign youth pulls it up higher than a C for me. Definitely a lot of unknowns.
Good breakdown, I think I am a little bit torn on the season as I think it will be a tale of two seasons: Pre-WC and Post-WC. So looking at last year: Goals per Game: 26th in MLS Conceded per Game: 15th in MLS So maybe an average/middle-of-the-pack defense but a truly toothless attack that only outscored: Atlanta Toronto Montreal DC United xG: 25th Big Chances: 28th Per Pablo’s interview it sounds like to remedy this chance-creation issue they are hoping to press higher up the field, then going quickly after winning the ball; relying on the speed and physicality of Morgan, Victor, Gozo. To me it makes sense as you have only 1 DP until the summer and a talent deficit. Hoping turn-overs and wing-back crosses can fill the chance creation void that has been sorely missing. Hope Morgan and Victor can finish those chances. BTW Other teams entering the season with only 1 DP: Montreal Dallas San Jose A big reason my offseason grade would be a D. Hanging with some elite company there haha. Hoping Engel and Sanabria are great, thinking the Ojeda move was really not smart. (Now Moisa is debuting vs the western conference champions haha) So all that being said, I think the move is to play ugly but effective soccer like a wannabe Philly until the break, replace Luna and Gozo with at least 1 DP, and see if you can salvage something after that. My prediction: 11th in the West, 21st overall 40 points.