RSL 2025 In-Season News Thread

About god damn time! I’m ready to be disappointed again.

 

Forbes MLS valuations
https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinbirnbaum/2025/02/21/the-most-valuable-mls-teams-2025/

If these numbers are reliable, it looks like RSL could have an opportunity to increase revenue significantly. Smaller market teams like Columbus, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Kansas City, and St Louis are making over $70 million, while RSL sits at $50 million. I wonder what the differences in revenue streams are than RSL is at ~70% of those teams.

 

I know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoy listening to the soapbox/wasatch sentinel guys. Trevor nailed it (paraphrasing):
What’s so irritating about this offseason and where the club is personnel wise is that last year set up so many things this club has been pining for. Most especially international Concacaf play. That we went into that game last week with the players we did - injured or not - was shocking and very much a let down as a fanbase

what’s being said without being said is the club cares about mls cup and nothing else is even close

 

Which of those had Messi play in their city last season year? I know Kansas City did. The played in a $76K seat stadium and jacked up ticket prices several times over their norm. Also, of that group only Charlotte has an NBA team to compete with for several months of the year. The others have MLB though, while RSL doesn’t. Basically I’m babbling.

 

If/when Messi plays here does it get moved to rice Eccles or Lavel Edward’s?

 

I don’t think this club even cares about mls cup otherwise they would’ve waited to move Gómez in the off season.

 

Messi ain't playing here.

 

I can't for sure where all of the difference is, but what my buddy pays for season tickets at STL is outrageous. Game day revenue is probably a big difference.

 

I'm not even sure they care about that. You can't add players the caliber that RSL is willing to pay in April or later and expect them to contribute enough to make it to the Western conference finals or better.
They say they care about winning, but their actions say otherwise. That's what's really frustrating.

 

Yeah. I would rather not have to fund a $25 million increase in revenue myself. I was hoping the difference was due to better sponsorships or luxury seating or something.

 

Wouldn't surprise me that they have better corporate sponsors and those willing to pay for suites and stuff. Huge soccer culture there.

Not sure about some of the other cities though.

 

So... uh... did we get a striker yet? Or should we play Eneli there too?

 

Prior to the SJE match I was worried about their strikers being able to create space for shots. I need not have worried. None of them needed to skillfully create space. We simply gave them the space and time they needed. Everybody can knock on all the wood they want in hopes that someone(s) step forward to fill the scoring vacuum…it won’t matter if we don’t make the other team have to play really sharp to score their goals.

 

Agreed. Everyone said the defense was fine last year. I'm not sure we improved there and this league gets better every year, especially in the attack.

 

I'm paraphrasing, but Doyle's take is a good one: "RSL looks like a team that lost 70% of it's goal scoring."
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/lafc-find-their-a-game-houston-s-depth-concern-more-from-matchday-1

I don't think it can be understated, if you don't have quality goal scorers, it puts way too much of a burden on the defense. The RSL defense is mediocre, at best. Not a good combo.

 

You don’t win many games where you don’t score

 

I won't like the product, but I could at least respect the club a little more if they came out and said they are doing to double down and be a defense first, 2nd and third club. The say one thing and then clearly not do that thing schtick bugs the hell out of me.

 

So burnley
I’ve watched burnley - ******** that

 

But we aren't at all trying to be a defense 1st, 2nd, or 3rd team. We clearly are a possession team. We keep the ball quite well. I am WAY more satisfied by the watching this style of soccer that we are trying to play than what we tried to play with the last 2 coaches.

We ultimately don't have a striker. Dropping Julio makes no sense given what we know about Manoel now. Ending things with Chicho after the incident with the massage therapist is exactly what people want club wide. Not simply turning the other way, but ending ties even if at a cost.

I am most disappointed by the lack of a solution after 8 months. Thst is where I scratch my head. Other teams have brought in high level DP strikers. Others have traded them or sold them. We haven't. THAT IS THE ISSUE.

 

I read some analysis that the system isn't even feeding the strikers. The other parts of the attacking 4 are supposed to be good enough, attract a bunch of attention and give the striker easy looks. None of that is happening. A very good/great striker won't necessarily fix that. Time might, but I don't know how long fans will wait.

 

My point was if they aren't going to get a highly competent striker, they could at least be a good defensive team.

Look at Houston, they lost a bunch of their best players, but their system allows them to stay competitive. Where's that for RSL?

 

I think 2 games into the new season is premature to make that level of systematic criticism
My view is the midfield has talented players able of progressing the ball. However it lacks any sort of credible defense so it consistently fizzles out at the edge of the final third

making an entire system critique when a player like Ajago is at a key spot is not fair

 

I missed the Herediano game.

Palacio was a huge problem in the San Jose game, leading to a lot of out-of-shape defensive errors. We give Diogo a bunch of shit for disappearing, but Palacio is glaring in his absence of cutting down passing lanes or winning back possession.

 

WAIT. WHAT?!