RSL 2026 In-Season News Thread

The Athletic seems to think Luna has a decent shot at, at least, the bench.

“Maybe you bring your ‘effort’ guy in Luna…”.

“I’d still bet on Luna.”

 

So just an interesting one; As mentioned in the recent interviews, Kurt Schmid’s brother is the head coach at Loyola Marymount University. One thing that wasn’t mentioned is that his Assistant Coach is Erik Holt!

Noel Caliskan joins Kevin Novak as former LMU Lions to play for RSL.

The Erik Holt part is interesting and kind of funny, the rest is only interesting to me as an LMU fan haha (just because that is where my brother played)

 

Honestly one of the best things that happened for Luna in this window was his absence. Not a single person watched these two games and said the roster was set. I’d say the only thing preventing Luna from being on the squad now is injury or a truly awful run of form in April

 

I was pretty concerned that someone would take the reins like he had last year. NOPE!

The other weirdness is that Poch still messed around with the formation/style of play so late in the process.

 

Erik Holt was one of my favorite almost decent players for RSL. He had size and was one of the best passers in the back if memory serves. Injuries made his decision to go another direction an easy one. So glad he is still in the game.

 

I just googled Erik Holt, because for some reason I thought he was getting a law degree.
He did get a poli-sci degree.

However, he just joined UCLA in January.
https://uclabruins.com/news/2026/1/26/mens-soccer-adds-erik-holt-as-assistant-coach

 

ah good find! Moving up in the coaching ranks. I was hoping LMU could take-over from UCLA as being RSL-U but that doesn’t help my case at all. haha

I wonder if there are other former RSL players coaching now at the college level or above?

How wild would it be if in 15 years Erik Holt becomes the second RSL player to become head coach of the club before Kyle or Javi! haha

 

Holt attended more youth soccer tournaments and events than any other rsl player I can remember. Dude seemed genuinely happy to be able to play and involved in the game

 

I think it is pretty promising for Juanma to be at the World Cup seeing that he appeared in both games this last window. Only 3 minutes in each of the games, but a good sign that he will be at least filling a bench-spot come June!

I believe that will mean that RSL will have had a player at every World Cup except for 2018.

 

STOP THE COUNT!!!

 

Vancouver were down 2-1 at home to Portland.
PK at 90’ and then another goal in the 95’ gives them all three. If they tied, we’d be tied for 3rd with them and Seattle, but 4th due to GD.

 

When I posted the earlier chart Vancouver was being outplayed by Portland and I thought it unlikely Vancouver would even get a point.

 

Maybe he can play for the Monarchs this week?

 

If Poch uses a lack of a single game as justification then Luna was never actually in consideration

again, this last pair of games showed that the group needs player(s) like Luna

 

Not trying to make this a NT discussion and I didn't watch the games, but from the outside it sounds like this may have been Poch trying a couple things to find out what he can and can't do leading up to the last friendlies in prep for the WC. In this context, everything I've heard about these games makes sense.
I can't imagine a player that leads the team in appearances/minutes (Luna) not make the NT the following year. Is there precedent for that?

 

These were the last friendlies. Trying stuff now is moronic and bad management.

that said, a certain Landon Donovan almost fits that bill

 

Then what's happening 5/31 and 6/6?
I'm just saying taking a couple games to get confirmation on a few things makes some sense to me. Didn't several "key" players miss most of the games last year?

 

Ah, you’re right. I misinterpreted what folks were saying after the last window. The final World Cup roster is announced on 5/26. So those friendlies will truly be tune ups for the cup

 

I think the bigger criticism of Poch is that he rolled out new formations that the team hasn't played in a LOOOOONNNNNGGGGG time this last round, and that we are not likely to play in the World Cup, not so much who he called in or didn't.

But again, that's what the soccer podcast bros and pundits are saying. There might actually have been a specific method to his madness. At the very least, we learned what DOESN'T work.

 

The 2010 defense was dope!

 

I didn’t know where else to post it.

 

LAFC gave up a goal in the 31st yesterday so they went 571 minutes without giving up one and move into 4th on that chart.