Nectarios Triantis makes his international debut for Greece, subbing on in the 64th minute #MNUFC

#MNUFC are MLS' biggest underdogs in game 2. I think SEA wins, but the level of confidence oddsmakers and pundits have that it's a LOCK is puzzling. I wouldn't bet much, but if you think Seattle overextends themselves chasing the game, you could do worse than a parlay of MN outright and under 1.5

Fun with arbitrary endpoints: Loons record when attempting 350 passes or fewer: 11-2-3 Loons record when recording 450 touches or fewer: 8-0-1 #MNUFC

That’s about as composed a finish as you’ll see. Haji Wright looking as good as we’ve seen a #USMNT striker look in a minute.

Really, really nice finish from Haji Wright and take nothing away from the slide-rule ball in from Roldan! #USMNT

Good discussion of the Loons’ 4-4-2 in here as well as all three of us unreservedly agreeing with each other for what is, I believe, the first time ever.

In both strategy and execution, Sierra Leone just had a free kick straight out of the 2017 Loons' playbook. They got cute with the routine on an FK 20 yards out, failed to get a shot themselves and gave up a shot on target at the other end.

Good news for #MNUFC fans: Anthony Markanich was moving well with no wrap on during the post-game handshakes.

Judging analytics projects has reminded me that, although I have cultivated a rosy persona, I am at my best when I am an unfettered hater.

San Diego FC has won just once at home since May 31. Some of that is a schedule quirk because of their shared stadium, but even so, that got to give their first playoff opponent a lot of hope.

Triantis absolutely RIPPED a couple shots in warm ups 😳

Eat your heart out, Bernstein!

Weird #MLS fact: From 2021-2024, the fifth place team in the Supporters' Shield standings had exactly 1.62 PPG

The #MNUFC Transfer Window recap is up! I came away from the research for this: - Very intrigued by the mysterious Alexis Fariña - Less sure of Mamadou Dieng's ceiling - Genuinely puzzled by Dominik Fitz's passing Take a look and let me know who you're most excited about! callupastorm.com?p=70

Releases like this materially move MLS forward. It makes teams/players/games easier to talk about, it takes abstract concepts and grounds them, it gives amateur tools to take their insights and prove them out, and so much more. Cannot wait to play with these!

I feel like I should have pre-written Porter’s obituary.

I'm not saying I told you so, but I told you so #MNUFC

Every foul should be an optional penalty shot. Get tripped up 40 yards out and think you can beat the keeper from there? Everybody clear out!

Good news: I put down almost 1000 words on the Loons’ summer signings Bad news: That only got me through two of them. Still hoping to have it out by Friday so y’all will have something to read while you wait for #MNUFC’s west coast kick off.

Cannot wait for #MNUFC to go up a goal on the road in the playoffs and roll this bad boy out to kill off the final 63 minutes of the game:

We tackled a couple interesting questions in this one, but none bigger than this: What is Joseph Rosales' future with this #MNUFC? He's obviously talented, but does he fit anywhere else on the field now that Anthony Markanich has signed a long-term deal?

Woah, another recording, only two weeks after the last one, slow the fuck down fellas! Thoughts on Portland, and the futures of a few of the new Loons! on.soundcloud.com/ZTk6joXRK0P4... featuring @mj-mattsui.bsky.social, @dwade.bsky.social, @texaszeller.bsky.social & Jessica14408392

Need your soccer fix tonight? Hartford (who is definitely missing Momo Dieng) is hosting Indy Eleven on ESPN+. Former Loons involved: Marlon Hairston (HFD) Jack Blake (IND) James Musa (IND) Finn McRobb (Former Twos defender, IND bench) Plus you can scout guys like Sebastian Anderson! #MNUFC

🚨🚨🚨Old Friend Alert! 🚨 🚨🚨 #OnceALoon #MNUFC

BE ELEGANT IN T̶R̶I̶U̶M̶P̶H̶ DEFEAT

Luis Suarez is a piece of shit, always has been, always will be.

$9 million is one terrific piece of business for the Loons. Losing Tani hurts the team and I’m genuinely disappointed to see him go, but what an opportunity for him and what a boon to the club’s transfer fund!

Really good business here, especially Fitz and Dieng. There’s not much out there publicly on Michel yet, so I’m interested to see him as a nearly $1m player. Obviously not a massive gamble, but not really a flier/lotto ticket either.

I’m not totally sold on Rosales in the midfield — especially on the right like he is tonight — but I am very interested to see how it works.

www.reddit.com/r/minnesotau... O’Rourke had the initial interest, so this well may be real. Would be massive if it’s true! #MNUFC

The right call. I hope they’re gearing up to replace him this winter though, because this won’t be the last big bid for him.

This is a really solid move. For his sake, I hope Minnesota make 2-3 bigger signings so that there’s absolutely no pressure on him to deliver immediately.

Big day for #MNUFC CSO Khaled El-Ahmad. It’s important to be smart, it’s important not to overpay, it’s important to sell when the price is right… but when there are trophies on the line, the most important thing of all has to be making sure the team is set up for on-field success.

#MNUFC was always likely to make at least 1-2 in-league moves today, but needing to get so much done outside of those is a bit worrisome. If this window is just Tani out and Fitz in, it’s going to feel like a missed opportunity to improve the team for the stretch run.

Six goals for Dieng in his last five games in all competitions is one heck of a heater! Pulling guys up from USL Championship is a great idea, but even for guys who are ultimately successful, it’s a big jump. Expectations for Dieng yet this season should be kept low.

#MLS #MNUFC

Obviously a huge bummer to lose such a high-impact player, but at $7.5m, it's the right call. I'm glad we know who is coming in as Tani goes out, but I still think this makes winning a trophy this season less likely, which is a bitter pill to swallow.

Wow, heck of a way to replace Mihailovic!

Not a huge shock that baseball didn’t take for Apple, but one wonders if folks in the MLS office are sleeping a little fitfully tonight.

@tombogert.bsky.social Any movement on Nectarios Tiranis? Feels likely he stays in the Championship, but man he'd be a great fit for the Loons.

Looking at the skills of Fitz, Bahrimi, and Mofokeng, #MNUFC is going to look VERY different next year. Still very explosive in attack, but less dependent on one home-run pass to a striker that wins a 1v1 for a shot on goal. It's a good change, especially if/when they sell Tani.

The good: Elite dribbling speed, one of the best crossers in Belgium last year, superb passer, can play either wing. The bad: Defense optional, like extremely optional; absolutely LOVES to shoot, absolutely cannot shoot. If the fee is in the $2m range, I'm excited. If it's more like $4-5... yikes

If the phase "Austrian Jack Wilshere" means anything to you, you've got a good read on Fitz's career to date: One club since age 7, CRAZY high ceiling and the reputation/expectations that come with it, gnarly injury history that has thrown off his career trajectory. Healthy now and v. productive.

+/- some work stuff, I'll get some thoughts up on him today. But the TL;DR is that he'd give #MNUFC a very different look in attack when they want one. The knock-on changes would be interesting. Fun Fact though: He's been credibly connected to both NYRB and Vancouver within the last 12 months.

We finally have #MNUFC rumors to talk about! Nectar Triantis might not be a household name, but he fits one of the Loons' big needs... if they can get him in the fold before multiple Championship teams swoop in: callupastorm.com?p=65

We finally have #MNUFC rumors to talk about! Nectar Triantis might not be a household name, but he fits one of the Loons' big needs... if they can get him in the fold before multiple Championship teams swoop in: callupastorm.com?p=65

This bid is obviously too low, but what is market rate for a guy like Tani? And, maybe more importantly, can #MNUFC afford to let him go at any price? Got a few thoughts on both of those questions: callupastorm.com?p=56

This bid is obviously too low, but what is market rate for a guy like Tani? And, maybe more importantly, can #MNUFC afford to let him go at any price? Got a few thoughts on both of those questions: callupastorm.com?p=56

Even setting aside squad thinness right now — on full display in yesterday’s loss — this isn’t close to what I’d accept for Tani.

Jerseys I have clean right now: Jerry Thiesson and Emanuel Reynoso and BOY you’d struggle to find a bigger gap in vibes #MNUFC