There’s a couple bold claims that have been implied by soccer analytics research that seem to have the hardest time being accepted at scale. With a little extra time during the American soccer offseason, I tried to dive into why these claims meet so much resistance but why they still matter.

Not sure how real the European interest was but if Haak is betting on himself, could give him another option on a free.

Anyway, the bottom line is that NYCFC – primarily David Lee, who's gone now – did a disastrous job with Haak, who was pretty clearly their best defender over the entirety of this season. If they'd have properly valued him I can't imagine he'd have left.

like... lord have mercy a weapon wonder if he fell because teams thought he'd go back to europe?

The team view has been updated with all the team’s picks.

David Lee.. oh buddy. Not who I would have taken 4th

With the 27th pick, NYCFC takes Ransford Gyan. Gyan is probably the most fun player available, though there are a number of questions about how his frame translates to the next level. At the same time, he can be the understudy of one of the best little guys in MLS history.

A thin NYCFC II roster could have an impact on who the Pigeons select in tomorrow’s MLS SuperDraft. @paulharvey.theoutfield.nyc takes a closer look at NYCFC’s options for draft day. www.theoutfield.nyc/p/how-nycfc-...

This is the best resource in the universe btw

SuperDraft big board here!

If I was a CSO, Paul Harvey would be my first hire.

It's here. The single best resource for the 2026 MLS Superdraft has dropped from @paulharvey.theoutfield.nyc www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2025/12...

From Paul's tier 1 last year, 15 of 19 were selected, 6 went in the top 10, 5 played >1000 MLS minutes, some dominated USL. Of players selected not found in any tier, 0 played >300 MLS minutes. There is not a public college evaluation with a better hit rate.

Check out @americansocceranalysis.com for this year's edition of my MLS Superdraft Big Board. This year, there's more depth and more room for discovery. Also, for college soccer fans it includes ALL Division 1 players regardless of draft eligibility. There's some exciting players coming in 👀

Folks I think we have a statue inscription

An understandable move given the injury but an absolutely brutal turn of events for Andres Perea. An option declined after his best season in blue is heartbreaking.

Per club on the bad site, attacker Sebastiano Musu added on short term loan.

I think Ojeda is a definite. Last couple games vs pressing teams, Pascal played him behind the opposing leftback. Make sense to play him behind Wagner.

Pascal has is work cut out for him to put together a line up for this one. Haak will fill in for O'Neill at the 6 but who else steps into midfield for Perea or at striker for Martinez?

@roryki.bsky.social: "Let Me Cook!"

Sometimes you just need a DP to do some shit.

Why on earth would you show that replay

A PSAL soccer player is now mayor of the City of New York.

Doyle with some info on David Lee's role/thinking inside NYCFC's FO - still hard to parse what is authentic and what is prop, for the reason Doyle notes, but this sounds like it makes sense (also, as mentioned always on pod, you should be subscribed to Doyle's substack already)

Taps the sign

@roryki.bsky.social says, "Pigeons in Two!"

Lots of players doing favors for NYCFC tonight: Messi taking care of 5th place for them, Zaha taking care of his presence in at least the opener if not longer

👀 Justin Haak to us postgame with no love lost for David Lee: “At the end of last year, our old sporting director told me he didn't think I was a 34 game starter, so it was really big for me to come here and prove him wrong” by starting every game + leagues cup + us open cup

what I’m saying is that @treyfillmore.bsky.social has bars

“When you peek behind the curtain, you find another curtain. Bureaucracies excel at this, dispersing responsibility until it dissolves…Every player transfer becomes both his and not his, both brilliant and inevitable, until the very concept of accountability loses its significance.”

The only king we need:

talked to team about this: 1. it was written by a human, as with every piece 2. it was ran through AI grammer check which inserted the errors, missed in final human edit lessons learned all around! (AI stinks ass!)

Probably a good idea to proof read your AI slop before posting it to your team's website.

David Lee’s tenure as NYCFC sporting director is over. But how do you grade a guy when you don't even know what his job was? @treyfillmore.bsky.social explores this and why NYCFC needs to turn off the corporate autopilot. www.theoutfield.nyc/p/grading-a-...

I have been working on a new USA Soccer stat hub for a couple of months now in Tableau, as I grew increasingly dissatisfied with what I put together at the start of 2025. It's *finally* ready for public consumption. The images here don't show the half of it: public.tableau.com/views/MLSAdv...

Hi, MLS expert here! American football markings on the pitch can be really annoying but they're actually really easy to avoid if you play soccer on a baseball diamond as god intended

I’m sure Matt enjoyed announcing this while sitting next to the man who questioned whether USMNT “had the wrong Matt” a few months ago teehee

. 🕯 🕯 🕯 🕯️ 🕯 Barraza pls 🕯 🕯 don’t go beast mode 🕯 🕯 🕯 🕯 🕯

Justin Haak demonstrating that you don’t beat a low block by passing, you beat it with movement

Pay him!

What a way to celebrate the rich history of the Hudson River Derby with 4 current/former Red Bull players, 2 New York Knicks, and 0 NYCFC players at a concert venue that actual New Yorkers hate to go to.

🇦🇺 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙚 𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙡𝙚 🇦🇺

some exclusive reporting on the pod: NYCFC approached Justin Haak with an extension offer early in the season, but Haak and his team found the number far below expectation - two sides have not worked on a deal since Haak and co. hopeful NYC will return with a higher number, else he leaves for free

Cooper Flagg won the Wooden Award last year, now Cooper Flax has the Mac Hermann Award in his sights. Fantastic breakdown here from @paulharvey.theoutfield.nyc on who and what to watch for from a NYCFC perspective as the collegiate season kicks off.

I enjoy the weird little world that is college soccer, and with that in mind I wrote about some players that might be of interest to NYCFC fans (and even some broader audiences as well)

College soccer is back! Cooper Flax is chasing the Mac Hermann. Alexander Yagudayev wants the No. 1 spot. More NYCFC alums are making moves this fall. @paulharvey.theoutfield.nyc breaks down homegrowns, draft picks & local stars who could wear sky blue in 2026. www.theoutfield.nyc/p/varsity-bl...

Wishing Keaton all the best in recovery. A huge blow to the ceiling of NYCFC's midfield this year.