RORY MCILROY WINS THE 2026 MASTERS.

In an industry that reduces players to mere financial assets, FC Midtjylland is doing something different. Invest in the person, and the footballer follows. Over €200 million in transfers proves the new model works. New piece, out below. Enjoy.

Join me on @stumptownfooty.bsky.social for tonight’s cascadia clash! #RCTID

The Thorns divided spoils and now they can rest a little. However, STF crew won't rest for long tonight because the Timbers are playing in less than 2 hours. The great @luukasojala.bsky.social will cover the rivalry game against Vancouver for you. Stay tuned and onward, Rose City. #BAONPDX #RCTID

What’s up party people. Join me on @stumptownfooty.bsky.social for tonight’s cascadia clash between the Timbers and our northern neighbors, the whitecaps. Looking forward to seeing you tonight! #RCTID

Seeing friends do cool things has quickly become a highlight of my life. Super excited for @phuocerman.bsky.social and this opportunity he will have.

I wrote about the role the Veikkausliiga plays as a developmental and gateway league for players entering the European market. Enjoy, and please subscribe!

Gonna name my second born child after Mikko Rantanen

You’re about to see, but one of the few things that makes me insufferable are Finland sports

Proud to have achieved this milestone, and to have created a small community of like minded football thinkers. This group has become one of my favorite parts of the internet. Here’s to the next 💯!

Brentford’s move from Thomas Frank to Keith Andrews felt like strategic planning gone right. In a sport addicted to managerial turnover, they’ve built a system strong enough to survive, and evolve, beyond one personality. Continuity is strategic. Enjoy. ⬇️

I miss Jukka Jalonen. Finnish hockey might be the death of me 😭

Key numbers: 2026 Senior Roster Salary Budget of $6,9425,000 (MLS typo that I assume is $6,942,500) from 5,950,000 last season. Max budget charge is increased to $803,125. Clubs must declare roster construction by February 20th, can update starting July 1st.

T2 has a new man in charge, 35 year old Englishman Jack Cassidy. I write about his hiring, and some signings that T2 has made. For @stumptownfooty.bsky.social #RCTID

Will stay a U22 through this season. He turns 26 in 2027-28, meaning he’ll have to be off the program by then. I’m going to wait on the details of the transaction because if he’s on his current deal I’m pretty sure he’s going to have to be a DP in 27/28.

From a sporting strategy perspective, this makes a TON of sense. 1) Bassett is a known performer who has room to grow. 2) Portland gets their replacement in the midfield for David Ayala. 3) from a business perspective, this is a move that will hopefully bring ROI and then some. #RCTID

Craziest thing I’ve ever watched. No human is limited 💪

Preseason back in full sprint. 2026 campaign 🔜

Development is preached widely in soccer. It gets practiced far less when pressure shows up. A piece on winning, time, and what gets lost when everything is judged immediately. Enjoy.

Happy new year #RCTID and #BAONPDX fam! May 2026 be full of sawdust, roses, and a whole lot of celebratory smoke bombs. Onward.

2025 ✅ Here’s to more in 2026 🔜

you'll never sing that

Official: Sophia Wilson returning to Portland Thorns for 2026 #BAONPDX "Bringing this new version of myself back to Portland is so special to me." "I'm excited to get back with everyone & play in Providence Park, in front of the Riveters. There's no place like it."

Interesting move imo, à la Eric Ramsay. Now the second coach from a top tier English club making the move to MLS. Will be interesting to see if this becomes more of a trend

🟢 Sources: The Portland Timbers are finalizing a deal to sign free agent right back Brandon Bye. Bye, 30, made 214 appearances with New England since being selected in the 2018 SuperDraft. Believe this is first free agent deal (for player changing clubs) this winter to be set

In Part 2 of my series for @stumptownfooty.bsky.social, I chat with PTFC Academy Coaches Darren Back and Fernando Pessoa. We go into the youth development pathway at the club, and how PTFC prepares the next generation of the Green and Gold. Enjoy! #RCTID

My Thanksgiving gift to the @stumptownfooty.bsky.social audience is finished. A comprehensive database across the Neville/Savarese eras of all PTFC academy/draft picks, matchday squads made/apps, minutes, and stats. I look forward to showing y'all soon! #RCTID

A look ahead to part 3 of my series 'Club Roots' for @stumptownfooty.bsky.social. I have combed through the last seven seasons of PTFC soccer and compiled each matchday, if an Academy/Draft pick played, and how many minutes they might have gotten. Buckle up, will hit your inboxes eventually! #RCTID

Some consider it 'anti-football' or 'haram ball.' For Eric Ramsay, Minnesota United's ruthlessly pragmatic style is simply "the obvious antidote to teams that have got a lot of success on the basis of pure possession dominance." My chat with the Loons' gaffer: www.mlssoccer.com/playoffs/202...

Thankful to be a part of this team, and thankful to have a boss that allows me to dive into the true nitty gritty of the game, and write about things that interest me. I hope you all learned something!

Part one is here! Over the last several months, I have been working to put a piece together on the Timbers developmental pathway. I conducted the interviews for the next piece today, and I am collecting additional data as we speak. Can't wait for you all to see what I've been doing. #RCTID

Interesting little #RCTID tidbit. In the 2024 season, the Timbers played 38 games across all competitions. An Academy Player or Draft Pick made the squad 16 of those times. In total, 4 appearances were made from the developmental pipeline that season.

Just did a very exciting interview for @stumptownfooty.bsky.social. Something I’m very proud of, and a topic I hope a lot of the #RCTID audience will find very interesting. Time to edit a 3,400 word transcript. 🤪

Finnesota!!

⚽ Everyone wants instant results, but the best clubs play the long game. Why strategy beats short-term thinking in soccer operations.⬇️

A friend at a Premier League club told me: “You guys in America have roles we’ve never heard of in Europe.” He’s right. Here’s my latest piece on two uniquely American positions that keep MLS clubs running. ⬇️⚽

Saw Jurgen Klopp in an ad for Trivago today and it genuinely made my day. That dude is living his best life, I hope to be like him one day

With decision day looming this weekend for the Portland Timbers, @luukasojala.bsky.social takes a look at potential first round playoff opponents. #RCTID

New on @stumptownfooty.bsky.social, the 2025 edition of the PPOP: The Potential Playoff Opponent Preview. Enjoy! #RCTID

Doing some research right now on the potential opponents #RCTID could play in the playoffs for an article coming out soon for @stumptownfooty.bsky.social. If the Timbers are able to secure the 7th seed, they will play whoever is in second place after decision day this weekend. 🧵⬇️

Always looking to connect with interesting people related to the beautiful game! If you/ or someone you know spends their days thinking about the beautiful game, I would love to follow them! Give me your best recommendations below!

Great interview by Phuoc here. Rare that we get the chance to hear from the chief soccer officer about a very recent trade - good stuff in this! #BAONPDX

Another ambitious CSO hire, this time by SKC. Will be exciting to see how clubs with open CSO roles fill the slots.

There’s a segment of Timbers supporters I can’t wrap my head around who make these definitive statements about the current state of the club from a really bad faith position. Very clearly have their minds made up about coaches/players/soccer ops strategy and overlook any semblance of good happening.

First and foremost, I am a Timbers fan. That needs to be made clear. I am someone who pays attention to what goes on in the sporting director world, and my lord, this would be an absolute smash hire for the MLS.

Choose joy. That’s it.

Sam Svilar, managing editor, @stumptownfooty.substack.com AND male relationship consultant

Got a lot of good things happening in my life as of late, and the rest of this year is something that I’m looking forward to. Gonna be a great rest of the year professionally (⚽️) and personally. Time to blow the doors off

Portland found their Designated Player replacement in Norwegian Winger, Kristoffer Velde. @luukasojala.bsky.social takes a look at him and gives his thoughts. #RCTID