NEW: One Knox are your 2025 League One Champions, so how'd they get it done on Sunday night? I dive deep. (That, plus the usual newsletter segments across the Championship and Super League.) www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...

We’ve got our conference title winners for 2025, but how did the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and FC Tulsa get it done? I deep dive into each performance to see what mattered and how these clubs went the distance. 🔗⬇️ www.backheeled.com/how-fc-tulsa...

NEW: One Knox are your 2025 League One Champions, so how'd they get it done on Sunday night? I dive deep. (That, plus the usual newsletter segments across the Championship and Super League.) www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...

Spokane's got a reeeaaaal bad title game curse

Here's we go on @cbssportsgolazo-m.bsky.social. Stream the #USL-1 Final between @oneknoxsc.bsky.social and Spokane Velocity FC live. www.cbssports.com/watch/cbs-sp...

The USL Championship Final is set 🏆 How did FC Tulsa and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds book their spot in the final game of the season? @usltactics.com examines the decisions that have taken both clubs one step away from history ⤵️

Flight booked to Tulsa let’s get it

This Tulsa performance might be one of the most dominant in a Conference Final that I can remember. Absolutely stamped their authority on this one from the opening minute

Get out the @johnspacemuller.com long throw-in claxon. Taylor Calheira finishes off the chance for his second of the night as @fctulsa.bsky.social doubles its lead. #USL-C

Alright folks let me know where I can get a good cup of coffee in Tulsa

New Mexico finally starts going long from the back to tilt the field...and then they resort to endless backpasses to defeat the purpose of the change. Absolutely no answer for this Tulsa defense right now.

dick too strong

The Hounds' scoreless streak ends at 389 minutes. The shutout streak is now at 477 minutes, 35 minutes from a trip to the #USL-C Final next Saturday.

This is the formula for Rhode Island: stop Pittsburgh from accessing the central spaces in their attacking 3-1-5-1, then break with Fuson and Williams forcing the center backs to make choices.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Keystone State, tonight's #USL-C Eastern Conference Final is half-an-hour from kickoff. Lineups and formations for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC vs. @rhodeislandfc.bsky.social at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and @siriusxmfc.bsky.social.

There's plenty to check out ahead of tonight's #USL-C Eastern and Western Conference Finals. Start here with @usltactics.com's written and video breakdown of both games. www.usltactics.com/tape-session...

playoffs

USL Odds, November 14 @theuslshow.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/statrobo...

USL League Two and the USL W League drive community-centric soccer in America, and Edgewater Castle FC is bringing that spirit to Chicago. I spoke to club founder Andrew Swanson on their USL move, Kellyn Acosta's involvement, and the mission behind it all. www.usltactics.com/in-conversat...

New Mexico United has become one of the USL’s most consistent organizations, one that’s a springboard into the MLS coaching ranks. What makes United so resilient and so successful? I spoke to sporting director Itamar Keinan to find out. www.backheeled.com/how-new-mexi...

PSA: I've migrated the blog from Substack to Ghost. Hopefully that won't have an impact on any email subscribers, but check out the new look on usltactics.com. (Also, the old Substack will stay up as an archive for anyone that needs it.)

After years of debate, MLS will switch to a European-style calendar in 2027. The move will create ripple effects for teams, transfers, rules, and TV audiences. So...what now? For @backheeled.com, I break down the biggest questions facing MLS post-schedule shift ⤵️

The format for voters isn't one-to-one with an actual XI, but here's who appeared on my ballot.

So far this decade, MLS clubs have hired more than 60 managers. Three came from the USL Championship. Two of those three came from New Mexico United. Led by another rising coach in Dennis Sanchez, @usltactics.com looks at how New Mexico became the USL's top coaching factory. Read ⤵️

Monterey Bay FC Bolsters Front Office By Hiring Former USL Champion Winning Sporting Director to be Chairman and Chief Soccer Officer. medium.com/the-union-re... #soccer #sports #mbfc #footy #futbol #footbsll #usl #uslchampionship

There’s no more important player to New Mexico’s growth and success in 2025 than Harris. Great read.

👀👀👀

NEW: Which tactical battles and matchups will be most important in the League One final? What should you be watching for in the Championship’s conference finals? I preview it all, looking back at this season’s tape to set the battle lines across the USL. www.usltactics.com/p/tape-sessi...

Need to get primed for the USL Championship’s conference finals? This League! has you covered. We dive deep into the conference semis, preview Saturday’s games, and eulogize NCFC along the way. www.youtube.com/live/dMaTePT...

talking soccer soon

NEWSLETTER: Early release this week, but there's tons to cover. I'm diving deep into: 🟠 Knoxville's stellar back line 🔷 How Spokane's measured tactics won the day ⚓ Defensive balance for RIFC 💛 New Mexico's complete attack ⁉️ DC-Brooklyn takeaways www.usltactics.com/p/the-back-f...

ICYMI: The USL Championship conference semis are in the books, so what am I taking away? 4️⃣ How the four remaining teams got the job done ⭐️ Who's best positioned to make a run at a trophy 💀 Eulogizing the clubs we lost www.backheeled.com/usl-power-ra...

NEWSLETTER: Early release this week, but there's tons to cover. I'm diving deep into: 🟠 Knoxville's stellar back line 🔷 How Spokane's measured tactics won the day ⚓ Defensive balance for RIFC 💛 New Mexico's complete attack ⁉️ DC-Brooklyn takeaways www.usltactics.com/p/the-back-f...

ICYMI: The USL Championship conference semis are in the books, so what am I taking away? 4️⃣ How the four remaining teams got the job done ⭐️ Who's best positioned to make a run at a trophy 💀 Eulogizing the clubs we lost www.backheeled.com/usl-power-ra...

What’s fun about Portland is that they’ve always got 4-5 players on the pitch that are liable to score the best goal you’ve seen in your life

Ollie Wright, man of the moment for @heartsofpine.bsky.social. His second goal of the #USL-1 Playoffs levels it up early in the second half.

LONG. THROW. GOAL.

Catch up with all things conference semis as I dive into a wonderfully tense set of USL Championship playoff matches.

UNREAL

Second minute of stoppage time in extra time, Lukic scores his sixth goal this season after coming on as a substitute to win it for @fctulsa.bsky.social. The Scissortails are going to their first #USL-C Western Conference Final.

Brutal set piece defending to put OCSC down, can't have that in the playoffs.

Detroit has eight *shots* in 210 playoff minutes and they might advance to the conference final

They’re having a dive-off

The saddest last-ever goal North Carolina could give up...

And THAT is why you bring Albert Dikwa in off the bench.

Jean-Eric Moursou is going to be a very good USL player (if he isn't already), and plays like this to recover from the pivot and stonewall Taylor Calheira are a major reason why.

Stronger pressure usual from NCFC tonight - doing well to stay tight up the middle and pursue backpasses, and Mikey Maldonado is *everywhere*

#USL-C Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals Night kicks off now on ESPN+. www.espn.com/watch/catalo...

They’re calling it the most watchable broadcast of all time

Substack's very legitimate algorithm thinks I'm growing faster than Pablo Torre