Am I reading this correctly ?

Does Casemiro have a shot at finishing as United’s top goalscorer this season? I already miss him next year which I did not see coming in 25/26.

#MLS matchweek 2 possession value added (PV+) team of the week player deep dive. Dejan Joveljic carried a low expectation SKC to a point against the Crew.

Top Players of the Week 1. Joveljic 2. Messi 3. Berhalter #MLS #InterMiamiCF #SportingKC #VWFC

PV+ Matchweek 2 Team of the Week

Paulie looks like our best player

First edition of the PV+ Report

These are TOUGH

Dropped a new series on the Substack. Using the Possession Value Added model and these sorts of graphics to take a look at who the best players of the week are.

What a performance from the NYRB Bradley Boys who weren't really on my radar and are now one of the teams I am most excited to watch this season.

Denis Bouanga vs Inter Miami ▫️3 key passes ▫️4 progressive passes ▫️13 carries (4 progressive) ▫️6 shots (3 on target) ▫️1 goal ▫️10 defensive actions #Bouanga #LAFC

#MLS PV+ Week 1 TOTW and honorable mentions

Pretty happy with how week 1 PV+ rankings came out. Who do you think the model has missing out? Going to drop a best XI article this week. Check this out for an explainer on how the possession value model was built: substack.com/@jakeburgess...

Pretty sure he used the force here

Ik Poch ate this up

I expect the Rapids to be more of a handful than most think. Especially if Paxten kills it

We’re back. Sounders vs Rapids week 1 preview.

There is a lovely symbiosis between @backheeled.com @mattdoyle.bsky.social's Tactics Free Zone, ASA, and the individual team blogs like @sounderatheart.com and @burgundywave.bsky.social going on that feels very fun in an age when the league and media have decided on no real MLS coverage.

Thought RBW was going to have a breakout year. Sad to see him go. Another good reason to watch Nashville this year

Love this plot of @futi.live team styles, stoked to see this stuff in smart club coverage like Sounder at Heart

It means a lot to get a shoutout from one of the very best whose work inspired me to become a soccer stats nerd in the first place. Unless you live under a rock and haven’t already seen it, go checkout Cat’s work at @americansocceranalysis.com @mlsstat.bsky.social among numerous other places.

Get ready to learn the Brunell-Dotson pivot, buddies

Woke up from a dream that United signed Justin Long but he’s Italian and goes by Sandro

Putting numbers behind 'Schmetzer Ball' Had a blast putting this one together for @sounderatheart.com. Once again, shoutout @futi.live for making advanced "style of play" analysis accessible for the public.

#SoundersFC middle third and final third tendencies. Possibly the goats of the cutback-pass...

These teams would never make it in the Prem.

Bring him to the game. Please

Babe... wake up. @futi.live @johnspacemuller.com dropped team styles and tendencies data. Seems like an awesome resource for summarizing how teams play: futiapp.substack.com/p/how-many-w...

We’re so back.

#SoundersFC fans have been spoiled for years with solid outside backs like Nouhou and Alex Roldan. The future of the position is in solid hands with 20 year old #USYNT rep Reed Baker-Whiting next up.

Sign Carrick to a lifetime contract if he’s able to get this man a haircut this season

Stoked to be part of the legacy.

Playing around with @futi.live organized possession data. In 2025 #MLS play, the Sounders ranked #1 in success rate and 8th in progression phases which @johnspacemuller.com defines as possession sequences where teams advance the ball into threatening areas before a shot or box entry.

When the numbers look as good as Minoungou’s did in 2025 the story sort of writes itself.

Georgi Minoungou’s ball-carrying numbers are wild. MLS chances created from carries (per 90): 🥇 Minoungou — 1.62 🥈 Abada — 1.21 🥉 Son — 0.98

Excited for what I think will be a breakout season for Minoungou. His 2025 per 90 stats were outstanding compared to other Sounders. 🥇PV+ Passing (0.25) 🥇Progressive Carries (8.3) 🥇Final Third Carries (14.26) 🥇Final Third Receptions (29.28) *Visuals & stats built with @sounderatheart.com Stats Lab

Believe it or not, this is just another new feature we’re getting to roll out this year. Shaping up as a massive year.

Got something in the works for Sounders sickos… ⚽️ 📊 @sounderatheart.com

All I want in 2026 is the rebirth of @watkee.bsky.social ’s USMNT, Berhalter-esque, behind-the-back commentary. I genuinely believe our ability to reach the quarterfinals (and beyond) hinges on this.

#MLS 2025 Season U23 Best XI - By PV+ 1. Freeman +12.8 #OrlandoCity 2. McGlynn +10.9 #HoldItDown 3. Gutiérrez +9.8 #CF97 4. Luna +9.5 #RSL 5. Wolff +9.1 #AustinFC 6. Surman +8.6 #RCTID 7. Bombino +8.1 #SDFC 8. Makhanya +7.9 #DOOP 9. Leroux +7.5 #Quakes74 10. Toklomati +7.2 #ForTheCrown

How much is a pass really worth? A carry? A tackle? Here is the methodology behind PV+ (Possession Value Added), an action-value model inspired by @americansocceranalysis.com ’s Goals Added that values every on-ball action in units of goals.

#MLS PV+ Season Rankings (2025) PV+ (Possession Value Added) measures how much each player contributes to goals scored and goals prevented across every on-ball action. These are the top performers so far this season, ranked by total PV+. Here’s how PV+ works: open.substack.com/pub/jakeabur...

MLS Best XI Ranked by PV+, a possession-based player impact model Methodology + weekly MLS player rankings coming soon. 1)Messi +19.6 2)Mukhtar +18.7 3)Bouanga +18.6 4)Dreyer +16.9 5)Gil +15.3 6) Wagner +13.7 #MLS #InterMiamiCF #EveryoneN #LAFC #SanDiegoFC #NERevs #DOOP

Awesome signing. Really wanted Seattle to get him even though I knew it was probably never happening.

First off, thanks to everyone who reads and contributes to Sounder at Heart. We’ve continued to build and get better entirely because of you. With the hope of continuing that momentum, we’re launching a print publication. www.sounderatheart.com/2026/01/than...

Among MLS players who accumulated 8–12 xG+xA in 2025, Paul Rothrock earned roughly 15% of the median salary for that production tier. According to @jeremiah.sounderatheart.com , Rothrock’s new contract is expected to land much closer to that median value, though it is unlikely to exceed $650,000.

Paul Rothrock led the Sounders by a wide margin in progressive receptions, carries into the box, and crosses into the box in 2025. #PaulRothrock #Sounders

A late Christmas gift from @soundersfc.com Proud of the story we put together laying out the data-driven case for Paul Rothrock’s well-earned pay raise.

Paulie Primetime is back baby