Joseph Lowery

MLS Winners and Losers: San Diego FC’s depth, Real Salt Lake’s youth movement & more Some teams are already looking lost. Others are wowing us. Hop in.

𝐌𝐋𝐒 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬

▫️ San Diego FC’s depth
▫️ Real Salt Lake’s youth movement
▫️ Orlando City in trouble?
▫️ ...and much more!

@joeclowery.bsky.social, @benwright.bsky.social & @aclausen90.bsky.social dive into the standout players, teams & stories from around MLS ⤵️

Timo Werner being a genuine +++ player on the ball in MLS is a huge, huge victory for the San Jose Earthquakes.

This is a downright filthy assist for the winner in Philly last night.

Werner has looked excellent in MLS so far.

Someone check on @joeclowery.bsky.social that he’s still breathing after that Triantis goal

HOT TAKE FROM @joeclowery.bsky.social ‼️🔥

Cavan Sullivan should start for Philly. With the top playmakers from last season gone, why not bring in a spark?

orlando city got left at the alter by carlos coronel over the offseason and now they've got a year maxime crepeau oopsies ahead of them

With a CBA deal still pending, Lexington and Louisville begin the season with a minute-long moment of stillness.

BIG TIME EPISODE DROP 🔥

• Way too early MLS takes with @joeclowery.bsky.social 🤐
• USLPA CBA Negotiations with President Duke Lacroix
• Inaugural season for @brooklynfc.bsky.social with head coach Marlon LeBlanc

USL emails players about union resignation procedures as strike looms The email, sent to all USL Championship players, includes an “FAQ” section on crossing a potential picket line

REPORT: On Wednesday, the USL emailed all Championship players with information on procedures for crossing a potential picket line and resigning their union membership, multiple sources have confirmed to The Guardian.

Details, including the attached "FAQs" pdf: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

USL Championship opener uncertain amid ongoing CBA dispute USL Championship opener uncertain amid ongoing CBA dispute

A five-hour bargaining session on Wednesday between the USL and USLPA - with a mediator present - resulted in some movement on key issues, but the two sides still seem far away from agreeing on a new CBA.

www.espn.com/soccer/story...

😍

Why the USL’s expansion-first business model is breeding instability in American soccer Clubs are folding at a breakneck pace, but the USL keeps cashing expansion fee checks.

As CBA negotiations continue (season kickoff is supposed to be Friday!), it feels like a good time plug this story from @usltactics.com.

In all likelihood, $300 million (or more!) is about to flow into USL HQ. As constructed, every penny will stay at USL HQ.

Questions all over the USL landscape.

How Does Luca Bombino Keep Getting Away With It? A really interesting usage for a really interesting player

Getting a little more niche with it this week. A good read for fans of San Diego, MLS, and weird soccer

substack.com/@scnate3/not...

USL president of competition and administration Brett Luy to ESPN on the state of CBA talks with the USL Players Association.

More than Messi’s friend: Javier Mascherano’s Inter Miami tactics continue to impress Plus: San Diego FC’s buildup, a rising striker, and a Renaissance painting.

For @backheeled.com – five standout moments from MLS this week, including:

🦩 Javier Mascherano's tactical tweak
🇵🇸 Wessam Abou Ali's well-rounded game
🔵 The 'Quakes might be for real
📸 Renaissance painting moment from @morgantencza.bsky.social

Todd Dunivant: 'We do have flexibility to add a DP' The new Sporting Director of New York City FC discusses the ongoing search for a No 9, adding another winger, working with Pascal Jansen, and opening up a Designated Player slot.

Following up on the roundtable with Brad Sims we posted yesterday, here's the full conversation with Sporting Director Todd Dunivant — he confirms that the team are in the market for a No 9, have the roster flexibility to add another DP, and could be looking for another winger

More here ⬇️

Sources confirm that Sebastian Lletget is in advanced talks on a deal to sign with Monterey Bay... and adds that he would be joining the ownership group as part of deal.

His partner, Becky G, is exploring a relationship with the club on both the men’s and women’s side.

YouTube video by Total Soccer Show Is Rodrigo De Paul a problem for Inter Miami?

Watch today's 𝐌𝐋𝐒 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 with @taylorrockwell.bsky.social, @joeclowery.bsky.social & @jeffrueter.bsky.social on YouTube 📺

🇺🇸 Sources: Sebastian Lletget has signed with Monterey Bay FC in the USL Championship.

Lletget, 33, spent the last few seasons with FC Dallas and put up nine goal contributions in MLS in 2024. Started 14 games for Dallas last year.

Will add on-ball quality for Monterey.

USL League One 2026 season team previews: In-depth look at all 17 clubs With a new USL League One season starting this weekend, we have unparalleled previews for each and every team.

All 17 USL League One team previews for the 2026 season are live 👀

It’s @usltactics.com's guide to the new season, complete with depth charts, tactics, and questions — all in one place.

𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗨𝗦𝗟 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 ⤵️

It's clear that for Inter Miami to hit their ceiling in '26, Rodrigo De Paul will have to be great 🇦🇷

In the post-Sergio Busquets/Jordi Alba era, no Miami player is shouldering more of the possession load than De Paul.

He's had big mistakes this year. Flashes of genius, too.

If you're a USL fan — or if you're trying to become one! — @backheeled.com's team-by-team previews are a great resource.

Transfers. Expectations. Tactics. Stars. Depth charts. And more...for every team in the Championship.

Read ⤵️
www.backheeled.com/usl-champion...

USL Championship 2026 season team previews: In-depth look at all 25 clubs With a new USL Championship season slated to start on Friday, we have unparalleled previews for each and every team.

I'm in awe of these team-by-team USL Championship season previews from @usltactics.com.

You can't beat @backheeled.com's USL coverage. John is unmatched.

He also called Phoenix Rising's Jean-Eric Moursou "a potential star", so he knows ball.

Read up ⤵️

MLS Winners and Losers: Timo Werner shines, Phil Neville's odd gameplan & more A pair of Designated Players debuted and a bunch of other fun stuff happened this weekend. Hop in.

Minnesota United fans, enjoy Nectarios Triantis while you can. He won't be around for much longer.

Oh, and Real Salt Lake are cooking something up after a jam-packed offseason.

That + much more in @backheeled.com's MLS Winners and Loser's column ⤵️

Timo Werner wasn't just a pace merchant in his MLS debut 🇩🇪

He also showed real on-ball quality, hitting this pin-point switch off that even caught the camera crew off guard.

Werner's game has built on off-ball work. If he can create on the ball, too, the Quakes will be scary.

MLS Winners and Losers: Timo Werner shines, Phil Neville's odd gameplan & more A pair of Designated Players debuted and a bunch of other fun stuff happened this weekend. Hop in.

𝐌𝐋𝐒 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬

▫️ Timo Werner's impressive debut
▫️ A classic in Orlando
▫️ Phil Neville's questionable tactical choices
▫️ ...and much more!

@joeclowery.bsky.social, @benwright.bsky.social & @aclausen90.bsky.social dive into the standout stories from around MLS ⤵️

Call him Joestradamus, he doesn’t miss.

@joeclowery.bsky.social

and you should do it with pride 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

he very, very much did

my sense is that the data is a bit skewed on him because he spent his last full European season with St. Pauli, who just transitioned

Nectarios Triantis is the best player in MLS that no one outside of Minnesota seems to talk about 🇬🇷

The 22-year-old center-mid bossed the Loons' frigid win over Cincy.

There isn’t an MLS player in their 20s that I’m more certain will end up in the Premier League than Triantis.

Came away extremely impressed with Real Salt Lake's new DP Morgan Guilavogui last night — good vision, distribution, and speed.

The 27-year-old was hugely impactful in the right halfspace in his debut.