Joseph Lowery

Implementing the cash trade rule was a lay-up for MLS.

Transfer season is more enjoyable and narrative-filled as a result of it. MLS teams are clearly willing to pay a premium for proven in-league talents -- Djordje is just the latest example.

Cornerstone piece for Toronto. Rapids have work to do.

🔮 www.backheeled.com/mls-summer-t...

We’re back in the Valley of the Sun for Phoenix Rising action 🌵☀️

Join me on CBS Sports Golazo and AZ Family for Rising vs. Birmingham Legion in the USL Championship 📺

I love this move for both Matt Turner and the USMNT — Turner gets to play and showcase himself ahead of the World Cup.

Don’t think goalkeeper was a huge area of need for New England, so don’t love this for them. If Turner sticks around long term, though, I can get behind it.

I'm glad so many of you recognized this post for what it really was: a request to show me every better goal ever scored, help me get out of my pacific northwest bubble, and politely remind me that European soccer is automatically better than anything else. I appreciate this opportunity to learn.

WOAH

MLS In-Depth Power Rankings: Vancouver Whitecaps' Thomas Muller deal, Inter Miami's chaos & more In a twist on a classic, we’re not just ranking all 30 MLS teams. We’re analyzing them, too.

NEW: MLS In-Depth Power Rankings 📈

@benwright.bsky.social and I broke down all 30(!) teams.

The bull (and bear) case for the 'Caps' Thomas Muller deal. The one club I'm highest on in MLS. Eric Ramsay's Wilfried Nancy trait. Tons more.

For @backheeled.com ⤵️
www.backheeled.com/mls-in-depth...

One of the best characters in the game is heading to Vancouver — stoked to see what kind of spin cycles Mulller puts MLS defenders in.

I thought MLS Cup would probably be out of the Caps’ reach after Vite’s exit and Veselinović’s injury.

Now? Their ceiling looks vaulted again.

A major highlight of the MLS All-Star festivities in Austin? Getting to see @jordangeli.bsky.social in person for the FIRST TIME.

So cool to think back on the MLS Assist days and see where life has taken each of us!

📸 @morgantencza.bsky.social

YouTube video by Total Soccer Show Does MLS still need an All-Star Game?

PODCAST: @joeclowery.bsky.social and I convened in (a) studio (apartment) to talk some more big picture MLS topics while we were both in Austin!

The state of the All-Star Game in a post-Messi-snub society, pros and cons of a possible schedule change, and Mourinho! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk5E...

MLS commissioner Don Garber: Switching to European calendar “makes sense”, league reviewing “entire roster strategy” At Q2 Stadium in Austin on Wednesday, Garber provided updates on a schedule change and the league’s roster rules.

Change is coming to MLS — Don Garber made that very clear on Wednesday at Q2 Stadium.

Both a schedule change and a competition format change appear to be on the way, with details coming “either before or at the end of the year”.

For @backheeled.com ⤵️
www.backheeled.com/mls-commissi...

Beyond thankful that I get to cover soccer for a living!

MLS All-Star Game number four for me tonight ⭐️

MLS commissioner Don Garber: Switching to European calendar “makes sense”, league reviewing “entire roster strategy” At Q2 Stadium in Austin on Wednesday, Garber provided updates on a schedule change and the league’s roster rules.

It sounds very likely MLS will shift to a European-style calendar.

Don Garber says it "makes sense".

“We’ve got a really exciting format that we’ll be ready to present...let us get through crossing the ’t’s and dot the ‘i’s.”

For @backheeled.com ⤵️
www.backheeled.com/mls-commissi...

MLS commissioner Don Garber says that the league will "continue to evaluate the potential" for a calendar change that would mirror "the FIFA international match calendar".

"We believe that that alignment is something that makes sense."

Son would crush at LAFC — he’s 33 and has dealt with more injury issues over the last year or so, but still been quite durable.

He’s played at least 2,000 Premier League minutes in each of the last nine seasons.

🍿

MLS In-Depth Power Rankings: Denis Bouanga's speed, Inter Miami's goal fest & more In a twist on a classic, we’re not just ranking all 30 MLS teams. We’re analyzing them, too.

NEW: MLS In-Depth Power Rankings 📈

@benwright.bsky.social and I broke down all 30(!) teams.

I'm really worried about the 'Caps. Lucho-less Dallas look...better? Denis Bouanga is very fast. San Diego might have a new center back. Tons more.

For @backheeled.com 🆓
www.backheeled.com/mls-in-depth...

whoops! wrong link!

I went to the 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge and rated everything I saw While in Austin for the MLS All-Star festivities, Backheeled stopped by Q2 Stadium for the Skills Challenge.

I cited an @americansocceranalysis.com stat in a piece about the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge.

I may have peaked.

For @backheeled.com from Q2 Stadium in Austin ⤵️
www.backheeled.com/i-went-to-th...

The five most interesting questions of MLS’s summer transfer window: Star signings, rebuilds & cash trades Here are the storylines worth monitoring ahead of the transfer window opening on Thursday.

The MLS summer transfer window opens this week. What big storylines are worth following?

For @backheeled.com, I answered that very question.

On loading up for the trophy push, rebuilding, and the league’s first summer with cash trades on the table:
www.backheeled.com/mls-summer-t...

Austin 🔜 for MLS All-Star! Hope to see you all there!

🍗⚽️

For the first time, we have two entries to Tier 0. The State of Analytics in MLS is here: www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2025/7/20/state-of-mls-analytics-july-2025

Maybe the biggest loser from across the league this past weekend?

MLS defenders, because they exist at a time when there's an Argentine doing stuff like this to them.

More on the weekend that was for @backheeled.com ✒️
www.backheeled.com/mls-winners-...

MLS Winners and Losers: El Tráfico delivers, Messi dazzles, a coach on the hot seat & more El Tráfico went off the rails, the cash trade rule is proving its worth, Caleb Porter’s seat is getting toasty, and more.

NEW: MLS Winners and Losers is live for @backheeled.com 👀

▪️ El Tráfico delivers, yet again
▪️ It's time to panic in New England
▪️ Jack McGlynn's revenge
▪️ Daniel Gazdag breathes a sigh of relief
▪️ ...and more!

Read ⤵️
www.backheeled.com/mls-winners-...

still haven't sold my younes namli stock all these years later

death, taxes, and teams benching willy agada

(or this deal could help RSL stick with the 4-2-2-2 they’ve tried recently, but that ruins the bit)

AYYYYYY thank you

curse your scottishness

It's true that Inter Miami is the only MLS team that could pull off this deal (and that they and a few others have a built-in market advantage...so it goes).

It's also true that every team should try to mimic this deal in their own way.

Miami push the boundaries? Everyone else has to push too.

happy international inter miami do as they please day to all who celebrate

i'll be saying it with immense sarcasm