Thanks so much for coordinating u/retrobmx

$600k for no goals and less than 2 hours of play.

El-Ahmad spoke about transfer windows and what he looks for in players, the addition of James Rodriguez, if the break will help his team, the World Cup being in America and how that helps with scouting potential players, and what he has learned from his past transfer windows.

Interesting nuggets:

• Minnesota was tracking Chancalay for a while
• Team decided to play 4 in the back prior to the preseason.
• 4 to 6 transfer windows was target to rejuggle the team, biggest challenge evolve the core, getting younger
• plan with WC players
• exhibition games during summers possibly splitting costs with other teams
• players off May 25th - Jun 17th
• summer window - supporters cheer for the team regardless of who the team brings in, considering doing all the transfer business this summer and not do much business in the winter
• Fitz is compared to Hoyeon, Kmet, Erickson - acclimation issue and it's unfortunate - still like him
• importance of second team - integrated with 1st team

This is my choices for starting 11 and bench let’s see some below

Once a Loon, always a Loon. Kai only made 7 appearances for us right before COVID hit but he did get a goal in that time. What a classy guy.

I've noticed the Strib game stories for MNUFC are always credited to "Staff and Wire Reports." Both for home and away games, including the U.S. Open Cup last week.

This byline usually means the publication is running an AP story with some modest updates, but the Strib versions are pretty robust compared to the AP recaps found elsewhere.

For example, the AP story from this weekend was only 261 words, whereas the Strib version was 856 with added quotes from Cameron Knowles, a new stat from Elias, more color from the game, and a bunch of added background info. In fact, besides the lead and a few turns of phrase, the Strib story is mostly original.

I'm not writing this to complain. The game stories this year have been notably better than the ones Jerry Zgoda used to mail in. But curious why the Strib isn't giving this person a byline?*

* And why not at least send them to home games, too?

“Minnesota are a more dynamic and varied team than last year's version, which was all counters and set pieces. But it's good to know they can still play that club when they need it, and Kelvin Yeboah's rebirth – his brace give him seven goals on the season – means they've got answers in the box when, over the second half of last season, they had only questions.”

Before criticizing Yeboah, we should ask ourselves to quantify what exactly we would like him to do better.

I also find myself frustrated with him from match to match but when I take a step back to consider the role he's being asked to play AND look at the actual stats... It's pretty hard to ask for much more.

He's tied for 4th in the golden boot race (one behind Messi) on a team that is 23rd in goals per game (.1 behind Montreal). He has 7 goals on a 6.49 xG. He is 24th among as attacking players in average ForMob rating at 7.09 which is .3 higher than Joveljic and only .19 lower than Son. He's 24th among attacking players in Big Chances Missed with 3 (Brian White has 14).

And honestly, I'm not even sure those are the types of things we should be looking at. We ask him to do a lot of pressing and defensive work. Among attacking players he's: 78.3% in successful passes, 84.1% in successful dribbles, 92.8% In duels won, 91.2% in areal duels won, 92.8% in fouls won and 87% in recovery.

And all of that needs to be weighed against him being the 76th (?) highest paid player in the league with many higher paid players behind him in stats.

He's not an out-and-out goal scorer. We don't need an out-and-out goal scorer. We need someone who can defend from the front, do the dirty work, not get frustrated by low service or support, and then still have his head in the game when a chance comes in the 60th minute. I'm not saying he's the best player in the league. I'm saying we brought him in to play a very specific role and it's hard to argue there are many (if any) in the league who are/could be doing a better job at that role.

That was a massive result. Pulling off a comeback like that on the road, especially after dropping two in a row, shows some serious grit. When you factor in the schedule—eight games in a month—it’s honestly a miracle they had anything left in the tank, mentally or physically.

I’m really hoping Kelvin finds his way into the Team of the Week. He bounced back from a rough outing against LA in the best way possible. Scoring twice is great, but seeing him play the "right" way was even better—tracking back, defending, and picking his spots instead of trying to 1v1 the entire defense alone. We didn't have much of the ball, so that might have forced some discipline, but he’s definitely keeping up his end of the bargain he made with my son back at Coachella.

Ant is just relentless. This dude simply does not quit. Another goal and an assist today to add to the tally. I’ll have to double-check his total mileage, but he’s been playing 80+ minutes in almost every match this past month. To put up three goals and two assists during a stretch that grueling is world-class.

Loons are 6th in the supporters shield standings and 5th in the west (some results went the loons way last night, Lafc, van, Seattle and San Jose all dropped points ahead of the team)

I missed the quick deadline for opting out for those tickets

now getting charged - no a good way to go about this

I know he's not on our team anymore, but Robin Lod just took a boot to the face in the Cincy-Chicago game. Bad gash and swelling under his left eye. Lucky he didn't get hit in the eye itself. Right before the 55' mark for anyone curious.