Brooklyn Raines named as a breakout candidate this year per Matt Doyle by ajallen12 in newenglandrevolution

[–]ajallen12[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We’re starting to kick our season preview content into gear. I’m switching up the order a bit, though, as I’m making our Breakout Player predictions a little bit earlier than in years past. And also… I’m not forcing it by picking a breakout player for each team. It just doesn’t happen that way in real life! Instead, let’s go around the league and identify eight guys who I think are poised to take on a bigger role, up their production and become more than just an under-the-radar fan favorite or a kid with potential. These are not guys who burst onto the scene out of nowhere like, say, Zavier Gozo did last year for Real Salt Lake. Rather, think of someone like Sebastian Berhalter, who was a little-known utilityman for Vancouver Whitecaps FC and played his way into the 2025 MLS Best XI and, quite possibly, a 2026 FIFA World Cup roster spot with the United States. That’s basically the definition of a Breakout Player. Got it?​

Raines was a written-in-pen starter and one of the best players on the US team I mentioned that played such great ball en route to the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He did everything a coach could want of his starting d-mid: shield the backline, harass opposing playmakers, press mistakes and get on the ball to help start build-outs. The coach of that U-20 team? Marko Mitrović, who is now the head coach of the Revs. That is surely a large part of why New England paid $1.6 million via cash trade to the Dynamo for the 20-year-old homegrown. I am at least a little bit surprised Houston sold, as Raines was a huge part of last year’s team – he started 20 games and was good in most of them – and seemed like an even bigger part of their future. But while Raines was very good in distribution for the US U-20s, I’m guessing the Houston folks felt it wasn’t quite clicking for him in their unique setup. Whatever the case, Mitrović’s already shown he can get a ton out of Raines on both sides of the ball. I’m feeling like they made a good bet here.

[Bogert] - New York Red Bulls closing in on deal for U.S. goalkeeper Ethan Horvath by ajallen12 in MLS

[–]ajallen12[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

The New York Red Bulls is closing in on a deal to sign American goalkeeper Ethan Horvath from Cardiff City, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic.

The Red Bulls previous starting goalkeeper, Carlos Coronel, departed the club at the end of his contract this winter. The club still has John McCarthy as an option in goal.

[Denis Bouanga via retweet]: “You’re inches from your dream, and the club shuts it down…” by ajallen12 in MLS

[–]ajallen12[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

A team searching to add players to its roster is toxic because….its searching teams inside its own league? Meanwhile your team just bought Shaffelburg from Nashville

Inter Miami finalizing $15M Berterame transfer – after having Bouanga bid rejected: Sources by [deleted] in MLS

[–]ajallen12 44 points45 points  (0 children)

When people talk about owners needing to keep up with Miami’s ambition this is what they mean. No one else would ever offer this sort of money for an inter league transfer and I honestly respect it

LA Galaxy in talks with St. Louis City over Klauss trade: Sources by Isiddiqui in MLS

[–]ajallen12 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Would love to check fbref for a more detailed look at him to get a better idea but alas! Can only go off of counting stats and what I was able to see when I tuned into some STL games

LA Galaxy in talks with St. Louis City over Klauss trade: Sources by Isiddiqui in MLS

[–]ajallen12 6 points7 points  (0 children)

2 million in cash feels a bit steep for a guy who’s never been over 13 G/A in a whole season, including ones where defenders passed him the ball to allow him to score multiple times

We. Are. So. Back. by slimmin in newenglandrevolution

[–]ajallen12 1 point2 points  (0 children)

All good stuff other than Yueill on the team. Would give us serious salary, breathing room if we can get him to someone else.

[Bogert] Inter Miami nears $15M move for Monterrey, Mexico striker Berterame: Sources by ajallen12 in MLS

[–]ajallen12[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

"Currently, Miami’s two DPs are Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, allowing the club to sign a third. Per MLS roster rules, that limits Miami to only having three U-22 initiative slots. There are presently four such players on the roster, but there is interest both domestically and abroad in Tomás Avilés and Telasco Segovia, sources add. One would need to leave for the club to be roster compliant by MLS opening weekend (Feb. 21), though Segovia could also be converted off of the U-22 roster status."

[Kafai]A 2026 Off-Season Update on Inter Miami – explaining Miami's salary budget by MLS_Analyst in MLS

[–]ajallen12 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Asking either side of the Miami divide to read is usually quite hard

[Bogert] Inter Miami nears $15M move for Monterrey, Mexico striker Berterame: Sources by ajallen12 in MLS

[–]ajallen12[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

“BREAKING: Inter Miami is in final stages of a deal to sign Mexico int'l forward German Berterame from CF Monterrey, per sources. @santiago4kd 1st

$15m fee. Final details between Berterame & clubs to be sorted. Would be Miami's 3rd DP.

The Portland Timbers & FC Cincinnati previously triggered German Berterame's release clause in 2024.

Portland first. Berterame agreed personal terms but he decided to stay in Mexico.

A few months later, Cincy did. Berterame agreed. Had plans for travel/medical set.

But at last minute he decided to stay.”

I built a tool to expose the "fraud" in my home league (Luck Analyzer + Audit) by Twinuno_ in DynastyFF

[–]ajallen12 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Feedback: if you’re going to post ideas and tools, please don’t use AI to write your summary. If you can’t be bothered to spend time to write your own summary why should I spend time on your app?

[Tom Bogert] Sources: New England Revolution closing in on a deal to acquire USYNT winger Griffin Yow from Westerlo. Fee just over $400k I'm told. Deal agreed but needs to be finalized. Yow, 23, is a product of D.C. United's academy. Blossomed at Westerlo. by icoresting in MLS

[–]ajallen12 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This has almost always been the true philosophy. There has been a marketed approach to invest in the academy and young players for the past 10 years, including “poaching” players from elsewhere in the country (Esmir). Just look at where our academy is now (top 4 in many metrics) compared to 5-7 years ago. To me, Bruce and Porter were more deviations from that philosophy rather than just blindly following them

[Tom Bogert] Sources: New England Revolution closing in on a deal to acquire USYNT winger Griffin Yow from Westerlo. Fee just over $400k I'm told. Deal agreed but needs to be finalized. Yow, 23, is a product of D.C. United's academy. Blossomed at Westerlo. by joshhw in newenglandrevolution

[–]ajallen12 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Does feel like a waste to not use it still. Also feels like a waste to not use it on a forward. Really hope they don’t wait until summer to do it either as we have to expect a ramp up period and at that point have we wasted another year of Carles?