Day 41 of the vacancy. Candidates have been priced, sounded out and quietly ruled out — and the caretaker’s win ratio is becoming an argument all by itself.
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Justin Che and New York Red Bulls agree another 3 years.
Jorge Ruvalcaba was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Headers, blocks, tackles, interceptions — 23 of them, and not one goal behind him. The sort of performance that never makes a highlight reel and wins football matches.
“Some mornings you wake up and you are still a long way from everything you know.” It is not the football and it never was; New York Red Bulls are dealing with a man who wants a different country.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at New York Red Bulls this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at New York Red Bulls this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Marked 8.37 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Andy Rojas and New York Red Bulls agree another 5 years.
Sporting Kansas City paid $2.6M and New York Red Bulls took it, which is the whole story in one sentence. The longer version involves a wage budget and will be told all season.
Ethan Horvath was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Marked 8.04 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
There was no pressure on him and nowhere he had to be. New York Red Bulls lost a goal to a decision that took half a second and will be discussed all week.
Position 15 and 18 points, and the table gets read bottom-up in this part of town. The calendar has stopped being a schedule and started being a countdown.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at New York Red Bulls this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
“I watch every New York Red Bulls game from here. That says everything about where my head is.” The loan at Columbus Crew runs its course, but his heart never made the trip.
New York Red Bulls pay $2.7M, and the deal is done. The number reads well on a balance sheet; whether it reads well on the pitch is next season's question.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around San Diego Football Club they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
3 wins in a row changes how opponents warm up: quieter, more glances across. Runs end, everybody knows that — but nobody in this dressing room is planning for it.
Hirving Lozano was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
New York City pay $720.0K, and the deal is done. The number reads well on a balance sheet; whether it reads well on the pitch is next season's question.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” San Diego Football Club have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Position 3, 27 points, and the result everyone checks first is now theirs. The word is still not being said around the ground, which is how you know everyone is thinking it.
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at San Diego Football Club, and it is not being withdrawn.
Hirving Lozano was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Mateusz Bogusz and San Diego Football Club agree another 4 years.
Headers, blocks, tackles, interceptions — 19 of them, and not one goal behind him. The sort of performance that never makes a highlight reel and wins football matches.
“I want to be playing for trophies while my legs still let me.” Nothing in that sentence is a transfer request, and nobody at San Diego Football Club heard it as anything else.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at San Diego Football Club this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Manu Duah and San Diego Football Club agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” San Diego Football Club may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.
“I have ambitions, and I would like the club to share them.” Nobody has asked to leave and nobody has been shown the door — but a player chooses that sentence carefully, and a boardroom hears it exactly as it was meant.
Hirving Lozano was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” San Diego Football Club may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at San Diego Football Club this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Marked 8.39 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
The chase for Liel Abada ended with $9.4M changing hands and Charlotte Football Club out of reasons to say no. The supporters will judge the fee the only way that matters: on Saturdays.
The fee is $7.6M, the contract is signed, and the argument about whether he is worth it can begin. Houston Dynamo drove a hard bargain; time will say who won it.
Hirving Lozano was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” David Vazquez and San Diego Football Club agree another 5 years.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 7 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at San Diego Football Club this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Headers, blocks, tackles, interceptions — 23 of them, and not one goal behind him. The sort of performance that never makes a highlight reel and wins football matches.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Amahl Pellegrino and San Diego Football Club agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Anders Dreyer. 2‑0 against Houston Dynamo, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
5 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at San Diego Football Club has to find a result from somewhere.
Hirving Lozano was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Hirving Lozano signs something — a contract at San Diego Football Club or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
Every debut is a small story about the future: Luca Bombino, 20 years old, off the academy pitches and into the first team. The parents in the stand will keep the programme.