Thanks for listening. We have A LOT to talk about tomorrow. And one thing from last week re: Keller came true way earlier than we hoped
“…it could be a big question mark when we have to start him or in a game where he has to play significant minutes.”
Whenever possible, we are going to have Apple+ talent on to help us with game previews. Jamie Watson will be on this week for the Montreal preview.
If you’re into a full conversation on the depth chart, we got one.
https://www.moontowersoccer.com/depth-chart-analysis-season-opener-preview-jersey-opinions-romana-out-and-much-more/
If you don't love Gyasi Zardes after this interview, you're a horrible, soulless person. Plus, Healey spills some of the beans on how the Apple broadcasts are going to work.
https://www.moontowersoccer.com/interviews-w-gyasi-zardes-and-adrian-healey-driussi-extending-contract-austin-fc-jersey-release-burton-w-u17s-and-more/
Yeah they are all closed door. There will be some people on the hill across the street watching from a distance but it’s not a great experience for a little one.
Don't know if you listen to Moontower Soccer, but this question was the source of a whole segment on the show this week.
https://www.moontowersoccer.com/adam-lundqvist-trade-atx-deep-enough-to-compete-rodney-stays-and-more/
CCL - First round away and home starting in early March. The away match is actually in the DR. Also a possibility that the Haitian club (which hasn’t played since May of last year) forfeits because they can’t get US visas because their government is basically nonfunctional and we get a bye into the quarters.
Quarterfinals: April 4-6 (first leg) and April 11-13 (second leg). Solid chance this is against a Mexican club.
US Open Cup - Austin FC enters the knockout competition in the third round on April 25-26.
Leagues Cup - Austin FC hosts group stages matches beginning the week of July 21. Tournament ends in mid-August.
The other thing is that we have so many more games. We are going to need depth and there are plenty of starts to go around.
2022 - 34 regular season + 3 playoff + 1 US Open Cup
2023 - 34 regular season + ? US open cup + at least 2 (probably more) CCL + at least 3 (possibly more) Leagues Cup + ? playoffs
Gallagher can also play on the right. Can see him him starting on either side depending on rotation. Especially given the insane number of matches we're going to play in this year.
No. SuperDraft is for college seniors and Generation Adidas players. Nothing stopping someone from leaving college early if good enough. But I think the guys worth it usually end up with GA deals. Austin now has three such players (Pereira, Keller, Fodrey) and none of them count against the salary budget.
Think of it like a Premier League reserve team. It’s a chance for people like Redes, Keller, etc to get some minutes.
https://www.mlsnextpro.com/clubs/
I like this rumor of being connected to another Finnish centerback. There were rumblings that we were interested in him last year before we signed Ruben.
The counterpoint is that he’s 9 months younger than Maxi and scored the same amount of goals in fewer games. And he’s returning to a system he thrived in. I like it if the money’s right, but hopefully they’re going to invest some of these savings elsewhere. Like a frontline CB to replace Julio.
If you're interested in Academy players, we covered a half dozen or so of the top prospects this week.
https://www.moontowersoccer.com/top-academy-prospects-driussi-happy-in-austin-listener-questions-diegos-contract-and-more/
It's a good waiver pick. Highly regarded talent a few years ago who hasn't progressed a ton. Not a lot of risk with some upside. Same as this guy, who is probably a more exciting prospect but also spells the end of Felipe in Austin.
https://www.austinfc.com/news/austin-fc-acquires-midfielder-sofiane-djeffal