Part 3 - always great to hear from Céline Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA 🇺🇦:

(My preorder is already in)

📭 mailbag call!!!

gonna do a mailbag on The Athletic Soccer this week. end of the primary transfer window (next week), lookahead to the summer, two months of MLS action, whatever you got.

hit me with your best questions 🫡

📺 MLS 5-a-side, Week 8

🐐 Messi, Miami, SKC put on a show
🟠 Houston Dynamo 🆙
🇮🇱 Liel Abada exactly what Charlotte needed

& more ⤵️
youtube.com/watch?v=mpYI_J…

If you're a MLS fan, Ben Wright and I have you covered with our Monday morning column ✍️

Opinion, analysis, etc on all 29 teams in the league!

Read up on Reyno-show, the Galaxy's fun possession structure, CF Montreal's refresh & everything else ⤵️
backheeled.com/your-mls-team-…

Colorado fans - please direct any and all messages for Matt Doyle to Wiebe's replies. We'll read them to him on today's show.

I disagree... this would have applied to guys like Carlos Vela, Nicolas Lodeiro and Damir Kreilach last winter.

I know I can be overly romantic about roster builds at times, but being rewarded for consistency at a club is a good thing for me

On Paul Tenorio's reporting of the new roster rules coming to MLS this summer... one that was discussed but not coming (yet)?

An 'Icon Player' rule to re-sign vets.

In CSO discussions on rules, one CSO said 'why not just call it the Carlos Vela rule?'

theathletic.com/5415655/2024/0…

◽️Five coaches on the hot seat
◽️Seven early Golden Boot candidates
◽️The 'icon rule' that was never brought to a vote

#MLS takeaways from the weekend, via Paul Tenorio , Jeff Rueter , & @TomBogert ⤵️

theathletic.com/5415655/2024/0…

❤️

oh my GOD

🤤 this Riqui Puig assist

liverpool just lost at home to will hughes, nathaniel clyne and jordan ayew in the year of our lord 2024 hahahahahahahahahaha

The Houston Dynamo have 13 points after seven games (4W-1D-2L).

They are doing this without two DPs: Hector Herrera and Sebas Ferreria. Also without U22 winger Nelson Quinones. And playing two rounds of CCC play.

Extremely impressive start by Ben Olsen and this group.

🤤 this Riqui Puig assist

LIONEL MESSI FROM WAY DOWNTOWN…. BANG 🚀

LIONEL MESSI GOLAZO!

I do not understand why defenders rush to close down Ruiz when Messi is 5 yards away and then is under no pressure. You do not need to leave Messi to close down Ruiz 35 yards from goal

DUNCAN MCGUIRE STOPPAGE TIME GOAL FOR ORLANDO!

Liel Abada scores his first Charlotte FC goal 🎯

Inch-perfect assist by Lionel Messi. Good finish by Diego Gomez.

Lively start to SKC - Miami in front of 70k+ fans 🍿