As LAFC starts to think about their new season upcoming (more on that in a moment), I wanted to take a moment to welcome you to this new website, MLSnowPodcast.com. This website is going to be full of MLS news and insight, all coming from individuals that love their respected teams in the league. I’m excited to have made the jump in order to bring you all the LAFC insight I can give you.
If you know who I am, I appreciate you taking the time to come over here and read my articles once again. If you don’t know, my name is Andrew and I have been covering LAFC since their inaugural season in 2018. I started writing for the website Heart of LAFC for the first two seasons and then moved over to The Bancnote last year. I’ve always wanted my writing to be on a more national scale, so that’s why I’m excited to be a part of the MLS Now Podcast team. I plan on doing breakdowns of most LAFC games, roster transactions, and writing about anything else that seems noteworthy.
In addition to covering the team for the last three seasons, I’ve also been a season ticket holder since the beginning, so I understand how to look at LAFC both from the media and fan point of view. I hope to incorporate that into my writing in the coming year, as too much ‘corporate’ talk makes every website sound the same. Outside of LAFC, I’m a massive Glasgow Celtic FC fan (my dad was born in raised in Glasgow) and I support Leicester City, as I lived in Leicester the year they won the Premier League. I also sit on the board for the American Outlaws Santa Barbara Chapter, so essentially, my life is surrounded by soccer.
Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, let’s get to the news!
Excitingly, MLS finally announced yesterday that the season will be starting on April 3. This means that LAFC will have had almost a full two months off between their last game of 2020 and the start of training camp, which is allowed to begin on Feb. 22.
Even with the announcement of the start of the season and preseason, it is still unclear what players will be showing up for camp. The major rumors over the offseason have included two of LAFC’s Designated Players, Diego Rossi and Brian Rodriguez. While there hasn’t been a lot of news with either player in the last month, I would find it surprising if they both arrive for training camp. With the transfer window open in Europe until February 1, I see LAFC making a deal for both players to gain some capital and then getting some more young players from South America again. There have also been rumors about Eduard Atuesa being moved, but those rumors have died down a lot since the beginning of the year, so I would expect him to be in the squad at the beginning at least.
Two players that will be around, and will finally help with the loss of Walker Zimmerman from last season to Nashville SC, is both Jesus Murillo and Moon-Hwan Kim. Murillo’s loan expired at the end of last season, but LAFC went back to Independiente Medellin and signed him permanently. Murillo was a key center back with Eddie Segura and will help keep the backline be strong in front of whoever is in goal for LAFC next season. Kim is coming from South Korea and will likely play right-back for the team, which will place some competition on Tristian Blackmon’s spot in the lineup. LAFC was scorched last season on defense, so these two signings will hopefully allow the team to play more in command and not having to come from behind in a majority of games.
The upcoming year for the Black & Gold is going to be a pivotal one. They have been one of the best teams on the field for the last three seasons, but only have one final appearance (last season's Champions League final) and only one trophy (Supporter’s Shield, 2019). They need to make this the year that they prove that they don’t choke in massive moments. Some serious questions will have to be asked if LAFC falters again.
Again, I’m excited to be a part of this website and I look forward to keeping you all in the know about LAFC. Vamos!
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