Sporting KC had an incredible finish in the regular season after a horrid start. Understandably, a lot of that was getting healthier. But also think that finish masks some of the prevalent issues that are and will still be there regardless of how they finish this post season.
What kind of moves do they need to make vs what you think they’ll actually do this offseason?
figure out how to guarantee alan pulido's health!!!
no. 6 is always super important for this team. they went down hard after losing ilie and failing to replace him. radoja has been good this year. but they need to have a plan B.
another high-level attacker this winter would be good too.
How often do you take a step back and think “Holy shit, how did I get here?”
Been following you on ExtraTime for the last couple years and really happy to see how your career has progressed and now your great reporting for The Athletic. From the outside looking in, it looks like your career has just propelled forward in the last few years at a meteoric rate and you’re doing fantastic in a very tough, selective industry where only a lucky few are able to make it. Of course, behind the scenes I’m sure you’ve put in crazy amounts of hard work and long hours to get here, but curious how often you take a step back and think “Shit, I have a pretty dope job!”
PS - Keep up the great work and looking forward all that’s to come from TommyScoops!
i try to do that as much as i can. what's the point of getting to where you want to be without gratitude? particularly when i feel tired or feel like ah man i really wish there wasn't a game on tonight that i have to watch cus i just wanna do nothing. like ... this is nuts. i am so incredibly lucky. like, people have decided to let my ugly face on apple tv! that's nuts! to steal a joke from jim jefferies, i have gone further than a man of my intellect or looks should ever have gone!
that's extremely kind. thank you so much i really appreciate it. yeah it's been fast. got lucky with the timing of MLS growing too. definitely a ton of work, i feel like i'm never actually off because of all the time i spend talking to sources and monitoring news, but that's part of the game man.
thank you again!
Will you write a book just to one-up Paul Tenorio?
FC Dallas news?
Thoughts on Nashville SC's season and what to expect this off-season from them?
I’ve heard lots of pundits talk about Phil Neville being a “big name” and that being a reason Portland signed him. They never really dive into what that means exactly.
Is signing Neville for his big name about raising the club’s profile abroad (which it undoubtedly has imo considering the coverage it’s gotten in the UK)? Or is it more that Portland think Neville’s big reputation actually makes him a better manager than less high-profile managers? Or is it some secret third thing I haven’t thought about?
Hi Tom! Thanks for doing this. Love your work on the Athletic. Any rumors or hints about what Chicago is gonna do about a new sporting director or coach? I think you've said Heitz will likely come back, but anything new there?
How on earth is Toronto FC so bad? What do you think they need to prioritize for '24? When will Bill Manning be fired? How will Hurdman's international coaching style (seems to prioritize culture over X&O's) translate to MLS?
TBH, since Bezbatchenko & his staff left, it's just fallen apart.
There are a few players from New Zealand playing for various MLS teams. Any of them look like exciting prospects?
Which city did you not expect to announce an MLS side?