How much Skyline Chili can you eat off a Supporter’s Shield?

By Nate Gilman

FC Cincinnati enters 2024 in a previously unknown situation in its Major League Soccer history - as defending Supporters’ Shield champions. FCC’s run to the Shield wasn’t a fluke, either. According to American Soccer Analysis numbers, though Cincinnati outperformed its xPoints, the team still produced the highest total in MLS in 2023. But 2024 FCC will have to adjust and evolve, like nearly all silverware winning teams. 

Will Orlando’s Outliers Overperform Once More?

By Matt Barger

How do you follow-up your best-ever season? Orlando City might have the answer. Orlando finished 2023 second in the East (and second in MLS) with a club-record 63 points, scoring a club-record 55 goals along the way. After a best-ever playoff finish in the Eastern semifinals, the Orlando front office may have had a best-ever off-season:

WELCOME TO FORS-BERGEN COUNTY

By J.J. Post

The prince that was promised finally arrived.

After years of fans clamoring for a bonafide star to take the pitch for the home team at Red Bull Arena, the New York Red Bulls finally went out and acquired such a player. Emil Forsberg, who’s been in the Red Bull soccer-sphere since 2015 with Leipzig, is the sort of player that can be an immediate gamechanger in MLS. 

Columbus Deux: Boogaloo Électrique

By Kieran Doyle

Coming off the highs of the 2022 season, CF Montreal felt like they had some real momentum… then they let their best in league coach walk, sold their eight (maybe) best players, hired a maniac, and decided we’ll play 180 degrees different from our very successful previous tactical identity and now with mostly bad players. That went predictably badly, with Montreal undergoing a humongous -30 xGD swing from +18 to -12, as they just missed the playoffs in a weak Eastern conference. Also at some point they had to cut one of their few good players for fighting a guy in a men's league game. Truthfully, the less said about 2023 the better. 

Lesesne in the Membrane

By Nate Gilman

DC United wasn’t terrible in 2023, finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference though racking up 40 points and a +5.99 expected goals difference pre American Soccer Analysis data. But it was an uninspiring season nonetheless and a major offseason overhaul followed. So the Black and Red enter the 2024 season with what looks to be real change for the first time in a long time. Wayne Rooney is out. Same, too, with Dave Kasper. Ally Mackay (and Caleb Shreve!) are in. So is Troy Lesesne. 

A Sheep in Wolff’s Clothing

By Tony ElHabr

2023 Disasterclass

Austin FC's 2023 season was a stark departure from their 2022 success, marred by injury woes and underperforming signings from the departed and controversial Claudio Reyna. The defensive line sorely missed Ruben Gabrielsen as the injury bug hit the backline, forcing Alex Ring into an impromptu center back role for a majority of the season. The attacking front struggled as well, with Emiliano Rigoni and Gyasi Zardes often having underwhelming performances. On the brighter side of things, Jon Gallagher’s early season nose for the net earned him an All-Star selection, and Brad Stuver continued to be a shot-stopping savant.