Charlotte FC Preseason Notes: What we've learned through the first two preseason games

By Brian Maurer

Harry Toffolo and Wilfried Zaha high-fiving last season (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90)

Charlotte FC's second preseason game wrapped up yesterday with a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City, a day after landing in Florida.

The game was split into a 60-minute mini-game and an additional 45-minute half. The 60-minute game was split into two 30-minute halves with an opportunity for some player rotation.

Based on the lineups, rotations, and comments from the Crown's Head Coach Dean Smith and midfielder Pep Biel, here are some early takeaways from the first few weeks of preseason:

Players who played the full 60-minute mini-game:

Tyler Miller - GK

David Schnegg - LB

Andrew Privett - LCB

Morrison Agyemang - RCB

Jack Neeley - RB

Luca de la Torre - CM

Baye Coulibaly - CM

Brandt Bronico - AM

Liel Abada - LW

Idan Toklomati - CF

Kerwin Vargas played the first 30' at RW, Emmanuel Uchegbu subbed in for Vargas.

Lineup for second 45-minute half:

Kristijan Kahlina - GK

Harry Toffolo - LB

Djibril Diani - LCB

Andrew Johnson - RCB

Will Cleary - RB

Aron John - CM

Ashley Westwood - CM

Pep Biel - AM

Wilfried Zaha - LW

Archie Goodwin - CF

Rodolfo Aloko - RW

1. New signings getting a long run out: Tyler Miller, David Schnegg, and Luca de la Torre all got 60 minutes and an opportunity for Smith to get an extra look at what they can bring. Andrew Johnson and Will Cleary also got 45-minute shifts in the second leg as they compete to earn pro contracts.

   
   

2. Crown Legacy players and players in position battles are also getting an extra look: Baye Coulibaly, Andrew Privett, Morrison Agyemang, Jack Neeley, and Liel Abada are all in position battles, trying to compete for roles within the team, and it looks like Smith is giving them an extra runout to help with his decision-making.

   
   

3. Bronico and de la Torre play 60 minutes together: Smith has mentioned wanting to have several different types of midfielders and options to work with. Brandt Bronico and de la Torre are very different types of midfielders, so Smith likely wanted to get a good look at what their contrasting traits look like together. You can throw Coulibaly in this mix as well, although Coulibaly probably has a bit more of a fight on his hands for minutes overall than the other two.

   
   

4. Toklomati getting 60-minute shift: Feels like Smith wants to get Idan Toklomati plenty of reps to help prepare him for his first full season as the team's nine. Likely some extra emphasis because he also now wears the nine.

   
   

5. Vargas subbed for Uchegbu early: Smith probably was looking for a way to get Uchegbu some reps, as it looks like he is competing with Rodolfo Aloko for a senior roster spot. Kerwin Vargas' role and playstyle are something Smith is likely pretty comfortable with at this point, so he opted to get him the shorter shift.

   
   

6. Diani and Neeley got depth reps out of position: Djibril Diani and Neeley were both used out of position to help cover for Tim Ream and Nathan Byrne, who are out with "slight calf" issues. Smith got a look at Diani at CB and Neeley at RB to see what kind of extra depth he may have at these positions.

   
   

7. Westwood and John play in the same rotation for the second straight time: Aron John was playing further up the field as the attacking midfielder behind Tyger Smalls in the first preseason game. Looks like he got a run alongside Ashley Westwood in this second shift. The young prospect has been playing in the same rotation as Westwood for both preseason games so far.

   
   

8. Toffolo gets a shift alongside Zaha: For Wilfried Zaha's first preseason game shift, he got partnered with Harry Toffolo, who was the starting leftback through the final playoff games last season. Pep Biel was asked about the attacking combinations between Zaha and Toffolo after the game, so it seems Smith is continuing to play that left side high like they did towards the end of 2025.

   
   

9. Zaha and Goodwin link up for Biel's goal: Zaha was given the second assist for his pass to Archie Goodwin, who found Biel for the only goal of the game. Smith said he has been pleased with how the team has progressed, and the connection between this group likely epitomised some of that work.

   
   

10. Another 45-minute game today: Smith mentioned that the squad was going to play an internal 45-minute game today to help catch them up on minutes because they lost out on some sessions due to weather before leaving Charlotte. At the moment, minutes and fitness do not sound like a concern, as all reports have been that the squad is arguably the fittest in Smith's tenure. This is likely a routine catch-up before they head to California for their last games of preseason action.

Minutes-by-position breakdown (through two games):

GK:

Kristijan Kahlina - 90'

Tyler Miller - 60'

Isaac Walker - 45'

LB:

David Schnegg - 105'

Harry Toffolo - 90'

LCB:

Andrew Privett - 105'

Jack Neeley - 45'

Djibril Diani - 45'

RCB:

Morrison Agyemang - 105'

Andrew Johnson - 90'

RB:

Nathan Byrne - 45'

Willian Sangoquiza - 45'

Jack Neeley - 45'

Will Cleary - 45'

CM:

Baye Coulibaly - 105'

Luca de la Torre - 105'

Ashley Westwood - 90'

Aron John - 45'

Djibril Diani - 45'

AM:

Brandt Bronico - 105'

Pep Biel - 45'

Aron John - 45'

LW:

Liel Abada - 105'

Wilfried Zaha - 45'

Kerwin Vargas - 45'

CF:

Idan Toklomati - 105'

Archie Goodwin - 45'

Tyger Smalls - 45'

RW:

Rodolfo Aloko - 90'

Emmanuel Uchegbu - 75'

Vargas - 30'