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By: Rylee McKinney Brandt Bronico and Kerwin Vargas (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90) What a summer it has been for the once 1st place Eastern Conference leaders! Charlotte FC will play at The Bank this Saturday against the 7th-place NYCFC, hoping to earn three points.  The lineup will welcome back some well-missed faces as Gold Cup international duty has commenced and penalty suspensions have been served. After their 2-2 draw against Orlando City SC last week, the team inches closer to breaking their losing streak.  Charlotte FC desperately needs a morale boost, meaning a win tonight is crucial. Here is how they are most likely to line up: Defensive Unit Tim Ream has finally returned after the USMNT’s loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup Final last week. So, Ream is likely to start in the left-back position, which has been kept warm by Souleyman Doumbia the last few weeks.  With Ream back at home, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty will most likely play on the right side. Partnered in the fullback positions will likely be Adilson Malanda and Andrew Privett. However, with a hip flexor injury during the Chicago Fire FC match two weeks ago, Privett’s start might be withheld depending on his recovery status.  Bill Tuiloma, who scored last week against Orlando, might just be the threat to Privett’s start. His performance as of late might guarantee him some serious minutes. Additionally, Mikah Thomas and Jack Neeley might serve as some trusty substitutes depending on how the match plays out.  As for injuries, Souleyman Doumbia will likely sit this week as he is still recovering from an ongoing hamstring issue. Nathan Byrne will also be out again but is expected to resume training with the team in the upcoming weeks. Midfield As the squad shifts back to normal, this week’s midfield will resume its regular scheduled programming… just kidding. Smith found some success last week with his alternative midfield, and so he will likely replicate it this week. Moreover, Pep Biel, earning a goal last week, will likely push up again into the attacking line.  As a result, Djibril Diani will likely start again on the left side with captain Ashley Westwood on his right. Brandt Bronico will then assume the attacking midfielder position.  Substitutes for the midfield will likely be Eryk Williamson and Pep Biel–who could fall back into his usual position if necessary. Forward Line The headline of the last few weeks has been focused on Patrick Agyemang. With an impending move to Derby County, Agyemang is currently in England finalizing the deal. In the absence of Agyemang, Idan Toklomati will likely become the starting forward for Charlotte pending any new signings in the summer transfer window.  Wilfried Zaha will luckily return this week after a one-game suspension for a yellow card accumulation. Zaha will likely sit in the left attacking position and hopefully can create some waves on offense once again.  During the midweek press conference, coach Dean Smith commented on Liel Abada’s performance against Chicago: “I didn’t think he was great to Chicago. Um, you know, solely that.” Smith added that competition for starting attacking positions is ramping up.  So, Abada will likely sit on the bench this start, and Pep Biel will start on the right side. Abada will likely be Biel’s substitute, but Kerwin Vargas could also be a strong contender. Tyger Smalls will be a third option on the bench for Dean Smith.  Charlotte FC will have a tough match ahead of them this Saturday. Their downward spiral in the standings desperately needs a lifeline, and this match might just be that very lifeline. Predicted Starting XI

By Dropping Points and Friends Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90 It's a mini-double-game-week! Here are our top 10 rankings by position, weighted heavily with the two matchups tonight, especially with players from LAFC and Inter Miami. Thanks to our friend Dakota for joining in on the ranking fun! You can follow him on X @CoachRockGC. Top 10 Rankings by Position GK Brian Blake Gavin Dakota Lloris (LAFC) Lloris (LAFC) Lloris (LAFC) Lloris (LAFC) Ivacic (NE) Ivacic (NE) Ivacic (NE) Ustari (MIA) Ustari (MIA) Ustari (MIA) Ustari (MIA) Johnson (TFC) Hansen (COL) Hansen (COL) Hansen (COL) Dos Santos (SD) Gallese (ORL) Blake (PHI) Blake (PHI) Gallese (ORL) Blake (PHI) Gallese (ORL) Gallese (ORL) Coronel (RBNY) Stuver (ATX) Stuver (ATX) Stuver (ATX) Takaoka (Van) Cabral (RSL) Thomas (SEA) St Clair (MIN) Micovic (LAG) St. Clair (MIN) Burki (STL) Micovic (LAG) Celentano (FCC) Micovic (DC) Micovic (LAG) Cabral (RSL) Thomas (SEA) DEF Brian Blake Gavin Dakota Segura (LAFC) Segura (LAFC) Segura (LAFC) Long (LAFC) Fofana (NE) Palencia (LAFC- YCW) Fofana (NE) Alba (MIA) Alba (MIA) Feingold (NE- QUES) Alba (MIA) Segura (LAFC) Feingold (NE) Alba (MIA) Freeman (ORL) Markanich (MNU) Freeman (ORL) Wagner (PHI) Wagner (PHL) Orellano (FCC) Palencia (LAFC-YCW) Freeman (ORL) Orellano (CIN) Freeman (ORL) Wagner (PHI) Markanich (MIN) Awaziem (COL) Ilenic (NYCFC) Orellano (CIN) Biro (ATX) Biro (ATX) Rosted (TFC) Markanich (MIN) Awaziem (COL) Markanich (MIN) Wagner (PHI) Awaziem (COL) Yoshida (LAG) Katranis (RSL) Yoshida (LAG) MID Brian Blake Gavin Dakota Gil (NE) Gil (NE) Gil (NE) Gil (NE) Mihailovic (COL) Mihailovic (COL) Mihailovic (COL) Mihailovic (COL) Dreyer (SD) Ojeda (ORL) Zinckernagel (CHI) Dreyer (SD) Evander (CIN) Dreyer (SD) Ojeda (ORL) Pasalic (ORL) Ojeda (ORL) Evander (CIN) Busquets (MIA) Paintsil (LAG) Zinckernagel (CHI) Zinckernagel (CHI) Evander (CIN) Segovia (MIA) Biel (CLT) Biel (CLT) Dreyer (SD) Evander (FCC) Mukhtar (NSH) Pasalic (ORL) Biel (CLT) Wolf (NYCFC) Reus (LAG) Mukhtar (NSH) Mukhtar (NSH) Biel (CLT) Segovia (MIA) Reus (LAG) Paintsil (LAG) Vite (VAN) FWD Brian Blake Gavin Dakota Messi (MIA) Messi (MIA) Messi (MIA) Messi (MIA) Bouanga (LAFC) Bouanga (LAFC) Bouanga (LAFC) Suarez (MIA) Suarez (MIA-YCW) Suarez (MIA- YCW) Navarro (COL) Bouanga (LAFC) Navarro (COL) Navarro (COL) Suarez (MIA) Navarro (COL) Denkey (CIN) Enrique/Muriel (ORL) Denkey (CIN) Illoski (SD) Cuypers (CHI) Allende (MIA) Cuypers (CHI) Oluwaseyi (MNU) Allende (MIA) Denkey (FCC) Allende (MIA) Klauss (STL) Pec (LAG) Cuypers (CHI) Rossi (CLB) White (VAN) Rossi (CLB) Pec (LAG) Pec (LAG) Arango (SJ) Surridge (NSH) Klauss (STL) Klauss (STL) Joveljic (SKC)

By Sam Vanolinda Kerwin Vargas and Bill Tuiloma (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90) Charlotte FC returned home on Saturday night after a long and treacherous stretch of away games due to the Club World Cup schedule.  While the result, a 2-2 draw, is a decent scoreline against one of the best teams in the East, Charlotte FC blew a 2-0 lead in just 11 minutes. Adding to their meltdowns of late .  The bank was buzzing after Pep Biel’s opening goal, a great side-of-the-foot finish from an excellent Nick Scardina cross; it got even louder when Bill Tuiloma, subbing in for Andrew Privett, headed in what seemed to be the winner from a Pep Biel free kick. The loudest pop of the night was when Nick Scardina made a heroic goal-line clearance when Ramiro Enrique rounded Kristijan Kahlina and shot into an empty net. Despite all these great plays. Charlotte FC broke down defensively like usual, allowing two goals in quick succession to Orlando, who tied the game in the 80th minute. The lack of attacking depth, with Agyemang playing for the USMNT and Zaha out due to yellow card accumulation, meant Charlotte had no chance to secure the winner. The moment Orlando tied the game, Charlotte had no opportunity to secure three points.  Here’s the stock up and stock down for Charlotte FC’s 2-2 draw with Orlando. Stock Up: Bill Tuiloma  With me mentioning defensive breakdowns, you may not think I would be praising defenders in this article. With that said, there is no way that Tuiloma’s stock is not up after that performance. Coming in to replace Malanda, the New Zealand international was solid defensively and managed to score a goal.  I mentioned in the last stock article that Charlotte should slot in Tuiloma because of his veteran presence. He proved why he is still an excellent option on Saturday night. While the goals were a shame to give up, you cannot blame Tuiloma. They were primarily a result of Scardina being out of gas on the right side and having no one to replace him. Tuiloma also had some impressive passes. One long ball almost resulted in a goal in the first half, and another led to the Pep Biel goal in the second half. His long diagonal ball hit the Spaniard in stride from outside the center circle. It's an impressive pass that won't show up on the stat sheet. Pep Biel Biel became the fastest Charlotte FC player to make 20 goal contributions on Saturday. He continues to dominate this season, even playing in a winger position against Orlando because of the absences.  His goal was a good finish from a cross that isn’t easy to score a goal from; he used the momentum of the ball to slash it at an unsavable angle into the side netting.  Right after the Crown secured his services until the end of the year, Biel put out a signature performance. He always comes up big when it matters, and it's a shame that another outstanding performance of his doesn’t end in a win. Biel repeated in the post-game presser that the team continues to “throw, points, many points,” and it’s hard to disagree. Even when the performances are good, lapses of focus result in losses or draws.  Charlotte needs to get its full squad back together, and it needs to focus on results and discipline as the season winds down. The schedule is forgiving, and they have eight more home games, so there are plenty of chances to make a run. Stock Down Liel Abada With the lineup as depleted as it was, a DP not starting in this game shows what type of impact Abada has had this year. When he was subbed on in the 80th minute, he should’ve provided a good outlet as the team counterattacked the pressing Orlando team, but he showed very little. Vargas was an honorable mention in this game due to his defensive effort and energy, especially in the first half; Abada is beginning to look like a questionable signing. Ashley Westwood Westwood continues to be a player who has fallen from grace as the season has progressed. You just don't notice him in games, not in an underrated, doing-the-dirty-work type of way, but in a silent and slow way. While he will always complete a decent amount of passes and cover good ground, defensively, he didn’t make a tackle, had zero interceptions, and only had one defensive action the entire game. Westwood is a captain that the team and fanbase respect, but he needs to step up his play and lead the team back into the playoff picture.

By: Rylee McKinney Adilson Malanda and Nick Scardina (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90) Charlotte FC finally returns home to play Orlando City SC today, after a long spell on the road. Players have emphasized that they want to change the energy in July and escape their losing streak.  The lineup continues to fluctuate with National Team call-ups, injuries, and yellow card accumulations. After their unfortunate loss to Chicago Fire FC last Saturday, the team desperately needs to recalculate and perform.  As the regular season heads towards playoffs, every match matters. Here is how Charlotte FC is most likely to line up: Defensive Unit Despite some questionable performances, Kristijan Kahlina will most likely start in goal. Dean Smith has reiterated each week that he will think over the starting keeper position between Kahlina and David Bingham, but in the last two matches, Kahlina has taken the start.  Last match against Chicago Fire FC, left back Souleyman Doumbia came off with a hamstring injury. Doumbia just returned to play after an ongoing hamstring injury, but it appears he is not entirely ready. In the same match, Andrew Privett exited with some hip flexor problems, so he will likely not be playing on Saturday.  Also, Tim Ream continues to be missed as he is with the USMNT in their Gold Cup run. With Doumbia and Privett most likely out, the entire defensive line will likely shift around.  Partnered in the center will likely be Adilson Malanda and Bill Tuiloma, who will have to create some solid chemistry fast. Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty will likely shift over to the left back position, while Nick Scardina will likely play right back.  With limited substitutions available, Mikah Thomas and Jack Neeley will need to be ready on the sidelines.  Midfield The triangle in the middle will undoubtedly be Brandt Bronico on the left, Ashley Westwood on the right, and Pep Biel in the attacking midfield spot. This starting three has been the heartbeat of Charlotte’s lineup so far this season. Additionally, Biel’s goal against Chicago Fire FC and his recently extended loan contract will guarantee his start in the midfield.  Eryk Williamson and Djibril Diani will likely serve as substitutions and may have to step in depending on the adjusted forward line.  Forward Line Charlotte FC’s forward line will look a little different this time around. Wilfried Zaha will unfortunately be ineligible to play in this match due to a yellow card accumulation. Moreover, Patrick Agyemang will still be playing with the USMNT as they advance to the Gold Cup Final against Mexico. Zaha and Agyemang’s absence will seriously impact Charlotte FC’s forward line.  Most likely, Idan Toklomati will start up top in place of Agyemang, as his performance has been stellar as of late. On the left side will consequently be Liel Abada partnered with Kerwin Vargas on the right side.  Although this is an unusual forward line, it may be the starting lineup that changes things up for the better. After all, a recent deal made between Derby County and Charlotte FC will eventually leave Charlotte Agyemang-less. So, the team needs to start learning how to play without him.  Tonight’s match is extremely important for Charlotte FC’s morale. Smith has mentioned that they need to turn things around in July several times. Hopefully, a win tonight can kickstart Smith’s vision.  Predicted Starting XI

By Sam Vanolinda Photo Courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90 Charlotte FC has always been a club that thrives in the comforts of home. This year, it is more apparent than ever. They are 2-1-9 away this year, and 6-0-2 at home. Home means happier, more rested players, and the energy from the passionate Bank of America Stadium crowd. It makes sense why it helps the Charlotte FC squad so much. Recently, the Bank of America stadium has been occupied by the Club World Cup, which has led to a devastating run of road games, sinking Charlotte FC into 10th place. Luckily for The Crown, nine of the remaining 14 games are at home. They have a chance to turn this season around in front of the home crowd. Let’s take a look at the remaining MLS schedule: Orlando City (Home) : Orlando should be a tough test, as they currently sit fifth in the East. Charlotte is 2-4-5 all-time against Orlando, and has never beaten them at Bank of America Stadium. They have already lost 1-3 against them away earlier this year, so the odds aren’t in the Crown’s favor. With that said, I imagine the team will be motivated to get back on track after all the recent failures. Prediction: Draw NYCFC (Home) : Charlotte FC has a good record against NYCFC, with four wins, one draw, and one loss. This is a good opportunity to grab three points and pick up momentum. New York is currently one place above Charlotte, in 9th; I expect a win.  Prediction: Draw D.C. United (Home) : Another great chance to grab a win, against 12th-place D.C. United. If Charlotte can’t win this game, I can't see the playoffs being a reality. Prediction: Win Atlanta United (Away) : A big rivalry game. Luckily for Charlotte, Atlanta is even worse than them this year, currently in 14th with only 17 points. Charlotte will easily win if they come in with momentum. Prediction: Win Toronto FC (Home) : Toronto is another team that has fallen apart this season. They have lost all their star power, and at home, this should be an easy victory for Charlotte.’ Prediction: Win FC Cincinnati (Away) : This will be one of the most challenging games of the season, as Charlotte FC travels to Cincinnati, the current second-place team in the East.  Prediction: Loss Real Salt Lake (Home) : 13th place in the West with only 19 points at this point of the season, I can’t see Real Salt Lake being too much of a challenge at the Bank. Prediction: Win New York Red Bulls (Home) : The Red Bulls are a tough team this year, with the Crown already losing 2-4 to them on the road.  Prediction: Loss New England Revolution (Away):  These teams faced off in April, and a 77th-minute goal from Carles Gil was the difference. Charlotte did dominate possession in that game and had 18 shots, but they couldn’t finish. I think Charlotte will run away with a victory here in a scrappy match.  Prediction: Win Inter Miami (Home): Miami is always a challenging game. Messi in the Bank of America Stadium will create an instant electric atmosphere. We have seen in the past how a packed crowd can elevate this team, as evidenced by their win over Miami on decision day 2023. Prediction: Draw NYCFC (Away): New York City FC’s away atmosphere isn’t necessarily intimidating, so I think Charlotte could pull off a victory here.  Prediction: Win Montréal Im pact (Home): Bottom of the East, Montréal has 14 points and a -19 goal difference in 20 games so far this year. I can imagine this game being important for playoff seeding. It could be a trap game, but Charlotte will put their foot on the gas and win easily. Prediction: Win DC United (Away): Zaha’s second reunion with former teammate Christian Benteke will be the second-to-last game of the season in the Nation's Capital. This could be another big game when it comes to playoff contention. I think it will be a hard-fought draw.  Prediction: Draw Philadelphia Union (Home): Philadelphia is a tough team to beat. With that said, if they have already secured the 1-seed at this point, they may approach the game more easily than in the first meeting.  Prediction: Loss There are 42 points up for grabs for the remainder of this season. I predict Charlotte FC will pick up 25 points, bringing their total to 50 for the year. This would be one point lower than the finishing total in 2024. While Charlotte has reached rock bottom at this point in the season, and hopes around the fan base are not high, I believe in the team's talent to achieve some results, especially in home games against weaker opponents.

By: Rylee McKinney Lionel Messi during Inter Miami CF's Round of 16 match against PSG (Photo courtesy of Francisco Diaz/Topbin90) The FIFA Club World Cup barrels into July, but all three MLS teams have been eliminated from the tournament. Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders, and LAFC made history for MLS and faced off against some of the most legendary clubs in world soccer. Despite all three MLS teams failing to reach the final rounds, their performances raise an important question: Can MLS be considered on the same level as the world’s elite leagues? We decided to statistically break down each club’s performance in search of that answer. Seattle Sounders FC Seattle Sounders FC first qualified for the Club World Cup with their 2022 CONCACAF Champions League win, making an MLS milestone. Seattle sat in Group B alongside Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético de Madrid, and Botafogo. Their first group stage match was held on June 15th in Seattle against Botafogo. Seattle surprisingly dominated with 59.8% of possession and 23 shot attempts, earning an xG of 2.15 compared to Botafogo’s xG of 1.12. After 90+ minutes of play, Seattle unfortunately lost 2-1 in their first group stage match.  Yet, Seattle had to push forward, looking to their June 19th matchup against Atlético Madrid. On matchday, Atlético Madrid held 56.9% of the possession and had seven shots on goal. Seattle’s Alberk Rusnák scored their only goal, and the squad fell to Atletico Madrid 3-1.  With two losses in their group stage matches, Seattle desperately needed a win. Their last group stage match was set against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on June 23rd, which ultimately tested Seattle’s skill. Right off the bat, PSG brought on the world-class intensity they are known for. In the end, Seattle did not have a single shot on goal and only held 27.7% possession. PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored in the 35th minute, and Achraf Hakimi finished their second opportunity in the 66th minute. With three losses total in the group stage, Seattle kissed their Club World Cup potential goodbye.  Group B Results Team W-D-L GD Pts Paris Saint-Germain 2-0-1 +5 6 Botafogo 2-0-1 +1 6 Atlético Madrid 2-0-1 -1 6 Seattle Sounders 0-0-3 -5 0 Inter Miami CF Inter Miami’s 2024 Supporters’ Shield win, 74 points in the 2024 regular season, also secured them a spot in the Club World Cup. With Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets on the roster, Miami appeared to have the best chance out of all the MLS teams of making it far in the tournament. Miami kicked off the Club World Cup in a Group A match against Egypt’s Al Ahly on June 14th in Miami. Hard Rock Stadium filled 60,927 out of 65,000 seats, demonstrating the overwhelming support for Miami in the tournament.  Miami’s goalkeeper, Oscar Ustari, held down the net, saving a penalty from Trézéguet just before half. Messi only had one chance, but it deflected off the crossbar. Al Ahly fell slightly short on possession, with Miami holding 55.3%. However, Al Ahly had eight shots on goal compared to Miami’s six, with an xG of 1.99 to Miami’s 1.06. Miami even had 42 dangerous attacks, whereas Al Ahly played more defensively with 34 dangerous attacks. The first Club World Cup group stage match ended in a tense 0-0 draw.  Miami then traveled to Atlanta on June 19th to play FC Porto in their second group stage match. Both teams split possession quite evenly, with FC Porto having a slight advantage (50.1%). Miami took five shots on goal to Porto’s three, but both teams committed a high number of fouls, exhibiting the intensity of play. FC Porto’s xGOT (on target) was only .7 compared to Miami’s 1.85, leading to Miami’s 2-1 win.  With momentum from their win against FC Porto, Miami headed back home to play Palmerias on June 23rd. In their 3rd and final group stage match, Miami held Palmeiras to a 2-2 draw. Goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suárez gave Miami the early lead. However, the second half saw a late response from Palmeiras with goals from Paulinho and Mauricio in the 80th and 87th minutes.  Statistically, Miami dominated possession similar to their match against Al Ahly with 53.8%. Palmeiras had seven shots on goal and 22 shot attempts total compared to Miami’s three shots on goal and eight attempts total. Miami walked away with an xG of 1.22, lower than Palmeiras’ 1.80 xG.  Miami left the group stage with a 1W-0L-2D record, pushing them ahead into the Round of 16. Being the only MLS team to qualify for the knockout rounds, all eyes turned to Miami. On Sunday, June 29th, Miami traveled back to Atlanta to face off against PSG. PSG exited the group stages on top with six goals scored in just the group stages. PSG simply meant business for Miami.  PSG ultimately dominated the match with 66.6% possession and nine shots on goal, earning a xG of 2.24. Miami’s defensive line struggled to mark up off a free kick in the 5th minute, conceding a goal that opened the floodgates. Miami’s conservative tendencies proved no match for PSG, and Miami lost 4-0, kicking them out of the Club World Cup. Group A Results Team W-D-L GD Pts Palmeiras 1-2-0 +2 5 Inter Miami 1-2-0 +1 5 Porto 0-2-1 -1 2 Al Ahly 0-2-1 -2 2 LAFC Then, LAFC faced off against Club América in a sudden-death playoff match due to team ownership rules. Back in May, LAFC defeated Club América 2-1 in extra time to secure the final tournament spot.  LAFC began their Club World Cup journey in Group D against Chelsea on June 16th in Atlanta. Chelsea, to no surprise, outperformed LAFC with 66% possession and six shots on target. LAFC only had four shots on target as well as four offside attempts. Unfortunately, LAFC could not stop goals from Chelsea’s Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández, losing their first group stage match. On Matchday Two, LAFC headed to Nashville for their match against Espérance de Tunis on June 20th. Although LAFC lost 1-0 to ES Tunis, the outcome did not reflect their performance. LAFC held the majority of possession (61%) and were granted several free kick opportunities. However, LAFC cashed in four offside attempts once more and were simply overwhelmed by ES Tunis’ five shots on target to their two.  With two disappointing upsets in the group stage matches, LAFC desperately needed to secure a win in Matchday Three. In Orlando on June 24th, LAFC played Serie A’s Flamengo. The match played out in a back-and-forth manner and remained scoreless until the last 20 minutes of play.  Statistically, Flamengo appeared to be the better team with 19 shots total and 66% possession. Also, LAFC committed seven fouls and two yellow cards, with only five shot attempts created. But, LAFC held Flamengo to a 1-1 draw at the end of the 90 minutes.  With a group stage record of 0W-2L-1D, LAFC did not qualify for the knockout stages and finished 4th in Group D. Group D Results Team W-D-L GD Pts Flamengo 2-1-0 +4 7 Chelsea 2-0-1 +3 6 ES Tunis 1-0-2 -4 3 LAFC 0-1-2 -3 1 Summary The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup marked a historic moment for MLS, with Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders, and LAFC putting the league on the global stage.  While only Miami advanced past the group stage, all three clubs showed flashes of promise. Seattle and LAFC did struggle to convert possession and chances into results, ultimately finishing at the bottom of their groups. But Inter Miami’s ability to qualify for the knockout rounds showcased MLS’s potential.  What we can take away from this tournament is that a gap remains between the MLS and the world’s top clubs.  MLS salary restrictions and the misalignment with season schedules might be impacting MLS’s success in the tournament. Nonetheless, this tournament proved that the MLS has immense potential in the years ahead.  *All stats pulled from xGscore and ESPN

By Sam Vanolinda Adilson Malanda and Djibril Diani (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90) Charlotte FC’s season has devolved into a nightmare at this point. Defensive collapse is a weekly occurrence. The team's mental strength has vanished, and leadership and accountability are patchy at best. The comforts of home have always given Charlotte FC a boost, and they have recently played in some tough road matches. While the season certainly can be turned around, changes need to happen quickly for that to happen.  It was a tale of two halves on Saturday night’s game against the Chicago Fire. 10 minutes of Charlotte FC players completely forgetting how to defend is why the opponents came away with the victory. Just like the 8 minutes of stoppage time last week, Charlotte FC defenders turned one mistake into a chain of errors. Instead of mentally resetting after allowing one goal, the whole backline allowed it to get to their heads, especially Adilson Malanda and Andrew Privett. It doesn’t help that Charlotte FC lost their left back, Souleyman Doumbia, in the 18th minute of the match, but the defense was still historically bad during that 10-minute spell. Here’s whose stock went up or down in the 2-3 loss against Chicago: Stock Up: Idan Toklomati Two starts and two goals for the 20-year-old since Agyemang has been rumored to head across the Atlantic to play in England.  Toklomati’s 59th-minute finish was a breath of fresh air for a team with shooting issues this year. He put the ball into a space that no goalkeeper could reach, right into the top left corner of the goal. If he can continue to produce like this, the striker position will be less of a concern as we move towards the late stages of the season. Toklomati always impresses with his work rate, and he combined well on Saturday with his international teammate Liel Abada. In the first half, those two were the only players who showed up. Pep Biel Pep Biel was a shadow in the first half, but came alive in the second to fuel the attempted comeback for the Crown.  His goal was a great piece of attacking play. Zaha did a great job of finding Biel on the edge of the box. Biel chested the ball down and finished amazingly with a defender in his face.  His assist was a good first-touch pass straight through to Toklomati, who finished adeptly, as mentioned previously.  Biel proved why he is so vital to this team. He was the instigator of the two goals that Charlotte scored, giving them life in the second half.  This would have been one of his signature games if his defense hadn’t fallen apart in the first half; unfortunately, his performance was overshadowed by negativity.  Stock Down Andrew Privett Privett was directly responsible for two goals in two minutes.  While the first goal was a great run by Philip Zinckernagel, Privett lunges in clumsily on the edge of the box and gets nutmegged, leaving him with a ton of space in the box to shoot and score. The second goal was less of a mistake by Privett, but the ball bounced off his heel and away from the diving Kahlina. When you look at the replay, there was a good chance that Kahlina would’ve saved the initial shot, but Privetts' deflection sent it into the goal. While this second instance was more a matter of misfortune than poor play, it still deflected off him.  It’s safe to say that Privett has significantly struggled recently. The entire defense has lost its confidence, but both he and Malanda have shown their youth in the last few months, which has led to 30 goals conceded since the start of May. It may be time for some veteran presence to step in and right the ship on the defensive end. While Bill Tuiloma and Tim Ream may not be flashy options, they are likely to keep their composure after conceding a goal due to their years of experience. Adilson Malanda The third Chicago goal was given on a plate by Malanda.  A ridiculously careless backpass went straight into the path of Hugo Cuypers, who poked the easiest goal of his life home and put the game out of reach for Charlotte. When you have just conceded two goals and are on the ropes, what makes a center back decide to do a weak backpass into a low-confidence keeper? These lapses in concentration are happening week after week now. It feels like Groundhog Day talking about them—mistake after mistake. It is up to Privett and Malanda to improve their quality of play, and Dean Smith to instill some confidence back into them through effective coaching. Wilfried Zaha Zaha had a good assist today, but his behavior has now caught up to him. Due to his frequent complaints to the referees throughout the season, he has been suspended for a game as a result of accumulating yellow cards.  I said this when Charlotte FC signed Zaha, that he is an emotional player who is going to get frustrated and argue. The difference now, however, is that when he was at Crystal Palace, his dominant play excused the behavior issues; at Charlotte, he is not dominating enough to warrant these yellow cards. When you are carrying your team like he did in South London, you can overlook his attitude. Here in Charlotte, it's impossible not to get annoyed by his antics. That's not to say he isn’t having a significant impact on Charlotte; he has been one of the key players this season, which is why his missing the next game is such a frustrating turn of events. The Two Midfielders The Defense has been awful lately, but the holding duo has had little to no impact on the game, which is putting more pressure on the defense. Westwood is a good captain, but as the season has progressed, he seems fatigued and has less of an impact on games. Bronico is an energy player, but can struggle with possession and moving the ball into the final third. It's intriguing how the team has shifted from attacking woes and a robust defense and midfield at the start of the year to the exact opposite in the middle of the season.

By Sam Vanolinda Wilfried Zaha and Nick Scardina (Photo Courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90) Oh man. That was a tough one—another gut-wrenching, calamitous, and downright sad game for Charlotte FC. It seemed to be a habit that was long gone, a memory of the Lattanzio-led team of two years ago, where the team would repeatedly collapse in late moments. However, it has now returned, and the team has dropped five points in extra time in their last two games.  Every single Charlotte fan could feel the energy change when Kerwin Vargas had his third chance to go up 2-0, saved by John Pulskamp. After that moment, the two goals given up in extra time seemed inevitable.  Here’s the stock up, stock down after the 1-2 loss in Kansas City. Stock Up Idan Toklomati While Toklomati’s finishing in general wasn’t excellent Wednesday night, he still worked hard to get into good positions and managed to score a great goal. His flicked finish in the first half was well beyond his age and experience level. Strikers who can finish in creative ways like that will always be a positive addition to any team. With Agyemang rumoured to be on his way to play in England, Toklomati stepped up to the plate and proved why he deserves to play for this team. He showed his usual great energy and combined well with Biel, making some good passes into the wingers as well.  While his finish was in vain, it was good to see the striker of the future get back on the scoresheet. Souleyman Doumbia Doumbia had a good game from the left-back position. He was able to grab an assist after a great run and a solid pass from Wilfried Zaha into his path. His low cross found Toklomati in the perfect spot to finish the way he did.  Besides his assist, Doumbia was solid, not outstanding. He was 86% on passing with three into the final third. He also won a tackle and had four recoveries. We are grasping at straws, trying to find players whose stock went up after the team's performance, but Doumbia had a decent game. Stock Down Kerwin Vargas Vargas’ stock wasn’t high in the first place, but this performance plummeted it, to say the least. In the space of a couple of minutes, Vargas had three gleaming chances to secure three points. Three one-on-one chances in a row. While his effort to get into those positions, especially the first chance, where he won the ball, was good, everything else was utterly disappointing.  Not only did Vargas miss, but he also had the chance to slide the ball across the goal for a tap-in during the first and second chances, but he shot from a tough angle. The third chance, he had all the time in the world to line up a shot and put it straight into the keeper.  It was obvious that Vargas was selfish because he is not a guaranteed starter on the right side at the moment. By trying to prove himself with a goal, he single-handedly ruined the match for the Crown.  This proves why Charlotte FC needs to find a right wing that they can have faith in during the summer. Abada is not worth the money he is paid, and he also missed a one-on-one chance in the second half.  Kristijan Kahlina Kahlina has always been more of a shot-stopper than a sweeper keeper. With that said, his decision-making and quickness were poor in this game. He looks like he has lost all that Golden Glove confidence that he had last season.  I'm not blaming him for the goals, but in both instances, he could have come out of the six-yard box much quicker to close down the angle for the attacker. It’s like he wanted the Sporting Kansas City players to have all the time in the world to slot the ball home and get the win calmly.  I would rather my keeper make quick, decisive decisions to come out of the box and try to close down the attacker, making a mistake every once in a while, than sit there and watch the attacker control the ball and pick a spot in the goal to shoot and score.  Adilson Malanda It was obvious Malanda would have a rough game after his first contribution was passing the ball straight out for a throw-in with no pressure on him. He seemed discombobulated; he didn’t win a tackle all game, and was dribbled past twice.  I don't know if that European interest made him overconfident, but as a center back, you cannot afford to lose focus for even a moment during a game. Even if you defend well enough for 90 minutes, we all know how everything can collapse, especially on the road against a team with momentum.  Andrew Privett While Malanda had a worse game overall, Privett is the center of attention for both of the goals allowed. Not fast enough, not strong enough, and as a center back, not enough of a leader to take the moment into his own hands and prevent both Mason Toye from getting his shot off, and Santiago Muñoz from getting his pass off.  For the first goal, instead of getting his body in the way of the lobbed pass, he stabs at the ball lazily and allows Toye to control and finish. For the second goal, he is overpowered by the 5 ft 8 Muñoz; he never even attempts to make a tackle. I understand the center backs these days are afraid to concede penalties when trying to muscle out an attacker in the box, but you have to do something in that situation. It is happening week after week, after such a dominant defensive start to the season. Lapses of concentration are costing Charlotte point after point.  The leadership of Nathan Bryne was completely underrated, because everything has gone wrong on the defensive end since his injury.  Dean Smith Smith needs to take more accountability and ensure his players are better prepared for these situations.  Instead of taking some of the blame for the loss, Smith repeatedly talked about him thinking the first SKC goal was offside.  Instead of making excuses every week and going at the refs, stand up as the leader of the team and take more accountability. Try to motivate the players and get them better prepared for future games.  I don't know what the fitness or sharpness of Bronico was for this game, but starting Williamson over him was also questionable. Charlotte FC hasn’t won a game without Bronico in the starting lineup since May 15, 2024.  Smith now needs to go on a winning run, or the fans will start to turn their back on him entirely. Dishonorable Mentions:  Wilfried Zaha, Eryk Williamson, Liel Abada.

By: Rylee McKinney Zaha, Toklomati, Doumbia, and Marshall-Rutty celebrate Zaha's goal against Philadelphia Union (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90) Charlotte FC kicks off their midweek matchup against Sporting KC, looking for a win on the road. After the madness of May’s schedule, the team suffered an unfortunate 2-1 loss against Philadelphia Union two weeks ago. Injuries and national team call-ups continue to shake up the team’s starting XI, leaving fans with some understandable apprehension.  With two matches ahead of them this week, Charlotte FC will certainly have their work cut out for them. Major names like Agyemang and Ream will be absent from the roster, and Nathan Byrnes is still recovering from surgery.  This double-match week will test Charlotte FC’s endurance. Here is how Charlotte FC is most likely to line up:  Defensive Unit David Bingham will likely start between the posts for Charlotte FC as he appears to be winning the starting battle over Kahlina. Bingham has started the last two matches against Philadelphia Union and Toronto FC, suggesting that Kahlina might just not be at his best. While the defensive line has been one of Dean Smith’s biggest challenges this season, it appears to finally be stabilizing. Partnered in the center back will most likely be Adilson Malanda and Andrew Privett. The absence of Tim Ream with the USMNT will grant Marshall-Rutty the start at right back. Souleyman Doumbia will most likely start in the left-back position as he continues to recover to full fitness.  The back line is starting to shape up, and depending on Charlotte FC’s performance against Sporting KC, Dean Smith might be able to allot some minutes to Nick Scardina or Bill Tuiloma. Midfield Once again, Charlotte FC’s midfield will likely mirror the previous starting lineups. Captain Ashley Westwood will most likely start alongside Brandt Bronico, with Pep Biel pushing at the top of the triangle. Pep Biel continues to dominate the attacking midfield position, earning a goal recently against Toronto FC.  Eryk Williamson and Djibril Diani will likely serve as reliable substitutions, depending on the squad’s first-half performance.  Forward Line For yet another match, Patrick Agyemang will not be a part of Charlotte FC’s starting XI against Sporting KC. In his place will most likely be Idan Toklomati, who is continuing to earn serious minutes.  To his left will likely sit the fired-up Wilfried Zaha, who is beginning to show his Premier League-level talent. Toklomati and Zaha will likely be supported by Liel Abada on the right side. Abada has a stronger chance of starting over Vargas, but their interchangability has been a recent fixture for Charlotte FC’s lineups.  Tonight’s match will set the tone for a busy week as Charlotte FC returns to the pitch for two matches this week.  With the season now in its second half, the club must begin securing wins to secure a playoff spot.  Predicting Starting XI

By Dropping Points and Friends Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90 From a bye week to another double game week, here we go! Brian, Blake, Gavin, and Motley are back with our top 10 rankings by position for game week 18, which kicks off tonight! Keep an eye on the status report today, as several players are still away on international duty. Top 10 Rankings by Position *The numbers in the far right signify the pick average. If not selected by one of us, they were given a score of 11 for average purposes. GK Brian Blake Gavin Motley Average Ivacic Bush Bush Ivacic Bush - 2 Gallese Willis Takaoka Coronel Ivacic - 3 Bush Ivacic Gallese Bush Willis - 4 Celentano Coronel Celentano Willis Gallese - 4.25 Willis Takaokoa Willis Gal Coronel - 5.75 Coronel Gallese Daniel Gallese Takaoka - 7.25 Pulskamp Pulskamp Ivacic Daniel Celentano - 7.5 Johnson Daniel Dos Santos Johnson Daniel - 7.75 Sirois Sean Johnson Sirois Pulskamp Pulskamp - 8.5 Daniel Sirois Burki Frei Johnson - 9 DEF Brian Blake Gavin Motley Average Feingold Feingold Wagner Farsi Feingold - 1.5 Wagner Farsi Feingold Feingold Farsi - 4.25 Farsi Najar McVey Gutman Wagner - 4.5 Orellano Gutman Blackmon Najar Gutman - 4.75 Blackmon Boxall Dorsey Elie Najar - 5.5 Gutman Moreira Gutman Moreira Blackmon - 6.75 Najar Blackmon Thorhallsson Wagner Moreira - 8.5 Thorhallsson Kai Wagner Najar Dorsey McVey - 8.75 Jones Lovitz Orellano Jones Orellano - 8.75 McVey Jones Cheberko A. Roldan Dorsey - 8.75 MID Brian Blake Gavin Motley Average Gil Mukhtar Gil Gil Gil - 1.25 Mukhtar Gil Mukhtar Evander Mukhtar - 2.5 Ojeda Espinoza Ojeda Ojeda Ojeda - 3.25 Mihailovic Ojeda Mihailovic Acosta Evander - 4.75 Zinchernagel Evander Dreyer Mukhtar Espinoza - 6 Evander Zinckernagel Evander Forsberg Mihailovic - 6.5 Espinoza Mihailovic Espinoza Espinoza Zinckernagel - 7.5 Acosta Forsberg Zinckernagel Lingr Acosta - 8 Dreyer Acosta Bernardeschi Vite Forsberg - 8.75 Gazdag Gazdag Forsberg Chambost Dreyer - 9 FWD Brian Blake Gavin Motley Average Rossi Rossi Joveljic Rossi Rossi - 2 Joveljic Surridge Cuypers Joveljic Joveljic - 2.25 Cuypers Cuypers Musa Surridge Cuypers - 3 Surridge Joveljic Surridge Cuypers Surridge - 3.25 Arango Arango Rossi Choupo-Moting Arango - 6.75 Denkey Muriel Owusu Arango Musa - 7 Musa Denkey Baribo Rios Denkey - 8 Baribo Pec Denkey Muriel Muriel - 8.5 Pec Musa Muriel Musa Baribo - 9.25 Choupo-Moting Navarro Klauss Owusu Choupo-Moting - 9.25

By Sam Vanolinda As we reviewed potential summer departures last week, it's only right that we take a look at transfer targets this week. While Charlotte FC started this season well, they have now fallen down the table and could use a spark, which could come in the form of a new player(s). It starts with identifying the needs of this team. Recently, the defense has struggled, and the midfield looks tired. Additionally, a right-winger has been needed for some time. Striker depth could also be addressed, providing more competition for Agyemang. Let’s take a look at some players who could make the move to the MLS soon and could fit at Charlotte FC: Callum Wilson Wilson was once a dominant Premier League striker for Newcastle, but injuries and the world-class quality of Alexander Isak have derailed his career with the Magpies. Wilson has a concrete interest in moving to the MLS, and Charlotte FC is a team he would fit into nicely. There is already a high level of English influence in the team, with head coach Dean Smith, Ashley Westwood, Nathan Byrne, and Tyger Smalls.  Wilson would put pressure on Agyemang to perform, or could pair up with him in a two-striker formation. Players always step up their production when they have stiff competition.  Some more veteran presence on the attacking end would also improve the team's composure. Wilson has scored big goals for Newcastle and has made appearances for England so he won’t be afraid of the moment. Jamie Vardy English legend Jamie Vardy will always be a popular name to mention when discussing transfers.  The Leicester City icon had a respectable nine goals and four assists in his last season with the Foxes. Many teams have shown interest, ranging from Championship to Scottish teams and newly promoted Premier League teams. The MLS or Saudi Arabia are also options that the 38-year-old will consider.  Wilson would be a better fit in Charlotte because he is a more similar type of striker to Agyemang, allowing him to mentor him more effectively. That said, who wouldn’t want a player like Vardy on their team? The entertainment levels will instantly increase, and Vardy already has a connection with his former Manager, Dean Smith. It was revealed in this Goal article  that in the Summer of 2024, he sent a text trying to convince Vardy to come to Charlotte. Although Vardy turned down that offer at the time and signed a one-year extension with Leicester, Smith is likely in contact with him now. Jordan Ayew I have watched many Jordan Ayew games as a Crystal Palace supporter. He is not the most flashy player (besides when he turned into prime Neymar against West Ham), but he is incredible at keeping the ball and progressing attacks from the Right side of the field. In the biggest league in the world, Ayew was routinely in the top five most fouled players. He possesses great strength and composure on the ball, so you can kick it up to him and he will likely draw a foul or create a scoring opportunity. He is also a solid finisher when he gets the chance. I think he would excel in the MLS and become one of Charlotte’s most important players, filling the gap on the right wing. Ayew also has a connection with Wilfried Zaha, so he would be comfortable reuniting with his former teammate. His contract with Leicester ends in 2026, but I imagine the Ghanaian wouldn’t want to play in the Championship at this point in his career. Micheal Keane Michael Keane is an experienced English center back who has been very solid for Everton for eight years. He could provide a level of experience in the back, especially if Adilson Malanda ends up leaving the team over the summer window. It is reported that the newly promoted teams, Leeds United and Burley, have both shown interest in the 32-year-old, but a move to the MLS cannot be ruled out, especially with the English pull that Dean Smith has. Charlotte FC needs a player in the middle of the defense who is disciplined and organized from the start of the game to the end. Too often recently, Malanda, Privett, and Ream have fallen asleep in key moments, allowing the opponents to score. Keane is fundamentally sound and experienced, yet also young enough to keep up with the MLS opponents he may face, making him a good option for Charlotte. Marko Arnautović The Austrian’s contract with Inter Milan ends on July 1st. Arnautović is a physical specimen, standing around 6 ft 3 and weighing approximately 183 pounds.  But it is more his mindset and play style that makes him scare defenders. He is a powerful striker and a great finisher, with 121 goals to his name in his career for teams such as Stoke City, Inter Milan, and Bologna, among others. While his career is in its sunset at 36 years old, he still scored four goals last season for Inter Milan in only five starts. He would be an excellent fit for Charlotte FC, bringing much-needed experience to the striker position. Like Wilson, he could mentor Agyemang. (Stats pulled from fbref.com )

By: Rylee McKinney Chelsea versus LAFC for Group-Stage match (Photo courtesy of The Athletic) The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup recently kicked off on June 14th at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami with Al Ahly SC facing off against Inter Miami CF, marking the start of the expanded 32-team tournament. What should have been a highly anticipated tournament resulted in disappointing expectations of soccer fans worldwide. Fans took to social media to expose empty stadium plazas and empty seats. Ahead of the Club World Cup, FIFA, under president Gianni Infantino, allocated over $50 million on marketing to promote the tournament in the United States. With an extensive focus on social media, FIFA has dedicated significant time and effort toward fan engagement.  The noise surrounding the Club World Cup dramatically increased when the Seattle Sounders were spotted wearing a “World Cup Cash Grab” shirt in warmups for a regular MLS season match. The Major League Soccer Players' Association (MLSPA) simultaneously released a statement in support of the players, calling for a fair share of the prize money.  After very few developments in negotiations between MLSPA, MLS, and FIFA, MLSPA released a follow-up statement. The statement revealed that MLS’s response failed to respect players’ efforts.  Yet, with less than 25,000 tickets sold for Inter Miami vs Al Ahly SC leading up to the match, FIFA desperately needed a solution. That solution: slashing ticket prices.  Back in December, tickets through Ticketmaster were a minimum of $349 a ticket. By the start of June, FIFA revealed they would be slashing prices to a minimum of $55 a ticket. FIFA even included several discounted and complimentary ticket packages for veterans and college students for several of the group stage games.  FIFA’s strategy luckily worked as the first match saw 60,927 in attendance at Hard Rock Stadium, which has a max capacity of 65,326. However, the next matches in the tournament have been hot and cold with attendance. Bayern Munich’s match against Auckland City FC had 21,152 fans out of a potential 26,000-seat stadium. Paris Saint-Germain’s match versus Atlético Madrid saw 80,619 fans.  Despite attendance successes for those matches, a surreal amount of seats were left open for Sunday’s matches, with Palmerias versus FC Porto clocking in at 46,275 out of the 82,500 seats in MetLife Stadium. As for the match between Seattle Sounders and Botafogo, the stadium filled only 30,151 seats out of 68,740 at Lumen Field. Then, on Monday, Chelsea's match versus Los Angeles FC only saw a turnout of 21,327 spectators. On social media, fans have made several speculations about why so many seats have been left open. Some fans believe that the disconnect between the FIFA calendar and Premier League, MLS, and La Liga teams is putting a strain on players, and these fans do not want to support the Club World Cup. Others have commented on the US’s recent immigration policies under President Donald Trump, offering that the presence of Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) at matches might be turning away fans.  As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be looking at match attendance. The debate over whether or not FIFA has done enough to promote the Club World Cup remains, as attendance fluctuates with every match.