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By Tyler Trent Image courtesy of Tyler Trent Soccer is the world’s game. However, in the United States that hasn’t always been the case. It has been overshadowed by football, basketball, baseball, and hockey for years. However, research has shown that fans under 45 comprise a larger interest in soccer compared to other sports, which is promising for the continued growth of the sport in the United States. Soccer has been rapidly growing throughout the United States over the last decade. According to Nielsen research, the growth of Major League Soccer has saw a 27% increase in public interest since 2012. With Charlotte finally getting their chance at their own MLS team, it was bound to bring in new fans who may have never watched the sport in their life in the Carolinas and surrounding regions. Being able to share Charlotte FC and soccer with potential new fans is an amazing feeling and makes for a unique experience for many people each gameday. There are many options to make a great experience out of a first gameday, and what makes that day special for each person is unique. I had the pleasure of taking my longtime friend, Alex Stallard, to his first professional soccer game. Alex, a resident of Rock Hill, South Carolina, shared his experience and how it compared to other sporting events he has attended in the past. Primarily a basketball and football fan, Alex was ready to give soccer at try with Charlotte FC making an entrance to the Carolinas. The First Game On May 7th, 2022, Charlotte FC was set to face Inter Miami in an Eastern Conference matchup. Alex began his day traveling to the Supporter Tailgate before the match with friends, including myself. I recommended the tailgate lot as a way to meet some new people and get an introduction to what makes supporting a soccer club so special and different. Alex hung out around the Uptown Ultras tent and wandered throughout the tailgate lot to take in all the different sights and sounds. La Femme Footie was running their Can4Can event with NoDa Brewing Company to raise money and donations for Safe Alliance. After donating to the fundraiser, we grabbed two cans of NoDa's Plum Gose before the rain struck. Luckily, it didn’t last long and the pre-match party continued. Next, it was time for the supporters to march to the match. The chants rang loud as the supporters groups all came together to head toward the stadium. We are Charlotte. The mighty black and blue. We are from the Carolinas. Sangre Negra Y Azul. This is where the biggest differences started to appear for Alex. “The march to the match was probably my favorite part. It was an incredibly unique experience compared to what I've been accustomed to as far as sporting events go. The singing and chanting were super fun during the march as well.” Alex soon arrived at Bank of America Stadium and picked out his seats in the supporters section before going to grab a beer and some food. The section was lively with anticipation for the match. “It was completely different from an atmosphere/energy perspective. It's hard to describe, but most of the people there seemed way more excited to be there than a majority of other sporting events I've been to.” That energy was about to be amped up to another level. The Poznan began when the sounds of the hit 2021 song Pepas broke out over the speakers. Before the match, I told Alex about the Poznan tradition that started at Charlotte FC. I told him it was a way to honor the three Polish players on the Charlotte roster, and generate an even bigger atmosphere going into the start of the match. The Poznan celebration is most associated with the supporters of the club Lech Poznan in Poland, but many teams throughout the world have their own rendition. With arms linked and backs to the pitch, the Poznan began with Alex and friends jumping in unison with the entire supporters section. Growing up near Virginia Tech, this was reminiscent of their football team’s entrance to Enter Sandman for Alex. After a scoreless first half, Andre Shinyashiki scored in the 68th minute right in front of the supporters section. The sound that erupted from the stands was deafening, and the chaos began in the supporters section with fans cheering and jumping in celebration. Charlotte went on to win the match 1-0 and the electric atmosphere continued all the way back to the parking lot. I asked Alex if he was interested in attending more games this season, and there was no hesitation in his answer, “I’d absolutely want to make it to another game and it’s definitely something made even better with a group of friends.” Was a Charlotte FC Match Your First Professional Soccer Experience? Were you new to soccer and interested in speaking about your first experience with the beautiful game watching Charlotte FC? Reach out to me on twitter and let me know! Everyone’s first soccer experience is unique and we would love to share more of your stories discovering the sport we all love and what you enjoyed the most about your first match! For many of us, we have been attending professional soccer for years. Do you remember your first professional soccer experience? Let us know about it in the comments below!

By Brian Maurer Images courtesy of Charlotte FC The 2022 MLS All-Star game is just over a month away. It will be played in Minnesota, and Minnesota United’s coach, Adrian Heath, will be the MLS All-Star Team coach. Heath will be leading the team against the Liga MX All-Star Team. The question I wanted to look a little deeper into was whether Charlotte FC could have a representative at this year’s event. There are a few aspects of how the All-Star team is constructed that should be addressed before comparing any statistics. First, the roster is partially constructed around popularity. The first twelve players are voted on by fans, media, and players. The fans and media votes will likely have a strong pull towards more popular players in the league. Popularity is something that Charlotte FC is short on. Outside of Christian Fuchs, most people did not know who many of the players on the roster were before the season started. On popularity alone, Charlotte FC were going to receive a pretty limited amount of votes. There also has not been a player on Charlotte FC who has stood out so remarkably that they have boosted their popularity at the national level. All this means that Charlotte is unlikely to get a player voted in by the fans, media, and players. Image courtesy of Minnesota United Second, Heath will be selecting twelve all-stars for the match. Perhaps he has kept an eye on Charlotte FC, but since Charlotte are not playing Minnesota United this season I would not bank on him keeping to close an eye. This is just speculation, but unless something really stood out to Heath about one of Charlotte’s players so far I do not think that Heath will likely be selecting a player from Charlotte as things currently stand. Third, Don Garber is making the final two all-star selections. These picks, to me, are interesting, as Charlotte FC have had a solid start to their expansion campaign off the field, especially with ticket sales and team promotion. Garber might be interested in providing a boost to that promotion by sending a Charlotte FC representative to the match. Garber’s two picks are where I think a Charlotte FC player could be selected. Image courtesy of MLS The chances of a Charlotte FC player getting selected will also depend on how the following month goes. July could be a great opportunity for a few of Charlotte FC’s more consistent contributors to push themselves into the conversation for either Heath or Garber. Since the voting for fans, media, and players ends July 1st I don’t see any Charlotte player’s being voted in by then. Unless Ben Bender grabs a hat trick and an assist against Austin FC on Thursday. Over the next month, I think Kristijan Kahlina, Guzman Corujo, Brandt Bronico, and Bender could all make a claim from the fringes if they can continue to perform consistently and elevate their overall production. A few wins would also help solidify a claim, since winning will draw the interest from outside of Charlotte, and validate the production of the players. Kahlina got off to a very strong start, making many clutch saves which helped Charlotte FC secure points early on. His play has dropped slightly, and the defense has improved, which has meant Kahlina has had to make fewer saves. A good thing for the team, but not for padding his stats as an all-star candidate. Kahlina has stayed in the top ten in MLS in save percentage (76.8%) and in post shot expected goals minus goals against (PSxG-GA)* showing that he is capable of hanging with some of the better keepers in the league. However, players like Andre Blake, Dayne St. Clair, Sean Johnson, and Steve Clark are all having solid seasons this year. St. Clair, specifically, is having a breakout year, which could make it difficult for Kahlina to find a place on the all-star team. However if he goes on a heater and gets two or three more clean sheets, with a couple wins, that could change things. Corujo is another Charlotte FC candidate who could make a push if Charlotte FC’s defense continues to maintain its stability, and Charlotte can continue to grind out results. Several of his defensive actions stats are strong and hold with several other center back all-star candidates. Corujo currently averages 6.59 successful defensive actions** per 90 minutes. When comparing his defensive stats to other quality center backs like Aaron Long (7.58), Alexander Callens (5.86), and Walker Zimmerman (6.75), he can clearly hold his own. Whether he can make a bid, I believe, will be whether the team can continue to get results and hold another couple of clean sheets. Corujo is essentially in the same situation as Kahlina. Bronico and Bender are both in difficult situations. They have both performed well in their positions, but their positions are also where some of the best producers in the league play. Bender has arguably no shot, at this point, of making the roster regardless of how he plays because he is competing with players like Sebastián Driussi, Carles Gil, Dániel Gazdag, and Hany Mukhtar. All of these players, and more, are competing for the MVP award. Bender, as a rookie, has little to no shot of competing with this strong production group of central midfielders. Of course, an extremely productive July could at least add him to the conversation. Bronico puts in a strong shift every time out. Unfortunately, his work rate does not come attached with a lot of final production, which several of his defensive midfield counterparts have. Bronico has solid defensive statistics that can compete with many defensive mids, however there are several players who provide a ton of ball progression going forward. Players like Marco Delgado, and Ilie Sánchez are brilliant at progressing the ball up the field. In the modern game, ball progression stands out far more than strong defensive play. Which, in this case, could hurt Bronico’s potential all-star stock. Overall, I would say these four players have been Charlotte FC’s most consistent performers, and the most likely to get a nod towards the all-star game, depending on how July goes, and what traits Heath and Garber are looking for when making their selections. Images courtesy of Charlotte FC Others who could also be on the fringe, and who have received a top ten in their positions' share of votes since MLS last updated the voting tally on June 22nd, are Fuchs and Jaylin Lindsey. However both Fuchs and Lindsey have seen limited minutes over the past few weeks, so time will tell whether or not they can join the all-star candidate conversation. The upside, when it comes to July, is there are several games where Charlotte FC could get some much needed points, and provide some production which could help boost their stock towards being represented in the all-star game. If there was a stretch of games to make a claim to both solidify a position in the playoff hunt, and to prove to Garber and Heath that Charlotte deserves an all-star representative, this stretch of games through July is the time to make it happen. *PSxG-GA is probably the best advanced stat currently available to analyze how well a goalkeeper is playing. This stat takes the total amount of probable goals faced and subtracts it from the actual goals allowed. A positive number signifies a keeper giving up fewer goals than expected, while a negative number indicates a keeper giving up more goals than expected. This stat plus a few others, such as save percentage, help indicate how well a keeper is doing regardless of their teams overall performance. **For the successful defensive actions stats I took the successful defensive pressures per 90 minutes, interceptions per 90 minutes, and tackles won per 90 minutes and added them all together. The purpose of this stat was to see how many times a defensive player takes an action that leads to a positive outcome (regaining possession) per match.

By Brian Maurer Image courtesy of Charlotte FC Charlotte FC’s first four months have been a pretty wild ride. They have established themselves as a team with quotes and words from staff that quickly go viral. “Screwed” and “speculate” are both words that will trigger many fans’ memories of the ups and downs of this inaugural season. Through all the off-field concerns and discussions, the Black and Blues have shown a lot of competitive spirit and resolve. This energy presents itself strongest when Charlotte FC plays at home. Currently, Charlotte FC have accrued the fourth most points at home in MLS. If they beat Austin FC today, they will have the most points at home of any team in MLS this season. An impressive start for a team that was picked as a wooden spoon contender by many MLS pundits. Taking a look back through the first half of the season, I am going to take a deeper dive into four phases of play, and how Charlotte FC has fared in each so far. I will also discuss part of Charlotte FC’s struggles on the road, and why there is reason for optimism on away matches during the second half of the season. Four Phases In a podcast episode of Soccer 101*, Joe Lowery discussed four continuous phases of play within a football match. These phases are possession, defensive transition, defending, and attacking transition. All phases are used in every match. The question is how effective have Charlotte FC been in these four phases throughout the first half of the season. Images courtesy of Charlotte FC Possession As a squad, Charlotte FC are tenth in MLS in touches per 90 minutes, showing that they are having some success in their desired possession style of play. However, it is important to look at where Charlotte is getting their touches. Charlotte FC has the third most touches in their defensive third. The eleventh most touches in the middle third, and the twenty-first most touches in the attacking third. Charlotte might be able to possess the ball well, but they are struggling to get the ball forward, and possess it in more aggressive areas of the pitch. Charlotte FC will need to show improvement in their possession play, especially when it comes to possessing the ball in attacking areas, if they are going to earn extra points throughout the second half of the season. Not only will this help the team advance higher up the table, but it is paramount if Charlotte FC are going to truly establish this model of play as their foundational philosophy. One alarming possession stat that needs to improve is Karol Świderski’s touches in the attacking penalty area. Currently, Świderski is averaging just 4.21 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 minutes. Having Charlotte FC’s strongest scoring threat get so few touches in dangerous areas limits the ability of the team to produce goals out of their possession. If Świderski starts to get more touches in the attacking third and, especially, the penalty area, the Black and Blues’ possession stats and goal production from possession should improve through the second half of the season. Images courtesy of Charlotte FC Defensive Transition The defensive transition phase will be the second most important phase for Charlotte FC’s ideal style of play. As this will be the phase where Charlotte quickly tries to regain possession after they lose it. Using an effective counter press can help a team increase how much they possess the ball, as counter pressing helps regain possession quickly. Halfway through the season, Charlotte FC are ninth in MLS in total pressing. However, Charlotte FC are only nineteenth in successful pressure percentage (28.6%). What this suggests is that Charlotte FC are showing a willingness to press their opponents, but they are not pressing efficiently. Efficiency should come with time playing together as a unit. Three players who could play a big part in helping improve the efficiency of the press for the remainder of the season are Titi Ortiz, Andre Shinyashiki, and Kamil Jozwiak. All three have shown a desire to press opponents often, and in limited minutes all three of them have shown an ability to press well. Ortiz leads the team in attempted presses per 90 minutes (23.8), Shinyashiki is also high on Charlotte FC’s pressing list with 19.8. Jozwiak is one of the team’s more effective pressers with a 30.6% successful press rate. If Charlotte FC are to impose their possession type style of play on opponents they will need to continue to develop an effective counter press. All three of these players will likely play a vital role in whether that effective press does transpire during the second half of the season. Defending The development of Charlotte FC’s defensive shape has been one of the brighter spots of the team as the season has progressed. Charlotte FC have only conceded 15 goals in their last 14 matches. They have also not had an expected goals against (xGA) in a match higher than 1.5 since matchday six. While there were some bumps on the road early, the defensive structure of the team appears to be stabilizing. A major contributor to this defensive stability is Guzman Corujo. He is the only player on the roster who has played every MLS minute for Charlotte FC thus far. He has also made many clutch tackles, and is one of the leaders on the team in several defensive statistics. What has also been impressive about Corujo is that even though he has played every minute he has only made one error leading to an opponent's shot. Anton Walkes, who has just recently become Corujo’s backline partner, has also yet to put a foot wrong since becoming a weekly starter. If this partnership continues to flourish, Charlotte FC may have found a stabilizing defensive pairing for several years, as both Corujo and Walkes are about to enter the primes of their careers. Another key contributor to Charlotte FC’s defense is their keeper, Kristijan Kahlina. Kahlina provided many clutch saves early on in the season, and has continued his strong play. He just has not had to make as many saves as he did early on as the defense has become more stable. Kahlina is currently in the top ten of MLS keepers in both save percentage (76.8%) and post shot expected goals (PSxG)** minus goals against (GA) per 90 minutes (.14). Charlotte FC will be hoping that he can maintain his current pace, while also reducing a few of the critical errors he has made playing out of the back. A surprise defensive standout has been Joseph Mora. While he started his season slowly, he has come on as one of the team’s strongest defensive players. His successful defensive pressure rate is 40%. That stat leads the team among players with ten or more starts. He also has a dribbler tackle rate of 75%, again the highest on the team among regular starters, while also leading the team in tackles won per 90 minutes (2.22). It will be interesting to see how the captain, Christian Fuchs, gets worked back into the lineup, when fully fit, since the backline has really started to gel even with his absence. Attacking Transition Charlotte FC’s attacking transition is one of their weakest phases of play. They are currently seventeenth in completed passes progressing into the attacking third per 90 minutes (27.4); and they are twenty-third in overall progressive passes per 90 minutes (29.1). Charlotte FC have, simply, not been very good at moving the ball forward into attacking areas with consistency. While these progressive passing stats do not differentiate between counter situations and more standard possession sequences, these stats still show the limited amount of progression occurring. With a team that wants to press high and win the ball back quickly, there should also be more balls progressed forward. Which is what these progressive stats show is missing in many of Charlotte FC's current performances. This had been one of the complaints that players had with former coach, Miguel Angel Ramirez’s methods. It will be interesting to keep an eye on whether the current coach, Christian Lattanzio, can improve this phase of play for Charlotte FC in the second half of the season. If Ortiz continues to earn a starting spot under Lattanzio, his progressive and attacking creativity will be a key to whether Charlotte FC can improve their attacking transition. Currently, Ortiz only averages 2.03 attacking third progressive passes per 90 minutes. He also only puts just over one progressive pass into the penalty area per 90 minutes. Neither of those numbers are good enough from a starting attacking midfielder. He is only now starting to get regular minutes, so both of those numbers could start to rise. Another way Charlotte FC could help improve their attacking transition play is if they invest more heavily in attacking midfielders. One of the front office goals that sporting director, Zoran Krneta, set for the summer was to bring in another attacking midfielder. If a signing can be made, and the new player becomes a hit, Charlotte FC’s attacking transition could be much improved through the second half of the season. Road Concerns The greatest area for overall improvement for Charlotte FC is obviously their road performances. If Charlotte FC were averaging just a half a point from their road matches they would be right at the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. The lack of road results is the primary cause for why they are sitting back in ninth. There is reason to believe that their road performances should improve over the second half of the season. The primary reason is that they face weaker competition. Charlotte FC have lost seven matches on the road so far this season. Of those seven losses, five of the teams they faced currently sit above the playoff line. The two teams that do not currently sit above the playoff line are Atlanta United and DC United. Atlanta is very likely a playoff contender once their players get healthier. DC United was Charlotte FC’s week one matchup and at the time they had no designated players (DPs) set to play. Charlotte FC’s final eight road matches include four teams that are currently sitting outside of the playoffs (Houston, Inter Miami, Toronto FC, and Chicago). One of the teams that Charlotte plays on the road, that are currently above the playoff line, is FC Cincinnati, a team that Charlotte have already been able to beat at home. When Charlotte has played a team on the road that is not in the current playoff picture, the results are nowhere near as dire. They are obviously still winless but they have picked up two draws out of their three matches on the road against non-playoff teams. Charlotte FC fans should expect a minimum of four points from their remaining non-playoff road schedule. That number could improve quickly with a first road win against a beatable Houston team over the weekend. Overall, the second half of the season on the road looks less ominous. It will also be less daunting if Charlotte FC are able to add more pieces during the summer transfer window. This summer transfer window will be crucial. If Charlotte FC are able to land one of their main targets at attacking midfielder during the summer, they should be able to make a strong push towards the playoffs as the signing would greatly improve the phases of play where Charlotte FC are currently struggling the most. If they are unable to make a strong attacking midfield signing during the summer, a push for the playoffs becomes significantly harder, and the pressure on the current roster becomes far higher. *I highly recommend the Soccer 101 podcast, even for people who have followed the beautiful game for a while there are sure to be historical and informative facts and stories that will entertain people with all varying levels of understanding of the sport. **PSxG-GA is probably the best advanced stat currently available to analyze how well a goalkeeper is playing. This stat takes the total amount of probable goals faced and subtracts it from the actual goals allowed. A positive number signifies a keeper giving up fewer goals than expected, while a negative number indicates a keeper giving up more goals than expected. This stat plus a few others, such as save percentage, help indicate how well a keeper is doing regardless of their teams overall performance. ***All stats for this article were found on FBref.com

By Brian Maurer Images courtesy of Sport Club Internacional and Orlando City SC Charlotte FC are looking to be active during the secondary transfer window, which is set to open on July 7th. Sources have confirmed that along with adding an attacking midfielder, Charlotte are looking to incorporate a right back. On Wednesday, June 22nd, MLS pundit Niko Moreno reported that Charlotte have inquired about 30 year old Brazilian full back Rodinei Marcelo de Almeida and are also interested in 27 year old Rafael Ramos. Ramos is a Portuguese fullback who plays for Brazilian side Corinthians. Where he has been a regular contributor. He has also played in MLS for both Orlando City and Chicago Fire. Although, Ramos also has some reported off field concerns. According to The-Sun.com, Ramos was arrested last month for using a racial slur towards an opponent. Rodinei is a player that Charlotte FC have had an interest in for quite awhile. According to Brazilian news outlet, Globo, Charlotte made an offer to Flamengo for Rodinei in February of 2021. Over the last couple years he has had limited minutes, but in the 2018/19 season he was a regular contributor for Flamengo as the team became both Brazilian champions and Copa Libertadores Cup winners. Rodinei would bring trophy winning experience to Charlotte FC, as well as a more direct attacking option down the right side. He would provide further competition for minutes with both Jaylin Lindsey and Harrison Afful. Based on both of these players' backgrounds and playing style, it appears that Charlotte FC are looking to add depth at fullback. Specifically with players who are willing to roam up the wing into attack, which is something both Ramos and Rodinei enjoy doing. It also appears that Charlotte are taking a long look at some of the big Brazilian clubs for talent, as both of these players currently play in Brazil’s top league.

By Jorge Gonzales Image courtesy of Charlotte FC Charlotte FC are confirmed to have a significantly reduced roster for tonight’s match against CF Montreal. At least ten players did not travel due to health and safety protocols. Charlotte FC tried to petition the league to postpone the match but they were unsuccessful. The true test tonight will be how Lattanzio can find a result in Montreal with so many players missing. Charlotte FC does have a few players on loan at Charlotte Independence who they may call up to provide some depth for the match. While this helps put names on the roster sheet, there is no other way to spin this than to say that this news is a significant blow to Charlotte FC’s chances in tonight’s match. If Lattanzio can lead the Black and Blues to a result tonight it would be a remarkable feat.

By Brian Maurer Image courtesy of Charlotte FC Charlotte FC are set to part ways with midfielder Alan Franco. Although Argentine side Talleres de Cordoba has officially posted that he has joined the club the deal is not yet finalized. Sources confirmed that Alan Franco refused to travel with the team for Charlotte FCs crucial game against CF Montreal this weekend. Signed on a one-year loan by Charlotte FC back in December, Franco made ten appearances with nine starts for the Black and Blues. Before signing with Charlotte FC, Franco had spent two seasons with Atlético Mineiro, and five seasons with Independiente del Valle. At Independiente, Franco won the Copa Sudamericana while playing for Miguel Angel Ramirez (MAR), Charlotte FC’s inaugural coach. Franco’s departure opens up an international roster spot, which Charlotte FC can utilize during the summer transfer window. By opening up international roster spots Charlotte FC give themselves additional roster flexibility when making signings during the summer window.

By Brian Maurer Images courtesy of Charlotte FC During the preseason, former Charlotte FC head coach, Miguel Angel Ramirez (MAR), told the world that his team was “screwed”. After making this public comment to TopBin90, he reported that he was frustrated by a deal falling through and attempted to apologize to the players. Many MLS pundits and other football media outlets ran with this headline, predicting the Black and Blues to be competing for last place in the table. While many in the national media consider the ex-coach’s statement as fact, it is worth considering other takes regarding Charlotte’s potential. Christian Fuchs, the team captain, stated in his recent press conference that the team was “underperforming” with MAR at the helm. Newly promoted head coach, Christian Lattanzio, evaluated the team by saying “this group of players, in my opinion, is a group of players, talented, and with a lot of qualities” to interviewer, Eric Krakauer. The inaugural head coach, MAR, could not see these qualities in the squad, and thus claimed that he was being limited in what he could achieve. This claim led national media pundits to believe that MAR was overachieving. However, Fuchs and Lattanzio are currently preaching a message that this team, as it stands, has the quality to achieve more. Which is opposite to the sentiment MAR and many MLS pundits have been saying since preseason. What is curious is the willingness with which people went along with the narrative that MAR presented, and still continue to do so. The belief by many MLS pundits, especially after MAR’s preseason comments, is that the Charlotte FC roster is weak, and that MAR punched above his weight. Lattanzio’s resume of evaluating and developing world class talent can compete with most other coaches who have worked in football development. And Fuchs has played at some of the highest levels in world football. Lattanzio has now taken the reins of Charlotte FC, and with his promotion has come more doubters. The important thing is the players believe in him. “We have a great coach with Christian Lattanzio who has vast experience, for decades. He won the Premier League with Mancini, with Manchester City, I don’t think there is anything else I need to add,” Fuchs said on his impression of Lattanzio. That belief showed on the pitch when Charlotte FC got a dominant win against a highly ranked New York Red Bulls (NYRB) side. This commanding win, it should be said, was done without a single designated player (DP). In fact, Charlotte FC had not been able to get a result without both Karol Swiderski and Fuchs in the lineup. Until Lattanzio was promoted. Is There Quality In The Squad? According to many MLS pundits, MAR was dealt a shorthand with the roster. “You look at that roster that he had to put out his final game there are maybe two guys there who you would look at and say ‘that’s an MLS caliber starter,’” said Matt Doyle, an MLS analyst. MAR had been making similar remarks about the roster for months. He said, “I am not Harry Potter,” meaning that he would have to be a wizard to succeed with the roster he was given. However, if you were to ask Lattanzio or Fuchs the team does have quality. That quality was on full display at home versus NYRB. While there are still plenty of doubters regarding the roster construction, Charlotte FC’s potential is slowly starting to get recognized outside of the Carolinas, thanks in part to an ABC broadcast. “I tell you this, Ben Bender and [McKinzie Gaines] were very good today. Both of them, different types of players, and different skill sets, but do a lot of good things for this team”, said ESPN analyst, Alejandro Moreno, during the broadcast. Image courtesy of Charlotte FC Moreno focused on the potential of McKinzie Gaines. “This is what I’ll say to McKinzie Gaines, ‘Buddy, you clean the last part of your game, that final decision. You clean it up, and complete the passes, put the crosses into dangerous areas with more consistency, you are going to be a big player in this league for a while”. One player who is starting to fulfill some of his potential is Ben Bender. Bender has put up three goals and three assists so far this season, his ability to attack space is something that MLS fans outside of Charlotte are starting to notice. “He [Bender] is a space merchant, he has the vision to see space, and the foresight to find space before it opens up…against the Red Bulls he consistently played in the half space behind Frankie Amaya and in front of the Red Bull backline…he is an absolute game breaker, Ben Bender is a space merchant, and the most influential player for the expansion side Charlotte FC” said MLS Gone Wild host, Blake Eshelman, on a recent podcast episode. Several of the players on the Charlotte FC roster have been considered less than starting caliber quality. However, the team has been playing many of these players because they have raw potential and special traits and abilities. Currently, this strategy has been working. Creating Stars From the off, Charlotte FC’s front office has expressed their desire to develop stars in the Carolinas. “We want to create our own stars,” Charlotte FC’s head of scouting, Thomas Schaling, told writer Ryan Bailey back in January. This concept was always going to look rough to some analysts who focus on the results and statistical success of many of the prospects that Charlotte signed to their roster throughout the early part of roster construction. Most of Charlotte’s roster has been filled with prospects and journeymen. To many, this would not be a method for early success. However, there appears to be a vision in place, and the players have reported a belief in this vision, and that they, themselves, can fulfill the start to it. Finding capable prospects, who can become stars, requires players who have traits or abilities that can be honed and developed into more complete players with time. Bender has a very capable touch on the ball and strong understanding of space. However, those abilities can get challenged as the game speeds up at a higher level. Image courtesy of Charlotte FC Bender himself has mentioned that the speed of MLS has taken him some time to adjust to. As his processing speed increases, his ability and results are likely to do the same. Gaines has immense physical attributes, especially his pace. Pace is something that cannot be coached. But, final third competency can. If, like Moreno reported on ABC, Gaines can develop his final third competency to compliment his pacey play, he will become a force on the wing. The goal of the roster build in Charlotte was never to look initially pretty on paper. The goal appears to be to bring in players with special qualities that can be enhanced and developed. That development will be what fans in Charlotte notice first, and the league at-large notices second. Bender and Gaines, for example, were not discussed as potential key pieces to this team by MLS pundits and analysts at the beginning of the season. With time, that narrative has started to shift. A Chip On Their Shoulder Another trait that stands out starkly about this Charlotte FC team, that is difficult to analyze, is the amount of players that have a proverbial “chip on their shoulder”. Many had been pushed out of regularly playing in their primary role, such as Andre Shinyashiki at Colorado. Others lost out on valuable playing time due to injuries, like Jaylin Lindsey. However, Charlotte has provided a haven, an opportunity, for players with special traits and skill sets to hone their talent and prove some critics wrong. This attitude of the team is contagious, and is shown in the competitive nature of the squad on the pitch. Something that even MAR, who rated the team poorly, could not miss. In fact, one of the main critiques Fuchs reported the players had was that they wanted more intense training sessions. If there is one statement that stands out about the competitive nature of this group of players, it is that they are calling for more intensity in training. Many of the players on this squad have also been turned aside by other clubs, who opted to take a different direction. Players like Gaines, Shinyashiki, Brandt Bronico, Daniel Rios, and Derrick Jones have all shown an ability to perform well at varying professional levels in the United States. However, the MLS teams they played for were clearly not interested in attempting to allow these players the time to develop, to see if their potential can actually materialize. Charlotte FC has provided an opportunity for these players. Bronico and Rios have become regular contributors to the success of the Black and Blues. Shinyashiki has scored four goals since joining the club. Gaines has shown flashes of some truly remarkable traits, especially his pace. In Lattanzio’s first game as coach, Jones scored his first ever MLS goal. Image courtesy of Charlotte FC The trait that stands out amongst some of Charlotte FC’s players from abroad is that they are all hungry, and appear determined to push their careers up to a higher level of competition. Some of these players include Kerwin Vargas, Jan Sobocinski, and Guzman Corujo. Of these players, Corujo has solidified himself as an assistant captain and one of the first names put on the lineup. Sobocinski was also finally given his MLS debut during the match against NYRB. Vargas, in limited minutes, has shown very high charisma and personality in attack with the ball. The limited production levels for some of these players may shift under interim coach Lattanzio, who seems more willing to change tactics based on his players’ skill sets. Other players such as Lindsey, Alan Franco, and Kamil Jozwiak arrived in Charlotte after less productive stints at other clubs. In Lindsey and Jozwiak’s case, they were also recovering from injuries. Lindsey and Franco have become regular contributors to the team. Jozwiak has still yet to shine as he recently recovered from an ankle injury and has had limited minutes. Charlotte FC clearly planned to bring in a variety of players with different skill sets, and from different circumstances. They are also not fully polished and developed into their highest versions of themselves. However, they all have a clear hunger to perform and a desire to compete with each other in Charlotte. Some of the players mentioned will not develop into stars in MLS, however the competitive nature that has been put in the locker room through these signings will provide the foundational culture for what future signings can expect when joining the club. Future players in Charlotte FC will likely be more unproven, hungry, competitive players with special traits or attributes who are looking to fight their way into a role on the club. They will also be players looking to show they can compete at the MLS level or higher. While many on the current roster may not be deemed “MLS starting caliber”, Charlotte FC’s squad is full of players with high potential, a chip on their shoulder, and something to prove. Searching For A Better Fit Many of the players Charlotte FC have found so far were also in difficult situations before arriving in Charlotte. Jozwiak was on a team, Derby County, that was in a relegation battle. Shinyashiki was playing for the Colorado Rapids, who, over the past couple seasons had struggled to find tactics that provided consistent goal scoring from any of their attackers. Bronico was a part of a struggling Chicago Fire team before performing well for the Charlotte Independence. Jones arrived after playing for a struggling Houston Dynamo team. Gaines was playing for a first year side, Austin FC, who decided to spend more heavily in the attack rather than to focus on developing attackers such as Gaines. The point is that many of the players have potential, but were limited by a less than ideal situation for them. Does that mean that Charlotte FC is a guaranteed better situation for all of these players? No. But, it does allow the opportunity for them to reach their potential, as it gives them a chance to see if, indeed, Charlotte is a better fit. Charlotte in turn could reap some serious reward if the potential of some of these players actually does come to fruition. A chance to compete; this is what Charlotte FC has been able to offer several players with potential who have yet to find a team that fits them well. Many players have gotten that chance. The end results thus far have been encouraging, and the summer transfer window has yet to open. The July window would allow Charlotte another opportunity to provide further competition and depth to a squad that has already shown an ability to compete in MLS. So? How Good Is The Squad? According to analysts around MLS, Charlotte FC are not a good team, on paper, and are punching above their weight so far. However, a roster on paper does not fully highlight the final product on the pitch. Inter Miami, for example, provided plenty of big name players to fill a solid on paper roster. However, they are still struggling to find their identity as a team, and have dealt with ramifications for their overambitious strides towards filling a superstar roster. Nashville SC’s roster is more compact, and includes a massive star playmaker in Hany Mukhtar. However, Mukhtar is about the only player that makes Nashville a watchable team, even though they make the playoffs. This is because they are a defensive minded team that depends on Mukhtar for almost all of their offensive production. Their roster, on paper, is decent, but their entertainment value is not. What can be seen of Charlotte FC’s roster is not on paper. So far, they have shown a willingness to compete and fight, leading to several strong results at home. The competition in the roster during training has also shown that there are several players with raw potential who can develop into legitimate playmakers if molded correctly. Having a roster that is willing to compete with each other has led to several unexpected, but welcome, surprises. Such as Bronico becoming an every week starter. Players on the team know that there are opportunities ready to be taken as long as they push for them. This has created a roster full of potential, and with a variety of skill sets that Lattanzio can choose from to make tactical decisions. The squad is full of lesser known players ready to fight and compete for the Queen City. Just as Schaling said it was going to be. There really should be no surprise that this is how the roster is forming, since it had been stated pretty clearly from the start. With that comes a team bolstered to continue to compete for a playoff spot, and by the end of the season a few of the competitive prospects will likely become stars. This player development model could make Charlotte FC look good on paper next year, with several “MLS starting caliber” players. This year, they have shown an ability to compete and get results in spite of the pundits’ analysis.

By Jorge Gonzales Image courtesy of Charlotte FC Life in Charotte has not been the simplest for the Crowns midfielder Sergio Ruiz who signed with Charlotte FC on July 8th 2020. The 27-year-old arrived from second division side Racing Santander, whom he represented as captain. With the covid pandemic delaying the start of Charlotte FC’s inaugural season, Sergio was loaned out to La Liga 2 side Las Palmas. ln his first season Sergio played a crucial role in the team making 37 appearances while scoring 5 goals and bagging 6 assists earning interest from La Liga sides which Charlotte FC quickly rejected as they did not want to lose their first ever player without him playing once for the club. Things at Charlotte FC have been different for Sergio Ruiz. With just 14 appearances and 2 assist Sergio has struggled to cement himself in the starting 11. Sources have confirmed that Charlotte have received multiple offers for Sergio Ruiz and according to Spanish outlet cañarías7, La Liga 2 side Las Palmas is interested in bringing the Spaniard back on loan with the player interested in returning as well. The next few weeks will be crucial as Charlotte FC’s front office have a tough decision to make. Continue to believe in Charlotte’s first ever signing as he’s shown glimpses of how good he can be or let him go and free up another spot on the roster as Charlotte also look to add and continue to build a competing squad

By Tyler Trent Image courtesy of Charlotte FC With the weekend approaching, the excitement of the Charlotte FC match day begins to creep up. The team will be playing away at Montreal, which allows fans the chance to relax at home, or take a trip to a local bar to watch the match with friends. However, for some, this away game will be an adventure into new cities and stadiums – and potentially into hostile territory to support their club with the same passion they would at Bank of America Stadium. For La Muerte, one of Charlotte FC’s most recognizable supporters, preparing to travel for away games has become his normal routine. He has attended every away game this season and has plans to travel to the remaining games. La Muerte, a Mint City Collective board member, shared his thoughts on what makes away days so special. “Just seeing neat places and meeting new people. I love traveling, but sometimes it gets tiring, especially when they are back-to-back away games. There is nothing like home!” Patrick Aquino, Cofounder of Carolina Hooliganz, shared the sentiment of La Muerte.“Traveling is always fun. Getting to visit new places we’ve never been to is always a great experience - meeting new people, making new friends - but nothing compares to those home games. Bank of America Stadium has become like a second home.” Traveling away from Charlotte is a change of pace. Bank of America Stadium has packed in at least 30,000 supporters for every home game this season, but on the road, our fans are outnumbered. However, Marce Sierra, a member of Blue Furia and a capo in the supporter section, says she has even more excitement to represent the team at away games. “Although I am always super proud of my team, my colors, and my “boys” - at away games, I always have a more profound sense of pride showing off my colors.” While Charlotte supporters will most likely be outnumbered on the road, supporters like Marce will always be there to back the team. “My main goal is to make sure that our boys know that we are there supporting them, even if we are just a handful, and that they are never going to play alone or play in silence.” Image courtesy of Marce Sierra Sir Minty Introduces Himself to the US Open Cup Stage Charlotte FC played three away games during their first year competing in the US Open Cup, where they were ultimately knocked out by the New York Red Bulls in the Round of 16. In the first match, Charlotte competed against a tough Greenville Triumph squad. Charlotte went on to win in extra time after a late goal from Harrison Afful, but the biggest highlight for many was the appearance of Sir Minty in the stands. Members of the Mint City Collective supporter group created a tifo of the legendary mascot bursting onto the scene of the 107th edition of the US Open Cup. The tifo received a lot of praise across social media. Image courtesy of Carolina Hooliganz Patrick Aquino and the Carolina Hooliganz decided to carry on the Sir Minty tifo tradition heading into the next US Open Cup match against the Richmond Kickers. “We thought it was really cool and wanted to create the next one for the Richmond match. When we were brainstorming on what it would be, there was online banter between us and one of their supporter groups. I thought, “Hey, let’s make it like a boxing match and have Sir Minty knocking out their mascot the kangaroo!” I’m not the best artist, so I asked our members if anybody was good at drawing. Ulises, who goes by CLTFC Lucha, offered to draw something up. Another member Nathan, also known as Masked Hooligan, painted that tifo all by himself. Image courtesy of Carolina Hooliganz Charlotte got out some away game frustration against Richmond, ultimately scoring five goals and advancing to the next round of the Open Cup behind the singing from the fans who had made the trip up to Virginia. The Carolina Hooliganz decided to carry on the tradition of bringing Sir Minty along with them when they traveled to the campus of Montclair State University to face the New York Red Bulls. “We did the same thing with the Red Bulls tifo. We went through the Tifo Committee for their approval and they loved it! We had a lot of fun making those and some great memories.” We asked Patrick if there were plans to make any more Sir Minty tifos this season, or if they were going to keep it as an Open Cup tradition. “There’s a good possibility for a Sir Minty tifo in the future, but if not, we will definitely make it an Open Cup tradition.” Image courtesy of Carolina Hooliganz Traveling to a Welcome Party or Into the Lion’s Den? Traveling to away games can make some people nervous about negative fan experiences with opposing supporters. However, our away supporters have had mostly great interactions with opposing fans around the league this season. Patrick Aquino, who has attended six away games this season so far, shared his experience. “Honestly, for every away game we have been to, we had some very welcoming fans who have made our away experience memorable. Of course, there’s one or two who are not so welcoming, but we know that’s just part of the game.” Marce Sierra echoed that statement. “Overall, most of them treated us good. Some people have even approached us to give us encouragement and to congratulate us, because even though it is our first season, we are doing an excellent job. The most welcoming, I have to say Columbus Crew. The club, security, and the fans were really welcoming.” La Muerte gave a shoutout the to Colorado Rapids supporters for their great attitude toward the traveling fans of Charlotte FC. While most interactions with the opposing fans were positive, unfortunately not all of them have been. Multiple people we spoke with responded that Orlando City’s fans were by far the most unwelcoming. “The club and the security were really rude and the fans were just plain offensive and aggressive inside and out of the stadium.” Overall, Charlotte FC’s supporters have experienced open arms throughout the league, and they hope they have shown that same respect to opposing fans traveling to Bank of America Stadium. The QC Royals supporter group always make a point to go out of their way to invite opposing fans to their tailgate and share recommendations for the Charlotte area. Images courtesy of QC Royals Making Memories on the Road Away games have yielded rocky results on the pitch, but fans have made the most of it so far this season in the stands. La Muerte’s favorite away trip so far has been the DC United. “Our first game ever! There were more than 400 Charlotte FC fans singing all 90 minutes. You couldn’t hear DC’s supporter group at all!” Patrick reminisced about Charlotte’s first MLS game and his trip to Washington DC. “The most memorable away game was our trip to DC. To finally be able to watch our team take the pitch after 2+ years of waiting was such a good feeling. We didn’t win that match, but I was so happy to finally have a home team I could root for.” However, Patrick’s favorite was the trip to Richmond. “Even though it was for the Open Cup match, watching our team scoring so many goals was great! And of course, all the attention our Sir Minty tifo got.” Marce’s favorite away trip was to rivals Atlanta United, and the first MLS goal in Charlotte FC’s history scored by Adam Armour. “We were waiting for that moment for a few games and to be able to experience it was everything. I can say most of us, if not all, cried!” She currently has plans to attend six more away games this season and has one wish for the future. “What I want the most is to be there for our first big win at an away game!” The Takeaway Overall, traveling to away games has been a great experience for Charlotte FC’s supporters this season. Even though it can get exhausting and expensive, the supporters we talked to wouldn’t have it any other way, and have made memories that will last for the rest of their lives. If you are interested in traveling to an away game in the future, be on the lookout for supporter groups organizing trips for Charlotte FC fans to travel and sit together at the matches. It can be a very rewarding experience, and a great way to connect with your fellow supporters and even make some new friends with opposing fans.

By Tyler Trent Image courtesy of Heidi Underhill Game day at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a whirlwind of emotion for a community who has waited for an MLS team to come to the Queen City for such a long time. For the supporter groups of the team, the day starts early. Preparation for the pre-match festivities, like the supporter’s tailgate start hours before the match, but preparation for the Charlotte FC supporter group’s tifo start far earlier than that. Charlotte FC’s supporter groups have formed a committee of individuals eager to bring the excitement of tifos to Bank of America Stadium. The group consists of members of Charlotte’s Royal Family of supporter groups that includes Blue Furia, Carolina Hooliganz, Mint City Collective, Mint Street Mafia, Southbound and Crown,Queens Firm, and Uptown Ultras. Lucas Barnhardt, President of the Uptown Ultras supporter group and one of the co-leads of the Tifo Committee, spoke with us about the creation of his favorite tifo so far, Queen Charlotte. “Hard not to say that the first tifo of Queen Charlotte was my favorite. Not only the size, design, and incredible detail. The experience of making that tifo is something I will remember for the rest of my life! To have so many people from so many different supporter groups and everyone working together was amazing to see.” Image courtesy of Charlotte FC The 54-foot Queen Charlotte tifo was unveiled in front of an MLS record attendance of 74,479 at Bank of America Stadium for the inaugural home match of Charlotte FC against the Los Angeles Galaxy. The tifo received praise throughout the league and around the world for the scope and detail from a new group of supporters. However, creating such a stunning tifo wasn’t easy. Barnhardt recounted the stress of preparing the inaugural tifo. “It got stressful at times and there was a group of five of us that stayed in the warehouse until 6am to finish painting - we knew that 74k people were counting on us!” Brandon Lewis, Tifo Committee Head, echoed the sentiment when asked about his favorite tifo so far. “Of course, I'm going to say the Queen. It had to be that one. Just the sheer number of hours that went into that. The details, camaraderie, and experience of bringing that to life took two months. Starting from scratch.” Heidi Underhill, tifo volunteer and Membership Director of Southbound and Crown,shared her love for the first tifo as well. “The first tifo was my favorite because of the sentimental feelings surrounding it. I mean, we had waited so long for that first game. We worked so hard behind the scenes in our tifo group and supporter groups.” Underhill recounted the struggle to overcome the anxious and boiling atmosphere of the crowd at the stadium, minutes before the inaugural match and the first tifo. “I personally had to fight with the wild crowd in that first row to get my part of the banner to raise it. When the sound cut off on the national anthem, it added to the emotion. The fireworks went off, and I was already crying as I was raising my poll.” Underhill went on to share how much she loved working on the tifos each week. “It makes me feel like I’m a part of Charlotte FC’s history.” She said that she has added her name to every tifo she has worked on so far this season. Image courtesy of Heidi Underhill Although Queen Charlotte was a fan favorite, each week the volunteers have continued to create magic with their tifos. Morgan Gallemore, tifo volunteer and Shipping Department for Southbound and Crown, reflected on the Real Queen City tifo that was prepared for the match against FC Cincinnati. “That was one of the first ones I was a part of from start to finish. I think the design was really great and loved the whole concept.” Gallemore is also the lead of the collective group of women leaders in Charlotte FC supporter groups, La Femme Footie. She has fond memories of that tifo for its connection to the United For Girls - US Soccer Foundation fundraiser that the group led. La Femme Footie helped to raise over $2,000 leading up to that weekend continuing to support their message of “raising queens on and off the pitch.” Image courtesy of Matt Garner Creating the first tifo was a learning experience, but the community came together to create a masterpiece that announced Charlotte FC’s arrival to the MLS stage. Everyone can appreciate the sight of the tifo in the stands, but we wanted to dig deeper and get further insight on what goes into the process of creating the tifo that has its few minutes of fame before the match. The Creative Process The development of the tifo starts early. Discussion between the Tifo Committee often occurs in a Slack group message as well as in person meetings. Lewis shared the typical creation from idea development to gameday. “Tifo creation starts with the committee meeting or just chatting on Slack, discussing possible themes months out from each match. We take ideas that have been submitted from any supporters and refine them to a final product.” So far this season, multiple members of the community have worked on designing the tifos. Jordan Parks has graphically designed three tifos, including the previously mentioned Queen Charlotte. Evan Russell, Terry Hines, Becca Mitchum, and Lewis have each graphically designed one tifo as well. While only Parks and Russell have a background in graphic design, the rest of the team has come together to bring their designs to life. Lewis further shared the process of physically creating the tifo following the digital creation. “From there, the fabric is cut from a large 1000-yard roll, and sewn to the required lengths. For drawing, we lay down a 12, 15, or 18-inch grid with chalk line. The final design will have a grid on it, and we draw it freehand from the digital file via grid. This usually takes a six-hour evening with ten people for an average 30'x30' tifo.” Image courtesy of Heidi Underhill Next comes the painting, Lewis commented that most volunteers enjoy helping with painting the tifo the most. “We use interior acrylic/latex paint that bonds well with the cotton/poly fabric. This takes an additional six hours with ten people, then an hour or two of touch-ups. Lastly, depending on the display method, if we hoist it, we will grommet around the edges and attach to the field goal net with zip ties. If we go overhead, we accordion fold it, and bring the tifo out into the stands pre-match.” Anywhere from ten to thirty volunteers show up and devote their time to creating something for everyone to enjoy. Barnhardt spoke about the collaboration between the group. “I love following along in the Slack group and watching everyone bounce ideas off each other and post their concepts and designs. It truly is a group effort, and I admire our Charlotte FC Supporters who take time out of their everyday lives to contribute however they can.” Working on the tifos has also nurtured friendships throughout the community. “Working on the Tifo Committee has provided a growth of comradery between the volunteers who devote their free time to creating something magical. “That was the beginning of many relationships and friendships I’ve built through tifo work.” Barnhardt said. Gallemore shared her favorite part of working with the tifo committee. “Seeing everything come together. You get to see the tifo come to life from sewing material together, to gridding the fabric, painting, then seeing it all on game day.” Like all volunteers, she mentioned it’s a lot of work to prepare the tifo, but it’s all worth it. “It’s a lot of work to do in about a weeks’ time, but some of my best memories of this season are painting at Bank of America Stadium. You spend 20+ hours each week working on the tifo and really make great friends.” Image courtesy of Heidi Underhill The Road Ahead The group has committed to preparing a tifo for each of Charlotte FC’s 17 home matches this season. Barnhardt spoke about his excitement for the tifo prepared for the match against New York Red Bulls on June 11th . “I don’t want to give anything away about future tifos, but I will say we have some great ones coming up for Red Bulls, Toronto, and Orlando. Red Bulls next Saturday will be extra special as Brandon [Lewis] worked to get fabric and materials to a high school in the outer Charlotte area. The tifo looks incredible, the kids did a great job. There will also be a banner made for Black Excellence! I’m excited for Saturday to see the contributions of so many different groups, come together for one display.” Lewis added his excitement for upcoming games and tifos as well, “We have some big things in the works that will test us, since this is our first season and we are still working out all the kinks. For me, Austin would be up there and possibly Toronto or Chicago. NYRB will be something similar, but different than what we've done to date.” The Time Of My Life The previously mentioned New York Red Bulls tifo came to life on Saturday. The large Dirty Dancing themed tifo was revealed before the match, but unlike previous tifos, this one was designed and created by a group of students. The tifo was designed and brought to life by students at the Highland School of Technology in Gastonia. Dirty Dancing has roots in North Carolina. It was partially filmed at Lake Lure, and that is also where they practice the lift depicted in the tifo during the film. Underhill shared the connection between the hit 80’s film and Charlotte FC on twitter. “In the movie, Patrick Swayze’s character Johnny practices the lift with Jennifer Grey’s character Baby repeatedly throughout the movie. Baby can’t get it, but Johnny is patient with her and continues to practice it. Sometimes he gets mad, at one point she hurts his back, but he doesn’t give up. They perform the lift at an “away” performance, and don’t succeed. At the end of the movie, he comes and grabs her, and in front of their family and friends, they finally score the lift. He raises her up and her family is amazed. So, in the tifo, Ben Bender is our Johnny. Lifting us up. After much practice and many falls, in the end we get the lift right with his help.” The symbology of the tifo matches up perfectly coming off a loss away against New York Red Bulls in the US Open Cup, and even more struggles away from home. The tifo was made even more special by Ben Bender opening the scoring in the match where he was honored as part of the tifo. Working with the Highland School of Technology was a change compared to how the previous tifos were created. I asked Underhill how the collaboration came about and she shared that Lewis was actually an alumnus of the highly rated school. “The leader of the Tifo committee, Brandon Lewis, is an alumnus of the school. He’s incredibly talented, a great human, and obviously appreciates where he came from.” While the creation of this tifo was slightly unconventional, it came off perfectly. The tifo was widely recognized for its creativity across the internet. The students who spent hours working on it were given tickets to the match so they were able to see their tifo unveiled in front of over 30,000 fans. Image courtesy of Charlotte FC Volunteering And The Future Of The Tifo Committee Creating tifos not only takes hard work and the free-time of volunteers, but the costs can also add up quickly. Lewis shared, “The cost of all the supplies have been funded through the supporter’s fund. This is the $50 that is tacked onto supporter’s section season tickets. Without those funds, we wouldn't be able to do as much as we do with the rising cost of things.” The Tifo Committee is always looking for volunteers to assist in the week leading up to each home game. If you’re interested in being a part of an incredible team, you can find the volunteering event dates and times by reaching out to the Tifo Committee on Twitter. Dates and times are often shared in individual supporter group chats as well. I asked if there were ways for supporters to support the tifo creation other than showing up in person. Lewis said they currently aren’t accepting donations for the tifo team, but suggested anyone wanting to help the community to donate to other community causes. “We try to point people toward causes that need the donations, such as QC Royals Pride raiser or La Femme Footies can 4 can.” Gallemore shared her hopes for the tifo committee as they move forward. “I would love to see everything grow. The tifo committee is already trying to plan bigger tifos for next year and I would love to see more fans get involved. I don’t think most people realize these tifos are made by only a handful of people each week.” While only a handful of people work on the tifos some weeks, the quality of the tifos this season have been incredible. As Charlotte FC continues to fight their way through the MLS season, so will the Tifo Committee who dedicate their time and effort to share a magic moment with supporters throughout the Carolinas and the world before each game.

By Brian Maurer Image courtesy of Charlotte FC After fourteen matches, Charlotte FC have gotten off to a bizarre inaugural campaign. MLS pundits and fans alike have been impressed by many of Charlotte’s early season performances. However, a disconnect between players and coaches has led to the firing of head coach Miguel Angel Ramirez (MAR). MAR’s assistant, Christian Lattanzio, has been given the opportunity to lead the Black and Blues as an interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Since Lattanzio has no prior head coaching experience at the senior level, it is hard to predict how the team might look, tactically, during the remainder of the season. However, looking at his past coaching assignments may provide a better understanding of how he sets up the team stylistically. Working In Youth Development At Manchester City One of Lattanzio’s roles at Manchester City was to help Patrick Vieira with their elite development squad (EDS). A primary role was helping the young players with the mental aspect of the game. “One of the main things is to give the players care, attention, and to be detailed in our work…the best way to work with them is to give everyone the same individual attention and to help players to recognize which areas they themselves need to work on” Lattanzio told Manchester City’s Mark Booth regarding his thoughts on the psychological approach of working with young developing players. “Once they become competent and confident in what they are doing, their self-belief increases”. Clearly, Lattanzio approaches coaching with an emphasis on making sure his players can grow in confidence internally to help support their play on the field Based on these statements, Lattanzio prefers to focus on providing a caring environment to develop players. This environment gives players the individual attention and care that they need, and a system of training that increases a player’s competency, confidence, and self-belief. While many of these approaches when used at Manchester City were with youth level players, there still is some overlap to this approach at the senior level. Especially with a team like Charlotte FC where there are many young developing players. The Understudy For Patrick Vieira Lattanzio had been Vieira’s assistant coach for nearly a decade. In Lattanzio’s first press conference as the new Charlotte FC head coach, their relationship appeared to be more like a partnership. “We [Lattanzio and Vieira] developed a methodology together for the last few years,” Lattanzio told the media during the press conference. This kind of sentiment shows that Lattanzio not only worked under Vieira, as his assistant, but that they had a philosophical partnership as the two coaches developed their game models together. Since Charlotte FC will be Lattanzio’s first head coaching assignment, it is useful to look at some of Vieira’s past teams to get a sense of what Lattanzio might bring to the Black and Blue’s style of play. Looking at both a tactical analysis of OGC Nice done by Rofiq Naufal at Total Football Analysis Magazine, and a tactical discussion of Crystal Palace by Joe Devine, JJ Bull, and Matt Woosnam on Tifo IRL, provides a better understanding of how Vieira’s game model and philosophy works with different teams. This in turn should provide some clues as to how Lattanzio’s style might look on the pitch with Charlotte FC. During the 2019/20 season at OGC Nice, Vieira’s team was one of the better scoring teams in Ligue 1. However, they were in the bottom half for goals allowed. They were also fifth in the league in pressures in the attacking third per ninety minutes (37.8). So, while OGC Nice struggled at times defensively, Vieira still preferred his team to apply pressure higher up the pitch. In the attack, Vieira’s Nice would regularly build play up out of the back. Naufal’s analysis provided thorough examples of how their build up play would happen. Below are a couple graphics to help visualize the build up play. In this set up, one of the center backs (CBs) moves higher up the pitch during build up acting as a double pivot with the number six. This provides a circle with multiple passing options to move the ball around the defense and progress up the pitch centrally. The first image shows the movements of the players at the start of build up play. The second image shows the passing options between the five players starting the build up sequence. Naufal mentioned that this 3-2-5 method was used often, but that their primary method of build up play was by using their four defenders as a base with a single pivot defensive midfielder to receive the ball and then begin the progression up the field. Below is a visual of this with the varying passing options. This is pretty similar to how Charlotte FC has looked for much of the season, in terms of how they have wanted to build up out of the back. An interesting pattern based on Naufal’s analysis of Nice, and Devine, Bull, and Woosnam’s discussion of Crystal Palace, is that both mention these teams have a back line of three when the ball has been progressed up the field. Also, Vieira appears to utilize a double pivot out of the back on a somewhat regular basis, according to Naufal’s report on Vieira’s 2019/20 OGC Nice. Whether that second pivot would come from the center back pushing up, or a midfielder pulling back would vary based on the situation. Overall Vieira’s most recent teams have shown a modern progressive attacking style, similar to how Charlotte FC wants to play. A final point is that the Nice squad’s average age was 23.9 years old* in the 2019/20 season, demonstrating Vieira and Lattanzio’s ability and willingness to help develop young players at the senior level, and find success with them. Image courtesy of Charlotte FC How These Game Models May Look with Charlotte FC's Personnel In Lattanzio’s first press conference as Charlotte FC’s head coach he stated that the foundational philosophy that MAR used would continue to be the basis while he is the coach. Lattanzio said that his game model also would involve the regular use of a 4-3-3 formation, progressive attacking build up play that focuses on creating chances, and being solid and compact defensively. However, looking at how Vieira’s teams have played over the last several years, which included Lattanzio as an assistant, there are a few potential variations that are worth discussing. First, the ways in which Lattanzio strategizes a compact defense is likely to vary from how MAR approached defensive tactics. There is a good chance that Charlotte FC plays with more compactness from their fullbacks, which was pretty common in Vieira's system. Likely at least one fullback will hang back in a defensive line when the Black and Blues are in attack, and there is a chance the fullbacks don’t press quite as high. When MAR was at the helm the fullbacks regularly both pressed very high, leaving loads of space on the wings in behind. This could mean that Christian Fuchs ends up getting more time at left back as he is a player who can help provide compact defensive play down the left hand side. This could also be beneficial for Joseph Mora, as this could take pressure off him having to press high and be involved in the attack. By doing this Mora would be allowed to focus on staying defensively compact, which is one of his stronger attributes. Second, many of Vieira’s teams have utilized making attacking connections through the middle, whereas MAR regularly wanted the ball switched from side to side waiting for a numerical advantage. It will be interesting to see if Lattanzio can unlock more effective solutions through the middle, as attacking central midfield play has been considered one of Charlotte FC’s biggest weaknesses by fans and staff alike. Players like Titi Ortiz, Ben Bender, Alan Franco, and Jordy Alcivar, could all get boosts in their form if Lattanzio can find a way to help improve the attack centrally. Third, Vieira’s system regularly involved building attacks out from the back using multiple different looks. It will be interesting to see if there is as much variety in how Lattanzio has Charlotte FC build up play. This could mean players like Guzman Corujo may be allowed more freedom to push forward and involve themselves in ball progression, which is something Corujo enjoys doing. This could also mean players like Sergio Ruiz, Bender and Alcivar may get opportunities to play a little bit deeper in a more creative “regista” type role as a double pivot alongside Brandt Bronico. These types of changes could also lead to more diagonal long balls to playmakers on the wings. Devine, Bull, and Woosnam pointed out in their discussion that Vieira’s Crystal Palace liked to play diagonal long balls to switch play out of the back. A Momentous Saturday This Saturday's match against the New York Red Bulls will be a physically demanding first test for Lattanzio to solve tactically. He made his intentions clear in his recent press conference. “We want to respond to the physical challenge but at the same time to try and impose our game” is what Lattanzio said regarding Charlotte FC’s approach to playing the Red Bulls. While the Red Bulls’ test appears to demand extreme physical prowess, Lattanzio’s greatest strength as a coach appears to be his focus and care on the mental aspect of the game. This is what he highlighted during his time developing players at Manchester City, and continues to be something he discusses now as the coach of Charlotte FC. He wants to provide a caring environment for his players to succeed and build confidence within his system and process. “For me what comes first is the person, then the player. And therefore, I have to make sure that the person is fine, that the individual is fine,” Lattanzio said in his recent presser. This focus on the individual people that make up a successful squad, is what presents Lattanzio as a soccer psychologist. The desire to help his players grow through the process of living as professional soccer players, as well as the understanding that they are people who will also live their lives off the pitch is a very psychological approach. On Saturday, the players will have the first opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of Lattanzio’s coaching methods. Making Saturday’s match a monumental moment for both Lattanzio and for Charlotte FC. *Average age of OGC Nice found on FBref.com

By Brian Maurer and Jorge Gonzales Image courtesy of Charlotte FC To many, the sudden firing of Miguel Angel Ramirez (MAR) came as a shock. The fans of Charlotte appreciated his apparent transparency to the media and his willingness to confront the front office on their roster build. The Charlotte FC fanbase loved the bravado of MAR. Especially, his willingness to make statements that provided the appearance of sticking it to the business bigs within the organization. The result of these types of comments, whether planned or otherwise, made MAR appear as a mastermind when the team began performing well. His comments at press conferences regularly made him out to seem a victim of a front office that was unwilling to spend. Stating that the team was “screwed”. And that he was “not Harry Potter” and that he was unable to perform magic; as if to say that it would take a wizard to win with the current roster that the front office gave him. MLS pundits began predicting Charlotte finishing near last place in the league after their coach seemed to question his own team. When the Crown found themselves right outside of a playoff position, MAR looked like an overachieving coach of the year candidate. While the front office was made to look like a rushed, chaotic mess, scrambling to sign players. The front offices of sports organizations are rarely loved by fans. It’s a tough business, where the praise of successes are given to the players, but the low times are often put on the front office. This was especially going to be the case for Charlotte FC’s front office as they were team building with a coach who publicly questioned his roster’s composition. Add to this the already sour taste Charlotte fans had due to the team charging personal seat licenses (PSLs) to season ticket holders. If the results are poor, the front office is an easy target for the fans. MAR’s responses at press conferences made him a champion of the fans and showed he was willing to question those who sold him a vision when hiring him. The Vision At one point, Charlotte FC’s sporting director, Zoran Krneta, deemed MAR the “perfect” coach for the style of play that was desired. Aggressive, high press, attacking football. The team also envisioned creating an environment where young players could develop into stars. The young and ambitious MAR, with an aggressive attacking football philosophy, who also had many years of experience developing players, appeared to check all of the boxes. Krneta and his staff began filling the roster with players they deemed to fit the mold of a developing star, and who fit into MAR’s preferred style of play. Charlotte FC also brought in some players that MAR was familiar with, having coached them in the past, and who were familiar with his football philosophy. Krneta also mentioned a desire at the beginning of the season to bring in the higher level designated players (DPs) slowly. Patiently filling holes in the roster as they presented themselves throughout the first few months of the season. This patient approach soon appeared to be a hurried lackluster affair, as multiple DP candidates fell through for reasons as wild as a bar fight or as unlucky as an injury. The roster build began to change its shape and expectation as the season approached. MAR flipped on the team and its vision by saying “we’re screwed” in Spanish to Topbin90. Indicating the team, as it stood, was not good enough to succeed. The vision changed from a unified team effort to a conflict between a coach who created an image of being for the fans and a sporting director who asked for calm during what appeared to be a looming storm. Image courtesy of Charlotte FC Behind the Show Curtain Fans and media pundits entertained the “we’re screwed” comment at the beginning of the season, supporting how he seemed to call out the front office. However, little was discussed or reported on how the players, or other technical staff, felt regarding the situation. These are the people this comment actually impacts the most. By telling reporters that his players are not good enough to compete in the MLS, MAR put himself at odds with many who are a part of the team. This public comment was the projection of events that had already begun to take place. According to close sources, MAR’s commitment to the club was weak at best. He was not interested in a three-year contract, instead he was adamant of negotiating a shorter-term deal until eventually giving in and accepting the three year deal. A couple of weeks before the “we’re screwed” comments, at the start of preseason, MAR already mentioned a desire to leave the club. He voiced many complaints about the MLS as a league, team amenities, the academy, and the facilities. A specific instance of MAR’s complaints was having to eat on plastic plates during a team event at the Vault, which is Charlotte FC’s premium field-level club, and costs around $400 per ticket. Regardless of the situation being big or small, MAR appeared to have problems with much of the goings on at Charlotte FC, and potentially the MLS as a whole. According to sources, in preseason, after a match in Charleston, a veteran player confronted MAR’s attitude, questioning his commitment and whether he actually wanted to be the coach of the team. An accusation and a concern that would continue to be brought up throughout MAR’s short tenure with the club. Chris Smith’s article in 90min and Carroll Walton’s article in The Charlotte Ledger also mentioned that tensions were building as early as preseason. After Charlotte FC lost to Orlando City, MAR was late to his press conference because he was confronted again by another veteran player. This occurrence is also reported in Walton’s article. MAR’s attitude towards the team was regularly an issue, especially during road trips and after losses. Sources confirmed that MAR would not address the team after losses, and would be one of the first people to leave facilities after road games, without checking in with staff or players. One of the more interesting points in these occurrences involving the team culture is that none of them involve Karol Swiderski. According to The Athletic, Swiderski was highlighted as a primary reason for the firing of MAR. But after further investigation, sources confirm that Swiderski never refused to play for Charlotte FC. He did, however, have an issue with the approach in training, especially regarding the lack of training on fitness and in the attacking third. An understandable complaint from a striker who wants to score goals, not only for the club but to also help secure his place on the Polish World Cup roster. But by no means was this enough of a reason for Swiderski to want his coach out. A more accurate statement would be that many players had issues with how the team was run, and there were several confrontations and complaints from players throughout the early portion of the season. Much of this discontent could also be due to how Ramírez felt about the players on the roster. According to sources, when MAR was first hired he did not rate many of the players on the developing roster very highly. Multiple sources stated that MAR was a key reason Riley McGree is not on the team today. A player with lots of promise, and who can play in one of the positions the team is in most need – attacking midfielder. One source went as far as to say that MAR was unwilling to even receive a phone call from McGree. This is not to say that McGree would have changed the roster outlook alone, but it does suggest that there was a disconnect between MAR and the front office well before preseason started. These early disconnections between staff and the coach should likely have been seen as writing on the wall of things to come. According to a player, MAR was not confronted in front of the whole team by any players. However, he could have been confronted by veteran players behind closed doors. This player also felt that MAR was not checking in or addressing the team after losses because this was his personality. Instead, MAR just preferred to be alone, it was not to slight the team. However, MAR’s methods of connecting with the team could be difficult for some players to deal with. The player also mentioned that he felt MAR did have a tendency to cross the line, which some of his public statements were a testament to. He also confirmed that he felt a shock when he heard the news that MAR was fired, and that about ten to twelve of the players went and visited MAR at his house the day of his sacking. Image courtesy of Charlotte FC An Inevitable Ending The disconnect between MAR and the front office, as well as his leadership style that most players weren’t fond of leads one to think that this was an inevitable separation. The fact that the issues and disputes with players and members of the front office started so early in his time as coach, makes the firing at the June international break almost seem like a longer delay than was wise. The front office decided to stick with their initial coach hiring, hoping that their vision could unfold. Ultimately, however, the longer they waited the worse the end result was for everyone involved. Krneta and the other Charlotte FC higher-ups were dealt a lose, lose, lose situation. Fire MAR when the discontent starts in the preseason or earlier in the season, and the fanbase is up in arms for not being patient enough, and the MLS media at-large critiques them for not only losing their technical director, Marc Nicholls, but also their coach early in the season. Wait until the end of the season and the culture at the club likely continues to worsen, and they would have to let him go after what could have likely appeared to be a successful campaign on the surface. The front office opted to let him go during the international break, which has also shown to be a difficult situation, as the season has been relatively successful so far, and MLS pundits were giving MAR praise for the clear identity and style the team was playing with. Fans and media alike took to social media, fiercely criticizing and questioning the state of the club. There appeared to be no way that the club could come out of this situation in a good light, especially with the narrative that MAR had carefully crafted from the start. The uninformative press conference by Krneta held the morning the firing occurred did not help Charlotte FC’s image. Instead, it left the Charlotte FC fanbase questioning the club’s decision making and further fueled the media’s criticism of the team. The club’s expansion approach will likely continue to be a hot topic for debate throughout the season. What is not up for debate is that in the past month Charlotte FC have lost two key members, Nick Kelly and MAR, of the organization who had a strong connection to the fanbase. How the front office confronts this issue in the coming weeks will be pivotal to the success of the culture within Bank of America Stadium which has been deemed, to this point, a fortress. Over the past few days as more information has surfaced, and many sources have been cross-referenced and reported on by several different writers, there appears to be an understanding of certain rumors that can now be more or less confirmed. First, Swiderski was singled out unnecessarily, likely because he is one of the bigger names. In the end, regardless of Swiderski’s feelings about MAR, there were grievances building from many players far before this international break. Secondly, the issues within the locker room seem to have started early on, as early as preseason. MAR also appears to be at the center of much of the conflict, as well as a culprit for continuing to pour gasoline on the fire. Thirdly, it appears that while MAR spoke to the cameras and the fans well, behind the scenes he considered himself to be a tier above the MLS, and his current Charlotte roster, which looks to be a prime cause for much of the conflict. Finally, as the season wore on and the culture within the club continued to sour, there looked to have been no other way around the situation than for the front office to take a major hit from the public. At the end of the day Charlotte FC’s performances will demonstrate how much truth there is to the cultural fractures within the locker room. Whether the team was able to perform because of MAR, or in spite of MAR, will be revealed through play on the pitch in the coming months.