Marc Machado

The Michael Bradley Era in New York Has a Clear Identity Structure, youth trust, and pressing identity in the early blueprint of Michael Bradley’s New York

I wrote on the start of the Michael Bradley era in New York; tactical ideas, youth trust, and pressing.

Read here

Welcome to Green Line Soccer Introducing my new outlet covering the Washington Spirit and D.C. United.

Do you want my thoughts on the Washington Spirit and D.C. United?

This is where they're going to be. Introducing Green Line Soccer:

Following MLS is harder than it should be, so I made an automated daily newsletter that rounds up high-quality coverage from around the league.

I'll tell you all about it tomorrow but you can sign up in advance here: tally.so/r/eq6DQx

If you're an MLS fan — or if you're trying to become one! — @backheeled.com's team-by-team previews are a great resource.

Context. Transfers. Expectations. Tactics. Stars. Young talents. Depth charts. Predictions. And more...for all 30 teams!

Read ⤵️
www.backheeled.com/mls-2026-sea...

@behindthefal.bsky.social has done some interesting work covering all levels of the American game, from college to MLS. Would recommend checking out his stuff on the other site. Give him a follow & subscribe to @backheeled.com.

Proud to make my writing debut with @backheeled.com Huge thanks to @joeclowery.bsky.social for the opportunity and @marcmachado.bsky.social for helping make it happen.

One thing that Matt does that I'm trying to do as I get more years in this space is elevate people to a bigger audience. He's done it with me and many others.

To have your name on the MLS homepage as someone who watched the league growing up... it's pretty fuckin' cool. Cheers to your new project

Fifteen years ago, I got my dream job writing for MLSsoccer. Last week, that came to an end.

I'm off on my own, and it's time to build something new – with a little help from all of you.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/an-end-to-my...

Such sad news - Vassili was a trailblazer in MLS when it came to moving from analysis to sporting leadership positions. That he did all of this while fighting cancer and being so open about his journey made it all the more impressive.

Sending my best to his friends and family ♥️

Get ready to meet futi Sorry for the wait. Would some free advanced data make it up to you?

We're so back

Introducing Glass Onion by US Soccer, An Identifier Synchronization Tool — American Soccer Analysis By Akshay Easwaran Every soccer data analysis group has had the same jump-scare: they sign data provider contract #2, and suddenly, they need a solution to link teams, matches, and players across th...

There's a new tool from @ussoccer.com and @akeaswaran.me is here to tell you about it. Introducing Glass Onion, an Identifier Synchronization Tool

www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2026/1/...

Congrats, Jason!

A screenshot of text that reads as follows: Some weeks ago (this announcement is seriously overdue), I stepped down from my roles at USA Today Sports and Pro Soccer Wire. I was lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to join Variance Incorporated in a role that will involve research for Transfer Flow and scouting for Crux Football, and it was one I couldn't turn down. They're paying me to watch and research soccer! In my opinion, that's pretty good. My 3.5 years with PSW/USA Today were challenging and rewarding. I am fiercely proud of what we grew Pro Soccer Wire into: the kind of place that soccer fans of all sorts could find something that spoke to them. Whether it was explainers, deep dives, or celebrations of animals who ran on a field, we made a good website. Most of the credit for that goes to Seth Vertelney, whose work rate should be the stuff of legend. If you enjoy PSW, Seth's work as managing editor is why. I'm better at what I do for having worked with him, and it was no small thing for Seth, Nate Scott, and Randy Kim to hand one of the only new soccer writing jobs available in 2022 to a team site blogger gone half-mad during the pandemic. I don't know anywhere else I could have gotten the runway that every NWSL Take-Off required (Seth, I'm sorry they never really got any shorter), or where I could use valuable Deadline Day time to write about King Kazu. I'm thrilled to hear that he's now the soccer editor at USA Today Sports. They couldn't have picked a better person.

A screenshot of text that reads as follows: From summer 2024 onward, my role shifted into a hybrid, covering trending sports topics for USA Today Sports and PSW. My thanks to Gabe Zaldivar, Casey Moore, Ellen Horrow, Jesse Yomtov, Alicia Del Gallo, and the entire Trending team for helping a Soccer Person adapt to the non-stop rush of U.S. sports news with kindness and patience. This new job leaves the window open for me to keep covering soccer, and in the near future I will be launching my own independent site covering the Washington Spirit and D.C. United. I would probably shrivel up and die without 30+ trips to the Audi Field press box per year, but more importantly I believe I still have something useful to contribute to soccer in the DMV. Hopefully you agree enough to click some links and follow some accounts. I apologize in advance for the self-promotion to come, which is already causing me some mild agony. In the meantime (and once that new thing gets going, whatever shape it takes), I am open to provide freelance coverage of DC's soccer teams, the NWSL, or the senior national teams. If you're an editor who needs such a thing, send me a DM/text/email/whatever means of contact you have.

It's Personal News Notes App post time.

(ok actually it was time weeks ago, but it is still also time now)

🗣️ Because maybeeeeeee

Robin is in Chicago babyyyyyyy

And after alllllll

We signed Robin Lodddddddd 🗣️

We have acquired Finland National Team midfielder Robin Lod as a free agent. #cf97

Appreciate the kind words, James!

Thanks Donald!

Thanks Doug!

Thanks, Adam! Appreciate you promoting my work at B&RU when I was getting started. As an avid Filibuster fan, always meant a lot.

Thanks Drew!

Thanks Nate!

Thanks, Jason! Appreciate your help in getting me involved with B&RU. Keep crushing it!

Thanks John!

Thanks Catalina!

I don't post personal updates often, but for those who follow my Substack/have noticed my inactivity there, I wanted to share that I've joined the Chicago Fire as a data analyst/scout.

Grateful for everyone who read/supported my work, dating back to my time with B&RU.

Excited for what's ahead! 🔥🆙

Thank you for everything, Guti 👏

We have transferred Chicago native and Homegrown midfielder Brian Gutiérrez to LigaMX side Club Deportivo Guadalajara for a multi-million-dollar transfer fee. #cf97

Just give Doyle and Wiebe a small budget and complete editorial freedom to make 10 hours of stuff worth watching on Apple TV every week, it would transform MLS overnight

MLS plans to extend transfer windows a bit beyond when major European windows close after the schedule flips in summer of 2027.

MLS also has gotten green light from FIFA and Concacaf to include the three Canadian MLS teams as domestic, so all 30 MLS clubs will be aligned.

How the Seattle Sounders turned smart spending into an all-time great MLS roster MLS is keeping its teams busier than ever, so the Sounders are looking inward to create an elite squad.

Without spending big, the Seattle Sounders have assembled an all-time MLS roster to withstand one of the busiest seasons ever.

“Our fourth DP is our development system,” general manager Craig Waibel told me. “That’s where we choose to spend the money because it’s working.”

For @backheeled.com ⤵️

Best XI, Awards Ballot & final Power Rankings vote of the year! This is the longest newsletter I'll ever write. I am sorry.

Free Newsletter: Best XI, Awards Ballot & final Power Rankings vote of the year!

This is the longest newsletter I will ever write (b/c I should've put out the awards ballot as a separate post last week... oh well!)
open.substack.com/pub/tacticsf...