Sporting on a record pace (derogatory), Gil still running the Revs & more | Matchday 8
Including a Quakes team who's got a real argument as the best in MLS through eight weeks.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/sporting-on-...
Free Newsletter: The Thursday round-up is published. A look at what Matt Crocker's departure, the end of GAM (maybe), and what could've been for MLS teams in CCC action.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/two-mls-team...
I think sounders fans who don't like DP Rusnak HAS to be a veiled toxic masculinity thing. They think he looks like macaulay culkin running around out there, assume he must not be very athletic, and are unable to come to terms with how good at soccer he is as a result
In short they don't know ball
Mascherano out in Miami, who deserves the blame in Cincy & more | Mailbag
Including a legend in San Jose who seems hellbent on proving a point that you can still win in MLS with domestic products.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/mwho-deserve...
thanks Matt
thanks! If he tries it I'll have to get the wicker chairs to unionize
took a swing at the mls weekend that was while matt recharged
this is matchday 7
the ottoman presents TACTILE FEET ZINE VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 "SUNDAY CALL 'EM"
there's no chance I finish this in time but as long as I post the cover on Sunday pretty sure it still counts as a Sunday column stand-in
1,000th 1-1 draw in MLS history, congratulations to all of us! 🍾
Seattle's Bilbao-style pipeline, Miami's identity crisis & more | Matchday 6
Including a Galaxy team that looks ready to catch a beating in Toluca this week.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/seattles-bil...
Three Things: The good vibes are gone as USMNT catch a beating from Portugal.
It sure felt like a wasted opportunity, and I've got to question the Mauricio Pochettino's tactical approach for the final camp before the World Cup.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/three-things...
Something something cheese belongs on pizza
In a very real sense, Chili's is America
Armchair Analyst: Nashville's continuing evolution, NYCFC's catalyst & more from Matchday 3
Including a Miami team just throwing stuff at the wall & a Cincy side that looks lost both on and off the ball.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/nashvilles-c...
a clipping of the POWER RANKINGS FORM GUIDE spreadsheet with a box checked for "'Change' values instead of POWER RANK (shows POWER SHIFT from previous matchday ranking)
simply refuse to make this better for mobile users but just know there is some dumb stuff going on in a spreadsheet and somewhere out there desktop-using power rankings freaks are going hog wild
Don't just take my word for it... see the TACTICS FREE ZONE 2026 MLS POWER RANKINGS FORM GUIDE for yourself
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Now this is POWER RANKINGS
data is beautiful, etc
#PlayYourKids hits new heights, Quakes get their star & more from Matchday 2
Including a canary in the coalmine giving a big, big warning about the Union's bad start to their Supporters' Shield defense.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/playyourkids...
standing side by side with the pro rel zealots facing down the Soccer United Marketing war profiteers what has the world come to
Really easy to just give in to cynicism tbh but we've got to keep pushing back and one of those places of pushback has to be @mls.bsky.social getting the fuck off polymarket
Not later, not after discussions
Right fucking now, my dogs
A clipping of a spreadsheet titled "2026 POWER RANKINGS FORM GUIDE" POWER RANKINGS freaks are going to get some mileage out of this and they don't deserve it to be honest
we're dealing with a lot of POWER in a spreadsheet it's getting dangerous
And here are the offseason grades for the Western Conference.
Lots of *good* work, but one truly outstanding job happening out there. And yeah, it's LAFC.
Got to praise John Thorrington for his work this window – and every window, pretty much.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/west-offseas...
Offseason grades are in (one week late).
We're starting with the Eastern Conference, and folks, I'm finally about to give out some Fs. Including one to a Union team that's not playing to win the game.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/east-offseas...
The Sunday night column is back!
Matchday 1 saw LAFC make a statement, Cincy dive into The Discourse & plenty more around MLS.
Including a performance for the ages by the wrong guy late on Sunday night.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/lafc-send-a-...
His stack of 5 books is really incredible work
Early returns suggest a lack of a funny commercial this season, but the overly serious home depot one and Idris sitting on zoom from his spare office bedroom at gunpoint might have some legs
Here it is, my favorite column of the year: the 2026 Tiers of MLS!
All 30 teams, ranked by tier, with about 9000 words of analysis on why it’ll work — and why, quite possibly, it won’t — for each.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/ranking-all-...
Season preview time! Today I've got my 2026 predictions – MVP, Goalkeeper of the Year, Best XI and such.
Including a pretty damn compelling battle for Young Player of the Year.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/2026-predict...
Putting forward an award for future consideration: the "COME BACK!" Player of the Year, awarded to the outgoing transfer a team misses the most
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...
