Charlotte aim to be Sounders-East & more | Thursday Round-Up

Lot of different pathways to – or maybe towards – the top. The one that's most sustainable over the past half-decade is to put together a core of really good players and keep them together as long as possible while refreshing around the edges.

That's what LAFC have done, and it's what Philly did (until they ripped that core apart), and it's what Seattle have done. The difference between Seattle and Philly, though, is the Sounders have done it 1) on a budget, and 2) while building the most robust academy to Next Pro to first-team pipeline in the league.

Charlotte CSO Zoran Krneta told Backheeled that's what he wants for his team. “I’d like Charlotte FC to become a Seattle Sounders,” Krneta said, and it doesn't get any clearer than that.

The big hurdle Charlotte have to take: develop (and actually use) local players. What makes Seattle Seattle – sustainably very good, occasionally great – is that they're the best in the league at that particular part of the puzzle.

It's one Charlotte have shown no facility for as of yet. If Krneta's serious about pushing his club into the ranks of the elite and keeping them there year after year, that's the most cost-effective hack there is.

Anyway, that interview is a must-read. Good insight on how CSOs think of other teams around the league (not just the Sounders – he's got plenty to say about Cincy, Miami, etc) and some info on how much they're spending on imports to develop in Next Pro.

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Good reads:

• It looks like the NWSL might be coming to Columbus, as per the Columbus Dispatch.
• The Union didn't even give Ernst Tanner a slap on the wrist. The club's supporters are not happy, via the Guardian.
• Center back is unsettled for the USMNT, which is not what you want to hear a couple months before the World Cup, from the Athletic.
• The superstructure has been completed in Queens, and Etihad Park remains on-track to open next summer, as per QNS.com.
• Miami's new stadium, meanwhile, seems ready to open next week. That's from InterHeron.
• Apparently US soccer ran Jesse Marsch through the wringer. He lays out his side to GiveMeSport.com.

My Wednesday column was a look at the three things I want to see from the USMNT over these next two friendlies. Clarity at center back – as mentioned above – is one of them. I talked about that with Tab on Inside American Soccer this week:

I also made my usual Monday appearance on Soccerwise, and got to jump in with Sooz on Tuesday's Kickback Committee.

I'll have a postgame react coming on Saturday immediately following the USMNT game vs. Belgium, and am planning one in the immediate aftermath of the Portugal game as well.