Transfer window needs, GAM totals and, for some reason, barnyard animals
Our final Extratime of 2024 went off the rails
I’m nursing a pretty catastrophic hangover so you’ll have to excuse the brevity of this blog. Just wanted to make sure you didn’t miss the final Extratime of 2024, in which Wiebe & I were joined by Tommy Scoops to take a team-by-team look at transfer window needs and the recently released GAM totals:
Tom, of course, is better plugged-in on all this stuff than anybody. And Wiebe, it turns out, is not able to adequately mimic the sound of even a single animal.
Anyway, as proud as I am of the work I do, and that Wiebe does, and impressed as I am by Tom’s ability to know every CSO and agent in the MLS cinematic universe, local coverage is still the lifeblood of pro sports. It’s true of the NFL, and it’s true of the EPL, and it’s been true of MLS since day one.
Inarguably, I think, it’s even more true now than ever — as the league hits 30 teams, it is simply impossible for one person, or even one centralized network, to provide the depth and breadth of coverage that is necessary to really *know* all the granular stuff. You need boots on the ground. You need reporters and columnists and podcasters who are with the team every week, and have a rapport with players, coaches and front office staff in order to truly get a deep and meaningful perspective on the club.
So consider this my Christmas ask: find a local, independent outlet and support them this year. Share posts of theirs, or leave comments on some of their analysis. And if you have the means, please support them monetarily. Nobody gets rich covering soccer in the US, and basically everybody could use that extra $8/month.
I still haven’t monetized this blog, and don’t intend to any time soon. I’m in an incredible spot in my career, something for which I’m thankful every day. So if you’re one of the many who’ve pledged to support me if I ever do need to turn on the money faucet… first off, that means a ton to me. I hugely appreciate it!
Second, though, is take that pledge and put it towards local coverage. Doing so will make the MLS information environment better, and we all benefit from that.
