James Nalton
@jdnalton.bsky.social
8.7K followers 770 following 2.6K posts
Freelance sports and football writer for the Morning Star newspaper, Forbes, World Soccer magazine, Guardian US, FotMob, BBC, and the Soccer Times. MLS, USL, US Open Cup, Concacaf and American soccer reverie.
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jdnalton.bsky.social
📌 Heading into 2025/26, my freelance ⚽ writing will once again focus on Everton, Liverpool, and occasionally Manchester teams + others. Elsewhere, my coverage of American soccer from both sides of the Atlantic means I'm uniquely placed to cover the 2026 World Cup- I'm on the lookout for related work
Reposted by James Nalton
jdnalton.bsky.social
Hopefully Nashville SC get to defend their US Open Cup title next year and MLS isn't allowed to continue withdrawing its teams from the country's domestic cup competition.
phat7deuce.bsky.social
This is (part of) how you make the Open Cup a big deal. By treating it...like a big deal. Lots of respect to Nashville SC for this.
sixonefivesoccer.com
On Sunday, Nashville SC presented the first championship trophy in the city's history to a crowd of nearly 4,000 fans, a milestone moment for the club and the sport of soccer in Tennessee.
www.sixonefivesoccer.com/gallery-nash...
jdnalton.bsky.social
Hopefully Nashville SC get to defend their US Open Cup title next year and MLS isn't allowed to continue withdrawing its teams from the country's domestic cup competition.
phat7deuce.bsky.social
This is (part of) how you make the Open Cup a big deal. By treating it...like a big deal. Lots of respect to Nashville SC for this.
sixonefivesoccer.com
On Sunday, Nashville SC presented the first championship trophy in the city's history to a crowd of nearly 4,000 fans, a milestone moment for the club and the sport of soccer in Tennessee.
www.sixonefivesoccer.com/gallery-nash...
Reposted by James Nalton
phat7deuce.bsky.social
This is (part of) how you make the Open Cup a big deal. By treating it...like a big deal. Lots of respect to Nashville SC for this.
sixonefivesoccer.com
On Sunday, Nashville SC presented the first championship trophy in the city's history to a crowd of nearly 4,000 fans, a milestone moment for the club and the sport of soccer in Tennessee.
www.sixonefivesoccer.com/gallery-nash...
Gallery: Nashville SC's Open Cup celebration
The Boys In Gold brought the US Open Cup trophy to Geodis Park to celebrate with the fans
www.sixonefivesoccer.com
Reposted by James Nalton
paddyboyland.bsky.social
Everton are evolving. Grealish's impact on style clear & they now lead PL in certain metrics (cutbacks etc)

But still issues to iron out. Palace game a reminder that faster tempo, athleticism & more direct play can help at times too

@theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
Analysing Everton’s shifting style: Less direct, more cutbacks, better chances
New signings and a new era have meant a change in approach on the pitch. It is still early days but the data clearly shows a team evolving
www.nytimes.com
jdnalton.bsky.social
Cody Gakpo being asked to do a fair bit of defensive work on the left for Liverpool this season. His heatmap makes it look like he's playing left wing-back too.
Cody Gakpo's heatmap for the 2025/26 Premier League season so far. Graphic from Sofascore.
jdnalton.bsky.social
More issues caused by the current US govt affecting international soccer matches in the United States ahead of the World Cup there next year.
cboehm.bsky.social
I've gotten confirmation of this - Argentina vs. Puerto Rico is being relocated OUT of Chicago due to ongoing upheaval caused by ICE, National Guard.

Albiceleste will stay in Leo Messi's backyard (metaphorically) for both of this month's matches
thotze.bsky.social
Mailbox: Event promoters say that the friendly between Argentina and Puerto Rico for Oct 13 has been moved to Ft. Lauderdale for 10/14

No notice on socials or website from promoters or AFA.

Tickets remain on sale at pretty astronomical prices on Ticketmaster's website
Reposted by James Nalton
anabnos.com
Hello! The Guardian is expanding our American soccer coverage. In the US, we're hiring:
• Reporters
• Asst. editor
• Audience editor
• Social video producer
• Sports biz reporter
These are all full-time, permanent, union positions.
www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-of...
The Guardian announces plans to expand its global soccer coverage ahead of 2026 men’s World Cup in North America
Combination of seven new roles, including six in the US, spanning sports and business coverage, visuals, video and more
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by James Nalton
backheeled.com
𝗠𝗟𝗦 𝗜𝗻-𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 📈

@benwright.bsky.social and @joeclowery.bsky.social analyze (and rank!) all 30 MLS teams.

Check out the league's latest, from stars returning to a playoff contender's major tactical shift to a pair of legends retiring.

Read ⤵️
www.backheeled.com/mls-in-depth...
MLS In-Depth Power Rankings: Minnesota United's tactics, two legends retire & more
In a twist on a classic, we’re not just ranking all 30 MLS teams. We’re analyzing them, too.
www.backheeled.com
jdnalton.bsky.social
Chaotic ending to Libya v Cape Verde. Cape Verde, needing a win to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, came back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 and had chances to win it. Will now have to wait until Monday at home to Eswatini 🇨🇻
Libya 3, Cape Verde 3, in African World Cup qualifying. Scoreline graphic from FotMob.
jdnalton.bsky.social
I get where you're coming from, but there are many players who would be considered too good for MLS who have gone there, completely failed to adapt, and not performed.
Reposted by James Nalton
jdnalton.bsky.social
Article on Son Heung-min's instant adaptation to MLS at Los Angeles FC. A look at what has facilitated this remarkable impact and "unheard of" quick acclimatisation to the league. Big thanks to Max Bretos, Dave Denholm, and @trebtracy.bsky.social for their input #LAFC 🇰🇷 www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
MLS: How Son Heung-min is having a Lionel Messi-like impact in Los Angeles
After more than a decade at Tottenham Hotspur, BBC Sport looks at the impact
www.bbc.co.uk
Reposted by James Nalton
trebtracy.bsky.social
Thanks to @jdnalton.bsky.social for reaching out. Always happy to talk LAFC and their superstars. Especially ones like Son who not only make a massive impact on the pitch, but off it.
jdnalton.bsky.social
Article on Son Heung-min's instant adaptation to MLS at Los Angeles FC. A look at what has facilitated this remarkable impact and "unheard of" quick acclimatisation to the league. Big thanks to Max Bretos, Dave Denholm, and @trebtracy.bsky.social for their input #LAFC 🇰🇷 www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
MLS: How Son Heung-min is having a Lionel Messi-like impact in Los Angeles
After more than a decade at Tottenham Hotspur, BBC Sport looks at the impact
www.bbc.co.uk
jdnalton.bsky.social
Article on Son Heung-min's instant adaptation to MLS at Los Angeles FC. A look at what has facilitated this remarkable impact and "unheard of" quick acclimatisation to the league. Big thanks to Max Bretos, Dave Denholm, and @trebtracy.bsky.social for their input #LAFC 🇰🇷 www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
MLS: How Son Heung-min is having a Lionel Messi-like impact in Los Angeles
After more than a decade at Tottenham Hotspur, BBC Sport looks at the impact
www.bbc.co.uk
jdnalton.bsky.social
Denis Bouanga's form since Son Heung-min joined him at Los Angeles FC #LAFC 🇰🇷🇬🇦
LAFC last nine games, since Son joined, in which Bouanga has 11 goals.
jdnalton.bsky.social
Monday's Morning Star football reports from the weekend, including my on the whistle report from Everton v Palace.
Photo of a Morning Star sports page with reports from Everton, Arsenal and Newcastle.
jdnalton.bsky.social
If UEFA opposes the principle of domestic games being played overseas, why is it approving two of them?
tariqpanja.bsky.social
Uefa clears Spanish and Italian leagues’ plans for overseas games. Says they are two exceptional cases but opposes principle. So Barcelona-Villarreal in Miami and Milan-Como in Perth, Aus.
Reposted by James Nalton
pallonateinfaccia.bsky.social
Alhaji Momodo Njie, known as Biri Biri, was a Gambian right winger who played for Sevilla between 1973 and 1978, scoring over 30 goals. Today, he is remembered by Andalusian fans as a club legend and an anti-racism symbol.
jdnalton.bsky.social
Tarkowski and Keane with Everton's best bit of forward link-up play all afternoon.
jdnalton.bsky.social
Battle of the entertainers, Ndiaye vs Pino
jdnalton.bsky.social
Everton v Crystal Palace, team lineups etc from today's big game.
jdnalton.bsky.social
Another Goodison Park classic 🎵 makes its way to Bramley-Moore.
jdnalton.bsky.social
Everton v Crystal Palace, team lineups etc from today's big game.
jdnalton.bsky.social
Also eight draws in a row now for Toronto
Toronto FC recent results